When Joke Joint lost its lease in April 2018 at Camp Bar, Actors Theater of Minnesota knew it wanted to keep comedy in downtown St. Paul. And so, the Laugh Camp Comedy Club was born.

The series, which kicked off quietly this summer, is shifting into full gear for the fall season. And Laugh Camp is bringing in the high-profile comedians to prove it. Two well-known jokesters are already booked for early October.

The first, Steve Hofstetter (Oct. 6), is recognized for his monumental YouTube following and has been a host of FOX-TV’s “Laughs.” Canadian star Ian Bagg (Oct. 11-12) has toured with Gabriel Iglesias and was a Top 5 finalist of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” in 2015. And, in early November, Brad Williams, who released a Netflix special called “The Degenerates” in 2018, will make a stop at Camp Bar for Laugh Camp.

But Actors Theater of Minnesota still has a commitment to promoting comedians in the Twin Cities. They make sure that at least one local up-and-comer is on every bill. “The East Metro really wants a comedy opportunity. So we decided to try and continue to do shows every weekend,” said Bill Collins, managing director of Actors Theater of Minnesota.

Taking over the reins from Joke Joint came with a learning curve for Actors Theater of Minnesota. For Collins and his colleagues, this past summer was designated time to learn the ropes. But, as the weather gets colder and more people look to the indoors for activities, the nonprofit wants to put Laugh Camp on the map, Collins said.

St. Paul locals are already showing up. According to Collins, an estimated third of audience members are “walk-ups” — people who buy tickets on the spot in person. Gaining a new window into the local comedy community has proved to be an exciting part of Collins’ new responsibilities.

“Man, I just had no idea how many comedians there are in the Twin Cities,” he said. “And really good ones.”

Actors Theater of Minnesota plans to share the comedy knowledge by developing classes and workshops on the craft of standup comedy. The organization already offers two classes on improv and others on acting.

In addition to educational outreach, Actors Theater of Minnesota is known for bringing cabaret and burlesque shows, open mics and small-stage theater to Camp Bar. Inviting comedians from all over the country to perform in downtown St. Paul is a diversion from usual Minnesota artist-focused performances.

“I hope [Laugh Camp] adds to the growing hip vibe in St. Paul,” Collins said.

Laugh Camp Comedy Club