Now Appearing

Tuesday-Saturday
March 9-13

Claude Stuart

with Sharon Lacy

The Funny Stop continues its leadership in bringing new talent to Northeastern Ohio, this time with the first ever appearance of Claude Stuart at the club.

Claude is a human cartoon onstage. His hilarious physicality, his shameless stories of his consistantly bad luck, his unpredictable audience improv, and his nonstop energy make him stand out as a unique, top-notch, "must-see" comedian.

Stuart has appeared on numberous television shows including "Comics Unleashed"; "That 70s Show", "Scrubs", "The Best Damn Sports Show, Period!", "Last Comic Standing II", "Yo Momma!", "Oblivious!", "Talk Soup" and "Beverly Hills 90210". He has also appeared in feature films like Starship Troopers, Man on the Moon, and Fifteen Minutes of Fame which was produced by Don Faison of "Scrubs".

Claude is also the star of "Dick Nobody", the hit series on the Comedy Time network; and he recently won his episode of "Make a Hot Girl Laugh" for Comedy.com. He has also performed in numerous USO shows for the troops and television commercials for Doritos, Honda, Heneiken, Jeep Cherokee, Grapenuts, and even Midol (seriously).

With a career that was launched by winning "The Funnies Person in SMU Contest" back in 1995, Claude Stuart fell in love with and began pursuing stand-up comedy. (SMU technically stands for 'Southern Methodist University' however Claude is convinced it stands for 'Sex, Money and Underwear'.)

Claude worked for HBO's "Dennis Miller Live!" for three seasons, and he has made several appearances on the nationally syndicated "Bob and Tom" morning show, but this week will be your chance to see him live and in person at the Funny Stop Comedy Club.

Continuing an over 20 year tradition, The Funny Stop Comedy Club offers amateur comedians an opportunity to receive stage time to open the show on the first scheduled evening of each week.

Back on January 5th our current "Ohio's Best Amateur Comedian" contest began with its first qualifying round.

This has continued each Tuesday as fresh faces take the stage and a select few are chosen to move on in the competition.

The final preliminary round will be held on Tuesday, March 9th.

The shows on Tuesdays, March 16th, 23rd, and 30th will open with the quarter-final elimination rounds for those who advanced from the preliminaries.

The competition gets more intense at the Funny Stop when the semi-finals are contested on Tuesdays, April 2nd and 9th.

The Funny Stop's current "Ohio's Best Amateur Comedian" contest comes to a conclusion on Tuesday, April 16th when the newest champion is crowned.

Come out every Tuesday night to see the next generation of comedians and to cheer on your favorite!

If you have ever wanted to try your hand at comedy and have 5 minutes of clean material, contact Pete at 330-923-4700 to see if you can be added to one of the remaining Tuesday night amateur qualifying round line-ups.

On Tuesday, December 29th the Funny Stop hosted the finals of its multi-month long "Ohio's Best Amateur Comedian" contest.

The 12 finalists who had each qualified by surviving 3 elimination rounds in the competition each presented their 5 minutes of material in front of the "standing room only" crowd in the Funny Stop showroom.

After short segments by a number of professional comedians who were in attendance, the panel of judges narrowed the field of top amateurs to a final group of six including Boyce Blanchard, Justin Cash, Luca Inairo, Marlon Ivory, Ben Palmer, and Dan Schwartz.

The enthusiastic audience was given a final chance to show their response to each of the remaining contestants. With the audience input included, the final judging returned a unanimous choice of Dan Schwartz as the new "Ohio's Best Amateur Comedian" champion.

Schwartz joins Bryan Birker who won the second contest of 2009 as well as Black and Brenton Biddlecombe who were co-champions in the first competition of 2009 as the big winners this year.

Congratulations to Dan Schwartz, the other members of the top 6, and all of the amateurs who took the stage throughout the months of eliminations in the Funny Stop Comedy Club's "Ohio's Best Amateur Comedian" contest.

Coming Up Next

Tuesday-Saturday
March 16-20

Dirty Laundry
Show

An Evening Of Comedy
With Susan Smith
and Scott White

Grab your seat and hang on tight during this dirty, wild, roller coaster of a show that is perfect for anyone who has loved and lost.

