Milwaukee has a slew of open mic sessions and standup comedy showcases this week. That's appropriate because this week also marks a celebration of the Caste of Killers Comedy Collective, which for the last four years has been fostering standup artists and performances in Milwaukee and beyond. As founders Damon Millard and Jason Hillman told Third Coast Digest in 2010, their designs for building up Milwaukee's standup scene came from "socialist-Utopian-ideals" – also appropriate in a city with a history of embracing socialist politicians.
But on Wednesday, April 2, the Caste of Killers stresses the "social" part of socialist with an open mic and party. The event page on Facebook promises "cake, compliments and confusion." (It's invitation-only, but Facebook invitations have gone out to some 1,200 people, so check your account to see if you're among the chosen.)
Meanwhile, the Caste of Killers legacy is on public display through a bevy of standup shows. Some are direct results of the Caste of Killers work, others are not, but there's no denying the influence the Caste of Killers has had in opening venues and encouraging talent. Among the shows:
Monday, March 31
- 8 p.m., Comedy Show Comedy Show Open Mic, Bremen Cafe, 901 E. Clarke St.
- 8 p.m., Seriously, Comedy Open Mic, Fire on Water, 518 N. Water St.
​Tuesday, April 1 (April Fool's Day)
- 7 p.m., Comedy Open Mic, Theatre Unchained, 1024 S. 5th St.
- 9 p.m., Down and Over Comedy Open Mic, Down and Over Pub, 2535 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. (Including release of the CD recording made of the Jan. 31 Comedic Release Show)
Thursday, April 3
- 7:30 p.m., Brew Ha Ha! Comedy and Craft Beer, Big Head Brewing Company, 6204 W. State St., Wauwatosa
Friday, April 4
- 8:30 p.m., The Caste of Killers Presents: The Milwaukee Stand Up Comedy Showcase, Karma Bar & Lounge, 600 E. Ogden Ave.
- 10 p.m., Stand-Up Cinema: The Goonies, Times Cinema, 5906 W. Vliet St., Wauwatosa