Michael Che in Long Island City
photo via @marysellsnyc

Michael Che is doing free, outdoor comedy shows in Long Island City this summer

Michael Che‘s appearance at Dave Chappelle’s huge July 4 show wasn’t the comedian’s only live performance of the pandemic era. He’s also been doing a series of free, outdoor sets in NYC, as Queens Post reports. Since June, he’s been doing stand-up from the bed of a rusty old pickup truck outside Plaxall Gallery in Long Island City, roughly weekly. The first show drew nearly 1000 people, Edjo Wheeler, Executive Director at Culture Lab LIC, who presents the series, along with Che and The Creek and The Cave, told Queens Post, but they cap attendance at 500, and have circles drawn on the ground to help enforce social distancing. He hopes the series will run through the end of August.

Che is joined by different comedians each week at the shows, and the next one is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, beginning at 5:30 PM. 100% of profits from the beer tent onsite, and 30% from the food vendors, are donated to a different charity each week, with Black Lives Matter and NYC Kids RISE being previous beneficiaries.

Che asks attendees not to post video to social media from his sets, but you can check out some pictures below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCMBsl5jk_D/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBzD-GYD3WS/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBJvB27nT_Q/