Stepping inside the Robin Theatre in REO Town, you find something rare: A quiet space where the audience is locked in.
“Being in a space where people are really paying attention can freak people out,” co-owner Dylan Rogers said. But for comedian Mike Geeter, who’s hosting a show at the Robin Thursday evening (March 13), that’s what makes the venue special. For him, comedy has always been about connection.
“I was a funny kid; I actually used comedy to get over my shyness,” Geeter said. “I was extremely shy.”
Later in life, while he was juggling school, marriage and fatherhood, Geeter’s ex-wife saw his restless energy and enrolled him in comedy classes at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak.
“She knew my brain is always working,” Geeter said. “As soon as I stepped on stage, I knew I wanted to do this more.”
That first experience with performing sparked something deeper.
“As soon as I touch the microphone, everything changes,” Geeter said. Comedy became the thing that keeps him centered. In his 2022 TEDxDetroit talk, he shared how comedy helps him manage life’s ups and downs. His mother always said, “Never get too high, never get too low,” and that advice stuck.
“I know that with every high, there’s a low. With every low, there’s a high. So, I stay very centered. Cool as penguin toes,” Geeter said.
He describes comedians as “alchemists,” uniquely able to transform their audiences.
“We don’t know what kind of days people have had or what lives they’re leading,” he said. “But we change them. We can affect every molecule in their body.”
That transformative power makes comedy effective not just for entertainment but for communication.
“It comes down to being able to relay a message that’s memorable, and comedy does that,” he said. “In public speaking, I tell people that no matter how serious your message is, if you put a little bit of nicely placed-in-time comedy in it, people will remember that forever.”
Geeter’s passion for crafting transformative moments extends beyond his own performances. He founded SamRose Entertainment, named after his parents, to build opportunities for performers across Michigan.
“My goal is to provide entertainment for Michiganders, to create stages and platforms for comedians, improvisers, drag queens, musicians — it doesn’t matter,” he said. “I just want to help build Michigan’s entertainment scene.”
Still, Lansing is missing something crucial.
“Lansing definitely needs a brick-and-mortar comedy club,” he pointed out. “It’s the only capital city I’ve been to without one, and it’s weird.”
For now, the Robin Theatre fills that gap. More than just a venue, Rogers sees the Robin as part of something bigger.
“When people come to a comedy show, they’re stepping outside their routine,” he said. “They’re engaging with their community in a way that’s harder to do when everything feels so online and isolated. You’re sitting in a room with strangers, laughing at the same thing. That’s powerful.”
The Robin’s location adds to that experience, he said.
“When we host comedy here, we bring people to REO Town. They can get a drink at Sleepwalker, maybe they go get dinner at one of the spots down the block. It feels like a night out.”
Geeter first performed at the Robin a decade ago and immediately recognized its potential. After moving to Lansing in 2020, he started hosting regular shows there. Thursday’s show will feature Ann Arbor comedian Greg Sharp and Detroit comedian Tam White.
“Mike always has a couple things in the works,” Rogers said. “He’s got a lot of irons in the fire. I really don’t know how he does it. He’s got so much to track, but he trusts us to show up and not mess it up.”
Geeter understands the importance of thoughtful curation.
“My goal is always to have events that are diverse, with different voices — LGBTQ+, women, Black, Mexican. This is for all.”
Rogers recognizes that trust is key in making the Robin a comfortable space for all audiences.
“Comedy can be a really alienating experience for people — you know, people of color or queer folks who don’t know if the comic on stage is gonna punch down at them,” he said. “Mike puts a lot of care into who he books. Even if I don’t know every comic on the bill, I know he’s thought about it. He curates shows that feel balanced with different perspectives and styles. That makes a difference.”
The Robin’s small size makes the experience feel even more immersive.
“It’s almost like a funny town hall,” Geeter said.
Even when performances don’t land perfectly, the experience stays with you, Rogers said.
“Sometimes people bomb, and sometimes they just don’t resonate with a room or whatever. Even that’s memorable — sometimes especially memorable.”
Geeter continues to center his work around these genuine moments.
“I’ve had audience members who’ve lost children, parents, homes. One woman had terminal brain cancer and only weeks to live, and her friends brought her to my show,” he said. “I still think about these people. When I step on stage, it’s not just jokes. I might be making someone’s life a bit better.”
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