Turning One

As usual on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, it’s time for Killer Open Mic stand-up comedy at the Art Bar Riverwest, 722 E. Burleigh St.

But this Thursday, March 24, it’s also the 1-year anniversary of the Caste of Killers Comedy Collective. So that makes it special. And it’s free, which makes it affordable.

Caste of Killers is a Milwaukee-based group that has been a positive influence on the Milwaukee comedy community. The troupe includes 16 local stand-up artists and encourages many more through the semi-monthly shows at the Art Bar, Monday open mics at Carte Blanche Studios and 2nd Tuesday showcases at Nice Ash Cigar Bar in Waukesha.

OK, so it’s not exactly its birthday Thursday. Caste of Killers had its first show on March 25, 2010.

“And we never looked back,” says Damon Millard, a founding member. “We knew exactly what we wanted, but had no idea of going about it. I believe we made some early errors by opening up as many as four rooms at a time. We had to downscale, which not only gave us back our sanity but allowed us to focus on quality over quantity. Our goal was to create stage time in a city that isn’t exactly known for its comedy scene, and I consider this first year a hell of a success.”

No duh. Caste of Killers has averaged about one official Caste of Killers showcase per week for the last year. Plus, the group is developing a grand showroom for a monthly showcase at the Bay View Brew Haus.

Millard sees something exceptional in Milwaukee that he didn’t find traveling the country and performing at open mics and shows in Chicago and New York.

“I believe that, hands down, Milwaukee has something that those scenes do not: A heart,” Millard says. “The comics of this scene work very hard. They have to work harder to get their stage time, they drive farther, kiss more ass, and they know how precious it is when somebody says, ‘Hey, go up there and give me your best fifteen.’”

The cast of the Caste of Killers share a “fire-burning drive for success.” That’s how Millard sees the group getting to where it is and progressing to where he hopes it will go.

“The Caste of Killers is a group of give-it-all-you-got-every-time-you-do-it comics,” Millard says. “And that’s why in another 365 days my hope is to make the name ‘Caste of Killers’ not only a household name in places like Milwaukee, Racine and Cudahy, but L.A. and Boston and New York.”