Comedy Festivals

The Fringe is an immense gathering of artists, musicians, dancers and actors coming from over 40 countries to perform in over 250 venues. Search for a show on the Fringe website and you will have to sift through a mere 1,909 shows. It would take five years, three months, and 25 days to see every performance in the Fringe 2005 back to back.

To anyone except the actor, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is annual paradise. For five frantic weeks the elegant seaside city of Edinburgh resigns itself to theatrical hijack. From all corners of the globe dramatic and musical troupes descend on Scotland's capital to tempt, cajole, and dazzle the spectator into parting with their pounds: in exchange for laughter, tears, derision, and amusement.

With 1,500 comedians performing in 288 shows over three-and-half weeks, this ranks among the top three comedy festivals in the world, alongside Edinburgh's Festival Fringe and Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival.

Like to laugh? Who doesn't? Then you'll want to make a point of attending the second annual New York City Underground Comedy Festival. No, you don't venture forth into underground caverns for subway tunnels to enjoy the comedy of up-and coming comics. But you may find yourself in basement cafes and comedy clubs scattered around New York's Greenwich Village.