Tonight marks the beginning of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Cabin Fever Comedy Festival, a special event that consists of a large selection of jokes, gags, and just plain silliness going up in various locations throughout Mount Vernon and Lisbon. Admission to the entire itinerary can be gained by purchasing a $3 clown nose from participating local businesses.
We talked with Joe Jennison, Main Street Marketing Director of the Mt. Vernon-Libson Community Development Group, and one of the organizers of the festival.
Q: What is the Mt. Vernon Cabin Fever Comedy Festival?
A: The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Cabin Fever Comedy Festival is an inclusive and diverse offering of comedy and comedy styles for all ages and types of comedy fans.
Q: How did the idea come about? Was it difficult to organize?
A: The event was the brainchild of 25-year-old Mount Vernon resident and stand-up comic Miles Fuller, who envisioned a comedy festival that reached out to all segments of the community.
We are very proud to have all areas of the community involved. There are performances taking place at the Hallmark Care Center, Lisbon Pubic Library, Lisbon History Center, Lisbon City Hall, Cole Library, First Presbyterian Church, Bijou Theatre, Wolfe’s Antiques, Video Village, Fuel Coffee Shop, as well as more traditional performance spaces such as the First Street Community Center Auditorium, Cornell College Black Box and Heritage Hall, as well as several bars and clubs.
Q: What kinds of comedy can we expect?
A: The events have been programmed to appeal to all ages. We are very excited to be offering programming to children, seniors, college students, the late night bar crowd and performances in non-traditional, non-alcoholic venues as well. Everyone should be able to find something to appeal to them here.
Q: What's with the clown noses?
A: Admission is through the purchase of a $3 Clown Nose. Everyone wearing a Clown Nose will be able to attend all events for free. Clown Noses are available at 10 retail shops and bars in Mount Vernon and Lisbon as well as through Hills Bank, Mount Vernon Bank & Trust and the Mount Vernon Visitor Center and Lisbon City Hall.
The festival will consist of a range of performances and activities, including a laughter workshop, stand-up comedy, improv, short plays, a staged reading of a new play, and even a "funniest person" contest!
“The committee pulling this festival together has been discussing the idea of funny and what it is,” says Miles Fuller, Chair of the Committee. “Why is it some people think the Three Stooges are hilarious, while others just don’t get it? We set out to answer that question by creating a comedy event that reaches out to comedy lovers of all ages and types.”
The mayors of both Mt. Vernon and Libson have joined in on the fun, proclaiming March 20th through March 24th "Comedy Week" throughout the area.
A schedule of events:
Tuesday, March 20
11:00pm, Cornell College Black Box - Phase 5! Improv Group
Wednesday, March 21
7:30pm, First St. Community Center (221 First St. NE, Mount Vernon) - Reading of a new play by Joe Jennison
Thursday, March 22
1:00pm, Cole Library - "Safety Last" by Harold Lloyd (Must RSVP to (319) 895-4271)
5:30pm, Fuel - "Farmer Dave" (stand-up by Dave Miller)
6:30pm, Wolfe's Antiques - “Lena mit out Ole,” (one-woman show per-by Gracie Zimmerman)
7:30pm, The shops at First Brick - Four readings by Robin Hemley, Orduna, Laurel Fantauzzo, Quince Mountain, Dylan Nice, and Miles Fuller from the UI Nonfiction Writing Program
8:00pm, First St. Community Center - Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre
Friday, March 23
4:00pm, Hallmark Care Center - Laughing Laura (Laughter Yoga workshop)
7:00pm, First Presbyterian Church - Laughing Laura
8:00pm, First St. Commuinty Center - Comics in Action
9:30pm, Scorz - Colin Ryan and Bobby Ray Bunch
11:00pm, Cornell College Black Box - Block 10 Variety Show
Saturday, March 24
9:00am, Lisbon Public Library - "Vaudeville Redux" by Elaine Ball Marionettes
10:00am, Lisbon History Center - "Cartoons and Cookies"
11:00am, Lisbon City Hall - Doug Sayers and Dean Franzen (jugglers)
12:30pm, Bijou Theatre - "Movies That Crossed the Dress" (comedy shorts, followed by Tootsie)
4:00pm, First St. Community Center - Funniest Person Contest (led by Comics in Action)
7:30pm, First St. Community Center - "The Goatsinger Show: In the Comedy Tent"
8:00pm, Video Village - "Turf Pirates" by Jeff Goode (performed by Pass Four)
9:30pm, 3 Finger Saloon - Paperback Rhino (improv group)
9:30pm, C&D Lounge - Late-Night Comics
9:30pm, Chameleon's - Late-Night Comics
9:30pm, Scorz - Late-Night Comics
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