Cabin Fever Comedy Festival is Next Week

Mt. Vernon/Lisbon - The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group has announced the 2nd Annual Mount Vernon-Lisbon Cabin Fever Comedy Festival, which will take place March 20 through 23, 2013, at several locations in Mount Vernon and Lisbon.

The festival offers a diverse line-up of comedy events for all ages over several days, featuring local and regional comedians and comedy groups. There are 21 separate events scheduled to take place throughout the week, including the First Street Community Center Uptown Theatre Frank Benesh Memorial Telethon, a live fundraising telethon to be broadcast via live streaming video to raise money for upgrades to the Mount Vernon Uptown Theatre. The telethon will run continuously from 9 p.m. Friday, March 22, through to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 23, culminating in the Goatsinger Show, a two-hour variety event that will close out the festival. The festival will include several days of comedians and comic programming for all age groups and audiences. Wednesday, March 20, will feature performances and readings of several theatrical pieces by local and regional playwrights. Thursday, March 21, will include performances by several local and regional improvisational comedy groups. Friday, March 22, will include several stand-up comedy shows. Saturday, March 23, is being billed as Kid’s Day, and will include puppet shows, jugglers, swashbuckling comedians and a movie matinee.

Admission to all of the events will be granted to anyone wearing the official Mount Vernon-Lisbon Cabin Fever Comedy Festival Groucho Glasses. The Groucho Glasses are available at participating Mount Vernon area retailers for $5.

“This is our second year to attempt to pull together all different styles and types of comedy,” says Bridget O’Connor, Chair of the Committee. “Diversity in comedy is the key to this festival’s success. Where else can you find an entire week devoted to all things funny: standup, farce, story-telling, jugglers, puppets, movies, music and, oh yeah, a live comedy telethon?”

The committee is still seeking applications for two of the events.

“The Funniest Person in Mount Vernon and Lisbon Contest” will take place Friday, March 22, at 6 p.m, at the United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, 304 First St. SW, Mount Vernon. This event gives amateur comedians of any age the opportunity to give their best 2-5 minute family-friendly performance. The winning performer will win $50, and be given the title of “2013 Funniest Person in Mount Vernon and Lisbon.” Two $25 second and third place prizes also will be offered. Applications are available at www.visitmvl.com

Several Late Night Stand-up Comics will perform Friday, March 22, at participating taverns in the Mount Vernon-Lisbon area. The deadline for these applications have been extended and are available at www.visitmvl.com. Comedians have the opportunity to win one of three 2013 Mount Vernon-Lisbon Cabin Fever Comedy Festival cash prizes and titles. See the stand-up performances Friday, March 22, at C&D Lounge, Chameleon’s and Scorz, in Mount Vernon.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013 – Theater Day!
7 p.m. MV-L Community Theatre (series of original short, funny plays) FSCC
8 p.m. Reading of a new farce by Joe Jennison FSCC

Thursday, March 21, 2013 – Improvisation Day!
2 p.m. The Marx Brothers “Duck Soup” Must RSVP to (319) 895-4271 Cole Library ☺ 5 p.m. Farmer Dave and his guitar Fuel
6 p.m. “Hunting the Elusive Morel” one woman show performed by Gracie Zimmerman Art Gallery & Supplies
7 p.m. Paperback Rhino from Iowa City FSCC Improvisational Comedy
8 p.m. Comics in Action from Iowa City Improvisational Comedy FSCC

Friday, March 22, 2013 – Stand-up Comedy Day!
3 p.m. Elaine Ball Marionettes Hallmark Care Center ☺
5 p.m. Senior Spotlight Comedy for 50+ crowd First Brick Art Gallery
6 p.m. Funniest Person Contest hosted by the Iowa Goatsinger Methodist Church ☺
7:30 p.m. Laughing Laura Presbyterian Church ☺
(this will be followed by a laughter parade to the First Street Community Center)
9 p.m. Frank Benesh Memorial Telethon - 24-hour live comedy telethon begins FSCC ☺
9 p.m. Late Night Comics - Winner to receive $100 Chameleon’s
10 p.m. Late Night Comics - Winner to receive $100 Scorz
11 p.m. Anything Goes/Blue Stand-up Show (NOTE: not for the easily offended) - Winner to receive $100 C & D Lounge
9 p.m. to 9 a.m. 24-hour Frank Benesh Memorial Telethon continues… FSCC ☺

Saturday, March 23, 2012 – Kids Day!
9 a.m. “Little Red Riding Hood" Eulenspiegel Puppets Lisbon Public Library ☺
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 24-hour Frank Benesh Memorial Telethon continues… FSCC ☺
10 a.m. Nate Kula’s Pass Four Productions producers of last year’s “Turf Pirates” Lisbon History Center ☺
11 a.m. Doug Sayers and Dean Franzen, jugglers Lisbon City Hall ☺
1 p.m. Movie (PG): Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Sponsored by MV Bank & Trust Bijou Theatre ☺
7-9 p.m. Goatsinger Variety Show concludes the 24-hour Frank Benesh Memorial Telethon FSCC ☺

☺ Denotes family-friendly event.
NOTE: FSCC refers to the First Street Community Center, 221 First St. NE, Mount Vernon
☺ Buy the $5 pair of official Comedy Festival Groucho Glasses, and fund a festival
If you would like to perform or would like to recommend a local person or group to be part of the comedy lineup, contact Joe Jennison at (319) 210-9935 or through email at director@visitmvl.com.

About the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group exists to improve the social and economic well-being of Mount Vernon and Lisbon by capitalizing on their unique identity, assets and character. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community in 2008, and practices economic development within the context of historic preservation.

Mount Vernon was named one of America’s “10 Coolest Small Towns” by Budget Travel magazine in October of 2009. More information is available at www.visitmvl.com

About Main Street
The Main Street Approach is a copyrighted process of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Program has been used in Iowa since 1986 with a total of 56 communities having participated. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community on March 4, 2008 by the State of Iowa, after submitting a comprehensive application and presenting to a select board of reviewers.

(Source: Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group Press Release)