GREENWOOD, Ind. (WTHR) – On national tell a joke day, a family-friendly comedy club celebrates its grand opening Friday night in downtown Greenwood at Gutty’s Comedy Club, the comedians get laughs while keeping in clean.
"If mom and dad want to come to a show and leave the kids in the trunk, we're okay with that,” said Gutty's Comedy Club Operations Manager Dennis Tooley, while owner Steve Rivera sits next to him in a couch in the lobby of the club, laughing.
“But if mom and dad want to let the kids out of the trunk and bring them inside for the show, we're okay with that too,” said Tooley, who welcomed the chance to get off the road after more than 20 years as a traveling comedian.
Gutty's is a vision that Rivera has waited 16 years to become reality. He started doing clean comedy at his church, then took his act to comedy clubs. Now he finally has a place of his own where comedians can entertain audiences without profanity or sex jokes but still produce gut-busting laughs.
"It's exciting to see it come to pass,” said Rivera. “It's here now. I'm telling you; it hasn't really hit hard until I see the show going and I'm hearing the laughs."
Gutty’s just took possession of the building August 1. Friday morning, cans of paint still sat in the lobby. Rivera vacuumed the floors and wiped the ticket desk counter as Gutty's got renovated and cleaned up for the grand opening weekend.
On stage, nothing said into the microphone can be dirty.
"Just because they work clean doesn't mean they're not going to be funny,” said Tooley.
“Exactly,” Rivera interjected.
“They're going to be clean and extremely funny,” continued Tooley.
“Exactly,” repeated Rivera.
“If we can see the clean and extremely funny together, then the money issue comes because people are willing to pay for a good product."
Gutty's welcomes families and does not serve alcohol, just soda, pizza and snacks. The club at 350 S. Madison Avenue can seat 80 people.
The club also offers weekday workshops and Comedy College for aspiring comedians. The mic is open Sunday nights for “Laff Sabbath”.
Friday night’s grand opening featuring Dave "the King" Wilson is almost sold out. But there’s another show Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. Shows are booked every weekend through October. You can order tickets online here.