On a recent Saturday, a “ladies night” show featuring female comedians in Manhattans only Black-owned comedy club spared no political joke.
Co-founder Nicky Sunshine, who emceed the monthly event, shouted out “cat ladies” in the audience (a reference to the Republican vice-presidential nominee’s often-cited comment about childless women). Stand-up comedian Leighann Lord, who regularly posts spoofs of Harris on Instagram, imitated the vice president’s signature smile and waxed poetic about the beauty of Barack Obama.
And Sunshine had a message for the crowd, all jokes aside: to vote and pray to “stand back and stand by to make history.”
On the shoulders of Sugar Hill performers
In a way, Sunshine and her co-founder and partner, Jamie Roberts, are paying homage tothe history of Sugar Hill with Comedy in Harlem.
The neighborhood’s iconic jazz past and status as a “Black cultural mecca” comes alive for Sunshine when she visits nearby businesses. For example, she learned that legends like Malcolm X and Redd Foxx once worked at a now-shuttered eatery and nightclub just moments away from her club, called Jimmy’s Chicken Shack.
“To walk the same steps and to just take it all in, it’s really incredible,” Sunshine said. “We feel a very strong sense of responsibility on our shoulders to represent the culture and to usher in a new wave of artists and expression right now.”
The origin of Comedy in Harlem
Sunshine and Roberts established Comedy in Harlem in October 2021. Both are veteran comedians, with over 15 years in the industry. They noticed early on a glaring absence of diversity and support in the downtown comedy venues.
“Stage time is like a gym for a comedian,” Sunshine said. “You have to work out those jokes to see what works in order to get bigger opportunities.” But she and Jamie faced challenges in securing stage time as Black comedians.
So they set out to make their own space — a venue built on diversity and opportunities, where performers could be themselves.
Initially, their shows were held in makeshift spaces at the National Black Theater. Roberts attracted a loyal following there by creating a uniquely immersive experience, complete with a DJ, food, and lively vibes.
Then they stumbled upon a location in East Harlem that would become the first home of Comedy in Harlem. This venue was loved by locals eve though it presented some unusual challenges– guests joked about the ominous alley and scurrying city rats on their way to laughter.
“Once you got to the second floor and opened the door, it was like an oasis — like, ‘whoa, there’s a showroom in here,” Sunshine said.
But their joy at that venue only lasted months, due to a building zoning issue.
When they were forded to shut down, they took to GoFundMe to rally support, secured a new location, and reopened just a month later in the heart of Harlem.
The new venue felt like a divine upgrade. “Praise the Lord, no alley rats, praise the Lord, ADA accessible,” Sunshine said. Reflecting on the move, she credited her faith, sharing, “God knows best. Since we moved, it’s been so much better all around.”
Celebrating free expression on Sugar Hill
Sunshine recalls learning the importance of free expression and diverse storytelling during her early career in journalism, working with USA Today through an internship from the National Association of Black Journalists.
She also recalls her time studying German abroad and learning the history of Nazi censorship during Hitler’s regime. Sunshine sees comedy as a powerful political art, especially at this moment in the U.S.
“In the U.S., we hold ourselves up as a beacon of freedom, and we really have to amplify free thought,“ she says.
Committing to comedic connection
Comedy is key to sharing personal truths, Sunshine says. “There’s so many different stories and so many different things impacting our communities, and hearing these voices and these stories is important,” she said. “I am an upholder of that, whether it be from the stage or in our society at large. And it’s disturbing to me … that we’re seeing those freedoms be diminished.”
This dedication to elevating voices and preserving cultural expression is also reflected in the events she and Roberts host at Comedy in Harlem. The club recently introduced karaoke nights on Wednesdays, providing a stage for aspiring singers and independent artists to perform their original work. Through partnerships with promoters like Harlem Renaissance, Comedy in Harlem has showcased some of the city’s most promising underground talent.
“Marginalized groups, we may not have as much money as other people, but what we do have is each other as a resource,” Sunshine said. “I might not be able to get you on “Abbott Elementary” — I don’t have those connections — but I may be able to say, ‘hey, at Comedy in Harlem, we’re offering an acting workshop, and we want to help you get your professional online presence better. And you need better headshots. And hey, have you thought about taking this voiceover class?’ ”
As Comedy in Harlem continues to grow, Sunshine is also enjoying the benefits of being back in the neighborhood she loves. After years of commuting from Long Island, she recently relocated to Hamilton Heights, just minutes from her club. For her, this move isn’t just a convenience but a homecoming.
The “ladies night” felt like home in its own right, a celebration of Black and Asian funny ladies landing jokes and opening call-and-responses with a diverse audience. For Sunshine, comedy, art, and community engagement are intertwined threads of the same mission: to celebrate culture, preserve freedom of expression, and create a place where everyone feels at home.
“The audience is the community, and if the community is not well, then that affects our art form,” Sunshine said. “It’s what my partner and I stand for.”
–
(347) 766-3001
750A St Nicholas Ave in Manhattan
Follow on Instagram at @comedyinharlem.
Check out events, including the next Ladies Night, here.
Check out more of our small biz stories here.