Salud! The Commodore Comedy Club and Locals Provide the Funny
Comedians riff on stories inspired by Tampa history, folklore, and the personal stories from the local community.
The Commodore Comedy Club, a vibrant addition to the up-and-coming corner at 7th Avenue in Nebraska, opened its doors seven months ago. Nestled among other popular businesses on the corner, including The Flan Factory, La Setima Bar, and Coastal Film Lab, The Commodore is a hub of laughter every weekend.
Improv comic Justin Peters (right) whose job is to pan for comic gold, interviews storyteller and Tampa native and historian Mario Núñez about his personal life and times
Five members of the troupe reenact The Tampa Native’s Show host Mario Núñez’s little league team’s pep talk. They lost 33 - 3.
Once a month, they offer the Salud And Happy Days show, a one-of-a-kind series in which experienced improvisers re-enact stories of Tampa History inspired by live interviews with some of the city’s well-known and wonderfully funny storytellers. Even the title is a throwback to old late-night television in Tampa, where Valencia Garden Spanish Restaurant owner Manuel Beiro joined sportscaster Andy Hardy in advertisements for Shock Theater.
It is a comic salute to people and events in Tampa, as well as a slanted look at the personal lives of the storytellers. Folks like Paul Guzzo of the Tampa Bay Times and former Tampa City Council member Joeseph Citro have sat in the storytelling seat. Most recently, long-time The Tampa Native’s Show host Mario Núñez made his second appearance. Nuñez’s whimsical nature, accented with his Spanish (Cuban) inflection as he revealed humorous times of his moments of growing up in West Tampa and as a flight attendant, was rich with Tampa silliness. There was plenty of material for the experienced improv troupe to riff on, diving into subjects such as a 40-year-old man seeing a lady's private parts for the first time and having the Humpty Dumpty character and a smoking monkey from the old Lowry Park Zoo come to life.
Improv comic Liz Marcucci reacts on stage
Improv comic John Lasavath imitates a smoking monkey from the former Lowry Park Zoo (it really happened)
Wait, you've never seen what? A 40-year-old man prepares to see his first lady parts
Improv comic Danny Mora
Even if you're not a Tampa history connoisseur, The Commodore has something for everyone. Their lineup features a variety of shows, from improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy to the unique Salud and Happy Days performance. They also offer improv comedy classes. The club is open every Friday and Saturday night. There’s plenty of free parking. Tickets are available online or at the door. Before the show, try the Flan Factory, and afterward, grab a beverage at the uber-cool La Setima bar. Salud and Happy Days!
John Lasavath, Danny Mora, Liz Marcucci, Mario Nunez, Justin Peters, Kelly Buttermore, and Eddie Geller yuk it up onstage at the Commodore Comedy Club.
The Commodore Comedy Club exterior at 7th Ave and Nebraska Ave