They are the comedy duo "with a past" starring in the comedy tour of "former lovers". You will soon understand why this is called the "Dirty Laundry Show".

Susan Smith represents the ladies side of this coed, tag-team, comedy show.

That only seems appropriate as Smith is a former female wrestler who is a sweet southern belle gone bad. Her act has all the energy you would expect from this red-headed Amazon.

Susan does impressions, sings, and involves the audience with hilarious results. She is a seasoned performer and has graced stages throughout the country.

Northeastern Ohio comedy fans will remember Susan from her multiple appearances at the Funny Stop Comedy Club as one half of the Untamed Shrews. She has also appeared on the Disney Channel, USA Network, and The Nashville Network.

Scott White has certainly come a long way in the comedy business.

"I started doing comedy my first year of college. I took on a partner and we entered a contest where we came in dead last. It took me another 10 years to get back on the stage but after 25 brutal winters in Michigan I came to Houston, Texas and began my way back on the stage with stand-up comedy," White reflected.

Since that false start at the amateur contest White did his time and honed his craft, continuously making headway performing bits from life experiences and his own nostalgic interests. Word spread of White's talent as more and more club owners found their audiences heading out the exit door with hysterical laughter at the end of a night with this high energy performer!

"I have worked with some of the best (and worst) comics in the business. I have learned from my experience with both, and hope to keep growing as a comic."

Over the years Scott White has done sketch and improv comedy plus touched base with his acting skills. Scott has worked all over the country plus overseas entertaining our troops in Korea, Japan and Guam. Now you can hear Scott's CD "Dirty White Boy" on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Radio.

Over 20 Performers & Officials Took The Stage
During "A Toast To Mike Veneman" Fund Raiser

On Monday, January 18, 2010 the Funny Stop Comedy Club hosted "A Toast To Mike Veneman", a fund raising event to honor the longtime legend in Northeastern Ohio comedy who is currently battling ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease.

A huge audience was entertained and moved by the rapid fire comedy, sincere remembrances, previously untold stories, and governmental recognition during the bittersweet event which was highlighted by the more than 20 individuals who took the stage to honor Mike.

To see a full list of those who gave their time to appear at "A Toast To Mike Veneman" and to view several photos from the event, click HERE.

Thanks To All Of The Talented Performers Who Appeared At Our 20th Anniversary Celebration

Back Row (L-R) Mike Scanlon, Stan Piatt, Mike Wypasek, Pete Barak, Mike Veneman, Mayor Don Robart, Todd, Charlie Weiner, Rodney Bengston, Marv Conner, Kirk Bogos, Mike Conley, and Bill Boronky.

Front Row (L-R) Stuart Warner, Dan Long, Tony Barak, Lucy Bebee, Lionel Hamilton, John Rathbone, Mike Gersh, and Tommy Chong.

Absent from picture: Kathy Dice and "The Real" John King.

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New For 2010
Funny Stop
Comedy Club
VIP Card

Over $1,000 Value
For Less Than $50

In these tough economic times, who wouldn't jump at the chance to purchase an item valued at over $1,000 for less than $50 ???

With the introduction of the Funny Stop Comedy Club's 2010 VIP Card program, that is exactly what Northeastern Ohio comedy fans have the chance to do.

The Funny Stop's 2010 VIP Card offers FREE ADMISSION for the card member and one guest to any show on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday nights as well the 10:30 PM show on Fridays from January 1 through December 30, 2010.

A pair of regularly priced 10:30 PM Friday show tickets would run $20.00

Take this amount and multiply it times 52 weeks of the year and the Funny Stop 2010 VIP Card offers over $1,000 in savings during the year.

Beginning New Year's Day, the Funny Stop Comedy Club will offer the 2010 VIP Cards for sale for only $49.

THAT'S RIGHT! Only $49 for an opportunity to save over $1,000.

The Funny Stop Comedy Club 2010 VIP Card will be offered for purchase at the showroom door or by contacting the box office at 330-923-4700.

Exciting new programs like this are just one reason that the Funny Stop Comedy Club has been selected for back to back years by MyFoxCleveland's "Hot List" as the #1 Venue for Live Comedy in Northeastern Ohio.