Don't Tell Comedy is making its Springfield debut. But where?

Ryan Collingwood, Springfield News-Leader
·2 min read

It's unclear where an upcoming installment of Springfield comedy will take place.

Nobody knows who's performing, either — and that's the point.

Don't Tell Comedy is a nationwide happening clouded in intentional mystery, but some things are certain: It's making its Queen City debut at 8 p.m. Sept. 2 and will be held in an atypical comedic setting.

Springfield comedian and Central High alum Harrison Broadstreet has helped bring Don't Tell Comedy to his hometown.
Springfield comedian and Central High alum Harrison Broadstreet has helped bring Don't Tell Comedy to his hometown.

More than 100 U.S. cities have participated in Don't Tell Comedy in recent years, pop-up shows in unconventional venues that have brought laughter to coffee shops, libraries, rooftops, yoga studios and more.

Shortly before the show begins, ticketholders are told where to go via text message or email. Once they arrive, they're often treated to an established comedian mixed with up-and-coming local talent.

Harrison Broadstreet, a Springfield native and comic, spearheaded the effort to bring Don't Tell Comedy to his hometown.

Broadstreet has performed regularly at Blue Room Comedy Club, opening up for several headliners including Hannibal Burress and T.J. Miller. When comedian and current "Saturday Night Live" featured player Michael Longfellow was at Blue Room this summer, he mentioned his Don't Tell Comedy experience in a conversation with Broadstreet.

Don't Tell Comedy shows started in Los Angeles in 2017. They began being put on in Milwaukee in 2018.
Don't Tell Comedy shows started in Los Angeles in 2017. They began being put on in Milwaukee in 2018.

Broadstreet later reached out to Don't Tell Comedy founder Kyle Kazanjian-Amory about the prospect of a Springfield chapter. Kazanjian-Amory started Don't Tell Comedy in Los Angeles in 2017 and branched off to help other cities grow their respective comedy scenes in more affordable settings.

Southwest Missouri will now have one of its own.

"It's really cool. I love the fact I can do something, not only for the Springfield comedy scene, but the individuals, too," Broadstreet said of his producer role. "It helps build connections with local and national headliners."

A 2010 Central High School graduate who went to play baseball at Hannibal-LaGrange University in Hannibal, Broadstreet began pivoting to live comedy in 2018, where his first performance was at Big Mama's Coffee Shop.

He is happy to see the Springfield comedy scene thrive in recent years and believes Don't Tell Comedy can bring another fun and unique element, one that helped vault the careers of touring comics such as Katherine Blanford and Sam Tallent.

Unlike comedy clubs and theaters, Don't Tell Comedy encourages a BYOB (bring your own beer) approach.

"People like that speakeasy feel," Broadstreet said. "It's like a secret party and everyone is having fun."

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at donttellcomedy.com/.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Don't Tell Comedy bringing unique pop-up element to Springfield scene