Comedy Attic celebrates four years

Jared Thompson was an unhappy Comcast employee four years ago. When they asked him to relocate to Fishers, Ind., he quit.

Today, his very own club, the Comedy Attic, celebrates four years of successful laughs.

“This all happened by chance,” Thompson said. “They gave me an ultimatum that I had to move. I told them to fly a kite, so we opened the comedy club.”

Jared, 35, and his wife, Dayna, purchased the Walnut Street venue in 2008 and worked hard to make it their own special place. The Thompsons stayed up painting the club’s scarlet walls until 4 a.m., laying the tile and carpet themselves.

The first shows at the Attic were slow. 

“We had no idea what we were doing, and the booking was less than stellar,” Thompson said. “There were people, especially at first, who were skeptical.”

Since then, the Comedy Attic has developed a reputation for quality comedy in the Midwest. Marquee acts are more frequent and crowds have grown larger. Sold-out shows by famed comedian Doug Benson put the club on the national map in December 2008.

“Doug Benson basically saved this club,” Thompson said. “We were able to take a deep breath and know that the town will respond if we give them something to respond to.”

Thompson expects another sold-out response with this weekend’s anniversary special featuring national headliner Greg Behrendt.

Behrendt authored the book-turned-hit-movie “He’s Just Not That Into You” and exclusively performs major venues and late-night television.

He stepped in last-minute to replace “Saturday Night Live” alum Tim Meadows, who was originally scheduled to perform tonight.

“Greg is a great comic,” comedian Melinda Kashner said. “He’s just as good, if not a better show, than we would have for Tim Meadows.”

Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan will host tonight’s featured show. Kruzan has hosted previous anniversary shows to roaring acclaim. Posters for the weekend bill him as a “comedy legend.”

“Everyone that’s ever seen this guy is just completely floored by how great this guy is at comedy,” Thompson said of the mayor. “It’s just uncanny how funny this guy is. I would hire him to host on the weekend right now.”

The Comedy Attic will also use the anniversary weekend to benefit Area 10, a local organization devoted to helping seniors in need. Thompson estimates the anniversary weekend will raise more than $4,000.

This weekend also sets a sentimental stage for Ben Moore, Bloomington’s first full-time professional comedian. He will return for a weekend set for the first time since March. Thompson handpicked the weekend for him.

Moore, 32, has performed at the Comedy Attic since its creation, evolving from a humble open-mic greenhorn into a touring comedian.

His first comedy album, “Never Coming Back,” charted on iTunes. Moore performs anywhere in the United States on any given weekend but attributes much of his success to the Comedy Attic’s existence.

“If you hang out in a good comedy club long enough, you’ll become a comedian,” Moore said. “And it’s one of the best clubs in the country.”

After four successful years, Thompson is immensely proud of his club and his audiences. He has seen the Comedy Attic blossom from a dream into one of Bloomington’s featured locations.

“We surprise people all the time with how great of a city this is,” Thompson said. “The club is like icing on the cake of that. I’m not concerned about the future of this club.”

Tickets
Tickets for the anniversary weekend are available at ComedyAttic.com.
Today’s show at 8 p.m., costs $25 with 100 percent proceeds for Area 10.
Friday and Saturday feature two shows each night at 8 and 10:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $15.