As a youngster in Gibsonia, David Kaye sought attention by joking around.

"I was the guy who put the lamp shade on his head at the party to get a laugh," the co-owner of the South Hills' newest comedy club said.

When word spread 20 years ago that he planned to take a stab at stand-up comedy, a couple of dozen friends and relatives came to see him at the "open mike" promotion at the former Roman Gardens in Brentwood.

	Tony Tye, Post-Gazette Comedian David Kaye, of Crafton, puts up a poster at Slapsticks! Comedy Loft, which he operates with Chris Ciardi upstairs at the Royal Place Restaurant on Library Road. The new club's grand opening is on Saturday. Click photo for larger image.

Despite the stacked house, he didn't get the laughs he expected, which merely "whet my appetite to improve," he said. It also kicked off a career that includes bill-sharing performances with comics such as David Brenner, Weird Al Yankovic and Drew Carey, and opening for Ray Charles.

On Saturday, Slapsticks! Comedy Loft, the adult comedy club he operates with friend and comic Chris Ciardi, 51, of Munhall, will celebrate its grand opening. It is upstairs at the Royal Place Restaurant, 2660 Library Road in Pittsburgh's Overbrook neighborhood.

Comedy acts have been staged Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings since late November.

Saturday's grand opening has shows at 8 and 10:30 p.m. and will feature a performance by Mr. Kaye, 46, of Crafton, followed by Mike Irwin, 46, an Upper St. Clair High School graduate who has written jokes for Jay Leno and Bill Maher and has performed on the same bill as Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld, Rodney Dangerfield and others.

Mr. Irwin is returning to Pittsburgh for the first time in 10 years.

"Mike takes the unusual things that happen to us that we don't think are unusual and puts them in the context of 'that shouldn't really happen, should it?' " said Mr. Kaye of his friend from his early days of stand-up.

Royal Place co-owner Lee Yovanof got the idea for a club at the restaurant. He contacted Mr. Kaye, whom he knew from a performance there years ago.

Under the agreement, the club owners keep the admission fees while the restaurant retains the proceeds from food and alcohol sales.

That mirrors arrangements Mr. Kaye and Mr. Ciardi have at comedy clubs they operate in Carlisle, Cumberland County; Elkins, W.Va.; and in the Rostraver Ice Garden in Belle Vernon.

To prepare the upstairs of the Royal Place for an 85-seat showroom, a semicircular stage, lighting and a sound system were installed. The area formerly housed a bridal shop, offices and a banquet area.

Mr. Kaye, who teaches theatrical stagecraft at the University of Pittsburgh, started out as a mechanical engineer in the steel industry, moonlighting weekends ,and evenings as a stand-up comic. He found himself at a crossroads when he was laid off in 1990.

"I'm just going to go for it," he told himself, packing his bags and car for a crack at the national comedy circuit.

With his newest venture, he is focused on showcasing local and regional professional comedians.

"This is a place where I can headline local comics. You don't have to be from Los Angeles or New York to have talent," he said.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Call 412-920-5653, or visit www.slapstickscomedy.com. Dinner/show packages are also available.