On Friday, Jan. 26 and Saturday, Jan. 27, Sheng Wang, an L.A. stand-up comedian, performed four sold out shows at The Comedy Attic. As people walked out of the previous show, they told the next guests about Wang’s performance, saying he was great and funny, and warning that their stomachs would hurt from laughing so much.
Emily Davis, a comedian from North Vernon, IN, was the opening act for Wang on Saturday. Davis said Wang’s comedy about the mundane was done so well because he made it relatable and funny. Wang’s build-ups and punchlines made the audience burst into laughter every time.
“All weekend, he had really fun fans,” Davis said. “They really were onboard, they really wanted to laugh, and they were pleasant, and liked comedy which is nice. You’d think that always happens, but it doesn’t.”
Wang, in addition to being a comedian, is an actor and writer who grew up in Houston, TX. He was a staff writer for the ABC sitcom show "Fresh Off the Boat" from 2015-2018, which was based off the memoir of Eddie Huang about his Asian-American family life after relocating to Orlando. His first Netflix special, "Sweet and Juicy,” was released in September of 2023, where he delivered sets on juicing and how snoring was an evolutionary mistake.
Davis said watching comedy shows on IFC in high school and coming to The Comedy Attic when she attended IU for college made her want to get up on the comedy stage. Davis said she enjoys making people laugh and laughing with them, especially if they were previously in a bad mood.
“There’s just nothing as fun as being on stage,” Davis said. “You just can’t get it anywhere else.”
The Comedy Attic is the first full-time comedy club located in downtown Bloomington. The club has hosted many comedians in the past such as Amy Schumer, Hannibal Buress, Marc Maron, Tig Notaro and more. The Comedy Attic space allows for audience engagement with the performers and each other, as the chairs are set around tables close to one another and right next to the stage.
“This was a perfect little space for comedy club,” Wang said. “Because it’s intimate and the ceilings are really low. That’s what comedians are always talking about, the heights of ceilings, because we are always concerned about how intimate the space is.”
Wang said he stumbled into comedy as a freshman in college when he went to see a comedy show put on by students. A year later, he joined the same group, who were dedicated on getting Asian-Americans on stage. Wang said it was a way of better understanding oneself as a growing adult.
“I kind of fell into it,” Wang said. “I got hooked on it, just trying it out. I feel like it’s a very free form of expression and I find it a satisfying process of creating something.”
Audience members Grace Peters and Max Addington traveled from Columbus, Ohio to Bloomington to see Wang for Peters’ birthday. Peters is a big fan of Wang’s and would send her friends Wang’s Netflix special when they ask for recommendations on things to watch.
“I think it’s one of the funniest specials I’ve seen,” Peters said. “It feels like a realistic representation of life, it’s like observing the mundane with a funny spin.”
Wang said while on the road to different cities, he loved to travel and explore the cities he’d visit. He said he had a fun weekend in Bloomington, and he wished he could explore more of it and meet more interesting people.
“It’s new to me, to have a fan base,” Wang said. “So, it’s interesting for me to see who the people are and get a feel for who relates to my comedy.”
Wang will be performing his next three shows in Denver, CO on Feb. 1-3. His upcoming shows will continue in seven different U.S. states and Taiwan.
“The more shows I do, the more excited and proud I am to see who comes to the show,” Wang said.
