Knoxville residents gathered Tuesday, Sept. 3, to watch local comedians perform at Central Cinema. The idea to create a unique film venue out of Central Cinema was developed by Knoxville Horror Film Fest in 2018. With the help of a $30,000 donation from the local community, it took off with a huge success.
Since 2018, the doors have been open to anyone for no cost. All the comedians are from Tiny Stage Comedy and perform on every first Tuesday of the month.
The building lives up to the name “Tiny Stage” as it is a singular movie room. The environment allows for a very tight-knit experience that lets everyone in the vicinity connect and enjoy the show.
The walls are painted with decor and souvenirs such as T-shirts, hoodies and unique movie artifacts giving the room a vintage feel.
Each comedian brought their own unique style of humor. The audience experienced the full spectrum of what comedy has to offer, and the comedians ranged in ages from younger to older. This allowed the audience to see how their different personalities relate to their comedy production.
Some comedians were confident enough to wing their whole act. They often bounced ideas off the crowd by interacting with the audience. This variety allows the audience members to connect with the performer, and it made the experience more inclusive.
The comedian who initiated the idea for Tiny Stage is Rowan Young. Young was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, and she developed her performing and dramatic skills through her involvement with Knoxville Children’s Theatre.
She realized she wanted to pursue Tiny Stage and shift to comedy while watching others perform from the audience. Some performers crossed boundaries, and she believed she could deliver humor without making certain people in the crowd feel uncomfortable. Young spoke on the reality of comedy.
“My goal is to make sure that the underdog can feel like the main person, and I want to lift people up that do not naturally get lifted up,” Young said.
This stage becomes so personable for some of the comedians, especially Young. She initially focused on writing comedy for others, tailoring it to their sense of humor. Over time she realized that this approach diminished her own enjoyment of the craft.
With that, Young began writing what she enjoyed with her own unique approach.
“My comedy style is dry, deadpan and I like one-liners a lot,” Young said. “I also like to leave people feeling a little confused.”
Another performer, Brandi Augustus, grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey and eventually moved to Knoxville around 2010.
She hosted poetry open mics before joining Tiny Stage Comedy. Augustus despised reading poetic material, so she talked about her everyday life with the audience and discovered her natural talent for comedy.
Comedy can be useful in many ways. People join these shows to have fun with their friends or to simply relax. Augustus spoke on why comedy is essential for everyone.
“Life is hard,” Augustus said. “Just having that joy and small moments of laughter can do something for your mental health.”
Not only is laughter beneficial for your emotional well-being, but the people you surround yourself with also has a significant impact. Augustus, as a Black woman in the male-dominated field of comedy, emphasized the importance of having supportive friends while performing.
“I think that if I was still in comedy and experiencing the things I was going through as a Black woman in comedy by myself, I would quit,” Augustus said.
