History

2008 – The First Ever Cleveland Comedy Festival

We started things off with a bang in 2008 and announced our arrival on the cover of The Plain Dealer’s FR!DAY magazine.  Highlights of the 2008 Festival included:

  • 4 Stand-up Comedy Shows @ The Hermit Club featuring the best 40 comedians in Cleveland.
  • Improv & Sketch show @ Powerhouse Pub with Last Call Cleveland, FWB and Point of No Return.
  • “Cleveland Laughs” TV Special with WVIZ featuring veteran Cleveland comedians Jimmy Malone, Mike Veneman, John Rathbone, Mike Cheselka, Marc Jaffe, Quinn Patterson, and Basile.
  • Comedy Fan Forum at The Plain Dealer hosted by Mike McIntyre and featuring guest panelists Nick Kostis (Hilarities), Lee Herlands (Cleveland Improv), Ann Elder (Laugh In), Dave Schwensen (Comedy Author), Mike Polk, Jim Tews and Mike Baker (Cleveland comedians).

2009 – Ninja Comedy Death Match & Comedy Carnival

Bill Squire

The 2009 Cleveland Comedy Festival expanded to include some new shows, a comedy carnival fundraiser event and more comedians from outside of Cleveland.  Highlights included:

  • Ninja Comedy Death Match Contest Show – 3 rounds, 10 comedians, improv’d topical comedy.  2009 Champion was Cleveland favorite Bill Squire.
  • Comedy Video Show – Best of YouTube comedic videos by Cleveland comedians and directors.
  • Comedy Carnival Fundraiser @ The Halle Building, for Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center.
  • 4 Stand-up Comedy Shows @ The Hermit Club featuring the best 40 comedians in Cleveland
  • Improv & Sketch show @ The Powerhouse Pub in the Flats
  • Regional comedians invited from Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Chicago for Midnight Madness Shows @ Wilbert’s

2010 – Time Warner Cable TV Contest & National Headliners

  • The 2010 Festival introduced a new type of comedy contest – the Time Warner Cable “Funny On Demand” contest which featured 24 of the best regional comedians performing in 4 taped comedy shows which aired on TWC.  The winner – Justin Cash — received $1,000 and headlined a comedy special in February 2011 with Rob Snow (2nd place) and Darrell Dawson (3rd place) which aired on Time Warner Cable.

    Al Jackson

  • The 2010 Festival also featured national stand-up headliners Al Jackson and Brad Trackman and Chicago improv comedian Susan Messing.
  • Lastly, we were proud and excited to have partnership shows with two fantastic local comedy clubs The Funny Stop (Akron Showcase) and Cleveland Improv Comedy Club & Restaurant (CCF Finale Show) that featured numerous local comedians and headliners John Rathbone, Jeff Blanchard and Mike Polk.