Galentines Day is not your average comedy show

Valentine’s Day is the same old song and dance every year. The only difference is the inflated price for wine and chocolate. The only people around, it seems, are blissfully happy couples and woefully single ex-couples.

There is one place the people of Des Moines can go this weekend to avoid the romantic hysteria that surrounds Valentine’s Day, though. The Des Moines Stand Up Comedy Scene is sponsoring Galentines Day, an all-female comedy show on Friday, Feb. 13, at the Basement Bar below the Kum & Go Theater. The fun begins at 9 p.m. when local Iowans and Midwest comedians take the stage.

Some of the funniest ladies in the Midwest make a stop in Des Moines for an all-female comedy show at the Des Moines Social Club’s Basement Bar on Friday, Feb. 13, at 9 p.m.

“We’ve gathered the brightest local and regional talents to Des Moines for a fun show,” said Madeleine Russell, who will perform her standup for Galentines Day. Russell is a native of Ames and has performed with Repertory Theater of Iowa and StageWest. She’s been doing standup for about a year now and believes Des Moines provides a lot of opportunity to beginning performers.

“Des Moines is the kind of place where people become good at comedy, develop their style then move to a larger market,” she said.

Aside from Russell, the Galentines Day show features performances by Annie Hildebrand, Georgia Rae, Rachel Weeks, Kate Bennet, Katie McVay and Stephanie Hasz.

“The women of Galentines are burgeoning Midwest comedians,” said Russell. “They are hard-working, funny and about to blow up. This is a rare opportunity to see a performer in a great venue like Des Moines Social Club right before they get big.”

Russell said it is a fitting time to bring together several of the area’s great up-and-coming female performers to showcase their talents.

“I found out that this is the most women they’ve ever had doing standup regularly in Des Moines,” Russell said. “Now is the time to capitalize on that. I’d like to keep the momentum going and encourage women in Des Moines to come out and see some seriously funny comedy.”

Russell hopes the event also encourages more women to get out and try standup at an open mic. With so many opportunities on a local level — Streetcar 209 hosts open mic every Tuesday, Whiskey Dixx every other Wednesday and The Last Laugh on Thursdays — there’s no excuse not to give it a try.

Galentines Day is the perfect outing for single ladies, but it’ll also be a fun time for couples and guys. Basically, if you’re looking for a good laugh and live entertainment, Galentines Day is for you.

“The lineup is going to give the audience a really fresh perspective,” Russell said. “It won’t be your average comedy show. They’ll be laughing so hard they’ll forget they’re single!”

And in case the laugh-out-loud comedy isn’t quite enough to take your mind off your single status, there is a full bar to bridge the gap. The Basement sells domestic draws and craft beers, fine whiskeys, handcrafted cocktails and a wine list. It is cash only, though, so make sure to stop by an ATM on the way. CV

Galentines Day
Friday, Feb. 13, 9 p.m.
The Basement Bar
901 Cherry St., Des Moines
Tues.-Sat. 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
515-369-3672info@desmoinessocialclub.org