DSI comedy festival brings lineup of laughs to Triangle

The Triangle is about to be inundated with laughs.

Today marks the start of Dirty South Comedy Theater’s 12th annual North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, the largest of its kind on the East Coast.

The festival spans three weeks, each showcasing a different type of performance comedy — stand-up, improv and sketch.

First held in 2001, it began as the DSI Improv Festival. Since 2009, the festival has changed its name and expanded to include a greater variety of acts.

This year, the festival will expand to include The Carolina Theatre in Durham, said Zach Ward, executive producer and artistic director of the festival.

This year’s festival will bring stand-up comedian Mike Birbiglia and Channel One, an act from Chicago improv theater The Second City.

“This is exciting for us to be able to put both of those shows up at the same time,” Ward said.

In addition to the professional acts, the show will also feature performances by UNC students.

“We are looking forward to performing for brand spanking new audiences,” said Ishah Janssen-Faith, member of Channel One.

While Janssen-Faith is excited to perform for an audience outside of Channel One’s usual New York crowd, she said that she is also delighted to meet the other performers.

“It is a really good breeding ground for interesting talent,” Janssen-Faith said.

Chris Wells, a UNC graduate student, will perform during stand-up week.

Wells got involved in comedy after attending a friend’s show and subsequently taking classes.

“I am looking forward to performing at home for a large crowd of people and getting to know other comedians from around the country,” he said.

Mike Birbiglia

Mike Birbiglia has been featured in three Comedy Central Presents specials and performed on many late-night talk shows.

In addition to these appearances, Birbiglia has been featured in the Off-Broadway show “Sleepwalk with Me,” and has been a staple at comedy festivals around the nation.

Birbiglia’s show in Durham on Feb. 3 is a part of his “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” tour.

Other stand-up comedy week acts include:

Wednesday (2/1) 7 and 9 p.m. at the Varsity Theatre: Carolina’s Funniest Comic.

Thursday (2/2) Different lineups from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at various locations.

Friday (2/3) Different lineups between 7 and 11:30 p.m. at various locations

Saturday (2/4) Different lineups from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at various locations.

See a complete listing of stand-up events.

Channel One

Channel One is television as performed by the last two people on earth who escaped the end of civilization in a time machine only to be trapped alone in the future.

Emily James and Ishah Janssen-Faith make up Channel One, which is based out of Brooklyn. Both are self-proclaimed writers, performers and clowns.

The comedy super duo of James and Janssen-Faith exhibits a very specific type of sketch comedy and keeps it simple, real and funny.

Other sketch comedy week acts include:

Wednesday (2/8) Stuck In Third Grade, Adventures of Whitestache and Thunderstood at 7:30 p.m. at DSI Comedy Theater.

Thursday (2/9) Channel One, Coach Crotchky and The Deuces Wild Duo at 9:30 p.m. at DSI Comedy Theater.

Friday (2/10) Kelly and Lindsey Do New York and Red Hot Pen at 11 p.m. at DSI Comedy Theater.

See a complete listing of events.

Emo Philips

Emo Philips has been described by Jay Leno as “the best joke writer in America” and has performed over 6,000 times, including a multi-week run at the Playhouse Theater in London’s West End.

Since he began at the age of 20, in Chicago in 1976, Philips has had award-winning comedy albums, numerous cable specials, including one on HBO, and has lent his voice to animated television shows and has appeared on network television many times.

Other improv comedy week acts include:

Tuesday (2/14) Mixed Signals, Work Lunch, Ladies Night and Longform Jam at 7:30 p.m. at DSI Comedy Theater.

Wednesday (2/15) Bartenders, Lordington PI and Longform Jam at 9:30 p.m. at DSI Comedy Theater.

Thursday (2/16) CSO, Pound for Pound and Impatient Theatre Co. at 9:30 p.m. at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.

See a complete listing of improv events.

Contact the Arts Editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.