Arts Island's first Comedy Festival begins on Monday
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER

Kevin Flynn promises children of all ages will laugh at the Nantucket Comedy Festival. PHOTO BY KIT KITTLE

There are few things better for the spirit than laughing so hard it practically hurts. When the Nantucket Comedy Festival kicks off on July 28, it promises a week's worth of hilarity geared towards the whole family.

"There are over 20 comics coming - major, headliner talent," said comedian and summer resident Bonnie Block Levison, who co-founded the festival with long-time stand-up comic and summer resident Kevin Flynn. He has performed on the island for 18 years.

Levison, whose background is in television marketing, said she started taking stand-up comedy classes a little more than two years ago. She performed at a few clubs, and then last year Flynn offered her time on stage at the opening of his Monday night shows on Nantucket. Realizing how much local audiences craved a good laugh, they decided to create a nonprofit summer festival.

Representatives from island nonprofits will speak briefly at the beginning of each night's program, and Levison said a portion of the festival's proceeds will be distributed among A Safe Place, the Nantucket Arts Council, the Community Foundation for Nantucket and Nantucket New School. The Shingles, comprised of Dave Provost, Cary Hazelgrove, Andy Bullington and Mike Kopko, will perform next Thursday and Friday.

(Left) Co-founders of the Nantucket Comedy Festival Kevin Flynn and Bonnie Block Levison.

On Monday, July 28 through Friday, Aug. 1, there will be a 10 a.m. to noon Kids N Comedy class for children and teens (suggested age range 12 to 18) at the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket performance center downstairs in the Methodist Church. The workshop will be led by Jane Condon, a star of "Last Comic Standing" and children's comedy teacher at New York City's Gotham Comedy Club. Participants will learn how to craft and perform a joke or amusing story, and how to transform their own observations and personal experiences into a funny act. At the end of the week, the youth will perform in a special graduation production at 5:30 p.m. with professional comedians under a tent behind the Dreamland Theater.

(Below) Long time summer residents Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller will be the subjects of a roast at the Nantucket Comedy Festival, but undoubtedly will have the last laugh. PHOTOS BY KIT KITTLE

At 8:30 p.m. on Monday, July 28 and on every Monday night through August, TWN will host Kevin Flynn's Comedy Night at the Methodist Church. Flynn has spent the last 25 summers on Nantucket and was involved with the former Actors Theatre. He said many great comics who visited him here commented that there was a lack of comedy on the island in general and in particular, for young audiences.

"There are comedy festivals around, but not a lot of comedy festivals for families. I think we have something

for everyone," he said of the festival. He describes his own shows as unstructured and different each week, but centering around humor about politics, current events and family situations.

The Pro Kids Comedy Show will run from Tuesday, July 29 through August 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Dreamland tent. Comedy Central's Al Ducharme will host the events, which will include four of New York's best kid comedians. Island puppeteer Joe Zito will bring some of his lovable characters to welcome families.

At 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Comedy Central star Mike Birbiglia will present a one-man show under the Dreamland tent. Levison said he has been named College Comedian of the Year for his campus performances and has had six Comedy Central specials.

"He is very clean," said Levison. "The whole goal of this is for us to have something for everyone in the family."

On Wednesday, July 30 at 8 p.m., the tent will be the venue for Women's Night, when six professional female comedians will entertain. Four have performed on "Last Comic Standing." The six, who include frequent island visitors Amy Stiller and Susan Burns, have all been featured on Comedy Central. There will be a wine and cheese reception from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gypsy on Federal Street.

An Island Tribute, with seasonal residents Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, will be held under a tent at Jetties Beach on Thursday, July 31 at 8 p.m. The veteran comics will be subjects of a roast by friends and surprise guests. Seating is limited. Cocktails and appetizers will be served from 6:30 p.m. until the show begins.

On Friday, Aug. 1, the festival will present A Night of Political Comedy under the Jetties tent. Will Durst, star of the off-Broadway hit "Bipartisan Bashing," and Scott Blakeman who specializes in political humor will be among those featured. Included in the roster is Nantucket's own Donick Cary, executive producer of Comedy Central's "Lil' Bush," who will share some of his favorite clips.

The festival ends with an All-Star Comedy Gala on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. under the Jetties tent. Six national headliners - three from New York City and three from Boston - will compete to have their city named the funniest. Comedian Lenny Clarke will be presented with the Man from Nantucket Award. Seating is limited. Cocktails and appetizers will be served from 6:30 p.m. to showtime.

Tickets are available in the afternoons at the TWN box office at the Methodist Church on Centre Street and will be available during the festival week at the Dreamland and Jetties tents. I