1st Annual Fargo Comedy Festival

By Tiffany Broden
Contributing Writer

LOL. That’s what Fargo will be doing on July 23 at the first Fargo Comedy Festival that not just Fargo, but the whole state of North Dakota has ever been a part of.  Sure, North Dakota has seen big-name comedians such as Jeff Dunham and Lewis Black, but this comedy festival will bring in all-star comedians and hopefully keep Fargo laughing year after year.

Eric Zeis, a native of Fargo, will be hosting the event and his company Zeis Entertainment is the promoter. Zeis founded his company in 2004 and books comedy acts of stand up, improv, hosting, workshops and party entertainment and some of the artists that Zeis books have been featured on Comedy Central, VH1, MTV and Last Comic Standing. Zeis, originally from Fargo, has been working out of California and mostly doing work in the Nevada and California area. Zeis is “thrilled to be bringing a touch of Hollywood to the FM area in this star-studded romp” for the first annual Fargo Comedy Festival.
Comedians that Zeis rounded up for the festival include local acts such as the LineBenders who are a comedy improv troupe and Jeff Allen who has performed all around the Midwest to thousands of people. Co-headlining the show are Adam Ray who has been featured on MTV and VH1 and is a nationally touring comic, and Adam Hunter who was a finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and is seen regularly on several late-night talk shows such as “Chelsea Lately.” Lastly, Erik Griffin will be performing. Griffin has been featured on Showtime and BET and is also a nationally touring comic.

If you want to be part of the First Annual Fargo Comedy Festival, tickets can be found at Atomic Coffee, http://www.tickets300.com or at the ticket booth inside 300 Broadway in Fargo. Tickets are also available straight through Zeis, Jeff Allen and J.J. Gordon from the LineBenders. General admission tickets are $20 and V.I.P. tickets are $60.

Most of the ticket sales have been V.I.P. packages and are not available at the door. They’re also probably something you’re not going to want to miss out on. For the price, the package is well worth the rock-star treatment. Included in the V.I.P. package is a Pre-Show Toast and Social with the comedians with all-you-can-drink champagne and all-you-can-eat hors d’ oeuvres at the Plains Art Museum, priority seating at the show that’s sectioned off from general admission, two free drinks during the show and an after-party on the 16th floor of the Radisson with more free drinks and well known DJ TBD providing the music.

If you plan to purchase your general admission tickets at the door, make sure to get in line early because the Fargo Theatre is only holding 100 tickets. Seating for the event will be theatre style. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the laughter starts at 8:30. General admission will be on a first come, first serve basis, so if you’re looking to get a good seat you’ll want to arrive early.

“This is what Fargo needs. People here crave it and want it. Tons of people want it. There’s Facebook groups asking to bring comedians to Fargo.” Zeis said. “Something like this can bring Fargo to the next level and bring in big name comics and boost local comedians. Performances in the past have either been too big or too small, nothing with just the right amount of personal interaction.”

And if you’re wondering if the only concessions that will be available are pop and popcorn at the Fargo Theatre, wonder no more because The Hub will be bringing in two full cash bars to the theatre that will serve cocktails, beer and wine during and before the show. The lobby will be set up for socializing and comedians will set up booths to sell their CDs, t-shirts and other merchandise.

Eric Zeis is optimistic. “If the comedy festival goes well and gets the attention it needs, in the future it could mean bigger comedians in Fargo which in turn would mean local comedians won’t have to do open mics at Moxie Java anymore.” And there are already plans in the making for the second annual Fargo Comedy Festival to be held next year. Zeis Entertainment also has plans for weekly events such as Friday night comedy shows with local openers and possibly a mainstream comedian.

Advertising for the festival is being done through Facebook, MySpace, and Google Advertisement. Radio stations Dive 95.9 and Y94 are also promoting the event, and for two days during the week of the festival, the stations will be giving away free tickets. You can also find posters around Fargo and surrounding cities.

The festival features comedians that perform all types of comedy acts for all types of taste preferences and all ages, young and old. Although some of the jokes may not be intended for children, the Fargo Comedy Festival invites families to join in on the laughter and enjoy something new together. “I absolutely think the turnout for the first annual Fargo Comedy Festival will be great.” Zeis said.

For more information on all the comedians performing, visit http://www.onlinebenders.com, http://www.adamraytv.com. http://www.adamhunter.com, http://www.erickgriffin.com, http://www.jeffallencomedy.com, http://www.facebook.com/EricZeis.

Fargo demanded comedy, and Fargo is going to receive it all thanks to Eric Zeis. Come out and show your support for the new form of entertainment that may take North Dakota by storm. With the all-star line up, this show is sure to be a success.

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If You Go

What: Comedy Festival
Where: Fargo Theatre
When: Fri, July 23, 8:30pm
Info: 701.239.8385