2018 PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE & FESTIVAL BADGES (on sale November 17, 2017 - January 5, 2018)

MARCH 8-18, 2018 laughfestgr.org LAUGHFEST BADGES GO ON SALE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 THROUGH FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

ORDER ONLINE 24/7 laughfestgr.org

QUESTIONS? [email protected] or call us at (616) 735-4242

BOX OFFICE PHONE HOURS Monday-Thursday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Friday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Closed Saturday and Sunday

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS GO ON SALE JANUARY 12, 2018 Please note that individual tickets go on sale Friday, January 12, 2018 at ticketmaster.com (search for LaughFest), the Van Andel Arena Box Office, or at Ticketmaster outlets through closing day of the Festival. Tickets will also be available at LaughFest Central beginning in mid-February.

2018 LAUGHFEST CONTENT GUIDELINES These guidelines give you an overall sense of the content and age- appropriateness of festival events and shows. Beyond family friendly rated events, the guidelines are not meant to be a guarantee of strict adherences by the artists, as material is often subjective and open to interpretation by those in the audience. We hope these guidelines will enhance your overall festival experience. F Family Friendly – Suitable for all ages L LaughteRx – Events with a health and laughter focus C Clean Adult Laughs – Adult content without vulgarity and/or profanity; best suited for ages 18 and above R Rated R… Really! – Adult content with some vulgarity and/or profanity; best suited for ages 18 and above M For Mature Audiences – Adult content that contains strong subject matter; best suited for mature audiences I This symbol indicates a venue is 21+ and will require a valid ID for admission If it has to do with laughter, you will find it at Gilda’s LaughFest! This 10-day festival includes stand-up , improv, music, dance, speakers, films, showcases (featuring professionals, amateurs, and everything in between), and much more. Gilda’s LaughFest has all kinds of seriously funny stuff, so there is sure to be something for everyone!

And, while we know laughter is good for you, LaughFest is also for a good cause. 100% of the proceeds benefit the free cancer, grief, and emotional health support programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids for children, adults, families, and friends. With clubhouses located in Grand Rapids and Lowell, as well as community outreach and in-school programs, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids helps individuals find their smile and laughter even in the midst of dealing with the tough stuff in life.

So come smile with us this March at LaughFest…it’s all about celebrating laughter for the health of it!

gildasclubgr.org Make a $5 donation to support the free programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Donate at laughfestgr.org/high-five or by purchasing a button at participating West Michigan businesses. Your gift is tax-deductible and 100% of your gift stays in our community.

SIGNATURE EVENT This year, LaughFest welcomes Trevor Noah to its Signature Event! TREVOR NOAH C SATURDAY, MARCH 10, DEVOS PLACE DINNER 5:30PM, SHOW 8PM

Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids invites you to join us for an unforgettable evening of laughter and from host, Trevor Noah. Trevor Noah is the most successful comedian in Africa and is the host of the Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning The Daily Show on . This year The Daily Show has been nominated for a Writers Guild Award (Comedy/Variety Series). Trevor’s success has also spanned to sold out shows over 5 continents. Table sponsorships and single ticket reservations begin at $250 per person. A limited quantity of show only tickets are available for $75. Contact Gilda’s Club at 616.453.8300 or by email at [email protected]. Additional details available at www.laughfestgr.org/event/signature-event/ BADGES Purchasing a Badge is a great way to experience the Festival and get insider perks like access to exclusive parties, early access to single ticket sales, early seating at free shows, and merchandise discounts! For more details visit laughfestgr.org.

