These days – like most days – we all could use a little laughter, so you can bet I’m going to get my fill as the comedy train comes through town this week via Austin’s Moontowner Comedy and Oddity Fest.
Tickets are still available for many of the Moontower Comedy Festival shows, so squeeze in a little laughter this weekend.
For the fifth year, some of the biggest names in comedy will be in Austin April 20-23 performing at 10 venues with “90ish” performers including Emmy-winning funny man Martin Short and some of the funniest acts in comedy, including Anjelah Johnson and Janeane Garofalo.
Johnson brings her Bon Qui Qui’s Gold Plated Dreams Tour on Wednesday, April 20. Johnson’s character is trying to dominate the hip-hop world since being fired from King Burger. It remains to be seen if “sa-curity” gets involved.
Garofalo returns to bring her acerbic wit on Thursday night, sharing the stage fan favorite Maria Bamford, who will be starring in the upcoming Netflix Series “Lady Dynamite” premiering May 20.
Current Saturday Night Live cast members Colin Jost (Weekend Update anchor) and Leslie Jones share the Paramount stage on Saturday night for “Leslie Loves Colin.” (Does that mean it’s going to be a rerun this week?!)
Taking the stage next is Princess, the Prince cover band fronted by hilarious SNL-alumni Maya Rudolph and singer/songwriter Gretchen Lieberum. On May 31, Rudolph kicks off her new NBC variety show series, “Maya and Martin in Manhattan,” with Short.
Short, who performs at the festival on Thursday, is “arguably the biggest star of the Moontower Festival this year,” festival representatives say. “We are honored and thrilled to have the incomparable Martin Short grace our stage.”
On Friday, April 22, David Cross (“Arrested Development”) is recording his performances at 7 and 9:30 for his upcoming “Making America Great Again” special.
There’s more humor to go around, too. Aside from other headliners – Kevin Smith, America’s Got Talent’s Piff the Magic Dragon, Jimmy Carr, Jim Norton and Hasan Minhaj – many other performers are slated, including some Texas talent such as M.K. Paulsen, Avery Moore, Martin Urbano, Amber Bixby, Lashonda Lester and more. Maybe next year, another favorite Texas comic Sandra Valls can be on the list.
