ANDY WOOD WAS BACKSTAGE after David Cross’ set at the Newmark Theatre. Cross was mellow, as uninterested in the chatter as he was the bottle of Patrón in the dressing room. Wood’s friend Todd Glass, who opened the show, introduced him to the headliner. Immediately Cross perked up.
“You’re the guy who does the comedy fest?” said Cross. “I’ve heard a lot of good things.”
Wood, entrepreneur that he is, didn’t miss a beat: “Well, we’d love to have you.” Cross was interested, but careful not to commit (one never knows when one might be filming Alvin and the Chipmunks 3….)
The word has gotten out. Portland is a fertile ground, ready for quality standup. Glass remembered his first experience playing here: “When I was at Bridgetown, I was like, ‘Holy fuck! The audience there gets it.'” Buoyed by the festival experience, Glass—like a number of other nationally known comedians—returned for a one-off show. Bridgetown (or should we say, Andy Wood) is changing Portland comedy.
Wood has been expanding Bridgetown’s brand by promoting shows apart from the festival. These shows are a boon for local comedians: Opening slots afford much-needed opportunities to perform before new audiences and learn from professional, touring comedians. Wood even bounced onto the national radar (he was hired to help organize the Bentzen Ball comedy festival in Washington, DC). And though Wood is responsible for the lion’s share of Portland’s comedy growth, the year has seen other positive developments.
The new Curious Comedy Theater, whose schedule leans more heavily on improv and comic troupes than standup, looks to be a survivor. And the Clinton Street Theater has proven to be a fine medium-sized venue.
Local comedy open mic nights are vibrant as ever, and a number of regulars appear ready to take the next step. Highlights include Don Frost, whose stream-of-consciousness, vein-bursting rants continually tear up audiences with twisted joy. Young avant-garde comedian Phil Schallberger is coming into his own, cultivating an Andy Kaufman-esque meta weirdness. And hilarious slacker Richard Bain recently had a short broadcast on Conan O’Brien.
While it’s nice to see the local comedy scene gaining momentum, all is not rosy in the Rose City. All too often seats are empty. Talent is going unnoticed. It doesn’t make sense—we all like to laugh. We go to concerts and movies. Why not comedy? If you’ve never been—or a bad show scared you away—take a chance in the coming year. There’s nothing quite like it.
Great article! Thanks for supporting live comedy.
How about more pub in the merc about upcoming stand up shows? or maybe info on regular venues in this here story? i wish i went more but never ever hear about stand up besides the big shows, harvey’s or some such.
Hey Andrew, you missed the Brody Theater in your year in comedy. We’re doing improv and standup in the middle of downtown on NW Broadway & Burnside. Our standup and open mic nights are to packed houses.
For up-to-date info about Portland comedy news and events, you can visit pdxcomedyblog.wordpress.com!
I’ve been in P-Town for four years. An avid comedy fan i’ve seen what the City has to offer and would contend that seats are empty because the local comedy scene is primarily focused on Gen Y adolescent humor. Anyone over 40 wants more than dick/fart/poop/and genital jokes – a rather small, myopic and arrogant worldview that demonstrates a distinct lack of intelligence or sophistication. This stuff gets old and ceases to be creatively interesting. (Check out the above picture of some dude pissing on the wall. Give me a break. This is four year old humor. At least the Penis Puppet guys did something original with their dicks). Some of the improv groups show possibility but generally speaking those of us who have disposable income tend to spend it on the big boys/girls who pass through town and know what their doing …Craig Ferguson, Paula Poundstone, BIll Maher, etc.
I love to laugh and will continue to rather sporadically check out the local comedy venue but not with any expectations or gusto.