By Amy McClure
Collen Doyle
By Amy McClure
BRIDGEWATER — Collen Doyle, an actor and comedian, and 2006 graduate from Woodstock Union High School returned to Bridgewater and opened the Woolen Mill Comedy Club on the second floor of the Bridgewater Mill Mall in December of 2014.
Prior to that, Doyle spent eight years living in New York City where he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and worked full time as a actor. Most notably, Doyle appeared in several national commercials for FedEx and Verizon Wireless. He also opened for popular comedian and actor, Jim Gaffigan.
“I opened the comedy club during my first year back in Vermont. At the time it was the only brick and mortar comedy club in Vermont,” said Doyle. “The goal was to provide a professional show with great quality and a high level of entertainment right in Vermont.”
The Woolen Mill Comedy Club showcases local comics such as Kendall Farrell who was voted best comic in Vermont in fall of 2015 by Burlington’s Vermont Comedy Club. Doyle also brings in comics from Boston and New York to create a diverse entertainment experience.
“It’s comedy in a place you wouldn’t expect. People wouldn’t be able to see anything like this if it wasn’t for the Woolen Mill,” said Farrell.
Doyle creates an affordable experience by forgoing ticket costs and only asking for small donations. He has a close relationship with the restaurant downstairs and encourages his guests to dine there prior to the show.
“In an age of digital social media, where so many people are watching Netflix, YouTube, we offer an actual live entertainment experience. You are meeting new people and making new connections in the community. It’s a more enriching experience than watching something at home,” said Doyle.
“It gives the opportunity for more people in a small area to experience live comedy,” remarked Kevin Mctaggart, a patron and comic of the Woolen Mill.
Shows are typically at 8 p.m. on Friday nights.
To learn more about the Woolen Mill Comedy Club and about upcoming shows, visit facebook.com/Woolen-Mill-Comedy-Club-394067417415808/
