NEW YORK — Get ready to laugh your mask off, well figuratively at least, because wearing a mask is one of the requirements as comedy clubs and other entertainment venues reopen after a year-long mandatory shutdown.

Emilio Savone is an owner of the New York Comedy club.

“I’m mostly very excited and relieved because our staff has been waiting for this, the comedy community has been waiting for this,” he said.

New state guidelines allow comedy clubs, music venues and theaters to reopen Friday at 33% capacity.

But no more than 100 people will be allowed at indoor venues and 200 outdoors, unless everyone presents proof of a recent negative COVID test. Then the top capacity rises to 150 indoors and 500 outdoors.

Social distancing, in addition to masks, is required.

New York Comedy Club is ready. It has spaced out tables, installed special air filters and purchased thermometers for temperature checks.

“The number one priority of our security is to make sure people are abiding by the rules,” said Valone.

The past year devastated the entertainment industry, as the pandemic forced performing spaces to close.

New York Comedy Club hosted shows on rooftops to keep comedians working, and plans to continue that moving forward.

A number of venues however are not planning to reopen this weekend, saying it doesn’t make sense financially until the capacity restrictions are eased.

But some just need more time for performers to rehearse.

Besides the business aspect of reopening, there’s another reason Valone said it was imperative to get comedians back on this stage.

“I think more than ever people need that release,” he explained. “People have been so stressed out and so tense, comics are really gonna be able to give a whole new perspective on what’s been going on, and I just think it’s just gonna make everything, I think coming to a comedy club and being able to just laugh and enjoy yourself in a way that people haven’t in the last year, is just gonna be cathartic for the soul.”

And that’s no joke.