Something funny happens in Plano: Called The House of Comedy, it’s a new venue opening in The Shops at Legacy by two players with decades of experience in the industry.
It will be available in the 7301 Lone Star Dr. Opened in a space previously occupied by The Blue Martini, featuring both national and local acts. There will also be a full service restaurant with food and drink.
The venue comes to Plano through a collaboration between two showbiz vets who are jointly opening halls in the US, including another called the Fuel Comedy Club in Detroit.
Rick Bronson is a comedian, magician, television host, writer, and producer who owns and operates comedy clubs such as the Comic Strip on West Edmonton Mall in Canada and the House of Comedy, which currently has locations in Minnesota and Phoenix.
John Tobin is a longtime Boston-based promoter who owns clubs across New England, including Laugh Boston, a state-of-the-art comedy theater that’s Boston’s first stop for national headliners and local favorites, the Comedy Attic in Worcester and Treehouse Comedy Club in Connecticut.
The Plano Club will host high-performing artists from Netflix, Comedy Central, HBO, and more.
“We’re going to bring in top touring comics from across the country and the UK,” says Bronson. “We’re definitely going for the stamps and fame guys, with a lot of acts doing full-time shows in Vegas like Piff the Magic Dragon.”
Back and forth
Dallas has maintained a stable comedy scene with two locations in the national improv chain in Addison and Arlington and the local Hyenas comedy nightclub chain in Dallas and Fort Worth. It was also the home of the Dallas Comedy House in Deep Ellum for a decade, which taught standup classes. (A new venue called the Dallas Comedy Club will open in its place in September.)
Bronson and Tobin saw the market growing particularly in Collin County. The two began touring the area long before the pandemic broke out before settling down for Legacy, impressed with the mix of retail, dining, and easy access to the toll road.
“We want to be a destination not just for comedy fans in Dallas-Fort Worth, but also for those in the area looking for entertainment just a short Uber ride from home,” says Bronson.
They will use their experience and network to book well-known acts that have performed at their other venues.
“We’re trying to come up with a marquee name that represents the appeal, but all of our shows will be three-person shows, including a host and an appearance that will be local or regional,” says Bronson.
Dallas-based comedian CJ Starr has performed elsewhere in the House of Comedy and says he values their format, which not only gives the floor to the headliners, but also to the host and featured act.
“There are places where the moderator is just a moderator, but their clubs give everyone a chance to perform,” he says.
“It’s in our best interests to develop our talent locally, that’s just as important,” says Bronson. “You want a show that is fun from start to finish. Since John and I own a number of clubs, we can create opportunities for those ‘feature’ and ‘mcee’ actors who might otherwise not get the chance to tour. I’ve opened a lot of doors to young acts. “
They have also expanded the range and type of shows and evolved with the medium.
“We do things like people recording a podcast, and that draws a huge crowd – you feel like you are overhearing a conversation that you shouldn’t be hearing,” says Tobin. “There are so many different formats these days.”
“After this pandemic, comedy seems more important than ever,” says Bronson. “It feels like people really crave a good laugh.”
And they do it with verve.
“We’re not your father and mother’s comedy club, in a smoky basement with a brick wall background,” says Tobin. “I’ve always said we try to create a Las Vegas experience with every location.”
Eats
Serving food is part of their business, with an emphasis on dishes that can be shared.
“Most people go to a comedy club in groups of four or more,” says Tobin. “Instead of a large cheeseburger, we have sliders that you can share. The kitchen in Plano is big and it’s a trendy area, so we’re going to do something a little more ambitious than bar food or fried foods – a little more towards charcuterie boards, pretzel bites and hummus with naan. “
The club will have around 260-280 seats, which Bronson, himself a lifelong comedian, thinks is “absolutely the right size.”
“There’s a very good reason Jerry Seinfeld and Dave Chappelle still show up in clubs of 100 people,” he says. “Comedy works best in an intimate setting. We don’t want more than 300 people. They are there to enjoy a special, private moment.”
“We promote a culture of joy,” says Tobin. “If you are going through difficult circumstances in your life, your job, you can come to one of our clubs, we have you there for two hours with food and drink and great comedy, and that makes you forget your problems. Comics are joy and their voices must be heard. “
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