Westchester Comedy Festival Starts Sunday

The Westchester Comedy Festival will take place April 6-11 at different venues around the county, featuring stand-up comedy, competitions for the funniest comedian and comedy workshops.

A portion of the proceeds will go to The American Cancer Society, Relay for Life and several other not for profits.

The festival will kick off with a Musical Improv and Comedy Workshop on April 6 in Mount Vernon.  Guest instructors will include The Petting Zoo and Harry O’Reilly. These workshops will help professional and aspiring funny people improve their stage presence and skills.

Also on April 6, the Westchester Comedy Kickoff will start at 5 p.m. at Alvin & Friends, 14 Memorial Highway, New Rochelle, with the Westchester’s Funniest Comedian Competition starting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
 
The winner will win a grand prize of $1,000 and get a chance to perform at the finale. The crowd favorite will receive $100. The evening will assist in raising funds for RKW Foundation “Comedy for the Cure of Lupus.”

The competition will be hosted by Trena B. Real, along with Adam Oliensis of Lo Hud Comedy. The night’s headliner is comedienne/actress/activist Phyllis Yvonne Stickney. Showtime is at 8 p.m.

On April 7, Adam Oliensis will host and perform, with guests Emma Willman, Ronnie Wilkenson and Petting Zoo, at Sam’s of Gedney Way, 50 Gedney Way, White Plains.

April 8, The Second Round of the Funniest Comedian Competition will be held at 6 p.m. followed by Alex Barnett and Comedians at Law at 8 p.m. Also performing is Sheba Mason and Think Floyd. Performances will take place at Maggie Spillane’s Ale House, 571 Gramatan Avenue, Mount Vernon.

April 9, Trena B. Real will host Women in Comedy “Are You Kidding?” featuring Sylvia Traymore Morrison, Angela Cobb, Leighanne Lord and Crystal Ward. There will also be a performance by Songstress Clarissa Sinceno. Women in Comedy will be held at the Ossie Davis Theatre, 515 North Avenue, 
New Rochelle. 

The Grand Finale will take place April 11 at the Roosevelt Grand Ballroom, 2 Hudson Street, Yonkers, with the winner of Westchester’s Funniest Comedian Competition to be chosen at 6 p.m. The winner will also perform that evening along with Talent and Imagine, Del Harrison and Rich Stultis on stage at 8 p.m.
 
Festival Partners include Westchester County NY Tourism, Yonkers BID, Lo Hud Comedy.

Showtime for all performances is at 8 p.m. Seating is limited. Weekly passes are on sale for $65 each and can only be purchased online. Passes are available until March 28.

To purchase tickets or passes online or for sponsorship opportunities, visit www.westchestercomedyny.com. For more information, call (914) 338-9397.