This weekend, on Saturday the 24th, catch COLAughs Comedy at NoMa Warehouse. The show starts at 8:03 p.m. and features headliner Jas Gill, as well as comedians Melanie Goldey and Shaine Laine. The event will be hosted by COLAughs founder Allie Johns and emcee Topher Riddle. There will be beverages available for purchase, air-conditioning (people ask every time!), and plenty of adult content — consider a babysitter!
Host and founder of COLAughs, Allie Johns, has been doing her own stand-up comedy since 2018. But like many of us, the pandemic halted her plans. However, in January of this year, Johns was excited to get back to work. She noticed that Columbia was overflowing with comedic talent, yet there weren’t many spaces putting on comedy shows or supporting comedians. She decided to start COLAughs in order to bring Columbia’s comedy scene “out of the dark basements and into unique venues.”
Allie Johns
The first COLAughs show was in January of 2022, and the show this weekend at NoMa Warehouse will be the ninth. Johns says that partnering with venues who share her vision is key to helping the Columbia comedy scene come alive again. COLAughs now has regular shows at NoMa Warehouse, the Gardener’s Outpost, and the Warmouth. Johns is proud to say that they even have recurring guests in attendance, and that most of these shows have sold out.
In addition, Johns assembles comedians for COLAughs shows from her own personal connections, and she likes to return favors. She frequently books comedians who have hosted her in the past. Her goal is to give exposure to both regional and out of town comics. Johns met the headliner Jas Gill doing comedy in Greenville. “Jas has a bubbly but sarcastic personality that everyone can relate to,” Johns says.
The other two comedians, Melanie Goldey from Savannah, and Shaine Laine from Charlotte are sure to get some giggles as well. Goldey gives comedy ghost tours and hosts Totally Awesome Bar comedy in Savannah. Laine, on the other hand, works on the Funny Bus in Charlotte. He’s even toured internationally and is just getting back from a show in Canada. Topher Riddle, Johns’ trusted emcee, is in charge of the music and the lights, but he has his own comedy shows in Columbia too, including Movie Mockery and Tomorrowquest.
This experienced group of comics is sure to cause a ruckus. Don’t miss this hilarious show, or the opportunity to help the comedic Columbia community keep on growing! Tickets are available for purchase online.
Written by Meg Carroll