Stone Church Comedy Night: Bob Seibel and Jimmy Walsh

The Stone Church in Newmarket will be introducing something innovative for the landmark location, when Boston comedians Bob Seibel and Jimmy “PJ” Walsh headline a live stand-up comedy event on Saturday, February 5th. Opening the show will be New Hampshire’s Ryan Gartley.

Primarily known for booking musical acts, The Stone Church will be bringing in Seibel, a Las Vegas regular, and Walsh, a Boston favorite, for an unusual 6 pm starting time for the event. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased in advance by visiting The Stone Church website at www.thestonechurch.com.

Stone Church owner Chris McClain sees great potential in the early start.

“We think there is a market out there for people who want to come out and take in a great show but be home relatively early,” said McClain. “This is a great opportunity for people of the region to see high level professional stand up comedy, from two of the Boston area’s top performers, do so at a great price, and still able to be home early or do something else with the rest of the evening.”

“We are hoping to make high level stand up comedy a regular event at The Stone Church and we’re hoping the public will respond to the idea of an early show.”

As for the comedians, both Seibel and Walsh are top Boston acts interested in seeing how the early start will work.

“Doing an early show will be interesting,” said Walsh who has worked up and down the East Coast from Caribou, Maine to Miami, Florida and all the top clubs in between. “In other places, if there are two shows on a Saturday, the first will start at seven or 7:15.

“A six o’clock start might be a little early, but if people show up for a seven o’clock show, why wouldn’t they show up for a show at six. I’m, looking forward to working at The Stone Church and hoping this works.”

Walsh sees the everyman in the members of his crowd and through his observations he allows people to laugh at themselves. Walsh, who has worked with comedy legends such as Lewis Black, Stephen Wright, and Lenny Clarke, has also hosted the Boston leg of "Next Big Comedy Star Search."

Seibel, who is a regular in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, has seen it all in comedy, from 24 marathons to early starts such as the Feb. 5 show at The Stone Church.

“Lets do it,” says Seibel in his gravel toned voice. “The people that show up will have a great time. Comedy is comedy whether it’s at 10 at night or six in the evening. Let’s have a show right now.”

Michael Smith, of Laugh Riot Productions, which books comedy shows, corporate events, and fundraisers, is also interested in seeing how the 6 pm start time will work.

“We’ve been booking shows for almost ten years,” said Smith. “This will be our first time trying a 6 pm event. But we love the Stone Church as a venue and we like the idea of ‘outside the box’ thinking.

“You never know,” added Smith. “This could start a new trend for comedy rooms.

“The Stone Church is an intimate room, so seating will be limited to about 100. Obviously we would love to sell out, but realistically, for this first time doing this, at an unusual time, we are hoping that we can reach enough people so that 75-80 come out this time and we build from there. Once people see the high level show we will bring, and once they pass the word along to friends, we want and expect to be selling out by our second or third show.”

For additional information regarding the comedians or shows, contact Smith at [email protected] or (603) 475-8624.