No laughing matter: Comedian hopes to bring the funny back to Portland’s club scene →

For budding gagsters, comedians, quipsters, and wisecrackers, trying to be humorous for a living in Portland is a lot tougher than making jokes about Cleveland.

That’s because, despite being a city renowned for its vibrant nightlife and arts scene, there aren’t that many places to consistently do standup comedy. And historically, there haven’t been that many.

But one local comedian hopes to change that. 

Comedian Marcus Cardona: “I’m trying to elevate it by bringing in bigger talent, but also create the comedy club business model that was absent.” (Courtesy Ben Kramer)

Marcus Cardona, who has been performing comedy since 2011, said he plans to create a comedy club that will have open-mic events for people to work on their material, but also be big enough to bring in well-known headliners. While there are smaller places that produce comedy nights, he said there’s a need for a place dedicated to comedy.

“I’m trying to elevate it by bringing in bigger talent, but also create the comedy club business model that was absent,” Cardona said.  

Cardona is partnering with the Free Street Restaurant & Cocktail Bar to create an independent comedy club called the Maine House of Comedy. The name follows the tradition of the Brooklyn House of Comedy in New York City, a club founded in 2012 that seeks to develop newer comedians. 

By: Colin Ellis (Portland Pheonix)

Empire Reopens Upstairs Venue For Burlesque, Comedy, and Music →

Right now, Empire Live’s online schedule includes events into the fall, most burlesque or drag-related. Saturday’s show, however, is a comedy showcase called Empire Comedy Lives, with comedians from all over New England, that was organized by Marcus Cardona, a comedian who had moved back to Maine from New York during the pandemic and started organizing outdoor comedy shows. He now organizes comedy shows at various locations around the city.

By: Ray Routhier (Portland Press Herald)

Hot In Here : A Comedy Show Against Climate Change →

Help those affected by the Australian bushfires, including wildlife, by simply attending this comedy show with Neko White (TruTV), Ricky Downes (Animal Planet), Michael Rowland (Comedy Central), Katie Hannigan (The Late Show With Stephen Colbert), Marcus Cardona (Asian Comedy Festival, Brooklyn House Of Comedy), Amy Cardinale (New York City Comedy Club) and others. A keynote speaker will talk about what you can do locally to combat climate change as well.