South Beach Comedy Festival

From April 17 through 21, 2013.

South Beach Comedy Festival returns to Miami Beach for another comedy showcase featuring some of the world’s most favorite entertainers. Now in its eighth year, the South Beach Comedy Festival continues to grow and remains one of the premiere comedy festivals for top comedic talent and fans across the country. This year’s event features Bill Burr, Jamel Debouzze, Pete Holmes, Jim Jefferies, Seth Meyers, Tracy Morgan, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman and much, much more.

Once again the festival will utilize multiple locations to highlight its exciting variety of talent. Acts will perform at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theatre, Colony Theater, and the unique Backstage at the Fillmore. The Lincoln Road Stage at Euclid Avenue will also serve as the home to the festival’s outdoor, nightly, free comedy stage every evening from Thursday through Saturday at 9 p.m.    

The Festival begins on Wednesday, April 17, 8 p.m. with Bill Burr at the Fillmore Miami Beach. Bill Burr is one of the top comedic voices of his generation achieving success in TV and film as well as the live stage.    Selling out theaters internationally, Burr is a regular with Letterman, Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon. His Monday Morning Podcast is one of the most downloaded comedy podcasts on iTunes.    Tickets are $45.50 and $35.50.

Seth Meyers performs Thursday, April 18, 8 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach. As the head writer and sole “Weekend Update” anchor on Saturday Night Live for the past 6 years, Meyers charms audiences as he lampoons top news stories and entertains fan favorite guests. Meyers won the Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for host Justin Timberlake’s musical monologue.    He was nominated in same category in 2012 for host Jason Segel’s monologue song.    Meyers has also garnered five additional Emmy nominations for his work as a writer on SNL and the 2011 special “The Real Women of SNL.” Tickets are $37.50.

Appearing Thursday, April 18, 8 p.m. at the Colony Theater is Anjela Johnson. Anjela Johnson became an internet sensation with her viral video “Nail Salon” which led to many stand up and performance opportunities. That same year she joined the cast of MADtv as a series regular, which spawned another internet sensation “Bon Qui Qui.” This original character, a disgruntled fast food employee with no filter, has been enjoyed, viewed and replicated by over fifty-five million people worldwide. In June 2009 Anjelah recorded a one-hour special for Comedy Central and Warner Brothers Records. A second special is set to be released from her hometown of San Jose, CA this year. Tickets are $35.00.

Tracy Morgan takes center stage at the Fillmore on Friday, April 19, 8 p.m. As a stand-up comic who has headlined across the country, Morgan was first introduced to television audiences in his role as “Hustleman” on the hit comedy series “Martin.” He went on to join “Saturday Night Live” in 1996 where he appeared for seven seasons and created such memorable characters as “Astronaut Jones” and “Brian Fellows.” After leaving SNL, Morgan went on to star in his own comedy series “The Tracy Morgan Show”.    He has just finished up his most memorable role as the hilarious and mercurial Tracy Jordan on the award-winning NBC comedy series “30 Rock” co-starring with Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. Tickets are $45.50 and $35.50.

Appearing Friday, April 19, 8 p.m. at the Colony Theatre is Amy Schumer who is returning from her sold-out show at last year’s Festival.    Schumer was recently featured as one of Variety’s “Top Ten Comics to Watch” and her hit one-hour special, titled “Amy Schumer: Mostly Sex Stuff,” aired on COMEDY CENTRAL and was one of the highest-rated and most-watched stand-up specials in 2012 with over 1.6 million total viewers watching the premiere. Tickets are $35.00.

Sarah Silverman performs Saturday, April 20, 8 p.m. at the Fillmore Miami Beach. Emmy winner Sarah Silverman, dubbed by Rolling Stone “the most outrageously funny woman alive,” is as versatile of a performer as they come. Her repertoire includes everything from film and television, stand-up comedy, to iconic online videos, and she added author to this list when she released her first book the New York Times Bestseller, The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee.    Silverman was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series category for her portrayal of a fictionalized version of herself in her Comedy Central series “The Sarah Silverman Program.” This marked Comedy Central’s first ever Emmy nomination in a scripted acting category. Silverman voices a character in the Oscar nominated Disney animated film Wreck it Ralph and was recently seen starring opposite Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen in the dramedy Take This Waltz. Tickets are $59.50, $45.00 and $35.00.   

