The Bear City Comedy show at Que Sera in Long Beach provides residents with a free respite from the work week each Wednesday night.
“I want them to have a great experience that uplifts their week,” said Trevor Hill, comedian and co-founder of Bear City Comedy. “The show’s on a Wednesday, so it’s kind of right in the middle of the work week. I always like to have just kind of a little escape for people, especially since it’s a free show.”’
Since 2016, Hill and his business partner Steve Furey have organized a different roster of stand-up performers to take the stage each week at the Long Beach night club.
The pair moved to Southern California from the Bay Area around the same time in 2015, with Hill relocating to Long Beach and Furey to Hollywood. Having worked together in the past, the two decided to team up and hold an ongoing stand-up show in Long Beach.
“We did a lot of shows together up there [the Bay area] and were mutual fans of each other’s comedy and comedy taste as well,” Hill said.
The first comic to take the stage on Wednesday, Sept. 28 was Quincy Weekley, who kept the crowd laughing with his observations about getting COVID on Christmas, the pressure to have kids and growing up without a dad.
“We just love giving back to the community and being able to provide a free show for people, hopefully make their week a little brighter.”
Trevor Hill, co-founder of Bear City Comedy
Following that, Kevin Camia poked fun at the size of his own head, Paco Romane joked about the foibles of youngest, middle and eldest children and Jessica Sele was met with surprised laughter when she told the crowd everyone she’s slept with is dead now.
The comedians that Hill and Furey invite to perform at Bear City usually have been performing comedy for a minimum of 5 years. Featured comedians have had ties to Comedy Central, HBO, Netflix and more.
“I like to get people to come enjoy themselves and walk away with a bigger appreciation of stand-up comedy and hopefully become a fan of some of the comics they saw that night,” Hill said.
Que Sera offers an intimate venue, with the audience seated a stone’s-throw from the stage in a darkened room. Most people take advantage of the bar, but buying drinks isn’t necessary to enjoy the show.
“We just love giving back to the community and being able to provide a free show for people, hopefully make their week a little brighter,” Hill said.
Bear City Comedy takes place every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Que Sera, 1923 E 7th St. Admission is free. Attendees must be 21 or older.
