Comedic Genius Dave Chappelle Picks Tampa Bay

When comedic genius Dave Chappelle picks Tampa Bay for his new tour, everyone pays attention.  Mark Twain Prize for American Comedy winner, David Khari Webber Chappelle is headed to the beloved house that hockey built.  Amalie Arena will host this LIVE Chappelle Show on Sunday, October 29th.  The tour, simply dubbed as Dave Chappelle Live was announced in late July but today, the Tampa appearance has officially been added to the list of show dates.

If not winning yours or receiving a call from Dave himself, you may need this ticket info. The general, non-password dependent on sale begins Friday, September 15 at 10am.  Ticketmaster and Live Nation outlets are ready for the rush.  This five-time Emmy Award winner isn't afraid of most untouchable topics, but it's part of what makes him the comedic g.o.a.t.  That and his run with 3 consecutive Grammy wins for Best Comedy 2018, 2019 and 2020.  Comedic genius Dave Chappelle picks Tampa Bay and we know what greatness is on the way.

Comedians like Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and many greats have been called funny but also often called fearless.  That is a word often shard about Chappelle.  He's extremely smart and unapologetic about his opinions. That sometimes gets him in hot water that he seems to welcome, as well.  In 2021, his Netflix special "The Closer" was met with backlash as Dave took on trans subject matter.  While maneuvering through his personal experiences with the LGBTQIA+ community, the jokes and commentary ended with flack aimed at the comedian and the streaming provider.  Wonder if their are any Floridan hot topics, that may make his material.  When comedic genius Dave Chappelle picks Tampa Bay we  can't wait to find out.

While there certainly are great music tours stopping in south Florida this summer, there are also plenty of comedy tours. We've put together a list of some of top upcoming comedy shows in the Tampa area that are not to be missed.

From Coastal Comedy Night to Pride-themed comedy shows in June to a plethora of open mic options, Tampa certainly offers options to catch stand-up. Many comedians are engaging in extensive tours. The previous three years were challenging for comedy shows, given the lack of outdoor venues that are suitable for such shows. Now, there is comedians performing almost every night of the week.

The greater Tampa Bay region of western Florida has a wide range of comedy theater options. Venues such as Tampa Improv and the Gimmick in Ybor City obviously specialize in such stand-up shows. Then, the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Event Center draws some of the biggest names in the business. Finally, intimate clubs such as the Tampa Theatre and Spitfire Comedy House continuously book creative performances.

If you're interested in taking comedy classes, it's never too late to sharpen your skills. Spitfire Comedy offers that as well. Stand-up and sketch comedy classes are offered for all skill and experience levels. In fact, if you want to test the waters, you can just "drop in" on Sunday afternoons at a small cost.

We could all use a good reason to belly laugh. The Washington Post reported earlier this year that the "contagious nature of laughter means we’re more likely to laugh harder and longer in groups, as at a comedy club or in a movie theater." The study went on to detail that laughing together is a valuable form of direct communication.

So please welcome to the stage five upcoming comedy shows in Tampa that are not to be missed.

Live from the Tampa Improv Comedy Theater, Bellamy will take over this entire weekend in July. On Friday and Saturday nights, he will perform two shows. He became well-known for his regular hosting duties on MTV and has since gone on to star in many TV series. Bellamy also has a podcast entitled "Top Billin' with Bill Bellamy."

Shore takes over the Tampa comedy scene the last weekend of July. He will be performing at Side Splitters Comedy Club. He is touring in support of his “Stick with the Dancing: Funny Stories from my Childhood” one-man show. When he's not touring, Shore can be found on his YouTube channel.

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa has an impressive events calendar all summer. August 10 needs to be circled as "Late Night" host Seth Meyers takes the stage. Meyers is only performing a handful of shows this summer, and this is his last date on the books for Florida.

Also at the Tampa Improv Comedy Theater, Tolev will be performing two dates. Both dates also offer an early and a late show. Originally from Canada, Tolev has a comedy album called I'm Not Well, and a podcast called "Steph Infection." You can find her many sketch characters on her Instagram page.

Last but not least, some guy named Jerry. This comedic legend will also grace the Seminole Hard Rock stage as a lead-in to the last weekend of September. Though Seinfeld is touring major arenas this year, Tampa is his only Florida show.