Improv at Harrah's

A hotbed of basement folk venues during the 1960's, New York is largely credited with the birth of U.S comedy clubs as we now know them. The then humble “Hell's Kitchen” saw former speakeasies realize a new potential as intimate stand-up venues, within which the “fathers of comedy” grew to prominence. One such entity was Budd Friedman, founder of “The Improv” franchise and first Improvisational Comedy Club (West 44th Street, N.Y) in 1963. The club proved an instantaneous hit, and was the springboard for many contemporary comics - including Jay Leno and Freddy Prinze. Freidman's ripple effect franchise launched sister venues within Los Angeles, Las Vegas and California respectively.

Freidman's chain of “Improv” clubs all maintained a similar objective, which was to attract and showcase the very best in comedic talent, whether established or starting out. “The Improv” at Harrah's opened in 1995, and proved at the time, to be the launchpad that Vegas desperately needed, given the sheer wealth of talent the city attracted. With it's faux brick décor; one man stage and relatively intimate capacity (in comparison to bigger resort comedy club attempts), “The Improv” retained that vital chemistry which had made the New York enterprise so successful. It was a simple, no frills venue, where nothing could distract the eye, or detract from the performer – who should be the only person courting attention within a dedicated stand-up lair.

Having launched the careers of prolific comedians such as Kevin Nealon and Richard Lewis, “The Improv” promptly became a venue attributed with class acts. It set a precedent in Sin City for serving up only tried-and-tested talent - performers usually having undertaken some form of scrutiny/ critique at other shows. prior to being invited to headline. Favored not just for the famous faces, but the sheer variety of comedy offered each week, Harrah's “Improv” has enjoyed four consecutive years as “Best Comedy Club in Vegas” - the conclusive results of annual polls, conducted by the Las Vegas Journal.

So what can you expect from Harrah's 15-year old venue, that makes it a viable choice over other offerings in Vegas? Quite simply – diversity. With three new comics taking to the stage each and every week of the year, the show is one that can never be critiqued prior to the headliners names being advertised. That being said, you can't really expect mediocre performances, given the bounty of professional comics gagging to play there. Openers tend to be relatively new acts to the Neon City circuit, with names such as La Hardy and Flip Schultz serving up a 20-minute slice in order to build anticipation. Feature acts are inevitably those you'll have seen advertising their own shows around Vegas, while the Steve Byrne's and John Caponera's steal the ultimate limelight as headliners. With a three act, 90 minute show; Harrah's “Improv” defies anyone not to find a little funny, among it's triple nightly offerings!