Hawaii’s Comedy U and Jose “Dynamite” Figuera are holding the laughs alive in Honolulu because the Aloha State continues its financial restoration amid the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Comedy U boasts a roster of gifted and dedicated standup comedians and two showcase performances weekly at two well-liked Honolulu venues, The Blue Word and Hawaiian Brian’s.
Jose is himself an completed standup and veteran of the Honolulu’s radio business. He had been working Comedy U exhibits for years when the pandemic compelled the everlasting closure of O’Toole’s Irish Pub and Anna O’Brien’s, the place he had cultivated an enthusiastic and constant base of Honolulu comedy fans and performers.
It was months earlier than there was one other comedy present in Honolulu, and a few stops and begins in between. However with laborious work and perseverance, Jose was capable of make it occur not simply at one hole-in-the-wall hideaway, however at two of Honolulu’s most prestigious live performance venues, the Blue Word and Hawaii Brian’s.
Jose says he has loads of hope for the way forward for comedy on Hawaii, regardless of the challenges offered by necessary journey quarantine and a nonetheless harmful pandemic. “If something, it’s the truth that we’ve got a decent knit neighborhood of comics and supporters,” he says. Comedy U has gone from having no exhibits in any respect to working two exhibits at two venues weekly on Wednesdays, rigorously distanced for max security and meals and drinks desk service.
Jose’s proud to maintain 10 comedians engaged on these nights. He says the comics have been versatile and understanding, keen to make schedule modifications to accommodate different comics who might have household, work, or well being points.
The sense of neighborhood is powerful with Comedy U, and Jose is intent on paying that aloha ahead. He retains admission costs low not solely to draw extra folks, however in order that paying clients can nonetheless afford to tip their bartenders, servers and workers.
“We’re all simply doing these items to assist us heal as finest we will,” Jose says.
Hawaii Trip Connection Podcast cohost and Emmy-Award winner Lanai Tabura has additionally signed with the efforts of Comedy U, and he’s internet hosting an upcoming evening at Hawaiian Brian’s on January 13. Lanai is a vastly profitable standup comic, having began his profession on Previous Waikiki in long-gone venues that lined what’s now the Waikiki Seashore Stroll.
“I haven’t performed standup shortly!” Lanai says. “I’m simply glad we’ve got a possibility to hit the stage once more in a protected atmosphere.”
Posted by: Jamie Winpenny
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