How often do people get to see comedy acts in Jersey City? (No political jokes, please.)
Seriously, there is a comedy night monthly at the downtown Jersey City café The Stockinette on Jersey Avenue, and comedy acts are performed from time to time at Arthouse Productions near Hamilton Park.
Now, the renowned New York comedy club Catch A Rising Star is bringing humor across the Hudson when they open their new satellite in Jersey City this month.
The comedy club, starting Wednesday, Feb. 24, will hold monthly shows in Michael Anthony’s restaurant, located on Washington Boulevard in the Newport Marina. And to kick things off at its new offshoot is legendary comedian Robert Klein as top billing.
“So one night a month, we could try out the comedy thing and there you go.” – Suzy Yengo
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Suzy Yengo, the president and partner of Catch A Rising Star Comedy Clubs and Productions, is looking forward to the first show in her hometown, which will also feature comic turns by Jersey City’s own John “Nutsy” Fagan, and Steve “The Beer Man” Lazarus.
“After travelling around the country for a few years managing our other clubs, I had my eye on placing a club in Jersey City in my own backyard,” Yengo said. “What a beautiful location with great access.”
There are other shows already scheduled for coming months: March 24 – Tom McTiernan; April 15 – Shull, Medicated Pete and Mark from JC, and May 20 – Thea Vidale and Jeff Norris. And there is a special show on April 10, “Shut Up and Eat” hosted by Vincent Pastore (“The Sopranos”), a family-style Italian dinner combined with humor that promises not to be family-friendly.
Make them laugh
Yengo had previously organized a show in Jersey City in November with another Jersey City comic Mike Marino, a benefit for the Jersey City Police Foundation and the Jersey City Firefighters Relief Fund.
The after-party for that show was held at Michael Anthony’s, and it was there that Yengo approached the owners of the restaurant about doing comedy shows in their establishment.
“I told them about Catch A Rising Star looking for places that could use some entertainment and they were sold on the idea,” Yengo said. “So one night a month, we could try out the comedy thing and there you go.”
Yengo added,” It is a beautiful place because of its location and there’s nothing else like this.”
Yengo pointed out that opening in Jersey City without a stand-alone club is not unusual for Catch A Rising Star as they also operate in venues such as The Hyatt Hotel in Princeton and the Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. The comedy club also has its own stand-alone New Jersey location in Sayreville.
And the Jersey City location like the ones in Reno and Princeton has elements that make it appealing to the public besides geography including food and an existing stage. But a comedy club is only as good as the talent that it attracts, and it helped that Robert Klein signed on for the first show.
“He is not just an international star but is also a dear friend to ‘Catch A Rising Star’ going back over 20 years,” Yengo said.
Yengo is confident that this show will be a success as well as others to come at their new Jersey City home.
“Some other restaurants will have comedy for one night but nobody can say they launched the careers of comics like Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock,” Yengo said.
Tickets for the Feb. 24 show and future shows are $25 with a two drink minimum per guest per show. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
The Apr. 10 show has a special ticket price of $100.
Advanced reservations are required. Ages 16 or older admitted.
For more information, call (609) 987-8018 or buy tickets online at www.catcharisingstar.com.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.