3 comedy series returning for LaughFest

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Gilda's LaughFest has announced the return of The Blue Late Night Comedy Series and three returning showcases: Best of the Midwest, Stand-up Comedy Competition and the Clean Comedy Showcase for next year's event.

LaughFest 2013 will include 200-plus free and ticketed shows that feature more than 60 artists at 40-plus venues in Grand Rapids, Lowell and Holland March 7-17, 2013.

Other major entertainers who will join the lineup include comedian W. Kamau Bell and the roundtable of comedians for Fortune & Friends.

Comedians performing during The Blue Late Night Comedy Series presented by Bud Light include:

-- Eric Andre -- star of ABC's "Don’t Trust the B--- in Apt. 23"
-- Neal Brennan -- Emmy nominated comedian and co-creator of "Chappelle's Show"
-- Loni Love -- one of Comedy Central's "10 Comics to Watch"
-- Pete Holmes -- writer, comedian, and voiceover actor

The Best of the Midwest Showcase will feature Nate Abshire, Ryan Dalton, Emily Galati, Steve Gillespie, Tim Harmston, Scott Long, Fred Potter, Kris Shaw, Alex Stone, and Tommy Thompson, all competing for a $2,500 cash prize.

This year's Stand-up Comedy Competition presented by Gun Lake Casino will feature 10 comics vying for a $10,000 cash prize. The 2013 competitors are: James Adomian, Cy Amundson, Ron Funches, Al Jackson, Jamie Lee, Julian McCullough, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Andrew Schulz, Brendon Walsh, and Mike Winfield.

The Clean Comedy Showcase presented by Bissell will include performances by Jackie Kashian, Pete Lee, Cash Levy, Jamie Lissow, Mark Normand, Andy Pitz, Erik Rivera, and Bengt Washburn. These comedians have been pre-selected for their unique ability to bring laughs without vulgarity.

W. Kamau Bell is coming to Laughfest 2013 in partnership with the Student Activities Office at Calvin College. He stars in the FX Network show "Totally Biased" with W. Kamau Bell, his own weekly half-hour series executive produced by Chris Rock. In 2010, Bell released his second stand-up album, Face Full of Flour, which was named one of the Top 10 Best Comedy Albums of the Year by iTunes and Punchline Magazine. He is also a founding member of the stand-up comedy collective Laughter Against the Machine.

The Fortune & Friends show will include: Myq Kaplin, returning for his second year of LaughFest, and Michael Yo. The show will be hosted by Fortune Feimster, a full-time writer and roundtable regular on E!'s popular late night talk show "Chelsea Lately," who got her start in famed comedy improv troupe The Groundlings. Kaplin was a Top 5 finalist on the 2010 season of Last Comic Standing and has appeared in his own half-hour special "Comedy Central Presents: Myq Kaplin." Along with being seen as a regular on the roundtable of E!'s "Chelsea Lately," Yo has been a celebrity correspondent on CNN, FOX, and MSNBC.

The 2013 Gilda's LaughFest festival will also include several child friendly shows and events. Kid-hop artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo will perform four upbeat musical shows for all ages to enjoy. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in hip hop: Run DMC, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and The P Funk All Stars.  Additionally, the Meijer's Family Friendly Super Saturday Kids Zone and Super Saturday Nite Teen Zone returns to offer kids, tweens and teens fun activities, games and dancing.

New this year is multiple "LaughFest's Best" shows. Held at a variety of small venues, these shows will feature a secret lineup of comedians that will not be announced ahead of time, and will provide a sampling of comedy from across the festival. Local, regional and national comics take the stage for this secret lineup of seriously funny folks…you just never know who is going to stop by!

Entertainers who have already been announced for this year's LaughFest include Wayne Brady, Lewis Black, Jim Breuer, Bill Burr, Joel McHale, Brian Regan, Garfunkel and Oates, Gary Valentine and Justin Willman.

Also previously announced was the "$50,000 Challenge" by the Wege Foundation to raise funds for Gilda's Club Grand Rapids Children's Grief Program. The goal of the challenge is to have LaughFest organizers secure $50,000 worth of $5 gifts from the community. The Foundation will match every $5 gift with $5 of its own, up to $50,000 in matching funds. Individuals interested in giving a "High Five" may do so by purchasing a button at a participating restaurant or business in the greater Grand Rapids area, by texting LAUGH to 20222, or by donating at laughfestgr.org.

LaughFest 2013 will include 200-plus free and ticketed shows that feature more than 60 artists at 40-plus venues in Grand Rapids, Lowell and Holland during the 10 days of the festival. Ticketed shows will range in price from $7 to $55.50, excluding the Signature fundraising event. Festival ticket packages will be available to the public beginning Nov. 30 at 9 a.m. online at laughfestgr.org or by phone at 616.735.HAHA (4242).

Visit www.laughfestgr.org or call