Preview: The South Beach Comedy Festival is Coming.

There's a big comedy happening coming to Miami Beach in the week ahead...for anyone traveling here or those who live nearby and love a good joke or comedy routine it would be a good time to check out the
South Beach Comedy Festival, that will be going on from January 16 to the 19^th...

Last year my hubby and I saw Jon Stewart on Friday night and Bill Maher, the following Saturday...we were laughed out by Sunday, even on the night of the Stewart concert we were having dinner on Lincoln Road, near the stage that had been set up for the festival and we watched and laughed at two unknown comics performing for free...All along that famous street people were watching from the sidelines and having a ball...This year they will be doing the same thing at different places on South Beach some free and of course the headliners will be ticketed..

So who is performing you might wonder...

Well, get ready to laugh it up...five up and coming comedians will be on stage free on that the Lincoln Road stage, beginning on Wednesday January 16^th...first up will be a former school teacher turned comic, Al Jackson, who was selected by comedy central as "Fresh faces of comedy" in their promotional spots....then a former professional jump-roper, Doug Mallard, recently given the title "funniest person in Austin" at the Capitol City Comedy Club...From his appearances on the Tonight show and the Montreal Comedy Festival, Michelle Buteau will be performing and Mo Mandel, winner of last years Comedy Centrals Open Mic Night...last, but not least, a 23 year old story teller, Tommy Johnagin, who has been a regular on comedy Centrals, Live at Gotham and Comedy Stage, will be entertaining.

These are all freebies for your entertainment should you visit Lincoln Road those evenings....shows start at 9:00 P.M. with repeat shows at 11:00...there is limited seating so it is suggested to get there early, or do as we did and find a restaurant with outdoor seating near the stage...there are quite a few of them..

At the Colony theater located nearby there is going to be another show featuring Kristina Wong, who is noted for her side-splitting humor, a bit subversive and crazy, walking the fine line between performance art and stand-up with an underground jolt of creative art....Tickets for this show are $25, with all proceeds going to the Miami Light Project...January 16^th at 8:00 P.M.

Some of the bigger name stars playing the bigger venues will be: at the Fillmore, in the Jackie Gleason theater...
Kathy Griffin on Wednesday night at 8 and 10:30...Katt Williams on Thursday at 8:00P.M....Jeff Dunham on Friday at 8...these three are well known on Comedy Central and each has their own special brand of humor.

TheLincoln Theater on Lincoln road will feature more performances; Susie Essman, direct from Curb your Enthusiasm, will be appearing Friday at 11:00 P.M

There will be a live comedy talk show: Creation Nation, with Billy Eichner at the Colony Theater at 10:30 on Wednesday night...this is a unique event with a satirical variety show, featuring sketches, musical numbers and stand-up comics doing their thing and this one is for free

Saturday night the Fillmore will feature Andres Lopez, the hottest up and coming Spanish speaking comic at 7:30...

The Lincoln Theater that night will feature Dave Attell, from Comedy Centrals Insomniac show at 11:59 P.M. and at the Colony Theater you will find John Fugelsan who hosted America's Home Videos...his show starts at 11:59 also...this one is a freebie too.

Throughout Miami Beach's South Beach there will be all sorts of comedy shows going on, some will be spur of the moment, so you can find out much more about what's happening by checking their website for times and prices.

You can also purchase tickets at the Fillmore Miami Beach Box Office;
1700 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach or call 305-673-7300

This is one of South Beach's newest, most popular festival and one certainly worthwhile if you are going to be in the area during the week of the 16^th -19^th....I went twice last year and recommend it very highly...

Remember a laugh a day, keeps the doctor away.

The Colony Theater is located at 1040 Lincoln Road, 305-674-1049
The free stage is located at Lincoln Road and Euclid Avenue
The Lincoln Theater is located at 541 Lincoln Road, 305-673-3331
And the Fillmore Theater is in the Jackie Gleason Theater, 1700 Washington Ave

The website for more information: .www.southbeachcomedyfestival.com or call Ticketmaster at 305-358-5885