Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

Attending Boxcar Comedy Club, in Springville, is like walking into the past with a speakeasy downstairs, an old-fashioned cinema next door and a restaurant just upstairs. Muffled music comes through the walls as guests enter the theater with its boxcar walls.

Soon, the chatter becomes a low hum as people mill about the theater and — a rarity in Utah County — order a drink at the bar before finding their seats. As the lights are dimmed and the spotlight shines on the stage, anticipation from the audience turns into laughter as the opening host begins his performance.

This moment has not yet become a reality, but it was Brandon Henderson’s vision in creating the Boxcar Comedy Club, the only 21-and-older comedy club in the valley.

The club will open on Aug. 18, 2023, and is located inside a real boxcar. Henderson is co-owner along with Rick and Vicki Salisbury. The Salisburys also own Legends Motor Co., which includes both Straptank locations and the Legends Motorcycle Museum, among other businesses.

Henderson is the CEO, booker and operator of the club. He has been producing comedy shows for over 10 years around the county, including shows at The World Famous Comedy Store, Caroline’s on Broadway and more. He said he created this space to provide an environment where local comedic talent can be showcased and Utah residents can be exposed to a level of comedy not seen before in Utah County.

Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

“The thing that excites me about Utah comedy is that it hasn’t been really dug into yet. There’s a ton of humor and a ton of perspective that can be shown to the rest of the world through humor that we just haven’t given to the rest of the world yet,” Henderson said.

The comedy club is located just off Interstate 15 among a group of new businesses, including the cinema, severals restaurant, a speakeasy, tattoo parlor, record store and more, all of which have one thing in common. They’re built out of boxcars.

The section of the buildings housing the speakeasy, comedy club and cinema are for patrons 21 years and older due to liquor license regulations, but the other sections are open to everyone.

While this type of club is uncommon for the area, Henderson believes it will thrive, that people want to experience types of entertainment residents may have to travel into Salt Lake County to find. “Utah County is dying for some other forms of entertainment,” he said.

Every Friday and Saturday night, a touring comic will fill the stage, performing two shows a night. There are currently 12 comics lined up to perform in the first few weeks, Henderson said.

Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

Henderson’s plan is for a new touring comic to perform every weekend with local comics performing throughout the week. Every Monday will even be an open mic night for amateurs to give comedy a shot.

Performers with a variety of styles will come to Boxcar Comedy Club, some “clean” comics and some with routines designed for adult crowds.

The fall and winter lineup for 2023 and 2024 is already posted on the club’s website and includes a series of well-known performers including Kirk Fox (Jury Duty, Parks and Recreation), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and more.

Henderson expects customers will enjoy some comics but may not like them all. If someone isn’t a fan of a particular act, though, he suggests coming back another night to see something different.

The comedians, he said, will compliment each other’s jokes because they are both trying to find success in the world of comedy and make people laugh.

Nichole Whiteley, Daily Herald

“Everyone is welcome if they’re funny — and or attempting to be so,” Henderson said. “I think that Utah County doesn’t get credit for its sense of humor. I think people appreciate different kinds of humor a lot more than it’s given credit for.”

Boxcar Comedy Club welcomes all people as comedians and audience members, though he hopes the area’s population will lead to new kinds of comedy. Henderson hopes comedians who are part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can shed light on the religion’s perspective and help others understand the nuances of the religion.

“Humor allows people to be exposed to different cultures and ideas in a way that it sort of makes them drop their guard and makes them more willing to listen,” Henderson said. He believes that comedy can help others understand different religions, cultures and perspectives.

Professionals know what they’re getting into when they walk on a stage, but amateurs who attend the open mic nights may not. Getting on stage for an open mic night can be terrifying, so Henderson gives people the same piece of advice.

“Expect to bomb, just have it in your head, and then it’s a lucky surprise if you don’t. And just keep trying, just keep coming,” Henderson said.

Touring comics are sharper, polished and bring decades of experience that up-and-coming comedians can learn from, even in the audience. Being exposed to this talent, and making those connections, can help up-start comics reach the next level of their careers.

They do have plans for family-friendly events, such as setting up a stage in the courtyard for youth performances and holding stand-up and improv classes for children. Henderson said children will be exposed to high levels of entertainment through these family-friendly events or through watching the recorded shows online, even if they can’t watch the nightly shows.

“I think just knowing what’s possible is really exciting for a kid growing up,” he said.

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