Saturday
September 7, 2024 
Inside a well-cooled gathering space on a sultry July Sunday, there’s a charge in the air.
Founder of the Women’s Comedy Open Mic, Flemington, N.J., resident Megan Henninger quickly sets up chairs, banters with fellow comedians, and negotiates with her father who requested set time. “I’ve been around 70 years, I’ve got a lot to tell!” he quipped. His reply lobbed like a well-timed punchline. Laughter, loud and real, bursts out.
This current of laughs, set-ups and life slices continued through the program, with Henninger and six other comedians performing 8- to 10-minute sets.
“Everyone is different, it depends on where a joke is in its life cycle – some work from a notebook, some videotape it, some pause to see how it went. It’s a very chill atmosphere,” said Henninger of the various comedians.
The event is part of Flemington DIY, a nonprofit organization providing “an inclusive art space that engages the community.” Its physical address is an eye-catching building at 26 Stangl Road, amid other eclectic and historic structures.
Henninger, a self-described theater kid, was looking for a way to grow as a comedian. She had taken an improv class in New York City, and her job in health care regulatory compliance did not provide ample opportunities. “Although my coworkers have told me ‘you make policy funny,’” she said with a chuckle.
The idea of a sharing and honest space for female (particularly, not exclusively, all are welcome) comedians to hone their craft in a safe space was born of necessity.
Her prior experience when trying out material in other venues proved unfruitful, in the late-night, male-dominated world of open mic comedy.
A friend encouraged Henninger to approach DIY Flemington, and though initially hesitant, the first program was in October of 2023. Women’s Comedy Open Mic takes place the second Sunday of the month, sets starting at 2:30 p.m. Interested parties register online.
The programs begin with Henninger welcoming performers and laying out the ground rules. “No hate speech, no hurtful speech and no stealing material,” she said. After that, it’s pretty much an open book.
Marie Labbancz, a former actress from the Princeton area now getting into the comedy circuit, is drawn to this event for similar reasons. She found not all comedy clubs fertile for growth and experimentation, something she is more comfortable with here.
“This one (open mic) is so nurturing; this is a wonderful place,” she said. Satisfied with her material from prior open mics, mostly on the subject of age dysphoria, “A cute 20-something in the body of a 70 year-old,” today she would try a new bit.
With solid stage presence and at ease with the microphone, Labbancz dabbled in a few topics, like politics and age positivity. She then zeroed in on what it’s like to do comedy. Enhancing her jokes with subtle hand gestures and focused eye contact, roaring laughs erupted from a “Hemingway would have stuck to alcohol” punchline.
A common thread at the event was enthusiasm in performing, and genuine support of each other. Diverse styles and material were also woven in.
Cherlyn Lynch, of Pittstown, N.J., had volunteered at DIY for two years before trying her hand at comedy. Using notes on paper, she leads a set by describing a sibling as “if he were a font, he’d be the bold version.”
Rapid fire office and tech jokes follow, each clever but barely landing before another observation takes flight. Youthful and in the moment, Lynch sets up some of the jokes to let the audience in.
Following Lynch was Devon Kay, of Maywood, N.J. Tall, pencil-thin with close-cropped hair and dancing eyes, she rolls right into a stream-of-consciousness, silly and observational set. Topics like the Kinsey scale of “gayness,” breaking wind while singing, and listening to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” soundtrack while walking in the city are deftly delivered. Comfortably pacing and utilizing her lanky frame, Kay, who runs her own open mic in Dunellen, N.J., seems natural on stage, at a total ease with her audience.
Other performers that afternoon included Kara Morillo, Carolynn Mincin, and Sunny Moran.
Morillo, of Union, N.J., was the first female comedian to sign up for the Women’s Open Mic. She held the room with modern tales of working from home, cougar dating and a cat with a penchant for hallucinogens. Even in tone and serious in delivery, every joke landed on-point.
Sunny Moran, from Morristown, N.J., took the greatest leap that afternoon.
Moran runs her own open mic forum, in this case, vulnerable storytelling. On this day, she decided to flip the script and present heavier issues in comedic form.
Jokes akin to “you might be a ...” using narcissist as the anchor, came in waves, open for exploration.
Carolynn Mincin from Belleville, N.J., has been doing stand up for 10 years. With a biting, laser focused set, she decidedly dressed-down millennials (baby zoomers) and delivery services.
Mincin, like the other performers, takes comedy seriously, asking for and giving advice and suggestions throughout the show.
In between sets, Henninger introduced the next performer, often with a spot-on, quick witted tie-in joke playing off the last comedian. Her support of the performers that day and female comics in general, evident in her eagerness to make connections, promote other open mics, and her frequent laughs-out-loud.
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