The team behind Laugh Boston, Improv Asylum, and more have a new hot spot in the works at a historic space with deep comedy roots
By Nick A. Zaino III Globe correspondent, Updated August 20, 2024
The basement room at the Charles Playhouse has seen a lot of Boston entertainment history.
In 1978, it became the Comedy Connection, Boston’s first full-time comedy club. And for roughly 40 years after that, it was home to “Shear Madness,” one of the longest-running theatrical productions in the country. If all goes according to plan, it will return to its comedy roots this October as Lil Chuck, a reference to a nickname given to the space by previous occupants of the Charles.
John Tobin and Norm Laviolette, in conjunction with Broadway In Boston, announced plans for the 199-seat theater space on Tuesday. Between them, the two businessmen operate a comedy empire with Laugh Boston, Nick’s Comedy Stop, the Comedy Scene in Foxborough, Improv Asylum, and several clubs around the country. The room at the Charles had been vacant since “Shear Madness” shut down just before the pandemic in 2020.
According to Tobin, there is already a sense of anticipation among the performers they’ve reached out to about playing at the space. “The amount of folks who want to play [there], given its theatrical and stand-up history, is kind of exciting,” Tobin said.
Many of the clubs Tobin and Laviolette already run are of a similar size, which gives them confidence they can make it work. “It’s kind of in that wheelhouse, I think, of what we’re very good at, which is that medium 200- to 500-seat venue,” said Laviolette.
The press release describes the room as offering “an intimate live entertainment experience three nights a week, focusing on all things comedy; original stage productions, touring shows, stand-up, improv, and anything else that makes us, and the world, laugh out loud.”
The plan is for a soft opening in September, and then a grand opening in October, starting with productions of “[Expletive]-faced Shakespeare” and “Dirty Disney,” as well as working in stand-up and other types of comedy on off nights. Laugh Boston’s open mic will move to Lil Chuck. And there are plans to bring in Sean Morey, the stand-up and musical comedian known as the “father of Boston comedy.” Morey taught a stand-up class in the space at the Charles before it was officially a club. Two of his students, Bil Downes and Paul Barclay, went on to found the original Connection.
To a couple of comedy nerds, both of whom saw live comedy for the first time in that room, it’s a thrill to revitalize a place where Boston legends like Steven Wright, Steve Sweeney, and Tony V started out. But as much as they love the history, they know the venue won’t thrive on nostalgia alone.
“It’s important to give a nod to it,” said Laviolette, “and then even more importantly, to say, ‘This is where we’re going now.’”
The Boston comedy club scene is back in a building phase, with the Comedy Studio beginning to emerge, and Duck Duck Goofs set to open soon in Somerville. Even with all the venues Tobin and Laviolette already run, Laviolette doesn’t see Boston reaching a saturation point for comedy. It’s just a matter of finding new ways to produce shows people want to see.
“I think we’re at the start of transforming what we can do by way of comedic entertainment in Boston and beyond,” said Laviolette.
