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Raising the Bar

Local comic and promoter David Sadman partners with Arturo's Ristorante to launch the Sadman Comedy Speakeasy Lounge, giving Boca Raton an upscale comedy destination.

by Chuck king
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BOCA RATON – David Sadman intends to elevate South Florida comedy by taking it upstairs to the Sadman Comedy Speakeasy Lounge.

Opening later this month in the top floor of Arturo’s Ristorante, the Speakeasy Lounge will bring some of the nation’s top comics to a discerning comedy audience in an intimate setting.

“The idea is to do something special in Boca Raton in an upscale lounge environment with some very seasoned, professional-grade comics,” Sadman said.

Sadman Comedy Productions previously produced comedy shows headlined by Dean Napolitano and Jimmy Shubert in the main dining room at Arturo’s, an upscale Italian restaurant located on Federal Highway in northern Boca Raton.

Those shows helped convince all involved that an appetite exists for upscale comedy in a cozy environment.

One of the more unique Boca Raton buildings, Arturo’s features a basement wine cellar – a true South Florida rarity – and a third-floor banquet hall, which will be the home of the Speakeasy Lounge.

Initially, the Sadman Comedy Speakeasy Lounge will offer table seating for approximately 60 socially distanced fans. It will have a stand-alone bar dedicated to the lounge and offer a scaled-back menu expected to include a mix of traditional comedy lounge fare as well as some of the same quality offerings that built Arturo’s reputation as one of South Florida’s top restaurants.

Patrons will enter the Speakeasy Lounge through its own private side entrance but will also be encouraged to exit via the main lobby to experience the atmosphere that’s uniquely Arturo’s.

“We are extremely excited about having the opportunity to have our brand represented inside of an establishment with its own great brand,” Sadman said. “It’s a lot of history and traditional value.”

The first show at the Sadman Comedy Speakeasy Lounge is scheduled for Feb. 24, and Sadman has assembled a monster lineup.

Shubert, Bruce Smirnoff, Don Gavin and Richie Minervini are all expected to perform for at least 20 minutes.

At one point in 2020 Shubert’s “Zero Tolerance” was the nation’s No. 1 comedy album. Smirnoff is coming out of retirement for the special occasion. Gavin – AKA “The Godfather of Boston Comedy – has performed in more than 100 countries. Minervini, also an accomplished film actor, owned East Side Comedy Club in New York, helping launch the careers of Eddie Murphy, Jay Leno and Kevin James.

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“It’s a great venue,” Shubert said. “Tickets are going fast. I expect to be sold out.”

Tickets are $20. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 561-800-4090. Nadeem Awad, Chad Ridgely and Sadman are also expected to perform that night.

Sadman plans to produce similar shows every couple of weeks.

“We’d love to be able to establish ourselves as the premier room for upscale, sophisticated comedy in east Boca Raton,” Sadman said.

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