How to Direct and Shoot a Live Comedy Special For Theaters

Joe List is one of my favorite comedians, and so prolific. Just this month alone, he's toured doing comedy, shown his documentary, and now is debuting his new special, Small Ball, which will screen in theaters nationwide for one night only on May 21.So, how do you direct a special you know is going to play in theaters for one night? I spoke with List about the experience. Joe List Credit: Matthew SalacuseHe told me, "My new special Small Ball is not totally unlike my previous specials in that it's an hour of me doing stand-up comedy in a comedy club, and I think it's very funny. The big difference is, this is the first one that hasn't been shot in New York City. Specifically, the Village Underground. This one we shot in Chicago at two different comedy clubs on two different nights. One at Zanie's Downtown in Old Town Chicago, and the other at Rosemont Zanie's out in the suburbs. Then we cut together the two shows, and I think it came out really well. I'm very excited for people to see this one." Shooting two shows and putting them together allowed for List ot pick the jokes he felt like flowed best, and he was also able to pick which laughs stood out. But putting the movie in theaters is a totally new venture. - YouTube www.youtube.com List says, "A fella named Richard Matson, who is a film distributor and comedy fan, reached out to us about possibly putting it in cinemas. I was a bit skeptical at first, but then I realized what a fun and exciting idea it is to have folks watch it together in a big room. That's the thing I've always hated about stand-up comedy specials: it feels like most people watch them alone in a room. It's kind of like watching other people watch stand-up. If you're in a movie theater with a bunch of other people, though, it feels much more like a regular comedy show. Which I'm hoping people feel that."The theatrical release for a special is a really cool idea. It encourages fans to go to their movies and could result in the largest number of people getting together for your showcase. Of course, List thinks the best way to see the movie is in theaters. He elaborated, "I think it will be a very fun and unique experience for the fans who get to go see it in the theater. Obviously, I may be a bit biased because I love going to the movies and I love stand-up comedy, so it's a match made in heaven to me."This does feel like a groundbreaking idea for stand-ups. I love going to stand-up shows, but when they record specials, it can be impossible to get seats, and it may not be in your town. Still, you can meet and commune with other fans You want to see the latest big special with an audience, this allows people all over the country to do just that. List says, "The only thing I'm really hoping the audience takes away from the special is that they had a great time and I'm a funny guy. I hope they leaving saying 'man, that was fun as hell and Joe List is a damn good comedian...and I'm glad he finally fixed his teeth"." Joe List Credit: Matthew SalacuseOther than his special, List also took select theaters by storm with a doc he directed. List elaborated, "Recently I also released my documentary Tom Dusin: Portrait of a Comedian in theaters, and we've been lucky that it's been received very, very well. We've done a bunch of screenings all over the country, and the response has been emphatically positive. I'm so proud of the movie and the reaction it's receiving from so many. It's been a dream come true having it in the theaters."Both of these titles will eventually hit VOD, where you can watch them alone, but I got my tickets to see them in Pasadena, and I'm really pumped ot be around other fans and experiencing comedy with a crowd, the way it was meant to be enjoyed and seen. Let me know what you think in the comments.

May 21, 2025 - 19:25

How to Direct and Shoot a Live Comedy Special For Theaters

Joe List is one of my favorite comedians, and so prolific. Just this month alone, he's toured doing comedy, shown his documentary, and now is debuting his new special, Small Ball, which will screen in theaters nationwide for one night only on May 21.

So, how do you direct a special you know is going to play in theaters for one night?

I spoke with List about the experience.

Joe List Credit: Matthew Salacuse

He told me, "My new special Small Ball is not totally unlike my previous specials in that it's an hour of me doing stand-up comedy in a comedy club, and I think it's very funny. The big difference is, this is the first one that hasn't been shot in New York City. Specifically, the Village Underground. This one we shot in Chicago at two different comedy clubs on two different nights. One at Zanie's Downtown in Old Town Chicago, and the other at Rosemont Zanie's out in the suburbs. Then we cut together the two shows, and I think it came out really well. I'm very excited for people to see this one."

Shooting two shows and putting them together allowed for List ot pick the jokes he felt like flowed best, and he was also able to pick which laughs stood out.

But putting the movie in theaters is a totally new venture.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

List says, "A fella named Richard Matson, who is a film distributor and comedy fan, reached out to us about possibly putting it in cinemas. I was a bit skeptical at first, but then I realized what a fun and exciting idea it is to have folks watch it together in a big room. That's the thing I've always hated about stand-up comedy specials: it feels like most people watch them alone in a room. It's kind of like watching other people watch stand-up. If you're in a movie theater with a bunch of other people, though, it feels much more like a regular comedy show. Which I'm hoping people feel that."

The theatrical release for a special is a really cool idea. It encourages fans to go to their movies and could result in the largest number of people getting together for your showcase.

Of course, List thinks the best way to see the movie is in theaters. He elaborated, "I think it will be a very fun and unique experience for the fans who get to go see it in the theater. Obviously, I may be a bit biased because I love going to the movies and I love stand-up comedy, so it's a match made in heaven to me."

This does feel like a groundbreaking idea for stand-ups. I love going to stand-up shows, but when they record specials, it can be impossible to get seats, and it may not be in your town. Still, you can meet and commune with other fans

You want to see the latest big special with an audience, this allows people all over the country to do just that.

List says, "The only thing I'm really hoping the audience takes away from the special is that they had a great time and I'm a funny guy. I hope they leaving saying 'man, that was fun as hell and Joe List is a damn good comedian...and I'm glad he finally fixed his teeth"."

Joe List Credit: Matthew Salacuse

Other than his special, List also took select theaters by storm with a doc he directed. List elaborated, "Recently I also released my documentary Tom Dusin: Portrait of a Comedian in theaters, and we've been lucky that it's been received very, very well. We've done a bunch of screenings all over the country, and the response has been emphatically positive. I'm so proud of the movie and the reaction it's receiving from so many. It's been a dream come true having it in the theaters."

Both of these titles will eventually hit VOD, where you can watch them alone, but I got my tickets to see them in Pasadena, and I'm really pumped ot be around other fans and experiencing comedy with a crowd, the way it was meant to be enjoyed and seen.

Let me know what you think in the comments.