Late night, on Saturday, April 20, 10:30 p.m, Jim Jefferies takes over the Fillmore stage. One of the most sought after comedians, Jefferies returned this past summer to sold-out performances at Montreal’s Just For Laughs and Edinburgh’s Fringe Comedy Festival.    In keeping with his reputation for being brutally honest, Jefferies cleverly subverts our expectation as he takes on topics such as fatherhood, love and education as well as his favourites: religion, porn and politics. He was seen in his Showtime one-hour comedy special ALCOHOLOCAUST and his debut JIM JEFFERIES: I SWEAR TO GOD on HBO. His bold and painfully honest commentary captivated all who tuned in. Tickets are $35.50.

Finally, on Sunday, April 21, 7 p.m. Jamel Debouzze takes the Fillmore stage for his first live performance in the US, and the entire show will be in French.    As a youth he participated in several improv contests such as the World Amateur Improvisation Championship in Quebec.    In 1997, at only 17 years old, he got his first role in the cinema. This marked the beginning of a long series of movies such as Amélie, a film by Jean Pierre Jeunet, and Asterix & Obelix Meet Cleopatra, for which he was nominated for a César Award for best actor in a supporting role. Jamel continued to perform live on tour but also in the most beautiful Parisians venues such as the mythic Olympia.    In July 2006, Debouzze created “Jamel’s Comedy Club”, a TV show taped in his theater that highlights new talent. In 2011 Jamel made his big return to the stage with a whole new show called “All About Jamel”. As the title says, he unveiled everything about himself, broaching events from his life with the humor and expressiveness that characterize him. Tickets are $75.50, $55.50 and $35.50.

There will also be exciting performances at the intimate Backstage at the Fillmore venue which brings attendees up close and personal with the performers.

First on Wednesday, April 17, the popular Mad Cat Theater Company presents two performances at 7 and 9:30 p.m. This time Mad Cat company member, Jessica Farr has written a new play “Charming Acts of Misery” that follows the ups and downs of fashion muse Isabella Blow (1958-2007) known to most for her brazen individual style and for discovering Alexander McQueen. Spanning several decades, this whirligig ride into Isabella’s life traverses both the fashion scene and the underpinnings of its central character’s psyche.    We follow “Issi” through the jungles of Sri Lanka, New York City and London until the lines between her public and private life become intensely blurred.    Get ready South Beach and put a hat on it!    Directed by Paul Tei. This is a fundraiser for the Company and tickets are $45.00 (VIP
) and $25.00 in advance.    On the day of the show tickets are $30.00 and $50.00 (VIP) available at the box office only.

Then on Friday, April 19, 8 p.m., Joey “Coco” Diaz takes the stage. Sometimes it takes a huge movie role or a part in a popular television series to put a stand-up comedian on the radar; with Diaz it was a #1 comedy album on iTunes and Billboard. Diaz has appeared in numerous films and television shows but his storytelling on the extremely popular podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience” really showcased one of the funniest comedians working today. Diaz’ R-rated outlook on life will get you howling in your seats but that’s what a good comedian is supposed to do. What makes him special is his ability to tell a story so that regardless of the subject matter, you’re still laughing. Whether it’s lighting a hooker’s wig on fire, or attacking a nun in the 5th grade, you’ll be cheering for him. Tickets are $20.00.

Pete Holmes performs on Saturday, April 20, 8 p.m. Pete Holmes is a nationally touring standup comedian, actor, improviser, writer and cartoonist and now TBS has just announced that Holmes will have his own late night show at midnight following Conan.    As a standup, Holmes also has a one hour Comedy Central Special, Nice Try, the Devil which will air in 2013. His 2011 CD Impregnated with Wonder made several “Top Comedy Recordings” lists. He’s appeared on his own half-hour “Comedy Central Presents” and on “Premium Blend.” He was also featured on VH1’s “Best Week Ever.”    Pete has written for and voices multiple characters on Comedy Central’s “Ugly Americans” and is the voice and writer of the popular “E*Trade Baby” commercials.    Tickets are $20.00.

And don’t forget to catch the free Outdoor Comedy Stage on Lincoln Road at Euclid Avenue, nightly from Thursday through Saturday at 9 p.m. Always a highlight of the Festival, this year you can catch rising stars Michael Che, Chris Distefano, Sean Donnelly, Sarah Tiana and Brooks Wheelan.

Tickets are available through www.southbeachcomedyfestival.com, www.livenation.com, the Fillmore Box Office, all TicketMaster outlets or charge-by-phone at 1.800.745.3000.

South Beach Comedy Festival
1.800.745.3000
www.southbeachcomedyfestival.com