15th Annual Telluride Comedy Fest

05 Feb 15th Annual Telluride Comedy Fest

Scene from Telluride Comedy Fest past

In 2003, Sheridan Arts Foundation director Ronnie Palamar approached the host with the most, thespian/director Jeb Berrier, about mounting a Comedy Fest. Jeb turned around and asked his former acting buddy Rob Corddry (“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” Ari Fleischer in “W,” “The Heartbreak Kid” with Ben Stiller, “Blades of Glory,” etc.) to come to town. When the superstar accepted Jeb’s invitation, recruiting other top tier actors was a snap.

With powder on the mountain, snap snap.

Guaranteed the barbs will hit their mark – us – when the 15th annual Telluride Comedy Fest opens for business Thursday, February 13, with Locals’ Night and runs through the weekend to Sunday, February 16.

The event produced and hosted by former town clown Berrier is always a great excuse for his old friends to gather and party hardy on the mountain – and on the stage of the historic Sheridan Opera House. When those friends include the Who’s Who of the world of comedy, then all bets are off.

Anything goes.

For sure this band of merry men and women will blow playful raspberries at every little thing that weighs heavy on us: Congress, global warming, the guest list for our upcoming party. Sometimes the humor is so arch a person could drive a double decker bus through it. The evenings can be wildly slapstick or wildly referential to strain your brain.

Sometimes it is not pretty. (Steve Martin’s definition of comedy.)

Mostly, though, the Telluride Comedy Fest is one great big gambol with each night featuring a unique show blending stand-up, sketch, and improvisational comedy.

Many comedians who have made it big started out on the Sheridan Opera House stage long before they were household names. Past performers include Rob Corddry from ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ and ‘Children’s Hospital’, Ed Helms from ‘The Office’ and ‘The Hangover’ and other big credits.

This year’s lineup include stars from such movies or TV shows as HBO’s “Enlightened,” ABC’s “Modern Family,” “The Descendants,” “Hot Tub Time Machine,” “New Girl” and more.

Specifically:

Rob Corddry —  “Butter,” “Hot Tub Time Machine,” “Cedar Rapids,” “The Daily Show,” “Children’s Hospital”

Cameron Esposito — A nationally touring comic and host of “Put Your Hands Together” podcast. Also a regular on “Chelsea Lately.” Her network TV debut on “Late Late with Craig Ferguson” was described as “the most memorable first time on a late night show for any comedian in recent history.”

Rob Huebel — “The Descendants,” “Children’s Hospital,” “I Love You, Man,” “The League,” “Reno 911,” “Burning Love,” “Kroll Show”

Brian Huskey — “Bob’s Burgers,” “Children’s Hospital,” “This is the End,” “Veep,” “Kroll Show,” “Workaholics,” Onion News Network, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Step Brothers

Nick Kroll — “Kroll Show, ” “The League,” “New Girl,” “Parks & Recreation,” “Community,” “Children’s Hospital,” “Portlandia,” “Dinner for Schmucks,” “I Love You Man”

Jason Mantzoukas — HBO’s “Enlightened”, “Dictator,” “Modern Family,” “Baby Mama,” “Parks and Recreation,” “The League,” “Children’s Hospital,” “Kroll Show”

Seth Morris — “Go On,” “I Love You Man,” “Step Brothers,” “No Strings Attached,” “Cedar Rapids,” “Happy Endings”

Paul Scheer — The League, 30 Rock, Human Giant, Children’s Hospital, Reno 911!, 30 Rock, Upright Citizen’s Brigade

Joe Wengert — Staff writer for Comedy Central’s “Kroll Show” and Upright Citizen’s Brigade

Hosted by Jeb Berrier — Former Telluride thespian now based in Portland, comedian, “Shakespeare in the Park” director, SOH Second Stage Theater director and actor

The twin themes of the 15th annual Telluride Comedy Fest are the 100th anniversary of the historic Sheridan Opera House and the Telluride ski area’s 40th anniversary.

The evenings roll out as follows*:

Thursday Locals Night:

A Comedy Fest custom, the weekend opens with star comedians paying tribute to the people who live and work in Telluride and help make the place we call home the special, quirky place that it is. A fun-filled evening performed for those who make this town tick. The show is a mix of characters, sketches, stand-up, and improv that both celebrates and pokes fun at our town. Tickets are discounted to $30! Featuring: Rob Corddry, Brian Huskey, Jason Mantzoukas, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel, Jamie Denbo and Jessica Chaffin.

Friday’s Valentine’s Show:

Celebrate Valentines Day with “The Dating Show,” a set of improv featuring Paul Scheer, Rob Heubel, Seth Morris, Rob Corddry, Brian Huskey and Jason Mantzoukas. And there are surprises in store…

Saturday Night: Sketch Comedy & Improv:

Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer, of Human Giant and Telluride Ski Patrol, get together with some friends to do whatever they want: improv, sketch, standup….Berrier turns the stage over to his old friend for an hour and  just lets the good times roll. The twosome are followed by Naked Babies Improv with Rob Corddry, Brian Huskey, Jason Mantzoukas, Seth Morris, and special guests.

Stand Up Comedy Sunday:

The 15^th annual Telluride Comedy Fest ends Sunday with a brilliant night of stand-up comedy featuring rising up-and-comer Cameron Esposito, Joe Wengert, and Nick Kroll, star of Comedy Central’s “Kroll Show: and Ruxin on “The League.” The night is hosted by two-time Emmy Award winning creator of “Children’s Hospital,” Rob Corddry, the man who helped get  Comedy Fest off the ground.

*The above schedule is subject to change. 

VIP Tables Available: In addition to reserved theater seating, eight (8) VIP Tables are available nightly for $500 per table. These tables offer prime cabaret seating on the main floor for four (4) individuals and includes a private meet & greet reception with the featured comedians following Saturday night’s performance. Also, if you enjoy being the brunt of a joke or a potential candidate to be brought up on stage, these seats are for you.

For a generous donation of $2,000, a supporter or business can sponsor the Sheridan Arts Foundation and receive one table of four for one night (pending availability), receive one framed Comedy Fest poster signed by all the comedians, have your name or business logo listed in ads and posters and on-stage thank-yous.

Interested? Contact Kathrine Warren at 728-6363 ext. 3.

Tickets and more info are available at the Sheridan Opera House Box Office, phone at 970.728.6363 or at  https://www.ticketturtle.com/ or SheridanOperaHouse.com.

More about the Sheridan Arts Foundation:

The Sheridan Arts Foundation was founded in 1991 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization to preserve the historic Sheridan Opera House as an arts and cultural resource for the Telluride community, to bring quality arts and cultural events to Telluride and to provide local and national youth with access and exposure to the arts through education.

The Sheridan Arts Foundation is sponsored in part by grants from the Telluride Foundation, CCAASE, El Pomar and CCI.