Funny stuff

Friday, Oct. 24 & Saturday, Oct. 25

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There’s no shortage of open mic standup comedy in the Lansing area: Comedy Night at the Green Door on Sundays, Mac’s Monday Comedy Night on Mondays and the brand new Reno’s East Comedy Hour that started last Tuesday. It’s a three-way combo of free comedy to start the week, watching up-and-coming standups hone their material in five minutes or less for free.

But when Connxtions Comedy Club closed earlier this year, it left a hole in mid- Michigan for venues where professional stand-up comedians could perform — folks who had developed full hour-long comedy sets. To close that hole, the Stockyard BBQ and Brew in Charlotte has changed gears to become a parttime comedy club:

The Comedy Zone. And this weekend it welcomes its first two comedians, Jim Holder (pictured top) and Al Park (pictured bottom).

Holder is an 18-year veteran of standup who has developed a “deceptively friendly” yet cynical style. Park’s worldwise attitude and storytelling flair blends personal observation and cultural satire. They’ve told jokes on “The Tonight Show,” “The Late Show” and standup showcases across the cable dial. And this weekend they’re kicking off a new age of standup comedy in mid-Michigan.

“I would hope to see all 157 seats filled,” said Comedy Zone owner Terry Ranshaw. “Even getting 100 people out here would be a good response.”

With over 3,000 touring professional comedians in the country right now, there will never be a lack of talent to grace the newly built Comedy Zone stage. Ranshaw, a Charlotte native, has owned the building for 20 years and turned it into a restaurant a few months ago. He’s working with Heffron Agency to book comics on the weekends. If it takes off, he may expand comedy to other nights of the week. H o l d e r described his style as “silly and ridiculous,” with lots of crowd interaction. Being the funny guy that he is, Holder took the liberty of poking fun at his interviewer.

“Please tell me youre not one of those drunk reporters who comes to the show and heckles me for an hour and then wants part of my money,” he quipped. “Im married and my wife is stingy.”

Holder is Michigan native who said he’s looking forward to this show above and beyond a regular show.

“I haven’t been back in forever,” he said. “Anytime I play there I always feel Im home.”

And he draws a comparison between comedy and a very unlikely profession.

“The professional stand up comic is much like a hooker,” Holder said by phone. “Once we start getting paid for it, we quit doing it for free. Isnt that sad?” Of course, the Stockyard is also a barbecue joint, and there will be rib specials and something called a “meat bar” before the show. We’ll let the comedians have fun with that one.

— KRISTA WILSON and ALLAN I. ROSS

Comedians Jim Holder and Al Park

8:30 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 & Saturday, Oct. 25 The Comedy Zone Grand Opening at the Stockyard Bar-B-Que and Brew 1820 Lansing Road, Charlotte $10 (517) 993-6093, thestockyardbbq.com


THURSDAY, OCT. 23-SUNDAY, OCT. 26 >> “BLITHE SPIRIT” AT RIVERWALK

In this Nol Coward comedy, a successful novelist unintentionally rouses the spirit of his late wife, who starts haunting him and complicating his marriage to his new wife. An ineffective psychic only makes things worse. The show is directed by Mary Chmurynsky. 7 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive, Lansing. $15/$12 senior, student and military ($10/$8 Thursday). (517) 482-5700, riverwalktheatre.com. (Run continues Oct. 30-Nov. 2.)

SUNDAY, OCT. 26>> DAVID SEDARIS AT WHARTON CENTER

You’ve heard his deadpan disassembly of everything from his family to the entire American Christmas tradition on NPR. Now you can witness his razor-sharp wit in person as David Sedaris appears at the Wharton Center as part of the Doctors Company Variety Series. This, his third Wharton appearance, will combine elements of stand-up, stories, interactions with audiences and readings from his books. 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. Wharton Center, Cobb Great Hall.750 E. Shaw Lane, MSU campus, East Lansing. $28-$58 (800) WHARTON, whartoncenter.com.


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