It was their mom’s idea.

“We were thinking ‘Freeport Variety Theater,’” said Jason Tardy, sitting with his brother Matt in their new performance space. “When we told our mom she said, ‘That’s nice. It’s kind of boring.’”

She liked the name Freeport Theater of Awesome much better.

“The more we thought about it, we said, ‘This joke is kind of cool,’” said Jason. “There’s so many things you can do once you settle on a name like that.”

And that’s the name that stuck.

After signing a lease on an unused former Shakespearean performance venue on Depot Street, the Freeport Theater of Awesome is ready to open this weekend with the brothers’ high-tech comedy and music show called AudioBody.

The duo have been making a living clowning around, juggling and making people laugh since middle school. In fact, they’ve never had day jobs. After 20 years on the move, they’re ready to try luring audiences to them instead, at least for a while.

“The new phase that we’re going into is moving from a touring show to an installation show. So we’ll go from 175 shows [a year] to 1.75 shows,” Matt said with a grin.

The Tardys plan to feature other nationally touring, family-friendly variety acts such as jugglers, physical comedians and magicians.

“It’s not going to be a theater that will present music or plays and things like that,” said Jason.

They think the possibilities are exciting and they’re ready to get going this weekend.

“So thanks, Mom,” said Jason.

Opening weekend shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children. Admission is $2 more for tickets purchased at the door. Tickets are available online at awesometheater.com.