When the pandemic hit in March gigs for standup comedians came to a screeching halt. Comedian and talent booker Rob Steen of Manchester normally books shows throughout the Northeast and on cruise ships. He saw around 1,700 shows canceled this year.

But by mid-summer, when stay-at-home restrictions were lifted, comedy shows returned as one of the safer options for live entertainment -- with only one person performing for socially distanced and stationary audience members.