Raleigh Comedy Clubs: Three to See in the Triangle Area
When it’s laughter you’re after, three Raleigh comedy clubs deliver. From improvisation, to sketch comedy, to nationally touted stand-up acts, venues including Goodnight’s Comedy Club, ComedyWorx and Carrboro’s Dirty South Improv are three Raleigh comedy clubs that fill the bill.
Goodnight’s Comedy Club
Longtime locals still refer to this comedic haven by its old moniker, Charlie Goodnight’s. But other than the slight name adjustment, all else, particularly the caliber of top-notch comedic talent, remains the same. USA Today has named Goodnight’s “one of the ten great places to sit down and see stand up.” And what you’ll see are headliners like Damon Wayans, Tracy Morgan, Jamie Kennedy, Kevin Meaney, Dave Attell, Kevin Pollak, and the list goes on. Located in a century-old, multilevel building in downtown Raleigh, this is a classic, intimate comedy club, right down to the parred down black and white checkered floor stage and exposed brick wall backdrop. It’s all about the comic, the mic, and the feedback from the up-close-and-personal crowd. Upscale dining takes place at the Grille on Goodnight’s second level, while casual eats, lots of drinks and late night dancing take place in the basement, also known as the Old Bar.
ComedyWorx
The Worx Comedy Theater has been churning out improv comedy in Raleigh for more than 20 years – not only producing the quick-thinking art, but training aspiring talent in the fundamentals of improvisational comedy. Friday and Saturday nights bring the ComedyWorx sports improv face off – two teams compete for audience laughs and encourage their participation. It’s a family-friendly show that kicks off at 8 p.m. on Friday nights and at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday nights. At 10:30 p.m., the Worx launches into what it deems “improv without boundaries” at its Late Night at the Worx comedy showcase. Based on a single suggestion, the improvisers prove their chops with an anything-goes approach the likes of improv found in comedy club-rich cities like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.
DSI Comedy Theater
Head over to neighboring Carrboro and discover Dirty South Improv Comedy Theater’s creative atmosphere. Led by North Carolina native Zach Ward, the company of 45 active performers and a network of nearly 100 professional comedians produces alternative improv, sketch comedy and stand-up performances. If you like what you see, mark your calendars for the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, the annual winter event spearheaded by DSI.
Posted on Apr 11, 2011 by Angela Risko
