Local Comedian Plans Pop-Up Open-Mic Comedy Nights Across Caledonia and Orleans Counties
A new wave of local comedy may be headed toward Caledonia County and Orleans County as Derby resident Gus Koennicke works to bring open-mic opportunities to the area. Koennicke is currently in discussion with several venues, including Jasper’s Tavern in Newport City, which recently changed ownership. If everything moves forward as he hopes, residents won’t have to travel outside the region to perform or enjoy live comedy.
Koennicke explains that there is no real outlet for comedians in the Northeast Kingdom, and that gap is exactly what he wants to fill. According to him, comedy offers a different type of expressive outlet, and hosting events across multiple towns can open the door for more people to give stand-up a try. His goal is to create opportunities for all age groups, though he notes that some locations—especially bars—may have age restrictions. He hopes to organize open-mic nights for both adults and the 16–20 age group, giving younger performers a stage as well.
His vision is simple: create a place where anyone can perform for free, while audience members support the local businesses that host the events. As Koennicke describes it, an open mic is primarily a space for comedians to test new material or for beginners to build their skills. It isn’t meant to be a traditional show, but he is also exploring ways to bring more polished performances to the area. With connections in Burlington, New York City, and Boston, he is actively trying to book comedians for full-scale shows that local audiences can sit down and enjoy.
Koennicke doesn’t want to limit these events to standard stand-up. He’s interested in introducing improv jams, heckle mics, and sessions designed to help comedians practice how to deal with interruptions—something he calls an essential skill. Right now, the closest comedy mics are in mid-New Hampshire and Burlington, leaving a large entertainment gap in the Northeast Kingdom.
The idea for this local comedy initiative has been on Koennicke’s mind for a long time. He was particularly inspired by watching Kill Tony, the popular comedy open-mic show available on Netflix. He sees comedy as one of the best expressions of the First Amendment, emphasizing that “barring hate speech, there is really nothing that you can’t say, in a sense.”
Koennicke believes that comedy can bring people together at a time when political tensions often pull them apart. He describes the Kingdom as being in an entertainment crisis, noting that there is “not much to do up here that isn’t outdoor-based.” However, the region has tourism, ski resorts, and weekend traffic—perfect ingredients, he thinks, for a thriving comedy scene. On a typical Friday night, he says, options are limited to going to a bar for a drink, and he hopes these events will offer something genuinely new for locals and visitors alike.
As a comedian himself, Koennicke performs a style similar to the television show Whose Line Is It Anyway, relying entirely on made-up material and quick improv. He has performed at various venues around the country, with The Producers’ Club in New York City being one of his favorites.
To support his efforts, Koennicke encourages people to join his Facebook group, NEK Comedy Club, where updates will be posted as plans move forward.
