A comedian, a DJ, jugglers, flow artists, vendors, walk into a bar…

That’s not the setup for a joke. It’s what West River Comedy Club will look like Saturday night when THE DOSE rolls into Rapid City.

THE DOSE, a touring comedy production created by comedian Steven Gillespie, arrives in Rapid City on June 13 with a format that stretches well beyond a traditional stand-up show.

The event blends nationally touring comedians with live DJs, projected visuals, performance artists, and a festival-style atmosphere that begins before the first comic takes the stage.

Gillespie, whose comedy credits include CONAN and Amazon Prime, describes THE DOSE as a psychedelic comedy experience built around the idea of “set and setting” — a phrase often associated with psychedelic culture. Rather than focusing solely on stand-up, the production aims to create an environment where comedy, music, visual art, and audience participation all overlap.

The Rapid City stop will feature Gillespie as host alongside comedian and juggler Nic Dean and DJ N3ilFace. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the pre-show portion becoming an attraction of its own on many tour stops.

That early portion of the evening often includes live music, visual artists, vendors, flow performers, dancers, hoopers, and other festival-style acts. Organizers actively encourage local artists and performers to participate, turning each stop into something shaped partly by the community hosting it.

The concept arrives at a time when comedy audiences are increasingly looking for experiences beyond a comedian standing under a spotlight. Across the country, comedy has been moving into breweries, music venues, festivals, and unconventional spaces. THE DOSE pushes that idea even further by borrowing elements from music festivals, psychedelic art gatherings, and immersive events.

Whether audiences show up for the stand-up, the music, the visuals, or simply curiosity, they’ll find something a little different than the typical Saturday night comedy lineup.