As the comedy scene in downtown Phoenix continues to evolve, the Firehouse Gallery has remained one of the most prominent venues for local comics to shine. Now their monthly comedy show is gaining national traction.
For more than a year, the Comedy on Fire show has hosted local comics on the stage at the Firehouse Gallery — an open performance venue and community space that hosts a variety of events.
Matt Micheletti hosted the 17th consecutive show Friday. An aficionado of Phoenix comedy, he said the scene in downtown Phoenix has grown immensely in recent years.
“It’s very independent and the local comedians have really built it from the ground up,” Micheletti said. “It started as a small showcase of local talent, but its format has facilitated needs for comics beyond the scope of just Phoenix. We have been getting some attention from road comics coming through and I think that’s a testament to its growth and its local popularity.”
In June, Micheletti added a twist to the routine — he booked bigger acts, the first being Asif Ali, who has notable film credits. The August show showcased three touring comics from Los Angeles and Las Vegas, including Michael James Benson, who has performed with Marc Maron and Rick Shapiro; Bobby Wayne Stauts, who has appeared on “Modern Family;” and Matt Knudsen, who has appeared on “Conan,” “The Late Late Show” and “Last Call with Carson Daly.”
Although the show has gotten big enough to host acts like these, it all started with comedians like Aaron Kyle Miles, who has been doing comedy in downtown Phoenix since March 2013, when the show first started. Miles said that the Firehouse Gallery is one of his favorite venues to perform at.
“It cannot be replicated anywhere else,” Miles said. “It’s just such a fun outdoor venue.”
The comedians during the show seemed very close-knit as they chatted and relaxed before and after their sets. Micheletti said that comics in downtown Phoenix have a strong bond.
“Since we tend to see a lot of the same faces at the open mics and shows we go to, we can be pretty chummy and also look out for our own,” Micheletti said.
Kristy Bullock, who was among the comics performing, said she was sort of adopted by this crowd when she was convinced to try her hand at comedy — a move she was reluctant to make. However, after encountering the many Phoenician comedians, she was persuaded otherwise.
“I love it because everyone here is so supportive,” Bullock said. “A lot of the local comedians instantly befriended and mentored me.”
Comedy on Fire is only about a year and a half old, making it the youngest comedy event in downtown Phoenix. Friday’s show featured 19 comedians in a three-hour span, each with their own style that included clean humor, wittiness and a lot of crass content, as well.
“A lot of people have come and gone through the Firehouse, but we always maintain a strong sense of teamwork and community through our combined efforts to allow the arts scene here to thrive and grow,” Micheletti said.
Despite the larger traveling acts, the show is very much dominated by the local comedians, who take up a majority of the spots and the time. Micheletti said he sees the growth as beneficial for all of the performers.
“I think it’s important for locals to see what being a road comic entails and means. If you only do open mics and never aim to become something bigger, I think it’s logical to believe that you’re going to end up in a rut,” he said. “On the other hand, I think it’s good for the road comics as well. (Comedy on Fire) gives some of these bigger names an opportunity to see what Phoenix comedy brings to the table.”
Contact the reporter at arhassar@asu.edu
