Backstage At The Wyndham
Welcome to Kenosha’s entertainment scene, where laughter meets lakeside luxury. Every weekend, the Kenosha Comedy Club (5125 Sixth Avenue) lights up the city with professional stand-up comedians from across the nation. Located inside the Wyndham Garden Kenosha Harborside Hotel, this premier comedy venue offers 90-minute shows every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., featuring a mix of national and regional headliners.
The Wyndham Garden Kenosha Harborside Hotel adds to the experience with captivating views of Lake Michigan. Located in beautiful downtown Kenosha, the hotel features newly renovated rooms, an indoor heated pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a complimentary hot breakfast. Its close proximity to local attractions, restaurants, and the vibrant Lakeside Deck—known for its own lineup of entertainment and food—makes it an ideal spot for both relaxation and nightlife.
Local writer and host Elaina Myers takes you backstage at the Wyndham with exclusive interviews featuring some of the comedians performing at the Kenosha Comedy Club. Stay tuned as she dives into conversations about each comic’s style, how they got started, and what audiences can expect from their upcoming performance.
Jackie and Kevin Flynn bring their ‘Brothers from Another Mother’ comedy show to Kenosha
Comedians Jackie and Kevin Flynn share the same last name but are not related, although some say they do have the same funny bone. When the two perform together, they cover miles of comedic ground, combining their years of stand-up and acting experience. Get tickets now on hap2it.com for their one-night show at the Kenosha Comedy Club located in the Wyndham Garden Hotel on June 19th at 7 pm!
Q: What do you enjoy most about working with each other?
Jackie: Kevin and I met in 1987 doing open mics in Boston and have been good friends ever since. There’s nothing better than traveling and working with a great friend. We really understand each other’s sensibilities and styles.
Kevin: As you become a “headliner,” you are always working alone. It’s fun now to have a partner in crime. When the two of us are on the same show, I know people will have a great time!
Q: You have had great success as an actor as well as a stand-up, do you approach preparing for a role the same way you approach preparing a set, or are they completely different muscles?
Jackie: I would say they are very different muscles that complement each other. My humor can greatly help my acting, and my ability to be more theatrical helps my stand-up.
Kevin: I am rather animated and physical in my delivery on stage, which I definitely think came from my acting experiences. There are also ample opportunities for improv in both of the disciplines, which is my favorite.
Q: If you could go back in time when you were first starting as a stand-up, what advice would you give yourself?
Jackie: Write more! The more jokes you have at your disposal, the better.
Kevin: Be yourself. That’s always easier said than done, since most comedians agree that it takes a few years to find out who you are on stage, but as long as you stay authentic, it comes.
Q: Do you find it easier to be someone else (in acting) or brutally yourself (in stand-up)?
Jackie: For me, it’s always been easier to just be myself on stage, but I enjoy the challenge of acting.
Kevin: It’s true that you are another person when acting a role, but you still bring different parts of yourself to that role. In acting, you can (and do) hide behind the character you’re playing, so that does make it a little easier. With standup, it’s all you, which can be scary at times but incredibly rewarding.
Q: Do you have anything big in the works that people should look out for this year?
Jackie: My new comedy special, Wicked Funny, just dropped and is available now on Amazon Prime. Check it out before coming to see me live!
Kevin: I have an autobiographical “one-man play” that I am currently performing called FEAR OF HEIGHTS. It’s about my working-class roots and how I made the transition into comedy, family, divorce, and all that comes after. It’s my story, but it’s also universal to so many, as we all make our way in life.
Why not stay the night at Wyndham Garden Kenosha Harborside Hotel book HERE
This article was published on 6/2/25
Intro and layout by Donny Stancato of Visit Kenosha/Go Downtown Kenosha
Photos supplied by Happenings Magazine
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This Father’s Day, treat your dad to a special show by the hilarious father-son duo Des and TP Mulrooney at the Kenosha Comedy Club located in the Wyndham Garden Hotel on June 20th and 21st. TP has been performing as a stand-up ever since college, but it wasn’t until he discovered a love of golf that his target audience was born. Now, TP is a comedian for fellow golfers, having performed at hundreds of golf events and on the Golf Channel. Des is following in his footsteps as a clean and up-and-coming stand-up who has won multiple contests in Illinois. In 2023, he starred in the film The Road Dog opposite comedy legend Doug Stanhope. Get tickets now at hap2it.com and gift your father with a night of laughter.
Q: What is one of your favorite parts about performing in Kenosha?
Des: I love the staff and the crowds. Everyone is very friendly. But if I had to pick a favorite part about the club, it would probably be the pork sliders.
Q: As a veteran in the stand-up world, what advice did you give your son when he started in the industry?
TP: Don’t do it. He didn’t listen to that, but I said if you’re going to do it, don’t follow the crowd. Be yourself and do what you think is funny, because it’s the only way to stay happy in this business. I’m pleased to say he’s done that; there’s nobody else like Des.
Q: What do you enjoy most about performing with your dad?
Des: There’s a huge comfort level in traveling on the road with family and having your dad as your business partner. I don’t have to be nervous on stage with him because he always has my back, even if some of the jokes are at my expense.
Q: You are known as the golf comic, how did this come to be?
TP: I started playing golf when I was 35 and, without realizing it, more and more golf material was sneaking into my act. Some people in the business said it would be impossible to have a career in golf comedy because no one has ever done it, so I took that as a challenge.
