Ryan McKee credits a Tempe Improv class with sparking the explosive growth of comedy nights in the East Valley.

McKee was one of the first to jump on the bandwagon, starting a weekly ‘‘Mad Props Stand-up’’ comedy night at Tempe's Rio Salado Brewery nearly a year ago.

“There was a lot of interest in stand-up at the time because the Tempe Improv had a large stand-up class and a lot of people were coming out of that and looking for places to perform and not really seeing much,’’ says McKee, 25, of Tempe, who hosts his sketch comedy show with fellow comedian Ron Babcock.

“We've kind of gotten together more as a scene and started helping each other out, so it's grown,’’ he says. ‘‘Everybody has been supporting everybody else. Once some bars see that it's possible and that other bars are doing it, then it grows.’’

The nationally renowned Improv has been bringing the biggest names in comedy to the East Valley for more than a decade. Over just the past year, though, bars such as Rio Salado, Minder-Binder's, The Sets, The Clubhouse and Philly's in Tempe, The Vine in east Mesa and Lagerfields in Paradise Valley all have started comedy nights of their own.

Typically, these comedy nights feature amateurs performing open-mic or sketch comedy for the experience, not payment.

“I'm a comic whore,’’ admits comedian Mark Fry, 26, of Tempe, after performing at The Vine on a recent Thursday night. “I will perform anywhere that there's a microphone. You gotta be like that because you get more and more experience as time goes on.’’

Comedian Manny Llanez, who was also performing at The Vine that night, says he's amazed by the local comedy scene.

“When I started out years ago, there were probably about only 15 to 20 comics,’’ says Llanez, 24, also of Tempe. “Now more comedians are wanting to get into it and more places are offering it. This is a good place for comedy.’’

Stand-up fan Tom Adler, hanging out at Minder-Binder's comedy night, says he's thrilled about the comedy options.

“It's great that there are a few good places to see comedy now,’’ says Adler, 22, of Tempe. “I love this stuff. I'm a huge Comedy Central person and enjoy watching new comedians.’’

McKee predicts the East Valley's stand-up scene will continue to flourish.

“I really think that stand-up will grow across the nation as well,’’ he says. “(Comedy) is starting to come back and people are starting to create more of an original and inventive scene.’’

Explosion of laughter

E.V. comedy nights
The Vine Tavern & Eatery, 8:30 p.m. Thursdays. Free. 6102 E. Main St., Mesa. .

Philly's Sports Bar & Grill, 9:30 p.m. Thursdays. Free. 1826 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe. .

Minder-Binder's, 8 p.m. Fridays. $5 cover; two-drink minimum. 715 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe. .

Rio Salado Brewery, 9 p.m. Sundays. Free. 605 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. .

The Clubhouse, 7 p.m. Tuesdays. $5 cover. 1320 E. Broadway Road, Tempe.

The Sets, 7 p.m. Wednesdays. $8 cover, includes one drink. 93 E. Southern Ave., Tempe.

Lagerfields, 9 p.m. every other Wednesday (the next is June 30). Free. 12601 N. Paradise Village Parkway, Paradise Valley.