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Arlington comedy club provides music, food and laughter

Written by By Andrew Plock, The Shorthorn staff

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 08:21 PM

Improv manager Jeff Sewell opened the newest addition to the Improv comedy clubs in the Arlington Highlands December 2009. There are 23 other Improv comedy clubs across the country. (The Shorthorn: Aisha Butt)

With everything that’s opening up in the Arlington Highlands, there’s one place that deserves a laugh. The Improv Comedy Club, a historic comedy club known as the very first comedy venue, opened its doors over the winter break in the center of the ever-expanding Arlington Highlands. This franchise combines not only food and comedy, but a Dueling Piano Bar as well.

The Arlington Highlands outlet is the most recent opening of the franchise. Veteran manager Jeff Sewell said it’s one of the biggest things for Arlington in awhile.

“People are tired of going to Dallas and Fort Worth for entertainment,” Sewell said. “Who else brings you the biggest stars week after week?”

Starting as a Hollywood restaurant in the 1960s, the Improv now stretches across the U.S. and has been the home for comedy’s biggest names for the past 40 years. From Jerry Seinfeld to Dave Chappelle, hundreds of comedians have stood in front of its iconic brick wall.

The Improv’s traditional format is a comedy club and restaurant combined into one, but the Arlington version adds the American-Cajun restaurant Fat Fish Blue and Dueling Piano Bar to enhance the experience and give customers more than just comedy.

“The Dueling Piano Bar is an idea that we wanted in the restaurant. It’s got a lot of crowd interaction,” Sewell said. “It’s been around for awhile so it’s not a trend. It’s here to stay.”

The Dueling Piano Bar involves two piano players performing covers of famous songs and letting people take part in karaoke, as well as making a little background noise.

Improv Comedy Club and Dining Theatre

Where: Arlington Highlands, 309 Curtis Mathes Way Ste 147, Arlington, TX
When: Thursday 8 p.m., Comedian Greg Giraldo from Comedy Central
Prices: $17 Full Menu Showroom

Mechanical engineering senior Cole Grandjean said he has been to a piano bar and enjoys the atmosphere.

“I love it,” Grandjean said. “They crack jokes and play songs that everyone knows and grab people up on stage. It’s hilarious.”

The two adjoined businesses make for one long, eventful evening as one could come early for a show, eat and walk straight into the bar.

Architecture senior Alex Wells said he likes that Arlington is establishing a little more for residents to do.

“This is bringing nightlife entertainment to Arlington,” Wells said. “It might keep some of the people here instead of going to Dallas.”

Sewell is working on getting a free weekend of entertainment for UTA students but is still working on the details. Until then, students can catch a show each weekend from Thursday to Saturday. Shows go on regularly at 8 p.m. Thursday and 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Prices are $17 for any showroom performance.

This week, Greg Giraldo is rolling in and is most known for his degrading of celebrities on “Comedy Central Roasts.”
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 January 2010 08:27 PM )

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Improv Comedy Club and Dining Theatre

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