Ahhh, the sweet sound of laughter. That’s what you will hear when you attend Jeffrey’s Comedy Night on Tuesday evenings.

Although it’s not generally known as a comedy club, the owners of Jeffrey’s Restaurant and Lounge decided to try something different.

Partners, Don Mackenzie and Mauro Felicioni, developed the comedy night idea after realizing that there was no place in north Winnipeg for budding comedians to perform. The city’s best-known comedy club is located in Tuxedo and typically attracts more experienced comedians.

After speaking to Jordan Welwood, a local comedian who has done amateur stand-up for the past four years, Mackenzie and Felicioni realized the solution: provide a professional environment at Jeffrey’s where amateur comedians could practice their craft. Their idea has evolved into Jeffrey’s Comedy Night. Welwood has become the host and the rotating group of local comedians includes Bruce Clark and Paul Rabliauskas.

Being a successful comedian is hard work and takes a lot of practice. Just ask Clark, who has over 20 years in the business. A star himself, Clark has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and has even performed with Jerry Seinfeld.

"It’s in these kinds of rooms that new talent emerges. If it wasn’t for this kind of thing, people who want to be comics don’t have the opportunity," he says.

Perfecting an act requires natural ability, confidence and stage presence. The testing of different jokes is key to developing an A list of jokes. It is essential for comedians to test out the response to their jokes and change their routine based on how audiences react. Jeffrey’s diverse audience provides the perfect platform for newcomers.

Clark, who grew up in Elmwood, says: "Jeffrey’s Comedy Night speaks about the community: its an eclectic group that cares and wants you to succeed. They offer lots of support."

Rabliauskas agrees.

"One of the hardest things to do is get up on that stage and make people laugh and feel good. You affect people’s lives. At Jeffrey’s Comedy Night, you get a lot of love from the crowd," he says.

Jeffrey’s Comedy Night happens every Tuesdays at 9 p.m. and runs until the end of August. Admission is free of charge, but there is a tip box for the comics.

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North Kildonan Montessori is offering a Wednesday summer workshop series for children. The sessions include a fun-filled day of crafts, games and experiments. Themes include superhero training day, farm day, secret agent academy and Hawaiian luau. Snacks and drinks are provided. Cost is $35 per session. Registration forms can be found online at www.nkmontessori.com.

Charlene Kroll is a community correspondent for North Kildonan. She can be contacted at krollcharlene@gmail.com.