Best known for his role of Ray Romano’s big brother Robert on “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Brad Garrett is now calling the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas “home” with the opening of his comedy club last weekend.
While the opening was held over the April Fool’s weekend of March 30-April 1, it’s no joke that the Emmy Award-winning comedian and actor has ambitious plans.
“I’m bringing the best comics from across the country,” Garrett told The Mirror. “It’s a very nice place for comics to come, hang-out, and just really do great shows. Everyone that’s going to play at the club is either from HBO, or Letterman, or Leno.”
Garrett said the intimate 288-seat comedy club was designed to replicate famous New York night spots like The Copacabana, The Stork Club, and Jilly’s.
The comedy club sits in Starlane Mall, to be redubbed the MGM Underground, the entrance of which is just off the hotel’s main lobby.
He joked the old converted New York warehouse feel of the comedy club would also be accompanied by the smell you’d expect – as well as the body parts of a few Italians.
“It’s being built from the ground up,” he said. “MGM Underground, the floor below what used to be a bunch of shops and retail areas, is being redesigned to give it a whole entertainment vibe with new bistros, restaurants, and clubs. This will be the first venue going in there.”
The April Fool’s weekend included performances by Garrett, Ralph Harris, Michael Somerville, and Geechy Guy.
Club show times will be Sunday-Thursday at 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
General admission tickets are priced at $59 and $79 when Garrett appears on stage, or $39, $49, and $59 during non-Garrett performances, not including applicable service charges and taxes.
Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000 or going online at www.bradgarrettcomedy.com or www.mgmgrand.com.
Meanwhile, upstairs the rest of MGM Grand is in the midst of its “Grand Renovation” introducing remodeled rooms.
Currently underway, the $160 million hotel remodel includes all 3,570 guest rooms and 642 suites in MGM Grand’s main tower and is expected to conclude by September this year.
More than 700 rooms are now complete and available for reservation.
