News and Press

2004-10-29

Laffing Matterz

Laffing Matterz

There is a new comedy showcase in the wings, following the recent shutdown of Uncle Funny's in Davie. But this one won't be of the improv model.

Laffing Matterz will be an upscale dinner theatre presenting nightclub revues in downtown Fort Lauderdale's historic (1921) McCrory's building, near Las Olas Riverfront.

The venue is modeled after Aspen, Colorado's Crystal Palace Theatre Restaurant, a fixture since 1957 that specializes in scripted satirical musical revues. Auditions are scheduled Saturday to build an ensemble for a planned February opening.

The artistic side is being handled by Crystal Palace veterans MarkWells and his wife Rita. They had plans but no investors for thier own theatre. Two years ago, Florida restaurant owner Dave "Lags" Lageschulte, a frequent Crytal Palace visitor, asked if the Wellses would go to work for his company.

"We came to Florida and thought we'd have a place in six or nine months," Mark Wells laughs. The holdup was in finding the right location with a workable lease.

"It's like a musical Saturday Night Live." Mark Wells says of the format. "The material will be 90 percent musical."

He compares the format to the popular Capitol Steps troupe- but Laffing Matterz will have original songs rather than parodies set to existing pop tunes.

Lageschulte owns 17 Hooters restaurants and is co-CEO of LTP Management, which runs Dan Marino's, Lulu's Bait Shack, the Martini Bar, Adobe Gila's and the Ugly Tuna Saloona among its 32 properties. Laffing Matterz will be a 175 seat cabaret-style club with table service, no buffet, leaning toward high-end dining.

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