EMMAUS, Pa. — After three months of trying to find the funniest comic in the Lehigh Valley, Emmaus Theatre is ready to crown a winner.
Comedians who will participate in Thursday's championship round are Sam Grim, Geoff Colella, Fana Schoen and Taury Seward.
Tickets for the event are free and can be reserved at eventbrite. Doors at the theater at 19 S. 4th St., will open for the event at 7 p.m., with the show starting at 7:30 p.m.
"Over the past couple years, we've really been diving in heavy with the comedy, and I've noticed — I don't know if it's partly because of us — but the comedy scene in Lehigh Valley has tripled,"Emmaus Theatre owner Robert Audibert
"This electrifying event will feature the best of the best, showcasing the incredible talent that has emerged over the past few months," the event listing states.
"Our finalists have battled through laughter-filled rounds, earning their spots in this championship. Now, they’re ready to bring their A-game for a night of comedy you won’t want to miss!'
The competition involved about 80 stand-up entrants hoping to win the title, and a spot on a to-be-announced national tour.
The finalists who don't win will get cash prizes and priority for future shows at the theatre, owner Robert Audibert said.
"Over the past couple years, we've really been diving in heavy with the comedy, and I've noticed — I don't know if it's partly because of us — but the comedy scene in Lehigh Valley has tripled," Audibert said in July in the midst of the competition's first round.
Local talent pool growing
Audibert said it was amazing to see local talent pop up in the region, thanks to greater exposure and growing popularity from comedy podcasts, and he wanted to take advantage of the typical summer downtime for live comedy and instead make something special.
"I get a lot of emails from comics I've never seen before that want to get on shows," Audibert said.
"So it's really hard to see the talent level. That's kind of where the idea came from. We were like, 'Let's start a summer-long competition so we can see really, who's out there.'"
He said the majority of entrants were locally based, with some from Philadelphia and New Jersey.
In the initial rounds, about 15 comics participated each night.
Comedians are judged by audience members who are given QR codes, and judges Audibert, Nick Bruce from Wisecrackers Comedy Club and Paul Krempasky from Muhlenberg College radio station WMUH-FM.
"We're getting more of our own competitions, our own venues, in Emmaus Theatre, SteelStacks and other places where great comics can really do stuff in the Lehigh Valley."Comedian Brendan Smith
Comedian Brendan Smith, who made it to round two of the competition, said he's also noticed a big growth in the community and opportunities here, and is excited to see the rest of the competition play out.
"There was always a general vibe of if you were a Lehigh Valley comic, a lot of the stuff you're gonna do is, you practice here, you go to open mics," Smith said.
But he said that has started to change in recent years.
"We're getting more of our own competitions, our own venues, in Emmaus Theatre, SteelStacks and other places where great comics can really do stuff in the Lehigh Valley," Smith said.
