A couple of comedy clubs

After a quiet summer, comedy is breaking out in several locations.

The Funny Farm is booking shows in Warren, and in Austintown, laughter will be heard again in the lower level of Mojo’s Pub and Grill.

Mojo’s, on Mahoning Avenue, was the host of the Funny Farm for the past few years, but the comedy club moved to the soon-to-open Hotel California, also in Austintown, this summer.

The Funny Farm is bringing the great Jake Johannsen to Warren this weekend. More about that later.

John Marino, owner of Mojo’s, decided to keep the yuks going at his place. Beginning Friday, the Comedy Cellar at Mojo’s will open in the same lower-level room that once was the site of the Funny Farm.

First up will be comedian Kenny Miller, who will do shows at 9 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday.

The decision to continue booking comedy was easy, said Marino, because comedians were approaching him to play the room. “They like it because of its intimacy,” he said. “When there are 75 people in there, it looks full.” The room has a capacity of 125.

Marino also said the comedy club fits in with many folks’ desire for a single nightlife destination. Mojo’s is known for its food, and comedy fans liked to stop in for dinner before going downstairs for the show. The establishment also has a cozy bar where couples and friends gather for post-show drinks.

For reservations or information about the Comedy Cellar at Mojo’s, call 330-779-0995, or 330-793-MOJO.

The Cellar will book comedians every weekend as it proceeds through a soft rollout.

One unexpected thing that Marino learned from having the Funny Farm in his building was that there are a lot of young, aspiring comedians in the area. The enthusiasm at local comedy showcases proved that, he said.

“There is a culture for it here, and they usually don’t have a standing place to perform,” said Marino, who will welcome the locals to perform on special nights and as openers.

Getting veteran comic Kenny Miller to open at tomorrow’s club opener was an obvious pick. The Northeast Ohio native has played the room before and is a humble and down-to-earth kind of guy, said Pat Kalima, a manager at Mojo’s and the Comedy Cellar. “He has got lots of great material,” Kalima added.

Miller is a Braceville resident and a regular performer on Carnival Cruise Line ships. He said comedians like an intimate space — and so do audiences.

“It’s a huge difference from working on a ship,” he said in a phone interview. “The dynamic is so different. The people on a ship are on vacation, and they don’t care. It’s a little loud, and the shows are free. In a club, [the audience] paid to get in, and they feel like they are invested in the show.”

Miller’s humor ranges from observational, to song parodies and original songs, to impressions.

Meanwhile, Dave Robich, the longtime owner of the Funny Farm, will bring Jake Johanssen to the entertainment room at Crest Lanes in Warren this weekend for two shows (call 330-759-4242 for tickets).

Johannsen is known for his sly wit and offbeat delivery, and is a regular on “Late Show With David Letterman.” There is an article about him on page C11 and on vindy.com.

Robich had planned to book the show at the Funny Farm’s new digs in Hotel California — the palm-tree oasis near the new Hollywood Gaming Casino — but that venue is embroiled in a battle to secure a liquor license and won’t open for several more weeks.