On January 20, 2023 The Give A Hoot Comedy Club opened in Gaithersburg (16143 Shady Grove Rd.), making it the first full-time comedy club in Montgomery County. It began with a mission “Comedy For the Community”, raising money for non-profit organizations in the county through comedy. The club, which was founded by Irwin Weinstein, Ken Watter and Courtland Shaffer-Kelly, raised over $30,000 for local non-profits in 2024 (video of the experience can be seen below).
Tickets for shows at Give a Hoot are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. During the shows, the full dinner and drink menu from La Mexicana is available for anyone in attendance. The club is also holding an end-of-year special event on December 31st at 7:30pm benefiting families in North Carolina affected by Helene. It will feature comedy legend Tony Woods, Mark Matusof, Irwin Loring, Mudit Verma, Lydia Kraniotis, and Mike Smith.
They started the journey in 2023 partnering with Comfort Cases– a well established non-profit helping foster children as they are placed with families. They have also partnered with a variety of charities since the opening such as Stepping Stones Shelter, For 3-sisters, The Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department, Main Street and many more.
In the club’s first year in 2023, it exceeded expectations– raising over $25,000. In 2024, Give A Hoot partnered with approximately 40 Montgomery County non-profits to top last year’s number. Weinstein said “There are so many organizations we have had the opportunity to work with and learn about, there are so many people in the County doing so much good”
Sadly co-founder Ken Watter, who was known as DC’s Funniest tax accountant, did not get to see this achievement realized as he passed away suddenly on December 4th, 2023. “Ken was such a big part of this, and it is heartbreaking to not get to celebrate this with him” said Weinstein. “He knew we were close, and he was excited for all we were doing.”
Give A Hoot comedy club books national touring comics every weekend. They have had comics such as Chris Monty, who was in Paul Blart Mall Cop 2, Chris Coccia, who was the club’s first-ever headliner, Jay Black from The Hallmark Channel, John Knight from Dry Bar, and many others. You can check out all the upcoming shows at www.giveahootcomedy.com
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