Museum- quality yuks

In the ‘80s, comedy was considered the new rock ‘n’ roll. Could it now become the new museum outing? That’s what the Museum of Natural History hopes when it offers “Laugh L.A.” on Friday night as part of its First Fridays performance series, which will present comedy, music, dance, literature and theater.

Produced by an eminence grise of yuks, Firesign Theatre’s Peter Bergman, the evening is intended to parallel the exhibition “L.A.: light/motion/dreams” and features some of the city’s more provocative comic talents. Hosted by radio personality Frazier Smith, the laugh fest includes performance artist John Fleck, actor-comedian Rick Overton and alumni of the Groundlings, the L.A.-based sketch comedy-improv troupe now celebrating 30 years.

Says Bergman of the material that promises to be raw, uncensored and topical: “This is an evening of adult issues and is not for kids. We’re trying to bring in a new audience.”

Fleck, who can be seen on the TV show “Enterprise” but has been known to get, well, naked onstage, performs 40 minutes from his latest work, “YANKadoodleDANDY.”

“It’s a toast to the Motherland,” he says, “both personal and political. I do a little salute to Ronald Reagan and to Arnold the governator. I also play badminton with the audience during intermission.”

And between watching the birdie, you can also eat, drink and continue making merry.

*

“Laugh L.A.,” Jean Delacour Auditorium on Menlo Avenue, facing the South Lawn of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Friday. $15, includes entrance to the exhibition from 6 to 7:45 p.m.

(866) 468-3399.