
DATE: Sunday, May 11, 1997                  TAG: 9705090296

SECTION: CAROLINA COAST          PAGE: 20   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

COMEDY CLUB'S SUMMER SCHEDULE IS LOADED WITH LAUGHS

Anita Fletcher says she's seen 585 comedians during her 14 years at the Comedy Club in Nags Head.

The businesswoman will see another 42 funnymen this summer in the dark, low-ceilinged basement club of the Carolinian Hotel.

Fletcher, whose club reopened last week, spent the winter viewing audition tapes so she could line up this season's talent. Her talent test is no laughing matter. ``Make me laugh in the first minute of the tape,'' is her hard and fast rule.

``I've always said that,'' says Fletcher, who also operates comedy clubs in Richmond and Hampton. ``It works. So if ain't broke, don't fix it.''

Fletcher's keen eye for fresh talent has helped her latch on to such high-voltage comedians as Brett Butler, Sinbad and Drew Carrey while those now famous stand-ups were climbing the comedy ladder.

``Drew just killed me,'' Fletcher says. ``I knew he was going on to big things.''

This summer's lineup at the Carolinian's Comedy Club includes old favorites like Dan French, Grant Turner, Spins Nitely, Tommy Slege, Klaus Myers and Brett Leake. Among the new faces slated to appear are Mike Diesel, Rob Duffett, Keith Barany, Shane Keith and Tom Papa.

The Comedy Club, which seats 300, will be open weekends through May. After that, comedians perform Mondays through Saturdays until Sept. 13. Each night's bill features at least two comics. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

The Comedy Club reopened last week. Rob Reibold is just of the

comedy acts that are coming to Nags Head this summer.

Graphic

LAUGH OUT LOUD

Who: Funnymen Rob Reibold and David Beck

When: Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17 at 10 p.m.

Where: Comedy Club at the Carolinian Hotel, milepost 10.5 on the

beach road in Nags Head

Cost: $8 per person

Call: 441-7171