VIVA LAUGH VEGAS

VIVA LAUGH VEGAS Where to tickle your funny bone on the Las Vegas strip

By Heather Turk

Photos of Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club by Anthony Mair; Brad Garrett courtesy of MGM Resorts International;Sebastian Maniscalco by Peggy Sirota If there’s one thing everyone could use more of these days, it’s a good hearty laugh. Luckily, Las Vegas doesn’t joke around when it comes to its comedy scene. The city is home to several places that regularly feature some of the funniest acts in the business — especially on the Strip, where there’s never a shortage of laughter to be found.

One of the Strip’s top comedy clubs recently moved into a beautiful new space. Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club relocated within MGM Grand last November, and can now be found in The District near MGM Grand Garden Arena. Like the club’s original 250-seat location in The Underground, the newly redesigned club features fantastic artwork of iconic comedians on the walls, like Steve Martin and George Carlin, as well as a few pieces that pay tribute to “Everybody Loves Raymond.” The intimate 210-seat venue even has an old-school Las Vegas lounge adjacent to it that features live music by talented jazz musicians several nights a week. Audiences can see three hilarious comedians performing at the club each night, with Garrett typically hosting at least one performance every month. Consider yourself forewarned: if you sit in the first two rows when Garrett’s in town, you’ll likely become a part of his uninhibited act! bradgarrettcomedy.com

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Fans can catch Sebastian Maniscalco’s Nobody Does This Tour at 7 and 10 p.m. each night the comedian performs at Wynn Las Vegas “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Brad Garrett often performs inside his namesake comedy club (Pictured above)

“Everybody Loves Raymond” fans can also see Garrett’s former costar, Ray Romano, frequently performing at The Mirage. This spring, Romano will share the stage with David Spade on April 22 and 23 as part of the resort’s ongoing Aces of Comedy series. Other big names scheduled to perform inside the resort’s 1,257-seat theatre include Jim Jefferies on March 11 and 12; Daniel Tosh on March 18 and 19 and April 29 and 30; and Amy Schumer & Friends on April 2. mirage.mgmresorts.com/en/entertainment/ aces-of-comedy.html

Several world-renowned comedians are bringing the laughs to Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore Theater this spring as well. Sebastian Maniscalco will continue his 12-show residency inside the 1,480-seat venue on April 29 and 30 and May 28 and 29 as part of his Nobody Does This Tour. Resident performer Jim Gaffigan will return with his Fun Tour on May 20 and 21, and fans of Taylor Tomlinson can catch the standup comedienne’s first-ever appearance at the resort when she brings her Deal With It Tour to Las Vegas on April 16. wynnlasvegas.com

Not to be forgotten, the Laugh Factory inside Tropicana Las Vegas remains one of the Strip’s funniest venues. In addition to featuring several sidesplitting residencies, including shows by legendary impressionist Rich Little and Season 5 “America’s Got Talent” semifinalist Murray the Magician, the 300seat comedy club features three new comics every week performing two shows nightly. Upcoming headliners include Season 14 “America’s Got Talent” semifinalist Greg Morton March 21 through 27 and “Sullivan & Son” star Steve Byrne April 28 through May 1. Additionally, “Saturday Night Live” alumnus Jon Lovitz will continue his new residency at the club March 7 through 9 and 14 through 16, and May 9 through 11, 16 and 17. troplv.com

Jim Jefferies performs March 11 and 12 at 10 p.m. as part of The Mirage’s Aces of Comedy series

Taylor Tomlinson’s Deal With It Tour shares humorous realities about what it’s like to be in quarter-life crisis mode

Rich Little performing his hit autobiographical oneman show, “Rich Little Live,” at the Laugh Factory