The Just for Laughs Festival is this week. This is the first time the fest is in Chicago and it's doing an incredible job of supporting our Chicago-based comedy scene. Sometimes festivals co-opt our shows by featuring them without rewarding them (either financially or with acknowledgement.) Sometimes, especially with improvisation, the people who do the Work every week are forgotten in festivals and celebrity celebrations. That sort of habitual neglect annoys me; it's like waxing and polishing a car, but never checking the engine.
The Just for Laughs Festival not only imports Very Famous People to do comedy; Tim Meadows, Ellen DeGeneres, Lisa Lampenelli, Jimmy Fallon, George Lopez, just to name a few, but honors and supports some great Chicago-based sketch and improvisation!
Treating the shows with respect and honor, including them on their fancy printed schedules and websites, and (not to be all gross by talking grosses) compensating them for their shows.... It's a great way to make sure the performers are as happy as the audience.
Check out this amazing schedule of comedy for this weekend! I am especially excited by the Whirled News Tonight (plug, plug) and the return of American Dream (both improvised shows.) For more on the stand-up side of the Just for Laughs Fest check out Cameron's Chilarious blog, or look at the amazing schedule on the Just for Laughs website!
Filed under: Chicago
Tags: Chilarious, festivals, Just for Laughs, Whirled News Tonight
