Festival Fever: Woodstock Comedy Festival, 9/20-22/13

Get yer ha-ha’s out!

The Woodstock Comedy Festival fires up three days of cutting-edge comedy this weekend. Four-time Emmy winner Dick Cavett, Tony-nominated performer Mario Cantone, and prolific comedian-director Bobcat Goldthwait headline the weekend. Eddie Brill (“Late Show with David Letterman”) Upright Citizens Brigade, CollegeHumor Live, Late Night with Scott Rogowsky, Hester Mundis (Joan Rivers’ longtime writer) and 35 more comics fill out the line-up.

The fest is part of Comedy for a Cause, donating net profits to two charities that are no laughing matter: Family of Woodstock (domestic violence) and Polaris Project (human trafficking). And festival organizers just just slashed all ticket prices in half, which means that you’re get twice as many laughs for the buck.

Here’s the schedule of performances and panel discussions for the Woodstock Comedy Festival:

TODAY (FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20)
7:30pm: CollegeHumor Live! Stand-up and sketch comedy featuring Jake and Amir @ Woodstock Playhouse, Woodstock. With “Running Late with Scott Rogowsky,” a variety & talk show with Rick Overton, Eddie Brill and other guests. $12.50, $20 & $25.

10pm: VIP Party @ Woodstock Playhouse, Woodstock. $10.

SATURDAY (SEPTEMBER 21)
12:30pm: Panel: Comedy Animation featuring Dan Meth @ Woodstock Artists Association & Museum, Woodstock. $5.

2pm: Panel: Casting in Comedy featuring Katja Blichfeld and Clint Alexander @ Woodstock Artists Association & Museum, Woodstock. $5.

3:30pm: Panel: Late Night Comedy Writing featuring Dick Cavett, Eddie Brill and Rick Overton, moderated by Hester Mundis @ Woodstock Artists Association & Music, Woodstock. $10.

7pm: Stand Up and Sit Down: Comedy and Conversation with Dick Cavett and Bobcat Goldthwait; hosted by Eddie Brill @ the Bearsville Theater, Woodstock. A benefit for Polaris Project and Family of Woodstock. $12.50, $25 & $37.50.
 
9:30pm: An Evening of Comedy and Music with Mario Cantone and his band @ the Bearsville Theater, Woodstock. A benefit for Polaris Project and Family of Woodstock. $12.50, $25 & $37.50.

SUNDAY (SEPTEMBER 22)
12noon: “We Cause Scenes” @ Upstate Films, Woodstock. A documentary about comedy group Improv Everywhere, followed by Q&A with director Matt Adams and IE founder Charlie Todd. $6.

2:30pm: “Willow Creek” @ Upstate Films, Woodstock. Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait; followed by a Q&A with Goldthwait. $7.50.

7pm: Laughingstock: A Night of Local Stand-up Comedy @ Colony Cafe, Woodstock. Featuring Verna Gillis, James Judd, Adam Mamawala and Audrey Rapoport; hosted by Rich Shultis. With Upright Citizens Brigade Mega Show of ketch and improv with Onassis featuring Josh Ruben, THE BEATdown with Chris “Shockwave” Sullivan and Victor Varnado, and UCB TourCo. $12.50.

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING FESTIVALS FOR 2013:
FreshGrass Festival @ MASS MoCA, North Adams, 9/20-22/13
Freedom of Expression Music Fest @ West Mountain Ski Center, Queensbury, 9/20-22/13
Clinton Square Fall Festival & Arts Fair @ McGeary’s Pub, Albany, 9/21/13 (FREE)
Farm Aid @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, 9/21/13 (SOLD OUT)
LarkFest @ Lark Street, Albany, 9/21/13 (FREE)
Electric City UkeFest @ the Eighth Step at Proctors, Schenectady, 9/21/13
Schoharie Rock the Valley @ the Parrot House, Schoharie, 9/21/13 (FREE)
Upper Madison Street Fair @ Madison Avenue, Albany, 9/22/13 (FREE)
PearlPalooza @ North Pearl Street, Albany, 9/28/13 (FREE)