As the founder of Sticks & Stones Comedy Club and the Hamptons Comedy Festival, Abby Russell is helping to build a thriving comedy scene on the East End. A third-generation Water Mill resident, mother, and entrepreneur, Russell combines her deep local roots with a passion for bringing people together through laughter.
Hamptons.com sat down with her to discuss comedy out East, the growth of Sticks & Stones Comedy Club, and some of her favorite Hamptons spots.
How did you come up with the Hamptons Comedy Festival and Sticks & Stones Comedy Club idea?
The idea really came from recognizing that the East End already had the perfect ingredients for a comedy scene: smart audiences, creative people, and a long but somewhat forgotten comedy history.
I remembered my childhood visits to Southampton’s original comedy club, where I later found out Judd Apatow spent a lot of time because his mother worked there. That history inspired me. The idea was to create a year-round comedy club experience that blended stand-up, film, live music, and arts programming in a way that felt unique to the Hamptons.
One of the biggest highlights so far has been seeing audiences return and realizing we’re building an actual comedy community, not just producing isolated events. Another highlight has been working with talented comedians who genuinely love performing out here because the crowds are so engaged and the setting is unlike anywhere else.
Tell us about what you have planned for the club for the 2026 season.
We’re expanding our lineup of nationally headlining comedians, curated film screenings, special events, and collaborations with artists, filmmakers, musicians, and local businesses.
We’re also continuing to grow the Hamptons Comedy Festival and Hamptons Comedy Film Festival as signature East End cultural events that bring together comedy, film, and storytelling. Another major focus is digital content—filming live stand-up sets, producing podcasts and behind-the-scenes content, and spotlighting East End creatives and entrepreneurs through comedy and conversation.
Most importantly, we want audiences to feel that coming to Sticks & Stones Comedy Club is like coming home—a welcoming place for connection where comedy fans, locals and visitors alike, can gather year-round, have a great night out, and feel connected to the creative spirit of the East End.
How did you get introduced to the East End?
My grandparents, Frances and Jack Russell, built a house in Water Mill in the 1950s, so the East End is really part of my DNA. My Granny and Grandpa were artists, poets, and sailors and were part of that OG Hamptons bohemia community that came here for the water, the light, and the natural beauty. They were friends with local farmers and artists, including Hans Namuth, Alfonso Ossorio, Esteban Vicente, Jackson Pollock, and Lee Krasner.
A lot of my early memories revolve around sailing and art—my Granny taking me over to visit Ossorio’s studio at The Creeks or bringing me to art openings at The Parrish and Guild Hall. I remember eating a lot of cheese and crackers, so to this day, that’s what I associate with an art opening.
I also remember sitting with Granny on the bench at the Mecox Yacht Club, watching the boat races through binoculars while eating ham sandwiches and Oreos. Another early memory is from when I was about twelve years old and my dad took me downstairs to the East End Comedy Club (now Claude’s Restaurant), where I was mesmerized by the comedy. Looking back now, it feels incredibly full circle that years later we would build the Hamptons Comedy Festival and Sticks & Stones Comedy Club and help continue that comedy tradition on the East End.
Favorite Hamptons restaurants?
Besides comedy, food is another great love. I produced a number of shows for The Food Network and also worked with Ruth Reichl when she was at The New York Times and then again when she was at Gourmet magazine, so I learned to really appreciate good food. To me, food is paramount to décor.
First, I’d like to honor the late, great Estia’s. The staff there always made my daughter and me feel welcome, and they knew our order by heart: the Mexican corn chowder and the shredded beef hash. I also love the eggs jambalaya at Provisions and the lunch buffet at Saaz Indian. The owners, Sam and Sonia, are so nice! I also love the sag paneer at Corey’s Tapovana at the Bridgehampton Community House and the classic dosa at Hampton Chutney in East Hampton. Another favorite is the Pitaya Heaven smoothie at Four Oaks in Southampton.
Some of my favorite moments happen after Sticks & Stones Comedy Club shows, when comedians, artists, and locals continue conversations late into the night at Publick House, which has a great burger!
Can you share your favorite beach?
Every beach out here is incredibly special, and we are truly blessed to have the ocean at our doorstep. But I’ll tell you that Cameron Beach in Bridgehampton is a natural wonder. At Cameron, the ocean meets Mecox Bay and Flying Point Beach across the cut. You can pull your boat directly from Mecox Bay onto the sand at Cameron and never have to use your beach sticker on your car.
Bliss is packing lunch, taking the boat directly to the beach, enjoying a sandy, salty day, and then boating home.
