Boston, Massachusetts has been a hub for theatrical excellence for over 100 years. The opening of the Colonial Theater in 1900 gave birth to what is now Boston’s historic Theatre District. Since that time, the district has hosted a vast array of performances in every entertainment genre imaginable. From beautifully acted plays to expertly produced concerts, Boston audiences have grown to expect nothing but the finest shows and performers to grace the District’s stages.
The discerning tastes of Boston audiences are not reserved for only classical performances; however, Boston is also home to some of the best comedy shows and performers in the country. Comedians such as Dennis Leary, Anthony Clark, Steve Sweeney, Dane Cook, Louis C.K. and Robert Kelly started their careers performing in the clubs and theaters throughout Boston. Ask any professional comedian and they will tell you there is no better audience to gauge your comedy prowess than in front of the likes of a Boston audience.
It seems only natural for Boston to be the home of the most sought-after comedy competition in the country — The Boston Comedy International Comedy and Movie Festival. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the festival.
The week-long event will feature 150 comedians performing in various venues in Boston and competing for the coveted title of winner of the Boston Comedy Festival. We recently caught up with the festival’s founder Jim McCue in between road gigs to talk about his journey producing one of the most highly-regarded comedy events in the country.
What is the Boston Comedy Festival?
The Boston Comedy Festival is a chance for comics to showcase their talent and get noticed by industry giants while honing-in on their comedy skills. Then, once the competition has ended, the comics have a chance to get together with other comics they may not otherwise have a chance to meet.
What drives you to produce the Boston Comedy Festival every year?
I started the festival because there was so much talent in the Boston comedy scene and it was really hard to get industry to come out to see them. Putting together a festival with over 100 comics seemed like the best way to get them out of New York and into Boston to see that comedic talent exists outside of New York as well.
What do you think sets your festival apart from the others?
The Boston Comedy Festival is a comedy festival created by a comic, for comics; so it really caters to what they need the most to be successful. From the venues to the judges themselves, the competition is surrounded by people who know what being a gifted comic is all about.
“Jim’s best asset is his genuine desire to give back to comedy. Jim still remembers what it was like to start off in comedy and how hard it can be to get a break. Since putting the BCF together, some very funny people got in front of the right people to get their break…Who will get their break this year? That’s what makes this festival great. The industry gets to see new faces that are really new faces. The BCF also is a great networking tool for comedians to branch out into new markets.” – Joey Carroll
What do you feel is the biggest driving force for people to audition for the festival?
Getting new comics who have great talent noticed. I’ve seen comics perform in the festival like Shane Mauss, who had a full-time job when he first performed at the festival and now he has a full-blown comedy career.
How many entries do you receive every year?
I received at least 300 entries this year.
How long does the selection process take?
Putting together the festival is a year-long process; but going through the tapes takes at least, a couple of weeks.
What advice do you have for comedians submitting audition tapes?
Make sure it’s a good quality tape. Sending in a grainy tape with an apology just won’t cut it.
How do you select comedians for the Lifetime Achievement Award?
I make a wish list of all my favorite comedians — people who have been in the business a long time and who have had a big influence in the comedy industry and I go from there. We also give the “Comedian of the Year” award and the “Boston Comedian of the Year.”
“I come back and show my support each year because I believe it’s important to have a festival that is run for the sake of comedy and not the industry. And you can’t have enough comedy festivals. I think it’s great that it takes place in Boston as it is the birthplace of an astonishing amount of truly gifted comics. For me it’s enjoying the joys of being a part of that weird strange community of standups. I get to spend time with comics I never get to see and actually get the time to watch them perform. For anyone that performs in the festival, it’s the chance to stand in front of a Boston crowd, one of the most comedy savvy audiences you’ll find anywhere…You get to spend time in Boston in late summer, and you can’t beat that.” – Lewis Black
What is the criteria for selecting comedians for the festival?
I really look for the basics: Their stage presence, originality, and their ability to give a really good show. That’s what being a comic is all about.
What is your favorite part of the contest and why?
I always enjoy watching the finals because you see the best of the best comics who have performed all week.
Are you looking forward to anything in particular during this year’s festival?
The roast of Tony V.
Aside from the competition, you also produce several shows around the city. Tell us about them.
I try to put together shows that will, not only get the people who are competing noticed, but also to get some of the local comics and comedy greats a chance to be a part of the festival as well. We have gala events which include Lewis Black, Denis Leary and Anthony Clark, as well as shows like The Funny Females Show, Funny Short Films and Friends of Jim McCue at Nicks, where festival favorites will drop in on August 29 and 30 to tune up their sets and last, but not least, Lewis Black will be at the Wang August 29th!
The Boston Comedy Festival will take place August 29-September 5.
Michelle Lynn is a Boston-based comedian and a STAGE TIME contributing writer.
