There are plenty of opportunities to listen to great comedy in our region these days. Among the comic clubs, bars, theatres, and our nationally recognized Laughfest, Grand Rapids’ funny bone is exposing itself more and more.
But have you ever wondered who the funniest person in our city is? Well, you can have a hand in awarding that title.
Starting on Jan. 16, Dr. Grins Comedy Club will set the stage for our area comics to compete in the preliminary rounds of the annual Funniest Person In Grand Rapids.
Each week, eight comics will take to the stage for eight minutes each. At the end of the night, by way of applause and cheering (and thankfully NOT a web-based phone app), the top two winner will advance to the semi-finals in March.
And while it is probably not fair to play favorites, let’s just say there is contestant I follow on Twitter and (I even caught his stage debut in Actor’s Theatre's presentation of
Nadia last fall) that has me really excited. So if the trend of shock and awe continues, I am sure we will see him rise in the ranks over the next few weeks of competition. That is, unless he stage dives and no one catches him. Then, I guess there is always a guest spot as a Zoo docent. (Break a leg, Sean.)
And lest you think it’s a boys’ club up on that stage when you read past winners' names like Adam Degi, Matt Cramer, Casey Stoddard, and Jacob Kubon, event organizer and comedian Stu McCallister asks that I remember that Connie Ettinger won the very first year.
Try something new. Book clubs are so last year; adopt a comedy series instead. The drinks are even better!
Admission: $5. (Special admission pricing and a 20 percent off coupon for dinner can be found
here. Purchases benefit the
Laugh Don’t Leak campaign.)