BY: TESSA ALMOND AND KELLY AIGLON
It’s not a joke: The Laughing Tap is relocating, and it’s not (entirely) because of the rent.
Come March, the independent stand-up comedy club will reopen in the historic George Watts & Son Building (761 N. Jefferson St.) near Cathedral Square Park. And sure, the rising rent at the club’s Walker’s Point location added pressure, but co-owner Matt Kemple says the move was driven by growth, not financial strain.
“We had about 80 seats,” Kemple explains. “Our shows were selling out regularly, and we needed a location large enough to expand our seating.”
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Kemple founded the Milwaukee Comedy Festival in 2006, which grew alongside the local stand-up scene and eventually led to the opening of The Laughing Tap as a year-round venue in 2020. He says 20 years ago, Milwaukee had only a handful of clubs and few booking local talent. Today, The Laughing Tap draws audiences from beyond the city, most notably Chicago.
The move’s boost in capacity is meant to meet this demand. Kemple notes that more seats allow them to book higher-level talent. Steady foot traffic, nearby parking and proximity to top restaurants made the George Watts building an ideal location.
The main room’s square layout will create a larger, more inviting entrance than before, a prominent bar area and roughly 50% more seating. The team will also lean into the art deco elements of the century-old building to create a casual yet upscale atmosphere.
Kemple sees the move as a sign of the city’s growing scene, and intends it to solidify Milwaukee’s place on the comedy map for audiences and comedians alike.
“Making people laugh has been my life’s passion,” he says. “Seeing performers having fun is the most important thing.”
Where (Else) to Laugh
ComedySportz
Born in Kalt’s restaurant in 1984, this local original is still an institution. The group throws two improv teams into a game-style competition, with the crowd deciding who wins.
Interchange Theater Co-op
Dominating the local longform scene out of a black box in Calvary Presbyterian, this co-op is proof that a church basement can double as the city’s most unexpected comedy incubator.
Voyager
This show is a second-Tuesday staple in Landmark Lanes’ Moon Room. It blends bucket-spot stand-up, Armando-style improv and organized chaos, making the case that the stand-up and improv worlds should hang out more.
Chastity Washington
Rising from a college talent show to touring with Charlie Berens and Roy Wood Jr., this high-energy, story-filled comic mines her childhood and teaching career. She continually develops a one-woman show called Evening of Expression.
Michael Kittelson
The ComedySportz pro’s venture into stand-up in 2022 included a bombed joke about Ellen DeGeneres, which only fueled his fire. He channels sly charm into his characters, confessionals and the monthly stand-up night “Hotties Only” at The Sugar Maple.
Raegan Niemela
This legal pro by day debuted at Bremen Café in 2017 and now co-hosts its weekly Monday Mass open mic night. Niemela delivers wry takes on family, dating and politics that leave audiences feeling deliciously complicit.
