The Laughing Tap is clocking back in. Milwaukee's homegrown stand-up club is set for a two-night grand reopening downtown on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28, with comic Nate Craig headlining the first weekend. The comeback follows the club’s decision to close its Walker's Point room last year and move into the historic George Watts building, a shift that promises more seats, a fuller bar and a steadier stream of touring and local comics.
New Downtown Home
According to OnMilwaukee, the club has taken over the former George Watts Tea Shop at 761 N. Jefferson Ave. The Laughing Tap previously spent five years in Walker's Point before vacating its 5th Street space last summer.
OnMilwaukee reports that the reopened room will feature a full bar, stick with the club’s long-running no-drink-minimum policy and host shows that are 18+ only. In other words, you can grab a drink if you want, but you will not be pressured into a two-beverage tab just to see a set.
What To Expect
Local station TMJ4 reports that the new showroom will seat more than 100 people and will pull double duty: regular weekend shows, live album recordings and an amateur open mic night are all on the schedule. TMJ4 also lists the grand reopening dates as March 27 and 28, with additional shows to be announced in the coming weeks.
Headliners And The Lineup
OnMilwaukee notes that Nate Craig, who has toured with Bill Burr and appeared in the Netflix film Old Dads and the series Maniac, will headline opening weekend. The outlet also reports that Jessica Michelle Singleton is slated for the first weekend in May, while the club plans to fill out the calendar with regional and local comics every week.
Why It Matters For Milwaukee Comedy
Owners say the move is designed to fix a good problem to have: frequent sellouts. The new downtown room gives Milwaukee a mid-size venue that can host bigger touring names while still keeping plenty of stage time for local acts.
Urban Milwaukee reported that co-owner Matt Kemple expects capacity to jump from roughly 80 to about 120 seats and hopes the central location will draw more out-of-town visitors. Meanwhile, Milwaukee Record noted that the club launched a small fundraiser to help cover the cost of a new bar, stage and upgraded lighting ahead of reopening.
Tickets And Info
Tickets and the full schedule will be posted on the club’s site. The Laughing Tap’s official page lists the new address and notes that ticket sales are final.
For details on shows and reservations, visit the Laughing Tap website and check the venue’s social media accounts. Shows are 18+ unless otherwise noted, and the club says it will keep enforcing its no-drink-minimum policy at the new location.
