Comedy festival searches for star

Get ready for some laughs in downtown Oshawa. The Durham Region Comedy Festival is back again this year from September 14-17, but they’re getting the laughter started early with three shows leading up the event.
Semi-finals for a search for a comedian to perform at the festival started August 17 at the Green Bottle and continue tomorrow, August 20. The finals take place August 24 where the winner will be named and eventually get what Rich Weisz, president of the Durham Region Comedy Festival, calls their 15 minutes of fame.

The winner will perform on stage at the Regent Theatre on September 16 during a show taped by Rogers TV with Aaron Berg, Jeff Elliot and Mark Debonis, but that’s after two nights packed full of laughs downtown.
The festival starts September 14 at the Green Bottle at 8 p.m. with Randy and Mr. Leahy from the television show Trailer Park Boys along with comedians Ed Hill and Darren Pyle. Tickets for this show are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.
The shows move to the Regent Theatre the next night with comedian Nikki Payne headlining for a number of female comedians, including local Chrissie Cunningham.
After the show on Friday September 16 the Durham Region Comedy Festival concludes with a show headlined by Debra Digiovanni, a regular on Much Music’s show Video On Trial.
The three shows at the Regent Theatre are $30 in advance or $35 at the door, but Weisz doesn’t expect there to be any left at the door because they’re offering a discounted package price of $75 in advance for all three nights.

Tickets can be purchased here or by visiting The Regent Theatre’s box office located at 50 King St. E. To Learn more about the festival and the shows check out their website, like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.
Story by Nathan Mackinnon