We Love This Place – August 2013

The Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival

The five-day multi-venue festival spotlights more than 40 of the nation’s funniest up-and-coming and established comics. Major TV network casting agents, talent bookers, and comedy club owners come to discover stand-up comedy’s next crop of rising talent. “Our goal is to showcase world class comedians to Asheville in a non-competitive format,” said Charlie Gerencer, festival producer and production company executive.

Previous Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival performers have appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and starred in their own half-hour Comedy Central specials.

“The Asheville community has supported us as this small idea has grown which has grown into a record setting event,” said Greg Brown, festival producer and stand-up comedian. “We’ve received six years of support from Asheville, we’ve been embraced by the national comic community, and we have grown into one of the largest comedy festivals in the country. In return, we hope to continually raise the bar of world class entertainment while keeping ticket prices reasonable,” adds Charlie Gerencer.

The festival begins Tuesday, August 13, with the “Local Laughs for Brother Wolf” charity show at The Altamont Theatre. All door proceeds from the show will be donated to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.

On Wednesday, August 14, the festival features Boston Comedy Festival and World Series of Comedy winner, Landy, at the Altamont Theatre. On Thursday, August 15, the festival heads up the mountain to Highland Brewing Company for the widely popular Laugh Your Asheville Off Showcase featuring Jen Kober from Curb Your Enthusiasm and Anger Management.

The Diana Wortham Theatre plays host to the LYAO Famous Showcases on Friday and Saturday, August 16 & 17. In addition, The Altamont Theater will present the LYAO Live at the Altamont Theatre late Friday night, after the Diana Wortham show, with Irish comedian Mick Thomas. The festival continues to add depth with the addition of Ryan Singer’s “Flick My Clip” comedic shorts at 5 p.m. at the The Altamont Theatre on Saturday, August 17.

For more information and the full schedule visit http://www.laughyourashevilleoff.com/