We enjoyed an outstanding first quarter. How could that be, one might ask, when the Seattle International Comedy Competition occurs in November?
Well, yes, but during the January, February and March, we’ve staged an exciting array of BEST of the Comedy Competition shows featuring past alumni. It seems someone up there liked this BEST concept as we drew crowds even in chilly venues (which shall go unnamed) during the coldest part of winter. Thank you, Lord, for body heat.
It all started with a “victory show” by 2023 champ BRENT LOWREY at the Kelso Theatre Pub during a snowstorm (and subsequent performances there in February by BO JOHNSON and March by ALEX FALCONE who returned from Hollywood). It was incredibly gratifying to see just how much support for the Comedy Competition extends even into the “off season.” Emboldened by such enthusiastic crowds, we also brought up from Hollywood JONO ZALAY to continue the process of getting back into Bremerton at the Roxy.
Still, the highlight of the whole period had to be a two-night midweek stand at the little Walton Theater within the gigantic Mt. Baker Theatre in Bellingham. Those shows with PHILLIP KOPCZYNSKI closing were so well received that a spontaneous hallway negotiation resulted in a deal to bring the last night of the actual Comedy Competition semi-finals into the 1,500-seat main theatre on November 16!
Having opened the season, it was only appropriate that BRENT LOWREY ended it at the wonderful Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. Our thinking was to take some time off during the spring our fans won’t seem to let us. JULIA HLADKOWICZ and DINO ARCHIE will tune-up for their May sets at Netflix is a Joke by co-headlining at the Lincoln Theatre in Mt. Vernon at the end of April.
That’s not all, folks!
Jonathan Fox
Jon Fox is the producer of the Seattle International Comedy Competition. Photo by Mike Baldwin.
