New standup venue opening this year
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Our comedy scene is about to get even funnier. Punch Line Comedy Club will open an Irving location this year.
Why it matters: Punch Line San Francisco hosted Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, Drew Carey, Ali Wong and John Mulaney in their early days as comedians.
- Club operators want Punch Line Dallas to be a "home" for up-and-coming talent.
State of laughter: The initial lineup includes Beth Stelling, who has done several standup specials; Gina Brillon, the first Latina finalist on "America's Got Talent" and Aaron Branch, an actor on the Netflix show "Unstable."
- "It's not always about the biggest names in comedy. It's about figuring out who the stars of tomorrow are today, and we get to play a really important role in that," Amanda Kyser, Punch Line's head of comedy operations, tells Axios.
Zoom out: Punch Line's San Francisco location has been open since 1978.
- Dave Chappelle and Houston native Mohammed Amer performed at Punch Line Houston's opening last year. The chain also has clubs in Philadelphia and Sacramento.
Zoom in: Punch Line Dallas will be located near Toyota Music Factory. The 240-seat venue includes a patio where people can hang out before shows.
- The club will have a two-beverage minimum — common for comedy venues. Visitors can also get food and mocktails.
What they're saying: "Punch Line Dallas is a really good opportunity for fans to have more access to comedy and for comics to have more stage time," Kyser tells Axios.
What's next: The first show will be Dec. 20.
- Presale is Sept. 23 on the club's website. General ticket sales begin Sept. 25.