Tracy Press

Comedy hits the Grand Theatre on May 31 as the Gutbusters Comedy outfit brings Darren Carter to town.

The Grand Theatre will host the Gutbusters Comedy club at the end of the month. Press file photo

Tracy resident Rick Salas has brought comedians to Bay Area and Tracy venues since he started his comedy production company eight years ago. Ever since the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts opened its doors in September, Salas saw an opportunity to bring national comedy headliners right to downtown.

His company, Gutbuster Comedy, presents its first show at the Grand on May 31 with Darren Carter, a polished comic known for his impressions and energetic standup.

Carter, a freckled redhead, has flaunted his humor on Jay Leno, Comedy Central and the Jenny McCarthy Show. He grew up in a Latino community in Fresno, which he pokes fun at, and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife.

"He relates to a lot of different people," Salas said.

Salas will open for Carter with sarcastic wit and off-the-wall life stories.

"I like to talk about stuff that people are uncomfortable talking about," he said. "I just like to have fun."

Headliners Dennis Gaxiola of Sacramento and Kirk McHenry of Oakland will give their own takes on comedy. Gaxiola has opened for James Brown and Toni Braxton. McHenry has appeared on Comedy Central, Comic View, HBO and Showtime.

DJ Suga Shane will keep audiences on their feet with music mixes between acts.

"We’re going to put on a production that will look like a Las Vegas-style show," Salas promised.

When comic Kathy Griffin’s standup show at the Grand sold out in just a few hours, it only confirmed what Salas has always believed — comedy will sell in Tracy.

"I’ve said before that I was going to go to the (Grand) theater and do it," said Salas, who plans to bring in national headliners like Jim Breuer and Rob Schneider within the next few months. "I have confidence that it will work here."

As of Friday, fifty percent of the comedy show’s seats had already sold.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (2)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comments

...
written by sad boy , May 18, 2008

CHARGE TRACY'S SENIORS DOUBLE TO GO. WHY NOT
/ WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO TAX THEM

...
written by confused , May 20, 2008

seniors! tax! double! what are you talking about!? please explain a little better!