The Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival – August 14-18

Staff Reports

In the past few months more than four hundred stand-up comedians from around the country submitted their media clips in hopes of securing one of the sixty performer slots for this year’s event. “Asheville is in for a treat, the level of this year’s talent is the best we’ve ever seen,” said festival producer Laurel Gerencer.

The five-day, multi-venue festival begins Tuesday, August 14, 2012, with the “Local Laughs for Brother Wolf” charity show at The Magnetic Field. All door proceeds from the show will be donated to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. On Wednesday, August 15 the festival moves to the Highland Brewing Company for the widely popular Laugh Your Asheville Off Launch Party. Comedian Matt Fulchiron, the featured performer, has appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Last Comic Standing, Live at Gotham, Comics Unleashed, Tosh.0, and has his own half hour special Comedy Central Presents.

Following the Highland Launch Party, the festivities continue downtown for a late-night showcase at the LAB (Lexington Avenue Brewery) featuring Internet phenom Seaton Smith. On Thursday, the festival travels to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium for a blockbuster performance by stand-up megastar Jim Gaffigan, followed by a festival comedic showcase at the “Pulp,” located in the Orange Peel, featuring the comedic talents of Los Angeles-based comedian Nate Craig.

The Diana Wortham Theatre then plays host to the “LYAO Famous Showcases” on Friday night. It will feature M. Dickson, stand-up comedian and author of the newly published Dear Dad, It’s Over. In addition, The Altamont Theater will present the “LYAO Live at the Altamont” showcase late Friday night, presenting Ryan Singer, recently mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Marc Maron as a comedian “Who Should Be Big.” His debut album was recently selected by Punchline magazine as one of the Top 10 Comedy CDs of 2010.

On Saturday, August 18, the festival takes over the Diana Wortham Theatre for two shows. Cerebral favorite Tim Northern will close the 7 p.m. show, and the 9:30 show will feature Comedy Central’s Tom Simmons.

Festival Schedule

Tuesday, August 14 – BWAR benefit at the Magnetic Field, 8 p.m., $10.

Wednesday, August 15 – Highland Brewing Launch Party and Showcase, 8 p.m., $12.

Wednesday, August 15 – Disclaimer Stand Up Lounge at the Lexington Avenue Brewery, 10:30 p.m., $10.

Thursday, August 16 – Jim Gaffigan at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, $45-$60.

Thursday, August 16 – LYAO Live Showcase at Pulp (in the Orange Peel), 10 p.m., $10.

Friday, August 17 – LYAO Famous Showcase at Diana Wortham Theatre, 8 p.m., $18.

Friday, August 17 – LYAO Live Showcase at the Altamont Theater, 10:30 p.m., $10.

Saturday, August 18 – LYAO Famous Showcases at Diana Wortham Theatre, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., $18 each.

Full line-up and ticket information available at www.laughyourashevilleoff.com.