With his father roaring his hearty laugh next to him while they watched Jackie Gleason and Red Skelton on television, a young Ed Kappes fell in love with comedy.
“He had this really great, robust laugh,” said Kappes, 55. “I really loved that. It was good family time and I have fond memories from those Sunday night shows.”
Kappes remained an avid fan of comedy throughout his childhood, favoring legendary acts such as Bill Cosby, George Carlin and Dean Martin – but never considered the comedy industry as a career path.
It wasn’t until 2003 that he heard his comedy calling as a club owner – a happy accident that fell into his lap when the woman who was helping him research business opportunities tossed out the possibility of him buying her successful Comedy Club in Kill Devil Hills, N.C.
He and his wife, Leslie, have expanded the Comedy Club brand to a second location in the Outer Banks and, opening today, a third location in Williamsburg. The club is located on Kingsmill Road in the soon-to-be DoubleTree by Hilton – formerly the Williamsburg Hotel and Conference Center – and boasts comedian Chris Monty as its first act.
The Comedy Club of Williamsburg, which comedy fans can find by parking in the back lot near the entrance for the restaurant Pitchers, will run throughout the summer season.
“I’ve been researching and working on opening our club in Williamsburg for about two years now, and I can’t emphasize enough the outpouring of support we’ve had from the business community,” Kappes said. “We’ve had people thanking us for providing Williamsburg the opportunity to have a nightlife.”
The current seating arrangement will host 120 audience members, but Kappes hopes he can build up the club’s popularity enough to graduate to the hotel’s 700-seat auditorium.
Like his clubs on the Outer Banks, Kappes hopes to entice tourists – but it’s not his focus. In his research of Williamsburg, he’s found it to have a strong base of permanent residents who consistently have friends and family visiting in the summertime. The club’s success will likely rely on Williamsburg citizens, he said.
“We want the support to be strong enough to, yes, move to the bigger auditorium, but also to support a year-round comedy club,” Kappes said. “I think Williamsburg’s the place to do that.”
The Comedy Club brand dates back about 30 years, and has been successful in the past at introducing up-and-coming comedians who wind up reaching celebrity status, such as Drew Carey and Ray Romano.
Kappes said he believes audiences have a good chance of catching the next Ray Romano at his club, priding himself on filling the schedules for all his clubs with comedians who have been featured on Comedy Central, HBO, Showtime, The Late Show with David Letterman and other high-profile gigs.
Kappes warns potential audience members the acts may not be family-friendly, but also promises comedians who don’t base their acts on vulgarity and meanness.
“I always say our club’s acts are probably a ‘soft R’ rating,” Kappes said, adding that 16- and 17-year-olds are allowed, though a parent must both purchase the ticket and attend the show with them.
The Comedy Club of Williamsburg has comedians booked every weekend – Thursday through Saturday – through August. In September, it will participate in Arts Month as part of a “storytellers” week.
Kappes said he was impressed the arts community in Williamsburg recognized without question comedy’s place in art, and is especially excited to be highlighted in a week featuring storytellers.
“All comedians are storytellers, but the ones who really draw from their lives to make us laugh, those are my favorites,” Kappes said. “Audiences can expect to see that sort of act on a regular basis here.”
Kappes also wants the Comedy Club to become a part of the community through its charitable efforts with its “Funny Fundraisers,” in which the club will help a nonprofit book comedians for a private fundraising event.
A “Tagalong Funny Fundraiser” allows nonprofits to coordinate with Comedy Club to pick an already scheduled act and reap a portion of the ticket sales sold through the nonprofit.
“We really pride ourselves in reaching out to the community,” Kappes said. “The way I advertise it is you come, have a great time and then you laugh all the way to the bank.”
For more on the Comedy Club of Williamsburg and purchasing tickets, visit comedyclubwilliamsburg.com.
