The Jai Thai stage could be back in motion (Image: Comedy on Broadway)
The laughs will return to Broadway and Thomas. With the end of the Jai Thai era brings the beginnings of another, this time completely focused on comedy. The former Thai joint that happened to become part of the city’s comedy scene is hoped to go back into motion in 2023 as Comedy on Broadway.
“I’m personally trying to lease the entire restaurant space that was Jai Thai and open it as a comedy club,” Dane Hesseldahl said.
Hesseldahl has been in comedy for a couple of years, while Jai Thai hosted comedy events for about 12 years, according to Hesseldahl.
“It’s sort of been passed down from owner to owner–comedian to comedian–over the years,” said Hesseldahl. “I inherited it. I’m the current steward of the Jai Thai comedy.”
CHS reported on Jai Thai’s closure in November, and found that this past July King County health shut down the restaurant for sewage problems and pest infestation, “which left us without any place to go,” said Hesseldahl.
Redevelopment looms. A developer is preparing the southwest corner of Broadway and Thomas for a new affordable apartment building. For now, there will hopefully be more time for laughs.
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While trying to lease the entire restaurant space that Jai Thai occupied and turn it into a comedy club with a full bar, Hesseldahl is still working through a deal for the space, although he’s very optimistic to set the plans in stone.
“When Jai Thai shut down, it left this big hole in the Seattle comedy community,” said Hesseldahl.
Jai Thai hosted comedy events, known as Comedy on Broadway, and Hesseldahl thinks they were the best open mics in the city of Seattle, and explained how the events were always packed. Hesseldahl also said the city lacks good locations to host comedy.
“We’re really trying to fill that hole and make sure there are stages,” said Hesseldahl. “We want there to be spaces for people to go and work on their comedy and continue to grow, so it’s important that we find those.”
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Capitol Hill comedy lovers have one option where Club Comedy Seattle had a busy 2022 bringing pro acts and amateurs to 15th Ave E. Other bars and venues like the Hopvine also host comedy open mic nights.
When thinking about the future of the atmosphere, speakeasy vibes take over Hesseldahl’s brain. He feels like the best comedy is done under the cover of darkness, which was the sort of atmosphere Jai Thai held. Jai Thai’s former restaurant space of the property will most likely be turned into an open front seating area for Comedy on Broadway, said Hesseldahl.
“I just like the idea of a dark atmospheric old time 90s comedy club. Stiff drinks,” said Hesseldahl.
Hesseldahl saw Jai Thai as a space where anybody could come in and do comedy, whether it was individuals testing out the open mic for the first time, or national touring comedians. He also acknowledged how he did his best to create as many diverse shows as possible and hopes to continue some past favorites like Dungeons & Drag Queens — where drag queens played Dungeons & Dragons, an all time crowd favorite.
Following Jai Thai’s closure, Comedy on Broadway continued to garner laughs by hosting open mic nights across the city, including monthly shows at Central Cinema in the Central District. Comedy on Broadway will host a show at Central Cinema with Derek Sheen on January 5, 2023.
As he hopes to reclaim the space and put the old stage back into action, the legacy of Jai Thai’s comedy remains.
“There’s a big network of comedians all here, but the nice thing about Jai Thai is that it was so well known, that we had comedians reach out to us,” said Hesseldahl. “It had a legacy that people outside of Seattle all knew about, so we were very lucky with that stage.”
Comedy on Broadway plans to bring back comedians who previously performed at Jai Thai, while taking time to find comedians on Facebook and reaching out to them. Hesseldahl’s focus, however, is on local comedians who will fill the space, and folks in from out of town.
“This is something we’re working towards. It’s not 100% yet, but here’s a general plan,” he said.
To check out upcoming Comedy on Broadway shows across the city and keep track of progress on Broadway, follow @comedyonbroadway.
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