PAGE 10 • GO! MAGAZINE
Thursday, June 24, 2021 • The BuLLeTIn
CENTRAL OREGON ARTS SCENE
bendbulletin.com/gosee
LIVE COMEDY
COMES BACK ONLINE
BY DAVID JASPER
The Bulletin
I
f your weekend agenda includes live comedy,
you’re in luck — whether you’re in the mood
for in-person stand-up or would prefer to
remain at home and get your yuks via livestream a
little longer.
Let’s start with Medford-based comedian Carl Lee, who
will make three Central Oregon appearances this week, be-
ginning Thursday at Open Space in Bend. On Friday, Lee
who’s been seen on “Last Comic Standing” and “Def Com-
edy Jam,” will be at High Desert Music Hall, a new venue in
Redmond, and then he’s back in Bend Saturday to close out
his visit with a set at Craft Kitchen and Brewery.
Lee told GO! he didn’t really stop performing once
COVID-19 hit, and that wasn’t because he was doing
stand-up livestreams.
“The funny thing about it, I refused to do Zoom,” he said.
“I was like, ‘I’m not doing Zoom.’ I turned down a lot of vir-
tual stuff, but I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve been doing a lot
of private shows.”
In addition to presenting his comedy at private gatherings,
Lee also has some southwest Oregon venues he produces for
as well, sticking to capacity and other protocols.
Continued on next page
“That still turned out great, because you’d be
amazed what kind of energy 50 people can
bring. And then when you got a comic who hasn’t
been on stage in a month, what they bring —
so that coming together just makes it so much
more beautiful, so much more appreciative, and
just goes to show you how live entertainment is
just so powerful and just really needed.”
— Carl Lee, Medford-based comedian
Submitted photo
Medford comedian Carl Lee will perform Thursday through Saturday in Bend and Redmond.