Stand Up and Clown

Stand Up and Clown comes to The Hashtag Comedy Co. on Friday, November 13, from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. It's directed by Chad Damiani and features a group of local performers, so the stage will be filled with Columbus comics and artists rather than a single headliner.

If you're wondering what that actually means, the format is a bit different from a standard comedy night. Damiani gathers comics and local performers and walks them through their first modern clown production. It's not a traditional stand-up set; it's more like watching a group of performers work through a specific process in front of you. The show blends improv, sketch, stand-up, and character work with the fundamentals of clowning, so you'll see a mix of styles rather than just one person with a microphone.

Damiani is the one steering the whole thing. He's been called "The Clown Boss" and "The Father of Modern Clowning" by NPR, and the New York Times has described him as a "veritable ringmaster"—one of the architects of the modern LA clown scene. He's an ensemble member of STAMPTOWN, whose recent special aired on Netflix, and he works with the circus company Spiegelworld. He also tours with PIFF's All-Star Vegas and has served as a clown consultant for artists like Natalie Palamides. Long before the clowning, he started his career as a professional wrestling announcer for World Championship Wrestling.

The show has been covered by the New York Times, New York Magazine, LA Times, Paris Review, BBC, PBS, and NPR. PBS called it "the hottest ticket in LA Comedy," and the LA Times described it as "an immersive comedy experience unlike any other." It's that same production coming to Columbus for the night. You can find it at The Hashtag Comedy Co., 1253 N High St, on Friday, November 13, from 7 PM to 8:30 PM.