BENEFITS LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4 Headliner Show One (1) One (1) Two (2) 6 shows of your choice Feature Show One (1) One (1) Two (2) High Five Donation Button ($5 Value) • • • Early entrance to all free shows • • • • 10% Discount on LF Merchandise • • • • Early Access to Single Ticket Sales • • • • LaughFest Friends Membership* • • •

Headliner’s Club Pass Every night open

Signature Event Ticket** • *Includes t- shirt & decal, a $25 Value. **Show only. Does not include dinner. Visit laughfestgr.org for a full listing of Headliner and Feature shows

THE LEVEL 1 BADGE ($75) Offers festival followers a smidge of laughter with one headliner, one feature show, early access to single ticket sales and early entrance to free shows. THE LEVEL 2 BADGE ($99) Steps up the festival experience by adding a LaughFest Friends membership to the Level 1 perks and also includes a High Five donation & button. THE LEVEL 3 BADGE ($199) Provides festival goers a smattering of smiles with the addition of another headliner show, another feature show and a pass to the opening party. THE LEVEL 4 BADGE ($449) Provides festival fanatics the whole sha-bang including all other Badge perks, six total shows of their choice and a ticket to the Signature Event, and access to Headliner’s Club every day that it’s open. This is the VIP way to experience LaughFest! ARTIST LINEUP

MARIA BAMFORD R Saturday, March 10, Wealthy Theatre 8pm & 10pm MARIA BAMFORD is the creator and star of Maria Bamford: the special special special and of the cult hit web series The Maria Bamford Show, which screened at the Museum of Art and Design. She stars in the semi-autobiographical comedy series , lauded as “revelatory” by and one of 2016’s must-see shows by Variety and Rolling Stone. “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC F IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LIVE NATION Saturday, March 10, 20 Monroe Live, 8pm WEIRD AL is a pop culture icon and the biggest-selling comedy recording artist of all time, with classic song and music video parodies such as “,” “Amish Paradise,” and “World Crimes.” On February 27, 2018 Weird Al will launch the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, playing stripped-down shows in smaller, more intimate theatres across North with his band of over three decades. CAMERON ESPOSITO R I Thu-Fri, March 15-16, Pyramid Scheme 7:30pm & 9:30pm CAMERON ESPOSITO hosts her own stand-up show, Put Your Hands Together, every Tuesday night at the famed Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in . Her sophomore album, Same Sex Symbol debuted at #1 on the iTunes comedy charts and was named a Best of 2014 comedy album by The AV Club, Consequence of Sound, Laugh Button and Paste Magazine. She is co-creator and co-star of GLAAD award nominated Take My Wife, a series which has gotten rave reviews from , Vanity Fair, Vulture and Indiewire.

GREG HAHN C Thursday, March 15, Gun Lake Casino, 7pm Friday, March 16, Lowell, 7pm Underwritten by GREG HAHN is a favorite on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Radio Show. Greg has also appeared on Late Night with O’Brien, Comedy Central, CBS, ABC, FOX, MTB and CMT. Greg Hahn has parlayed his absurdly energetic, all out style of physical humor, one liners and crowd work into a performance of immediate pandemonium and continuous laughs. His unique stylings have led to numerous television, corporate and theater appearances throughout the US and Canada. See laughfestgr.org for a full lineup of events. ARTIST LINEUP

BERT KREISCHER R Friday, March 16, Fountain Street Church, 8pm BERT KREISCHER is a stand-up comedian who performs to sellout crowds across the country and is known as one of the best storytellers of his generation. His latest stand-up special, Bert Kreischer: The Machine, premiered on Showtime, and clips from the special have been viewed millions of times over by fans around the world. TV audiences know him as host of the Travel Channel’s Trip Flip and Bert the Conqueror. He is a regular guest on The Experience and The Rachael Ray Show and has appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live. ANJELAH JOHNSON C Saturday, March 17, Fountain Street Church, 8pm ANJELAH JOHNSON-REYES was born and raised in San Jose, and is of Mexican and Native American descent. She is one of five children and has a large extended family. Anjelah became an internet sensation with her viral video “Nail Salon” which led to many stand-up and performance opportunities. She then joined the cast of MADtv, which spawned another internet sensation “Bon Qui Qui”. She has guest starred on shows such as , Ugly Betty, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and others all while traveling with her stand-up comedy. R Sunday, March 18, Fountain Street Church, 8pm TIFFANY HADDISH is quickly establishing herself as one of the most sought-after comedic talents in television and film. Haddish was most recently seen starring in Universal’s alongside , and . Girls Trip had the highest opening for an R rated comedy in the past two years and VanityFair.com called Haddish “the funniest woman alive.” In August, she debuted her comedy special for Showtime titled Tiffany Haddish: SHE READY! From the Hood to Hollywood and she will next be seen starring alongside in the new TBS show, The Last O.G.

