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Someone once told me that the best rooms for comedy are the worst rooms for a fire.
They ought to be tight and cramped, with low ceilings and minimal lighting.
Theyre places where the laughs can bounce off the walls and echo, filling the room.
Lil Rel Howerysnew HBO special,Live in Crenshaw, playfully ignores this conventional wisdom.
There is a small stage set up in the center, with bleachers and chairs on all four sides.
Before Howery takes the stage, the special opens with Lift Every Voice and Sing, a.k.a.
the Black National Anthem, followed by a step-team performance.
SettingLive in Crenshawat Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High School in Los Angeles was director Jerrod Carmichaels idea.
Howery was unconvinced until he saw the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.
He envisioned filming the special in the late afternoon to catch the sunset.
When you say Crenshaw, he recently explained on Instagram, people understand that means black.
Not Baldwin Hills, not Leimert Park …
I did it to pay homage to the people I performed in front of, to the community.
Having the right audience was a huge priority to him.
Jerrod understood what was the best show for [me], Howery recently explained.
The mason halls, the gymnasiums, the hole-in-the-wall lounges …
It was just these shows you would do that people just came out because they really needed to laugh.
