34
Jl}atchman
standingUpForStand-Up
By Klttv Merrill
If you love stand-up comedy and
you've got the dough, you can see lots
of headline acts on LongIsland this sum-
mer. But when it comes to checking out
the up-and-comers, Long Island's been
lacking. Or at least it was until last sum-
mer, when Paul Anthony organized the
Island's first comedy festival.
Sales manager at WALKradio'by day
and comic by night, Anthony recalled
that back in the heyday of stand-up on
THE INDEPENDENT - 1lJ:mocicr '!
May30, 2007
show will spotlight five comedians and
show support of Long Island's historic
theaters.
On the East End, the Vail-Leavitt Mu-
sic Hall will be the site for the Festival's
Long Island, during the '80s and '90s, opening night thi~ Saturday (show time:
there were close to a dozen full-time 8 p.m.).A second show will be held at the
comedy clubs. Over. the years, they've Riverhead theater in July, and the West-
been whittled down to just one or two. hampton Beach Performing Arts Center
."When I started doing stand-up com- will present the festival on July 5.
edy,I learned very quickly there were not Touted as the largest comedy festival
a lot of venues on Long Island," Anthony ever presented on the Island, the Long
recalled. Wmner of the 2005 Huntington Island Comedy Festival may also be the
Arts Council's Laff-Offcompetition, An- most economical. Tickets begin. at just
thony is the official opening act for Long $25 for a 90-minute show. Anthony
Island's Psychic Jeffrey Wands. credited theater officials with helping
Last year Anthony decided to put to- to keep ticket prices down.
gether a comedy festival geared toward "We're looking to reverse the decline
showcasing the talent of new local co- of comedy performances here and bring
medians.'The response was so positive, the art of live stand-up comedy back to
he's at it again this year. Long Island," Anthony said.
Most major cities have comedy festi- The festival's mission is threefold:
vals, he explained. They generally run first, to bring stand-up comedy back
about -a week and include a variety of to Long Island; second, give up-and-
venues. Since Long Island is 120 miles Independent I Courtesy Rick Portes .
coming comics the chance to showcase
long, with occasionally different sensi- EventorganizerPaulAnthonyposesoutsidethe their talents to Long Island' audiences
bilities depending on. the community, Vail-LeavittMusicHall.OnSaturday,the second and third, to support the Island's not-
Anthony chose to mount the festival all annualLongIslandComedyFestival,a summer- for-profit theaters and the downtowns
summer long. Some 30 different com- longcelebrationof stand-upcomedy,kicksoff where they're located.
ics will rotate through 15 shows. Each at the historicRiverhead venue. "Having most of our shows presented
- on the stages of Long Island's great
historic theaters adds to the excitement
and credibility of the Comedy Festival,"
Anthony added.
Check the festival's website for a com-
plete listing of performances.
kmerrill@indyeastend.com