New York City Underground Comedy Festival

Festival Location: New York, NY, USA

Festival State: New York Festivals

Festival Type: Comedy Festivals

New York City Underground Comedy Festival Media:

A Laugh a Minute

By: © Bob Brooke 2009

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.

The brainchild of George Sarris, the NYC Underground Comedy Festival got its start last year as a three-night event held at the Laurie Beechman Theater in the heart of Times Square. Eddie Brill, comedian and head talent coordinator of The Dave Lettermen made a special guest appearance every night, along with Jim Gaffigan of "Sex in the City" and "That 70's Show."

Sarris began his comedy festival to give up-and-coming comedians a chance to be seen by the industry since New York can be a difficult place to find stage time for someone who's unknown. This year's festival will be held from October 4-8. It has grown from last year's three nights to five, making it the largest comedy festival in the city. Instead of being held at just one venue, it has expanded to 30 venues, with 50 events, including free library shows at all the branches of the New York Library to bring comedy to people who can't afford to go to a comedy club.

Festival attendees can expect to see emerging talent along side seasoned veterans. There's something for everyone, from "The Clean Comedians Show" to "The Cringe Humor Show," and it being an election year, a "Politics as Usual" show.

This year's festival is set to kick off at The Bitter End, a 40-year bastion of comedy on Bleecker Street at the corner of LaGuardia Place, with an all-star line up including Colin Quinn of Saturday Night Live and many special guests. Before the Bitter End stopped doing comedy 15 years ago, it was the pinnacle of the New York comedy scene. Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Woody Allen all started out there.

In addition, the festival will also be back on stage at The Laurie Beechman Theater at The West Bank Café. This upscale venue will showcase the Best of the Fest.

Sarris persuaded the owners of other trendy comedy clubs in the city to become venues, including the N.Y. Improv, which launched the careers of Dave Attell, Lily Tomlin, David Brenner, Freddie Prinze and Bette Midler, and The New York Comedy Club, with two showrooms featuring such comics as Chris Rock, Brett Butler and Damon Wayans over the last decade. Or you can venture below street level to the Siberia Bar on 40 Street, east of 9th Avenue. Here a small red light bulb shines above an unmarked red door. Behind it, down a flight of stairs at the end of the bar, is a bunker of underground entertainment. "The Unsigned Show" will premier here.

The NYC Underground Comedy will also be going to Brooklyn this year, as it plays Pips, America's longest running comedy club that hosted Colin Quinn, Woody Allen, Andrew "Dice" Clay, Adam Sandler, Richard Lewis, Andy Kaufman and Jackie Mason.

The closing gala will be held at the Gotham Comedy Club, an upscale club featured in the film "Comedian" that sets the standard for the modern comedy scene. Gotham has been host to Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Quinn as well as the current crop of comedy stars.

The NYC Underground Comedy Festival offers everything from free library shows to shows with major headliners for $20. All shows feature a mix of house hold names and the best emerging talent from across the country. And since it's held in the Big Apple, you never know who will simply walk in.

Check out Bob Brooke's wonderful sites featuring more of his writing and photography at http://www.bobbrooke.com, http://www.therealmexico.com and http://www.allscandinavia.com. All three are updated regularly.

by Bob Brooke

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