Out of the Ashes: Relapse Theatre re-opens
After shutting their doors three years ago, comedy hub Relapse Theatre is back in business this spring.
Three years ago, the Atlanta comedy scene was in mourning. The iconic Relapse Theatre was forced to shut its doors when the bills grew too heavy for the beloved venue to bear.
Come this spring, Relapse makes a long-awaited return. Owner Bob Wood officially announced in February they would be re-opening their doors. With assistance from his old Relapse team and new business manager Shamey Lawand, Wood continues his vision to create the most inclusive comedy business ever. “It's always been the same impossible dream,” Wood says, “but the vision is to create multiple comedic venues ranging in occupancy that allows groups or individual comedians to book a space that matches their market size so they can sell out. As they get better at everything, they can move up in occupancy until they eventually move out and dominate the planet.”
For nearly six years, the repurposed Church in Midtown functioned as a well-known comedy hub, hosting improv, sketch, and stand-up in perfect harmony. “[Relapse was] a place that everyone involved in the comedy scene went to,” local comedian Greg Behrens says. “And when you were there, everyone was just ’a comedian’ — no matter what subset of the scene you spend the rest of your time in."
Relapse was more than a venue, doubling as a clubhouse for comics. The Thursday night open mic was a favorite among comedians, and for many, the first stage time they got in Atlanta. “It wasn't uncommon to stay talking on the back ramp for hours after the mic was over,” Relapse regular Paige Bowman says. It was the comics’ penchant for burning the midnight oil at the theater that inspired the creation of the 1AM Secret Show; the late Saturday night show that became known as the place nationally-touring comedians could cut loose and experiment free from the confines of a two-drink minimum crowd. Those shows at Relapse became comedic folklore — stories of Rory Scovel hiding under a box for 15 minutes, Eric Andre listing fake band names for half an hour, and James Adomian doing an hour as former pro wrestler turned Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura — passed between comics for years. Even if you never been to Relapse, you damn well heard of it.
February 27 James Adomian came back to kickstart a new chapter. Instead of an hour of Ventura, Adomian donned specs and white wig to play a different politician: presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. Joined by comedian and Donald Trump impersonator Anthony Atamanuik, the duo performed a live debate as part of their Trump vs. Bernie national tour. Serving as Relapse’s soft-open, over 250 people attended the show that at times had the feel of a real rally, garnering an endless mixture of laughs and cheers. Atamanuik put on a fine juggling act of satirical Donald riffs and sincere warnings of what could be, while Adomian capped a night of spot-on physical Bernie-isms by correlating his presidency to The NeverEnding Story. “You are Atreyu, I am Falkor,” Adomian/Bernie roared. “All you have to do is fucking believe in me!”
“When Bob first told me about Relapse possibly re-opening I was of course excited,” Lawand says. “The timing is perfect. It’s like Relapse took a nap allowing Atlanta comedy to evolve into a perfect world for it to thrive. The unique component of the recent explosion in comedy is in DIY shows and, even though it is a fully functioning theater, Relapse absolutely embraces that scene.”
It’s true, the local scene has wasted no time in picking up the pieces in Relapse’s absence. Small, independent improv groups and the 1AM Secret Show found a new home at Smith’s Olde Bar and other independent venues such as The Hangar, Highland Inn Ballroom, Village Theatre, and an endless array of breweries have opened arms to comedy. 2015 was a landmark year, ushering in what seems to be another comedy boom in our southern metropolis. Hybrid shows like Song Missing and Ladie’s Night have brought members of Atlanta’s various creative communities together in front of sold-out crowds while locals like Dulce’ Sloan and Clayton English turned a few industry heads at Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival and on “Conan” and “Last Comic Standing” respectively.
Atlanta has certainly earned the return of its prized sanctuary.
While Relapse won’t officially resume normal operations till April, local stand-up, improv, and sketch comics will again step on that hallowed ground for a three day, three-show fundraiser March 17 through 19. So sing Hallelujah, because your prayers have been answered. We’re going back to church.
Relapse Resurrection rises up starting Thurs., March 17, at 9 p.m. $15-$30.