When it comes to matters of humor, Julie Mains, owner of Mainstage Comedy and Music Club in Queen Anne, is not inclined to be politically correct.
“Jews are genetically bred to be funnier than other people,” Mains said. “That’s a fact. You can look it up, I’m sure it’s in Wikipedia.”
So, in celebration of the Chosen People’s gift of good comedic sense, Mainstage is hosting a three-night festival of Jewish comedy called “Ha Ha Hanukkah.” Although the holiday will have been over for almost two weeks by the time the event begins this weekend, Mains said it’s never too late to spread a little Hanukkah cheer.
“There’s always room to celebrate and have fun,” she said. “We as Jews reserve the right to celebrate Hanukkah all month just like people do for Christmas.”
Ha Ha Hanukkah will feature local comedians Brian Boshes, Toby Brown, Simon Kaufman, Jeremy Greenberg and Jack Schaloum. Los Angeles-based comic Michael Gelbart will headline all three nights. Mains said that she and Gelbart have been in contact for several months about the possibility of him coming to Seattle to perform at Mainstage and that the Ha Ha Hanukkah shows seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Gelbart said he is excited to have the chance to perform with some of Seattle’s top Jewish comedians, although he’s unsure about Mains’ proclamation that Jews, as a people, are innately funny.
“It’s just that Jews generally think they’re funny. I don’t know many Jews who don’t pride themselves on being funny, whether they are or not,” Gelbart said.
A regular on the L.A. comedy circuit, Gelbart has made several appearances on CBS’ The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and recently wrote and co-starred in the made-for-TV movie, A Very Cool Christmas (the irony is not lost on him). Gelbart said that although he does not consider himself a practicing Jew, he has been looking for ways to become more involved in the Jewish community, be it through comedy or other avenues.
“I’ve recently made my foray back into dating Jewish girls,” Gelbart said. “It’s going well so far.”
Gelbart said that audiences at this weekend’s shows can expect to see him do a lot of jokes about relationships (“both of the Jewish and non-Jewish variety”) as well as some ad-libbing and crowd work, which he considers to be the trademark of his comedic style.
“I never do it in a mean way,” Gelbart said. “I just try to be very conversational. To me it’s just like I’m talking to one person.”
To complement the all-Jewish line-up, Mainstage is working to create an atmosphere at the Ha Ha Hanukkah shows that is evocative of some of Judaism’s most well-known traditions.
Those who arrive wearing yamulkes will receive their first drinks at happy-hour prices and complimentary matzoh will be made available, although Mains acknowledges that free unleavened bread may not be much of a draw in and of itself. Each show will also include a raffle for gift certificates to Tree of Life Judaica & Books, the proceeds of which will benefit Jewish Family Service.
Jews in attendance at this weekend’s shows will also receive “Member of the Tribe” discount cards, which entitle the bearer to 50 percent off at the door for Mainstage events, as well as happy hour discounts and other promotional specials.
“Honestly, I think these are hilarious,” Mains said of the discount cards. “And on the back of each of them it says, “˜Such a deal! Would we lie to you?’”
In all seriousness, however, Mains does believe that the Jewish community ought to take pride in its long tradition of producing highly regarded comedians. She hopes that events like Ha Ha Hanukkah will help make the Jewishness of these talented comics visible to mainstream society.
“Ask people to name any 10 comedians that they like and, chances are, half of them will be Jews,” Mains said. “This has been the way it is for a long time. This goes back to the Borscht belt, to people like Lenny Bruce and George Burns. It’s a huge part of the community’s subculture.”
Ha Ha Hanukkah at Mainstage Comedy and Music Club, 315 1st Ave. N, Seattle. Shows are at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Thurs., Dec 20 — Sat. Dec. 22. Tickets are $20. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 206-217-3700.