Q: What should people expect if they come to your upcoming show at the Kenosha Comedy Club?
TP: That Des will make fun of me a lot, which I know he will enjoy, right up until the time that I leave him out of my will because of it.
Archived interview from 6/3/25
Tickets available HERE
Why not stay the night at Wyndham Garden Kenosha Harborside Hotel book HERE
This article was published on 6/2/25
Intro and layout by Donny Stancato of Visit Kenosha/Go Downtown Kenosha
Photos supplied by Happenings Magazine
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Archived interview from 6/3/25
On June 6th and 7th, there will be two headliners for the price of one at the Kenosha Comedy Club located in the Wyndham Garden Hotel! Chicago-based comedians Lucky Luciano and Jayson Cross are coming together for an unforgettable night of comedy. Both have been regular openers at the club, receiving such high praise that we are bringing them back for their very own shows. Get tickets now at hap2it.com.
Q: How did you get started in comedy?
Lucky: After taking Improv classes at Second City for over a year, I didn’t think improv was for me. But in 2008, I decided to try a stand-up comedy class instead and absolutely fell in love.
Jayson: I started off doing print modeling in New York City. A friend suggested I try stand-up comedy as a way to get in front of more casting directors. After my very first show, I fell in love with it.
Q: What is one of your favorite parts about performing in Kenosha?
Lucky: I feel like the Kenosha Comedy Club is my home club because I connect so well with the crowd. Frank and Kim are also the loveliest people, it’s always a pleasure to work with them.
Jayson: The Kenosha crowds are genuine. There is something refreshing about the Midwest; people come to laugh, not to nitpick. In some major cities, it can feel a bit exhausting, like everyone is waiting to be offended.
Q: What is the biggest inspiration behind your material?
Lucky: My family is my biggest inspiration; I mainly talk about them. Most of my jokes are true stories that I slightly embellish. I did grow up watching Jerry Lewis, Bob Newhart, and Richard Pryor, so their comedic styles have resonated with me as well.
Jayson: Sometimes inspiration is as simple as a conversation that strikes me as funny, and other times it comes from a deep dive into an intense political debate that I find thought-provoking. I try to stay open to whatever sparks an honest reaction.
Q: If you weren’t a comedian, what else could you see yourself doing?
Lucky: I would definitely be a salesperson! I love talking to people and making them laugh, which is perfect for sales.
Jayson: I would be a teacher. There is something about engaging with a crowd that energizes me, whether it is a classroom or a comedy club.
Q: Do you have any big projects or plans coming for the rest of 2025?
Lucky: The main plan is to keep performing as much as possible. I will headline the Chicago House of Blues Foundation room again in the near future, so check that out!
Jayson: I recently released a micro special on YouTube titled Mitter Cross, and I plan to tour throughout the rest of the year. It is an exciting time, and I am looking forward to connecting with audiences in new cities.
Tickets available HERE
Why not stay the night at Wyndham Garden Kenosha Harborside Hotel book HERE
This article was published on 6/2/25
Intro and layout by Donny Stancato of Visit Kenosha/Go Downtown Kenosha
Photos supplied by Happenings Magazine
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Archived interview from – 5/27/25
One of the iconic hosts of VH1’s That Metal Show, Don Jamieson, is back at the Kenosha Comedy Club located in the Wyndham Garden Hotel on May 30th and 31st with special guest opener Tom Kief from 95 WIIL ROCK! Don spent 14 seasons of the show conducting hilarious and deep interviews with the world’s most famous rock stars. When the show wrapped up in 2015, Don stepped into the world of comedy full-time and has four comedy albums on Metal Blade Records that all hit the Top 20 on iTunes and the Billboard comedy charts. He’s also lent his unique brand of humor to sports-themed comedy sketches on HBO’s Inside the NFL that earned him an Emmy award. Get your tickets now for this rocking performer on hap2it.com.
Q: What was your favorite part about performing in Kenosha last time?
Don Jamieson: The crowd had such a rock and roll feel to them. Lots of energy, a little rowdy and ready to have a great time! If you can’t tell, that’s my favorite kind of people.
Q: If you could go back in time to when you were first starting as a stand-up, what would you say to yourself?
Don Jamieson: I would say slow down, take your time and live in the moment. And never wear that awful, checkered shirt again.
Q: Do you have a favorite guest or moment from your time cohosting VH1’s That Metal Show?
Don Jamieson: The time Marilyn Manson showed up drinking from a bottle of Absinthe at 11 am will always be in my top three. He wasn’t allowed to drink on set while we were filming, so the producer brought him a Styrofoam cup. When he poured it in, the entire cup disintegrated! I’ve never laughed so hard in my life.
Q: Do you have any big plans or projects coming for the rest of 2025?
Don Jamieson: I just put my newest comedy album, ’No Sleep ‘til McSorley’s’ out on vinyl, which I’m really excited about because I’m old school like that. I will have them for sale at the shows in Kenosha, so come check it out.
Q: I would be remiss if I didn’t ask the host of one of the most popular rock shows ever, what are your top 3 favorite rock bands of all time?
Don Jamieson: Motörhead, Thin Lizzy, and Kiss. But the first concert I ever saw was The Monkees, so I still have a soft spot in my heart for those lovable scamps.
Tickets available HERE
Why not stay the night at Wyndham Garden Kenosha Harborside Hotel book HERE
Intro and layout by Donny Stancato of Visit Kenosha/Go Downtown Kenosha
Photos supplied by Happenings Magazine