Start planning for the 3rd annual Vermont Comedy Festival, Dec. 5-8, with shows throughout this region. I spoke with comics and co-founders Collen Doyle and Matt Vita to learn more about this year’s event. They received hundreds of submissions from comedians all over the country, which they had to whittle down to about 50. Those comics will be performing in Bridgewater, Killington, and Woodstock. For the second year in a row, their headliner is a “Saturday Night Live “alum who will be performing at the Woodstock Town Hall Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. Don’t miss Ladies Man Tim Meadows, who also was a long-running cast member on SNL from 1991 – 2000. Collen said they’re super excited to have him.
I’ve had the pleasure of attending the past two comedy festivals. The programming is superb, and so is the talent on stage. Each year, they add new things. Besides Tim at the WTHT, you can see shows at the Ottauquechee Yacht Club in Woodstock and more shows at the Woolen Mill Comedy Club in Bridgewater. They’re continuing shows at Still on the Mountain in Killington and hope to be there at least once a month through the winter. This year, they’ll close the festival at the WMCC with a show by Nadia Quinn at 7 p.m. She is a comedian and songwriter who will bring a special holiday edition of her Edinburgh Fringe Festival – hit performance, “The Nadia Quinn Show.” The Still is hosting Kendall Farrell on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., after the World Cup. I interviewed him for an article in 2021. He was named Vermont’s Funniest Comedian in 2015.
Collen, the founder of the Woolen Mill, said they have a new lighting system and a piano there. He hopes to incorporate the piano with some musical comedy and karaoke. They’re debuting Karaoke Night at the WMCC on Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. with host/comedian Will Purpura. They’re also doing it late night at the festival. If it’s a hit, they hope to continue it on Fridays at the club. They’re working with Sunday Drive in Woodstock to create some marijuana-themed comedy shows.
The festival kicks off Thursday at 5 p.m. with a welcome party at Ramunto’s Brick and Brew of Bridgewater, followed by a 1-minute stand-up battle upstairs at the WMCC between 50+ comics at 8 p.m., and then a DJ dance party with Me at 10 p.m. The stand-up battle has been my favorite the past two years. It’s a show not to be missed, with non-stop laughs. The rest of the weekend features shows at Long Trail Brewery, OYC, SOTM, and the WMCC. The club will have shows Friday at 8, 10, and midnight, Saturday at 10 and midnight, and Sunday with Nadia. The midnight show Friday features Max Higgins, who was voted the best stand-up comic in the 2023 Seven Daysies awards. You can get more info and buy tickets at vermontycomedyfestival.com. The festival has continued support from Pentangle Arts and Long Trail Brewery.
Collen discussed this year’s festival and said, “I’m excited to work with Tim Meadows and see him perform. He’s been one of my favorite comedians since I was a child. I’m most excited about bringing so many comedians from around the country and meeting new people. I feel the relationships that are coming out of this festival are really unique. We’ve been seeing people, after the festival, going out and touring together. We’ve been lucky with the people that we’ve selected over the years, who are awesome people to get to know. We selected 60 comedians, which is the most we’ve ever had, so that’s exciting. Matt said, “I echo all those sentiments; Tim is amazing. I’ll dig a little further on the connections factor. There are clubs in NYC where people are getting work out of this festival. I often see people who use the Vermont Comedy Festival as a credit, either when they’re getting brought on stage or on a flyer. That’s really cool and unique. I feel those connections are being made because of the vibe we’re creating. The energy of those 4 days is unbeatable. Collen added, “We’re trying to create as many opportunities as we can to foster those relationships.”
Last year, their headliner was Colin Quinn, who put on an amazing show. I laughed from start to finish. Collen Doyle said, “He put on a master class on comedy. Last year, we did an industry panel Q&A with Colin, and so many people found so much value in that, to be able to sit down and talk with someone like him. I’m hoping it will be similar with Tim this year, with people being able to learn from him as well.”
I didn’t think this festival could get bigger and better, but it has. This year includes more programming, more comics, and bigger stars like Tim. Collen said, “It’s super exciting. We’ve got some great comedians coming in. The flow of the festival is going to be really good this year. We’re encouraging people to get their tickets for Tim as soon as possible because we’re anticipating it selling out.”
When Collen started the WMCC 1 years ago, people told him he was crazy, not to waste his time, and that nobody would come. He likens that to this in the sense that they’re now a premiere comedy destination for comics from around the country. He said, “Expect a bigger party. I think it’s very exciting. We get to bring comedy to places that don’t normally have comedy. We’re very fortunate the relationships we’re building are continuing to grow.”
Matt said, “I like to spread positivity. I like when people get together and f—ing party. This is a four-day party that’s centered around doing comedy, which is my favorite thing to do in the world. LFG.”
