LEWISTON — The Franco-American Heritage Center is trying something new this season.

Three nights of stand-up comedy have been scheduled over the next few months, with Rob Steen, a regular on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” headlining the first show on Friday, Nov. 16.

Each comedy night will feature performances by three comedians.

Steen has been doing comedy for 25 years and as a street performer at age 12 in Boston. These days, he performs more than 350 comedy shows a year.

Providing warm-up sets for Steen will be Steve Guilmette of New Hampshire, who has performed at the Boston Comedy Festival, the Comedy Connection in Boston  and many other venues across the country; and Maine’s Chuck Grover, a finalist in the Funniest Comic in Portland Contest.

“This is new for us, but I think it will work,” Franco Center Executive Director Louis Morin said. “We’re committed to trying it as a first step in our efforts to make the Franco Center a more vibrant place for younger audiences.”

But not too young. The comedy shows are limited to audiences 21 and older. Shows will start at 8 p.m. in the downstairs Heritage Hall, with doors opening at 7 p.m. There will be a cash bar.

Tickets, $10, are available in advance, by calling 689-2000, visiting the Franco Center box office or logging on to FrancoCenter.org.

The other two comedy nights will be on Jan. 25, with comedians Tom Hayes, Jay Grove and Tammy Pooler; and April 12, with comics Mike Koutrobis, Jody Sloane and Pat Napoli.

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