W
Southern Indiana
and Louisville unite
through laughter
Within the subtle but blossoming artistic
community split between the metro parameters
of Southern Indiana and Louisville lies something
pretty funny. A lot of different somethings, in fact.
Although not properly appreciated as an official
comedy hub by outsiders to date, the area hosts a
plethora of different comedy stylings throughout
any given day of the week. Shows range anywhere
from open mics to variety outings, showcasing
some impressively funny local comedians and
outside, touring talent alike.
The vast amount of shows come with their
vast amount of subgroups and specificity – from
serialized specialties in Louisville to more traditional
improv and standup on both sides of the river,
including a brand-new venue.
Enter Adriane and Vernon Thompson, husband-
wife creators and directors of Comedy by the Bridge,
a dedicated hub inside the Sheraton Riverside
Ballroom in Jeffersonville that hosts comedy shows
every Friday through Sunday.
“It first started (with) my husband and two
other comedians 10 years ago as Ultra Combo
Live,” which performed in a number of local bars,
Adriane Thompson explained. “We started getting
feedback that people wanted us to get our own
venue. We thought maybe we could open our own
venue. The next thing you know, this opportunity
came open at the Sheraton, and then one thing
after another fell into place.”
Thompson is a successful local stand-up herself,
responsible for leading the female-driven Ultra
Combo Pink before establishing Comedy by the
Bridge with her husband
Comedy by the Bridge hosts bigger “name”
comedians with the inclination of attaching up-
and-coming local comedians as openers and hosts.
“It’s a beneficial thing, especially for an up-and-
coming comedian in this area. It’s not easy to get
noticed by different comedians, especially a big
name, like if you were in New York, Chicago or
LA,” Thompson said. “But by doing a show with
us, you’re getting exposure in front of comedians
who are traveling around the country doing this.”
Local legend Mandy McKelvey (known best
for her stand up, character roasts and storytelling
show, “We Still Like You”), for instance, was on
the docket not long ago at Comedy by the Bridge.
Bringing in outside names who have made it
to network TV and the likes is a way to draw a
crowd, but the heart of Comedy by the Bridge is
in exposing the local community and making a
name as an official comedy hub.
“Why can’t we make Indiana a hub for comedy?”
Thompson asked. “Nashville is a hub for music,
Indiana can be a hub for comedy. And that’s our
goal: to make this a must come place if you’re a
comedian.”
Comedy by the Bridge is one of many outlets
providing a positive and welcoming place for local
talent to perform and grow, but it’s not alone. Other
Southern Indiana venues offering traditional open
mics and stand-up are within the notable list of
Wick’s, Barrel and Mac’s Hideaway. Branching
back out to Louisville, there’s The Bardstown, The
Caravan Comedy Club, Monnik and Tap Room,
among others. Traditional stand-up is far from
all the local comedy scene has to offer, however.
One venue offering a wide variety of alternative
variety shows for Indiana and Louisville comedians
is Kaiju in Germantown.
Kaiju is home to several different comedy shows,
most notably the weekly variety show Kaijuesdays
and the sketch comedy collaboration, Sketchy
Stuff. Kaijuesdays’ alternative shows alternate per
week, ranging from roast battles to storytelling to
late-night-style talk shows, to name a few.
“Kaijuesdays was conceived as comedy
homework,” producer Greg Welsh explained. “(It
was) something to challenge comedians to get out
of their comfort zones and try new things.”
New things arose and then some.
As Kaijuesdays producer Emilie Parker Strange
puts it, a Kaijuesdays performance “might be
the only time that, that particular thing has ever
EXTOL : APRIL/MAY 2019
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