BY ELIZABETH KIESZKOWSKI / ekieszkowski@staradvertiser.com
After two years of hosting Tuesday comedy nights at Hawaiian Brian’s, Aaron Pughes (aka comedy host “Mr. Aaron”) is moving on.
‘Comedy at the Showroom: The Finale’Hosted by Aaron ‘Mr. Aaron’ Pughes» Where: Hawaiian Brian’s, 1680 Kapiolani Blvd. |
Pughes started hosting comedy at Hawaiian Brian’s in January 2011, and had a pretty consistent run. But now, with programs for kids and adults starting up in Chinatown, and a separate bi-monthly open mic night at Station Bar, he’s decided to focus his efforts elsewhere.
Comedians who have participated in Hawaiian Brian’s comedy nights have become more familiar to audiences over this time, and comedy nights, including open mic nights, have multiplied. You can thank Pughes for his part in creating a scene for comedy and helping to raise the public’s consciousness about the laughs available, on a grass-roots basis, in Honolulu.
In January, Pughes and others launched a Youth Improv Learning Experience program at Loading Zone in Chinatown, with weekend classes for youth ages 7 to 17. The next round of classes begins Saturday, May 25. Plans are already in the works for a separate stream catering to teens. And a four-week, no-experience-necessary Short Form Improv Program for adults begins Thursday, May 23.
(Check out MrAaronPresents.com, now under construction, for more information on his programs as they become available.)
Rather than hosting shows so frequently, he’s more interested in helping to produce them.
“I’m still going to do shows every once in a while for special events, mostly charity events,” he said. Beneficiaries of Pughes’ shows have included the American Cancer Society, Child’s Play and Comedy Warriors, supporting wounded vets.
Sooner or later, he’s also planning to release a comedy album with Pass Out Records, after culling hours of recordings that he’s accumulated over the past couple of years. Pass Out founder Eric Lagrimas, who also plays drums with local band Pimpbot, will produce.
Michael C. Hall
THIS FINAL SHOW “is going to be great,” Pughes said modestly. It will include proven comics who’ve graced the stage over the years, including Jonny Sparkles, Anthony Nigrelli and Michelle Welch, along with JC Kop, who Pughes noted is “one of the new comics who’s kind of blowing up.”
Comics Michael C. Hall, James Mane and Jose Dynamite run their own shows elsewhere in town, but have joined with Pughes in the past and are lending their talents for this finale show. Chad Wago hosts, and the show doubles as a birthday party for him.
All these comics are passionate about the local comedy scene and have been putting themselves on the line for it.
THE COMEDY shows started with Fernando Pacheco (lead singer of Pimpbot), who put on “Deck the Balls” at Hawaiian Brian’s. The owners wanted a monthly show; Pacheco introduced them to Pughes, and the show developed from there.
“I don’t know how to thank Hawaiian Brian’s,” Pughes says. “I loved working with them.” The club owners have been “super-supportive,” he said.
“I’m kind of sad, but at the same time, sleep is nice. We still have the open mic and everyone is always excited about that — and how many guys did we have on that stage?
“Oh wow, I just counted up how many we had — it’s 70-something people.”
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Elizabeth Kieszkowski is editor of TGIF, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s weekly arts and entertainment section. Reach her via email at ekieszkowski@staradvertiser.com or follow her on Twitter.