LEWISTON — Twelve local comics have been chosen to compete in Central Maine’s Comedy Invitational on Friday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. at L-A’s Gendron Franco Center.  They will compete for a chance to take home the grand prize of $250 and the title of Central Maine’s Funniest Comedian.

The winner will be chosen by audience vote at the end of the evening. Each contestant will be given five to seven minutes to present an original monologue.

The doors and the bar will open at 6:30 p.m.  Admission is $5 at the door. The Dolard and Priscilla Gendron Franco Center is handicap accessible. Parking and a voting ballot are included in the admission price. 

The competition will be hosted by Maine comedian Tuck Tucker.  The contestants vying for the grand prize are Jed Bloom, Billy Jack Goodwin, Nick Gordon, Mike Gray, Jake Jacobson, Adam Johnson, Danny Jordan, Angela Merrill, Sam Pelletier, Ben Roberts, Jamie Roux, and Ali Simpson.

All proceeds will benefit the Franco Center, which is handicap accessible.  On-site parking is at the Continental Mill on Oxford Street.

FMI:  Call the box office at (207) 783.1585 or go online at  at www.francocenter.org.  Box office hours are Monday through Friday, from noon to 4 p.m.