Permanent comedy club will fill a niche in the city and occupy the City Theatre space inside Hockeytown Cafe.
Detroit’s comedy fans have something exciting on the way. Detroit House of Comedy, a comedy and entertainment venue at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Montcalm Street, will open in this summer in The District Detroit as Detroit’s only permanent comedy club.
The Detroit House of Comedy will be run by co-owners John Tobin and Rick Bronson and will host stand-up, improv and podcasts from established local, regional and national headliners, as well as up-and-comers with a focus on supporting comedians from Detroit and throughout Michigan.
The Detroit House of Comedy is patterned after Laugh Boston which rose to the forefront of the Boston comedy scene in recent years and the Plano House of Comedy in Texas. In addition to Laugh Boston, Tobin owns Nick’s Comedy Stop and a production company, John Tobin Presents. Bronson owns multiple House of Comedy locations in the U.S. and Canada. The two have more than 60 years of comedy and entertainment experience.
“I’ve had a long-time affection for Detroit and a deep respect for its people. We are really looking forward to providing top quality and wide-ranging entertainment for hard working Detroiters and the city’s many visitors,” said Tobin. “Stand-up comedy and its many off shoots bring joy and laughter to people by looking at life through diverse voices with different points of view. Comedians are always challenging the status quo and the absurd, and we feel that people, particularly today, are really looking for that kind of entertainment.”
The Detroit House of Comedy adds to the bustling entertainment offerings within The District Detroit, including the Columbia Street dining and retail destination, the iconic Fox Theatre, Comerica Park and the award-winning Little Caesars Arena.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Detroit House of Comedy and their premier brand of entertainment to The District Detroit,” said Stefan Stration, Vice President of Development at Olympia Development. “We know there is a huge market need for comedy in the city, and their highly interactive format combined with a roster of national headliners creates an ongoing must-see experience.” The 300-seat Detroit House of Comedy will be housed in the former City Theatre located inside Hockeytown Café and is expected to host multiple shows per week.