See laughfestgr.org for a full lineup of events. ARTIST LINEUP

POP SCHOLARS C Friday, March 9, Wealthy Theatre, 8pm Pop Scholars is a 4-man, Grand Rapids based, fast-paced improv team that has performed all over Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. RIVER CITY IMPROV C Saturdays, March 10 & 17, Ladies Literary Club, 7:33pm River City Improv entertains audiences using comedic improvisation, weaving skits, games and songs with audience suggestions. ROCKIN’ HOMEGROWN JAM R I Saturday, March 10, Pyramid Scheme, 8:30pm Part comedy show, part rock show, the Rockin’ Homegrown Jam is back by popular demand, brought to you by comics that tour the country but call Grand Rapids home. DIRTY SHOW R Friday, March 16, Pyramid Scheme, 11:59pm The Dirty Show is back for its sixth year, bringing you some hilarious jokes with a side of filth!

BISSELL PRESENTS CLEAN COMEDY SHOWCASE C Friday, March 9 & Saturday, March 10, 6pm, 7pm & 9:30pm The B.O.B. These 8 comedians have been pre-selected for their unique ability to bring laughs without vulgarity. This is a festival favorite that you won’t want to miss!

SHOWCASE 1

Nore Davis Aaron Kleiber Grant Lyon Emma Willmann SHOWCASE 1I

Jordan Carlos Nathan Keith McGill Alice Macintosh Wetterlund

See laughfestgr.org for a full lineup of events. ARTIST LINEUP

GUN LAKE CASINO PRESENTS NATIONAL STAND-UP COMEDY SHOWCASE R Friday, March 16 & Saturday, March 17, 6pm, 7pm & 9:30pm The B.O.B. See a showcase of some of the best comedic talent from all across the country!

Joel Kim Tim Dillon Chris Garcia David Gborie Booster

Janelle James Ryan Sean Patton Taylor O’Flanagan Tomlinson

BEST OF THE MIDWEST COMPETITION $2,500 CASH PRIZE R Underwritten by Thursday, March 15, 7pm, The B.O.B. These 8 comedians hail from the Midwest and are some of the hottest up-and-coming comedians around! They will vie for the title “2018 Gilda’s LaughFest Best of the Midwest Comedian” and a $2,500 cash prize.

Geoffrey Reena Calm Mickey Joe Kilgallon Asmus Housley

Holly Lynnea Mary Santora Ali Sultan Brent Terhune

See laughfestgr.org for a full lineup of events. Thank you to our confirmed sponsors to date! PREMIER PARTNERS

TOO FUNNY FOR WORDS Bissell Inc. Dick & Betsy DeVos Steelcase Comfort Research Family Foundation Terryberry SeyferthPR Trivalent Group BELLY LAUGHERS Adtegrity Mobile GR & Parking Services Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Wolverine Worldwide The Gilmore Collection LAUGH OUT LOUD CROWD City of Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford International Pageworks Daniel & Pamella DeVos Airport Pohler Design Inc. Foundation KBOgroup Vander Mill Experience Grand Rapids Lowell Area Community Fund Funny Business Agency New Holland Brewing Co. CHUCKLERS 2/90 Sign Systems Eenhoorn LLC Lake Michigan Credit Union BOXED WATER FASTSIGNS of Grand Rapids Media Place Partners Brian Kelly Photography Fresh Look Video The Mitten State ChoiceOne Bank GO Scavenger Hunts Varnum LLP ITC Charitable Giving GIGGLERS Addix Edward Jones Live Nation Albion College Ferris State University Metro Health Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC Godwin Plumbing Old National Bank Boar’s Head Groove City Events Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. Bold Socks Hidden Creek Apartments Polka Dot Mitten Cassie McCarthy Design Kendall College of Art River City Improv CITIZENSHIRT and Design of Ferris State Roeda Studio, Inc. University Derek Draft DDS Samaritas King Milling Co. Dickinson Wright PLLC

March 8-18, 2018 laughfestgr.org