Brad Upton, Cory Michaelis & Gabey Lucas Burn the Room Down

On valentines day we were blessed to witness the master class of PNW’s own Brad Upton. It’s always a treat to work at the newly remodeled Everett Historic Theater and in 2026, I’m excited to partner with Cory Michaelis & Everett Comedy to shed light on the amazing comedians he’s bringing to the Everett Community. A community that has limited comedy opportunities and not a formal comedy club in site. Tonight’s lineup featured Cory opening the show followed by Gabey Lucas and of course, our headliner, Brad Upton.

Cory Michaelis

Attending any show involving Cory is such a treat. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m so impressed with the community he has built over the years. From a little restaurant on Silver Lake that was packed every month and now filling a theater with over 800 seats, his ability to consistently produce high quality shows is truly impressive.

You can feel it before the first joke. His fans show up simply because he told them to, and they trust him to produce. That buy-in changes the room. When an audience is ready to laugh from the jump, every set plays bigger and the energy becomes contagious.

Cory Michaelis walking off stage feeling electric

Gabey Lucas

I’d seen Gabey before from behind a producer brain, but this was the first time I really got to watch her work. She stepped out, played the room, and had us locked in with rounds of mock applause before the first joke. That level of control is fearless and wildly fun to photograph.

I was lucky enough to catch a quick chat with her backstage, fresh off stage, about her technique. It’s always fascinating talking shop about stand-up. Every comic has their own rhythm, flow, and little tricks that make their set uniquely theirs. And I love workshopping ideas and hearing how different comics approach the craft.

Gabey Lucas enjoying every moment on stage with a fun crowd

Brad Upton

Brad Upton closed out the night like the veteran he is. Effortless command, perfectly timed callbacks, and that signature storytelling that feels both polished and completely in the moment. He doesn’t just tell jokes, he conducts the room.

Everett Comedy already has a loyal built-in crowd, but pairing that with Brad’s die-hard fans created an energy that was electric from the start. Behind the scenes we were glued to the monitor, watching a master at work and studying every beat as the room erupted again and again.

After the show, it felt like everyone had a Brad story, and hearing fans share those moments with him was a reminder of just how far his wingspan stretches and how many people he’s made laugh along the way.

Gabey Lucas, Bad Upton and Cory Michaelis in front of the new digital Everett Comedy sign

From a live comedy photography standpoint, this was one of those dream nights. A packed house, huge laugh breaks, animated gestures, and comics fully in their element. The kind of show where every frame tells a story.

The PNW comedy scene is thriving, and nights like this at the Everett Historic Theatre are exactly why.

If you were in the crowd and had your photo taken, you can check out the gallery here to purchase digital downloads and of course reserve your tickets to future shows here on Eventbrite