A group of local comedians and performers need a little community help to launch their newest enterprise.
Heading to a 2,250 square-foot space at 811 E 7th Ave.—directly behind natural wine bar La Sétima Club and adjacent to restaurant Flan Factory—indie comedy theater The Commodore hopes to soon host a variety of performances and workshops.
The owners of The Commodore include local performers Matt Walker, Kevin Michalski, John Lasavath, Justin Peters, and Kelly Buttermore, who recently joined forces to build the "ideal space for independent comedy in Tampa Bay.”
They launched a Kickstarter campaign earlier this month to help get their theater’s doors open, and have already earned $6,396 of a $30,000 goal.
“It’s time to give Tampa the comedy theater it deserves. We need your help to realize a long-held dream and create a safe, permanent space for excellent improv and sketch comedy in Tampa Bay,” The Commodore’s Kickstarter reads.
While there’s no debut date set in stone, The Commodore’s owners aim to soft open sometime this summer with a grand opening slated for September.
Donations to The Commodore will help its team install sound equipment, lighting, new front doors, comfortable seating and much more. There are various donation tiers on its Kickstarter, where you can get sweet prizes like t-shirts and tickets to future shows if you give a certain amount to the soon-to-open theater.
From workshops and classes to live performances and other events, this Ybor City theater will serve as a multi-faceted creative space, filling a much-needed niche in the city’s alternative comedy scene.
The Commodore describes itself as a “safe harbor where aspiring comedians can refine their craft and discover new horizons.”
In addition to serving as a hub for the local improv and comedy industry, The Commodore also plans to host nationally-acclaimed performers.
For the latest information on Tampa’s newest comedy theater and its upcoming opening, head to its Facebook page or Instagram at @commodorecomedy.
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Alternative comedy theater The Commodore launches Kickstarter campaign for its upcoming Ybor City space
It’s reached almost 25% of its $30,000 goal.
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