BETHEL — Comedian Ian Harvie, a Mainer now living in Los Angeles, has pulled together a lineup of comedy acts for Maine’s first comedy festival to be held Aug. 5-7 at the Bethel Inn Resort.

There will be five comedy shows featuring more than 16 headliner comics, including Maine funny man George Hamm; Fortune Feimster from E Network’s “Chelsea Lately” show; Liam Sullivan as Kelly, YouTube video sketch star with more than 100 million views; and Myq Kaplan, finalist from NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”

“Not many folks are aware of how many incredibly funny comics got their start in Maine — there’s something in the water over there,” Harvie said.

The festival is, in part, to honor the state’s hard-working comedians, he said, “and to introduce Mainers to some seriously funny peeps from outside the state as well.”

As part of the festival, the resort will hold a celebrity comic charity golf tournament on Saturday, Aug. 6, benefiting the Make A Wish Foundation of Maine.

The five comedy shows will be at 8 and 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5; and at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6.

Tickets are $20 or less. All-access passes to all five comedy shows are $88. Tickets may be purchased online at mainecomedyfest.com/about-the-festival/buy-tickets-online or at the door. The Bethel Inn is offering stay-and-laugh packages.

Here is the lineup of comedians:

Show I

Friday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m.

* Christine O’Leary: Winner of Portland’s Funniest Professional, opened for Gilbert Godfreid; from Maine, lives in New York

* Kevin Neales: Finalist in Portland’s Funniest Professional and regular feature act at the Comedy Connection in Portland, plays regional clubs and colleges; from Maine

* Leah Bonnema: Regular at Caroline’s Comedy Club, performed at the world-renowned Friars Club and Magner’s Glasgiw Comedy Festival; from Maine, lives in New York

*John Ater: Finalist in Portland’s Funniest Professional and Regular Feature Act at Comedy Connection in Portland, plays clubs and colleges all over New England; from Maine

Show II

Friday, Aug. 5, 10 p.m.

* Tuck Tucker: Finalist in Portland’s Funniest Professional and regular feature act at the Comedy Connection in Portland, regular opener for Bob Marley; from Maine

* Karen Morgan: Maine’s Funniest Mom, “Nick at Night,” “Motherload:” on Coast 93.1FM; from Georgia, lives in Maine

* Ben Roy: MTV’s “Comedy Showcase,” Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival (Best of the Fest;) from Maine, lives in Denver

* Kelly MacFarland: Comedy Central Premium Blend, first runner-up in Boston Comedy Festival; from Maine, lives in Boston

Show III

Saturday, Aug. 6, 7 p.m.

* Leslie Downes: Portland’s Queen of Comedy, Finalist in Portland’s Funniest Professional, regular emcee for “Kings of the Hill;” from Maine

* Kevin Avery: “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” on ABC, regular opening act for Dave Chappelle and David Alan Grier; from Los Angeles

* Liam Sullivan: More than 100 million views on YouTube with his character sketches and songs as Kelly; from Boston, lives in Los Angeles

* Fortune Feimster: From NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and writer and comic on E Network’s “Chelsea Lately;” from North Carolina, lives in Los Angeles

Show IV

Saturday, Aug. 6, 9 p.m.

* Ian Harvie: “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” on ABC, regular on “One Night Stand-up ” airing on Logo;” from Maine, lives in Los Angeles

* Myq Kaplan: Finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Comedy Central: Comedy Central Presents;” from Boston, lives in New York

* Selene Luna: In film “My Bloody Valentine 3D,” on VH1’s “The Cho Show” and Margaret Cho’s “The Sensuous Woman,” in 2010 Glide Festival with Robin Williams; from Los Angeles

* George Hamm: Headlilnes clubs, colleges and theaters worldwide, headlined recently at a resort in Mexico; from Maine

Show V

Saturday, Aug. 6, 11 p.m.

All comics nightcap show with special guests Ryan Waning and Dustin David, both of Maine

Comedian Ian Harvie

Copy the Story Link