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CONTESTANTS CAN NOW REGISTER FOR COMEDY FESTIVAL "AMATEUR NIGHT" COMPETITION
(Norfolk, Neb.) Johnny Carson got his start as an amateur comedian on a Norfolk stage.
Who knows what the future might hold for the 20 amateur comedians who perform in Norfolk as part of the inaugural Great American Comedy Festival in June?
"We couldn’t imagine having a comedy festival in Norfolk to honor the legacy of Johnny Carson without having an amateur night that would give aspiring stand-up comedians a chance to perform," said Lora Young, head of the Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau and a member of the comedy festival’s board of directors.
That’s how the Tuesday, June 17, amateur night competition at the Johnny Carson Theatre came to be. The show will begin at 7 p.m.
And the future of those budding comedians will be in the hands of audience members, Young said.
Audience members will determine the winner of the competition. The winner will receive a one-on-one career consultation in Norfolk during the festival with Eddie Brill, chief talent scout for David Letterman.
"What a potential career boost to have Eddie Brill sit down with you and discuss your strong points of a person’s act and where some improvement could be made," Young said.
The amateur night will be hosted by Dave Reinitz, a professional stand-up comedian from Los Angeles, and Barbara Holliday, the owner of a comedy club in Burbank, Calif.
Reinitz has been performing as a stand-up comedian for more than 10 years. He has worked as a master of ceremonies, feature and headline performer for corporate events and colleges across the nation. He also is the co-executive producer of H2F Comedy Productions, which is a comedy management and development company. He recently tied for first place in the San Jose Improv Comedy Contest.
Young said the amateur night competition is open to the first 20 people who register via the festival’s Web site at www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com.
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Want to learn more?
Tickets for audience members for the amateur night competition are $5 and are available at the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce office in Norfolk or by calling 371-2932. Information on the festival in general is available at www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com
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Interested in competing?
Here’s how people can sign up to participate in the Great American Comedy Festival’s amateur night competition set for Tuesday, June 17, at 7 p.m. at the Johnny Carson Theatre:
— The competition is limited to the first 20 people who register.
— An amateur stand-up comedian is defined as six years or less of stand-up comedy experience.
— Registrations will begin to be taken online as of 12:01 a.m. as of Thursday, May 1, at
www.greatamericancomedyfestival.com. Registrations will be taken via the Web site’s contact page. Those interested in registering must submit their full name and contact information.
— A $25 entry fee will be paid by each participant on the day of the performance.
— All routines will be no longer than five minutes and content must be TV-friendly.
— Winner will be determined by a vote of the audience.
— All competitors will receive one ticket to the festival’s stand-up comedy competition finals on Friday, June 20.
— The amateur winner will receive a private one on one consultation with Eddie Brill, chief talent scout for David Letterman.
CONTACT:
Kent Warneke, Comedy Festival chairman (402-371-1020)
Lora Young, Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau (402-371-4862)