Tulsa World
Just for laughs
By JASON COLLINGTON World Scene Writer
5/2/2006
"Photo courtesy of the Tulsa World."
Nightspot launches comedy nights featuring national acts
A local comedian is trying to bring laughs to Tulsa. Tulsa Comedy Tonight at Cowboy Sharkies will begin Thursday at the restaurant and bar, 5840 S. Memorial Drive. Every week, the club will showcase local and national comedians, many of whom have ties to Oklahoma.
Comedian Susan Dale is the latest Tulsan trying to fill the void left when Tulsa Comedy Club closed last May. Other than some shows at the Brady Theater earlier this year, Tulsans have not had a place to go to see stand-up comics every week.
Dale, who recently performed at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival, said she's making three changes to the typical comedy club formula.
"There's no drink minimum where the drinks are expensive," said Dale, who waited tables at Tulsa Comedy Club for seven years. "And we will have nights offering clean comedy. And it's a nonsmoking room -- there's a bar where they can smoke."
When the club publishes its calendar, the night's shows will be rated so people know what to expect.
Dale, Michele VanDusen and Gains Kelly, who will regularly perform at the club, will provide the clean comedy in May.
Dale tells stories about her family, which she characterizes
VanDusen, a stay-at-home mother of four boys, talks about motherhood, home schooling and her weight issues.
Kelly shares stories of what it's like to be raised in Bartlesville.
Dale said Tulsa needs a place for comedians to flock to because the city has a rich history.
"Great comedy has always come out of Tulsa," she said. "Tulsa breeds comedy, and we want to help those who want to give it a try."
Eventually, the club will have open-mike nights.
The room seats 125 people and tickets are $10.
Tulsa comedian Susan Dale will try to do what others haven't been able to — give Tulsa audiences local and
national comedians every week.
TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World file
