Funny Valentines

Need a laugh? Here are four local comedy groups to catch

By Abby McKiernan | Feb. 8, 2025

They say that the secret to a long life (and a lot of happiness along the way) is a good sense of humor, and Traverse City has no shortage of opportunities for laughter. From side-splitting improv troupes to open mic nights brimming with raw talent and professional stand-up acts, our local comedy community has something for everyone. Dive in to meet the faces who turn ordinary nights into unforgettable memories.

Good on Paper Improv

Traverse City’s longest-running improv troupe, Good on Paper, is entering its 14th—and final—season. The group of six—Turner Sato, Bryan Boettcher, Michael Libby, David Avis, Stephanie Young, and Heather Helsel—will host their final show in May at the Traverse City Comedy Club, followed by a bonus performance at Black Star Farms in June.

David Avis, who has been in comedy for over 25 years, found his passion through Second City workshops in Detroit, which his wife encouraged him to try.

“I loved sketch comedy so much I took the same course twice,” Avis recalls. “After that, I consumed every book, show, and course I could find. I fell in love with learning the art.” Outside of comedy, he manages the Black Star Farms Inn and enjoys sharing laughs at the Traverse City Comedy Club during their regular monthly performances.

Behind the Mic
Favorite comedian: Steven Wright
Best show you’ve ever seen: Brian Regan, anywhere at any show. “He’s the comedian other comedians want to be.”
Favorite comedy club: GO Comedy in Ferndale, Michigan; Traverse City Comedy Club
Must-watch TV special: Nate Bargatze’s Netflix specials. “Relatively clean comedy where kids can be in the room.”
Rising local stars: Full Tilt Improv Group

For upcoming shows, visit facebook.com/GoodOnPaperImprov.

Traverse City Comedy Club

Traverse City Comedy Club has been delivering big laughs since its launch in 2021. Owner Stuart Lazar, a “recovering lawyer” and law professor at the State University of New York, turned his love for stand-up comedy into a passion project.

“I tried stand-up comedy and I am terrible at it,” admits Lazar. “I don’t have the timing and quick wit you need. So, those who can’t do, own I suppose!” The venue offers a curated lineup of seasoned comedians who bring the house down every weekend.

“I love working behind the bar because it gives me a chance to meet the audience. The common ground of comedy brings people together, no matter their background,” Lazar adds.

Behind the Mic
Favorite comedian: Dave Chappelle
Best show you’ve ever seen: Bobcat Goldthwait at TC Comedy Club
Favorite comedy club: Traverse City Comedy Club, of course!
Must-watch TV special: Eddie Murphy: Raw. “A comedy classic everyone should watch.”
Upcoming act to catch: Bob Zany, Feb 28 & March 1

For upcoming shows, visit traversecitycomedyclub.com

Full Tilt Improv Group

Full Tilt is putting a fresh spin on Traverse City’s comedy scene. What started as a small teaching group has grown into a nonprofit that’s making waves by blending performance and education.

Nicole Hastings McKendrick, Full Tilt’s executive director, brings over a decade of experience from Chicago’s famed Second City, where she honed her skills in the gold standard of Midwest comedy.

“When I moved to Traverse City in 2019, I wasn’t sure if I’d find a comedy community like I had in Chicago,” Hastings McKendrick says. “But when Lisa [Thauvette, Full Tilt co-founder] reached out, I saw the potential here, and it’s been an incredible journey.”

The group offers a tiered approach to improv, with classes for beginners, intermediate students, and advanced performers, as well as a middle school program starting in September 2024. “Improv is like a sport—you’re constantly sharpening skills, not memorizing lines,” Hastings McKendrick explains. “Every show is different, and that’s what makes it so exhilarating.”

Behind the Mic
Favorite comedian: Madeline Kahn (an actress from the ’70s)
Best show you’ve ever seen: The Improvised Shakespeare Company in Chicago
Favorite comedy club: Second City in Chicago
Must-watch TV special: Hannah Gadsby: Nanette
Rising local act: The Untitled Improv Show

You can catch Full Tilt at monthly performances at The Workshop, or at special events like their Valentine’s Day show at Dennos Museum. fulltiltcomedy.org

Kamikaze Comedy – USS Open Mic Night

Kamikaze Comedy, known for its raw energy and fearless humor, has been a staple of the Traverse City comedy scene since 2016. The group was founded by Matt Zerilli and Ben Macks as a response to the closing of Falling Down Stairs Productions, and they quickly made their mark by hosting shows at local venues like the Parlor and Grand Traverse Distillery.

The USS Open Mic Night, which Jeremy West runs, has been going strong for almost seven years, originally held at GT Distillery before making the shift to Union Street Station (USS).

West says “selling out the Traverse City Comedy club for the Local Showcase during the Traverse City Comedy Festival last year” is high on the list of achievements for them. “And the good we’ve been able to do for various charities through comedy.”

Behind the Mic
Favorite comedian: Famous; Tom Segura, Underground; Stewart Huff
Best show you’ve ever seen: Stewart Huff’s intimate performance at Studio Anatomy
Favorite comedy club: Eugene’s Record Co-op (not technically a comedy club, but magic when they host)
Must-watch TV special: Dan Soder: On the Road
Rising local act: Nick Stafford, a regular at the USS open mic, known for his mix of innocence and absurdity

Catch West and crew at the USS Open Mic Night, which happens almost every Tuesday at 8pm at Union Street Station, to watch or come a little early and put your name on the list to try out your own bit on stage! facebook.com/USSComedy