The future of comedy is coming to Bay City.
Comedian and Saginaw-native Mike Ball has brought his The Future of Comedy Show to Striker Sports Bar at Washington Lanes for a winterlong residency.
The Future of Comedy brings national-level comedic talent to Bay City every other Friday now through mid-April. Sell enough tickets and the comedy tour could be extended through at least Memorial Day.
The next scheduled event is the Valentine’s Comedy Show on Friday, Feb. 15, featuring two headliners, Lucas Connely from New York and Rahm Kelly from Detroit, as well as Ball as the middle act.
"It’s a great opportunity to see comics you would otherwise have to travel to Royal Oak or Grand Rapids to see," says Ball.
"We’re bringing a very high level of comedy to the place where we live. You won’t have to drive far to have a good night."
Ball, who has been producing Future of Comedy shows throughout the Great Lakes Bay region for the past six years, was approached by the owner of Washington Lanes, he says. Washington Lanes wanted to bring comedy nights back to its club and gave Ball the winter and early spring to prove his mettle.
Ball promises as professional a show as can be found in Bay City. Professional sound, lighting, and stage are set up to complement the national comics. Seating is arranged so there’s "not a bad seat in the house."
Ball himself learned the ins and outs of comedy after a couple of stints in Los Angeles, interning for Pauly Shore at the Comedy Store and working at the HaHa Comedy Club. Since moving back to Michigan, he’s been producing comedy shows in Midland, Hemlock, and throughout the region. He now splits time between here and Chicago.
"Over the last year-and-a-half, we’ve produced over 200 shows in Michigan," Ball says.
"It’s starting to add up. Bigger opportunities are coming more and more."
Striker Sports Bar at Washington Lanes is located at 1205 Washington Ave. in Bay City. Tickets are available at the venue or online.
Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.
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