The February edition of Local Grins previews upcoming LaughFest shows and spotlights special comedy performances across the region. Plus view a photo gallery of recent comedy shows.
Musical Funnies: Nathan Walton performing recently at The Stray as part of the ‘Beat the Winter Blues’ night of music and comedy. (Photo/DeVarron Thomas)
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KEVIN HART’S UPCOMING GR RUN AT DEVOS
Comedian and famed celebrity roaster Nikki Glaser jokingly noted, “no one works harder” than Kevin Hart. And that certainly seems to be true for his time in West Michigan later this year.
The actor, producer, businessman, and comedian has added a second show to his scheduled June performance date. According to the press release, “Due to popular fan demand, Emmy and Grammy-nominated comedian and Mark Twain Prize recipient Kevin Hart is adding a late-night show at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids on June 7, at 10 p.m.” It’s an extra show added to the 2025 leg of his highly successful ninth stand-up tour, “Acting My Age.” Tickets are available now at DeVosPerformanceHall.com.
IMPROV COMES TO LAUGHFEST IN MARCH
Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids is mounting another great year of their community comedy festival, LaughFest, March 5-9, 2025, at various venues all around West Michigan, including festival sponsor Gun Lake Casino, Local Grins sponsor The Comedy Project, and the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Featured stand-up comedians Dan Soder, Adam Ray, Corey B, and Gabby Bryan will be bringing the polished solo laughs all festival, but those looking for a more uninhibited communal experience should check out some of the many improv comedy shows as well. All tickets are available at laughfest.org.
The Dispatch and Friends kick off the improv jams with a show at 8 p.m. March 6. Tickets are $10. You can do a double dip of improv shows on March 7, with River City Improv at 7:30 p.m. at fan-favorite Wealthy Theatre (tickets are $12-$16) and Battle Bots at The Comedy Project at 9 p.m. (tickets are $17).
Family improv fans can geek out at 11 a.m. March 8 with free admission at Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, and grown-ups can enjoy Pop Scholars Improv at Wealthy Theatre at 8 p.m. followed by the “Choose Your Own Improv Show” at The Comedy Project at 9 p.m. (tickets are $17).
MICHIGAN COMEDY SHOW ROUNDUP
• Sunday Night Funnies Women’s History Month Show – Sunday Night Funnies host Brian B. is proud to announce the third Annual Women’s History Month show at 7:30 p.m. Sunday (March 2) at Woody’s Press Box in Wyoming. Speaking about the inspiration for the show, Brian notes he “wanted to celebrate the contribution women comedians have brought to the show through the years and what better time to do that than Women’s History Month. Locally, it wasn’t
long ago that there weren’t many women doing standup comedy. But, over the course of the last few years that number has been steadily growing. We’re featuring eight extremely funny women comics for this show. This special performance includes Lansing comedian Nicole Melnyk and Grand Rapids’ Kim Cook.” Admission is free, and more information about Sunday Night Funnies can be found on Facebook.
• Cooking & Comedy with Chef Jenna Arcidiacono and Comedian Nardos Osterhart – Join Chef Jenna Arcidiacono, famed owner of Amore Trattoria Italiana, as she teaches local comedian Nardos Osterhart some of her favorite cooking techniques. Join this funny duo and watch as they cook on March 9. Celebrity chef and founder of the nonprofit organization Food Hugs, Jenna Arcidiacono, and famed stand-up comedian Nardos Osterhart (her album, “Nice Try,” debuted at #1 on iTunes) join forces for this hilarious afternoon of cooking for a cause. Tickets are $10 and are available at laughfest.org here.
• For the Birds Comedy Show Hosted by Lucky Lee – Comedian and artist Lucky Lee is hosting “For the Birds: Nerdy Birdies Comedy Show” at 8 p.m. March 21 at Art of Life Studio and Gallery, located at 1134 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids. The show features a lineup of female and non-binary identifying comedians, including Finn St. John, Lisa Green, Dominique A. Martinez, Virginia Anzengruber, and Angela Verges. Tickets are $15 and available by texting (616) 401-2603.
• USS Comedy Open Mic (Traverse City) – The longest running free weekly comedy show in Northern Michigan is the USS Comedy Open Mic, presented by Kamikaze Comedy, happens every Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Union Street Station in Traverse City. More information about booking and lineups can be found at https://www.facebook.com/USSComedy.
• Comedy at the Creek 19 – Comedy at the Creek returns for their 19th edition on March 15 at Country Creek Reception Hall in Dimondale. From the event page: “Ten hilarious comedians to hit the stage live to dish out the laughs. There will be great drink specials available at the bar for patrons who are 21 and over. PJ’s Catering will have delicious food available. The doors will open at 6:00pm and the show runs from 8:00-10:30pm. $5.00 at the door and entry is 18+. You may contact the hall directly @ (517) 643-9797 for table reservations of 8 or more.” More info available at https://www.facebook.com/events/518909854098939. You can also follow Comedy at the Creek on Facebook.
• Local Grins Presents a Photo Recap by Devarron Thomas – Local Spins is always looking to bring you the funniest comedy in Michigan and beyond. We’re proud to have been the media sponsor for a few of these events over the past few months and love to share about shows that you might have missed out on (so that you can keep your eye out for them in the future). Is there a show that YOU want us to know about? Email us. All photos provided by comedian and photographer Devarron Thomas. Follow him on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
PHOTO GALLERY: Beat the Winter Blues with Nathan Walton & Virginia Anzengruber
Sam Rager Comedy Special Taping at The Independent Comedy Club
The Inaugural Snowfest Comedy Pub Crawl in Muskegon (with Pigeon Hill, Rad Dads Tacos, Rake Beer Project, Legend Bar & Grill, Liquid Assets and Unruly Brewing hosted by Ricarlo Williams)
Photos by Devarron Thomas
Local Grins is assembled by writer and comedy devotee Virginia Anzengruber. Email comments, questions and show additions to virginia.anzengruber@gmail.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
The Comedy Project – The Comedy Project (TCP) is a comedy theater and moonshine bar in Grand Rapids’ vibrant Westside Business District, Joe Anderson and Kristin Kendall helm TCP and foster an incredible community of comedic performers and writers right here in West Michigan. Anderson, a veteran of improvisational theater training, created The Comedy Project’s Training Center Program, which “provides training in Improvisation, Sketch Comedy and Stand-Up Comedy.” They host private events, and their slate of weekly sketch and improv comedy shows can be found at https://thecomedyproject.com/shows/.
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