The halls of the Carrboro ArtCenter will be filled with laughter as comedians from across the nation take the stage tomorrow night.
During the center’s “All Star Talent Showcase,” 15 up-and-coming stand-up comedians will each give a brief performance on the center’s main stage.
The event is presented by Carrboro’s DSI Comedy Theater and the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival.
Due to the diversity of acts, audiences are bound to see something they like during the show, said Zach Ward, executive producer to the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival.
“It’s going to be like rapid fire jokes,” he said.
Eddie Brill, who has worked as house comic for “The Late Show with David Letterman” for 13 years, will headline the showcase with a 15-minute set.
“I really think if you were going to come see one show here, this showcase would be at the very top,” said Tom Keller, stand-up coordinator at DSI.
The showcase is part of the month-long 2012 North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival.
Designed 12 years ago by Ward, the festival began as a small group of teachers and performers from three states focusing on Chicago-style improvisations.
Today, the festival hosts performers and teachers from throughout the nation and expects approximately 200 attendees for some performances said Jeri Lynn Schulke, director of the ArtsCenter stage.
“The strength of the line-ups across the board just keeps getting better and better,” Keller said. “It’s not a secret anymore.”
While the festival is growing in size and popularity, one of the goals of is still to educate local audiences about all the great comedy that already present in the Triangle, Ward said.
“Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the Triangle in general have an incredible comedy scene,” he said.
“Our local comics are absolutely amazing.”
Preparing for the performance is a tough mix between presenting your best self and creating new material, Keller said.
“If someone came last year, I think they have a right to want to hear something new,” he said.
“But getting to the game is the hard part, and once you’re there its just all playing.”
But during the showcase, audience can expect lots of positive energy, Ward said.
“Even though everyone is sort of looking for their break, it’s a party…and you can feel it,” he said.
“I mean, just imagine the amazing chaos that happens when you put 70 hilarious people in one room.”
In addition to the performances, the festival will host a series of workshops for students of comedy.
Both Eddie Brill and DSI instructors will coach participants in the art of stand-up comedy.
“There is really an education focus to it,” Keller said.
“It’s a wonderful service to the comedy community at large because it helps everybody raise the bar and make those connections.”
Ward said he agreed that the events of the festival are both educational and communal.
“It’s like one huge comedy high five,” he said.
See the showcase Saturday at the Carrboro ArtsCenter at 7:30 p.m. and again at 9 p.m.
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