Last June, The Laughing Tap moved out of its original site at 706B S. 5th Street in Walker’s Point—where it had been hosting comedy shows since January 2020—and set sights on a new location. In October, owners revealed “Milwaukee’s new home for comedy” will be in the George Watts & Son building at 761 N. Jefferson St. in downtown Milwaukee.
Since making the announcement, The Laughing Tap’s owners and producers Matt Kemple, Kaitlin McCarthy, and Greg Bach have been busy raising funds to get Tap 2.0 in motion, booking talent, and making some interior adjustments to help make the historic building comedy club-ready. Following months of hard work and preparation, The Laughing Tap will finally reopen to the public in its new and improved location this weekend.
“We wanted to expand,” Kemple says. “We wanted to grow and most of our shows were selling out with 80 seats every week.”
Through making the move, The Laughing Tap’s capacity has increased to 120, meaning they’ll be able to accommodate more comedy fans and work with performers who would sometimes need to do four- or five-show weekends spread over two or three nights at the club in order to make it financially viable for both the comedians and the venue.
“Having over 100 [capacity] means we’re able to get those larger acts without necessarily having to a Wednesday show or a Sunday afternoon show,” Kemple says. “Also, we’re able to reduce the cost of doing a show without reducing the quality.”
The stage itself will also be larger at the new iteration of The Laughing Tap. Kemple built the stage, and also installed a wooden backdrop—which he refers to as his “art project”—behind the stage, which features wood symbolically salvaged from the previous Laughing Tap stage, the stage at Kemple’s former Underground Collaborative performance space, and from material left at the Watts & Son building.
That spirit of preservation extends to other aspects of the interior. Existing woodwork was moved and repurposed to serve as The Laughing Tap’s box office. Kemple says they “tried to lean into what the building might’ve looked like 100 years ago” by making the baseboards and molding resemble the upper level office, which has been largely untouched over time.
“I love the architecture,” Kemple says. “I love the way the building looks, and I didn’t see any reason why we would need to destroy anything to make it our own.”
Some significant changes to the property, such as the installation of light fixtures and the bar, were necessary. Still, those new additions seem to adhere to the classic, timeless feel the rest of the club exudes.
As always, there will be no drink minimums at The Laughing Tap. However, comedy fans who desire beverages with their show can enjoy a wide selection of beer and cocktails with a predominately local focus and a range of non-alcoholic options.
The Laughing Tap will officially reopen this weekend, with noted comedian/actor and Wisconsin native Nate Craig performing a total of three shows March 27-28. After that, the club will host an array of local, regional, and national acts every weekend. Beginning April 1, the business will have an open mic every single Wednesday night. Down the line, there are also plans in the works to be open for Thursday showcases, recurring happenings like Tuesday trivia, and other special events as they come up.
“The process took a really long time, but I’m ecstatic with where we are and how it all ended up,” Kemple says. “I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished and I can’t wait until people can see it.”
For tickets and more information, go to The Laughing Tap’s website or find them on Instagram and Facebook.
