The comedy scene in The Villages has grown over the past few years. It was not so long ago that there were just a handful of people going to open mic nights every month. Now, The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center is packed every Tuesday and Wednesday, and the organizers have to double up the shows on various nights.
Stand-up comedy performances at the Lazy Mac’s Laughs comedy club at Old Mill Playhouse and The Sharon draw comedy enthusiasts who are eager for a dose of laughter.
From Howie Mandel to Jay Leno, The Sharon has hosted a wide array of renowned stars in the venue.
“We include comedy in the lineup of entertainment each season at The Sharon because we feel like it brings high-quality names like Jay Leno, Kathleen Madigan and Howie Mandel for an enjoyable night out,” Elizabeth Constant, senior booking manager said. “We try and represent all performing arts, including comedy.”
This season Jay Leno and Terry Fator will return.
The venue hosts stand-up on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and recently added Monday nights due to big turnouts.
Browsing thevillagesentertainment.com, Villagers can check the “Live Performances” tab and find a section dedicated to comedy, including stand-up at Lazy Mac’s.
“I think the public welcome a lighthearted night of fun and laughter,” Constant said.
Gid Pool from “Bonkerz” performed recently, jolting the crowd with sporadic bursts of funniness.
“In the business, there’s a thing called applause breaks. They laugh, and they applaud, and I got several of those, and when I talk to them, they talk back to me,” said Pool, who is based out of North Port. “When you’re a comedian, those are the things you go by – are they laughing and are they applauding, which means you hit home with something and they feel comfortable enough to talk back to you.”
His content is out of his travels, raising kids and relationships and is hit in retirement communities like The Villages.
“They have life experience, and they know how things are,” he said. “You talk about the problems we have (as) older people, and they get it because they’ve got them.”
Tickets can be bought online at thevillagesentertainment.com or at any Villages Box Office location.
