New York Underground Comedy Festival

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Produced by Sarris Productions, the New York Underground Comedy Festival has emerged-- in the space of only four years-- as New York’s leading showcase for comedy. Officially recognized by Mayor Mike Bloomberg, the Festival has become a meeting-ground for leading comedians and industry executives from film and television.

Founded in 2003 with 3 shows in 3 nights at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, the festival has grown to 10 days and 300+ shows making it the largest comedy festival in the history of New York. The 2007 NYUCF (Sept. 28th – Oct. 7th) will take place in all 5 boroughs of New York and internationally in: Melbourne, Australia; Europe, China, and Africa. After performing at the NYUCF, several comedians often go on to achieve immeasurable success. Whether it's earning spots on CBS's The Late Show with David Letterman, landing development deals, or being invited to perform at the Montreal Comedy Festival, HBO Arts Festival, NBC, Comedy Central, and E! Entertainment - The New York Underground Comedy Festival helps comedians.

Alongside today's rising stars of comedy, the NYUCF has had a plethora of top names perform in previous festivals. They include: Freddie Roman (Dean of the Friar’s Club), Jim Gaffigan (NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien), Judy Gold (HBO & Comedy Central), Rick Overton (Emmy Award Winning Head Writer For HBO's "The Dennis Miller Show"), Dom Irrera (NBC’s Seinfeld), Colin Quinn (NBC’s Saturday Night Live ), Bill Burr (HBO), Nick DiPaolo (92.3 Free FM & Comedy Central), Rob Bartlett (WFAN’s “Imus in the Morning”), Bonne McFarlane (NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”), Jim Norton (NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno), Rich Vos (NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”), and Eddie Brill (CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman”), and hottest rising superstars of stand up comedy.

The New York Underground Comedy Festival has raised over $100,000 for 15 worthy charities that include Operation Uplink and Comedy Cures. The NYUCF also has free library and hospital shows.

[edit] Producers

• Executive Producer, George Sarris
• Executive Producer, Jim Mendrinos

[edit] 2007 New York Underground Comedy Festival

The 2007 New York Underground Comedy Festival will take place from September 28th – October 7th in all 5 boroughs of New York; Melbourne, Australia; Europe and China (at the only comedy club in the nation of 1.4 billion people). For the first time in the 5-year history of the festival, all members of the international community will be able to watch NYUCF comedy shows live via real-time updates on New Media Comedy’s website.

[edit] NYUCF Fun Facts

• First NYCUCF took place on (date) at the Laurie Beechman Theatre

• The 2004 NYCUCF featured an all star show at the famous Bitter End. The Bitter End once featured Richard Pryor and other legends of comedy. It was the first time in 25 years that a comedy show took place.

• The NYCUCF is the only comedy festival in the nation that brings comedy shows to women’s shelters, hospitals, libraries and homeless shelters.

• In 2005, AOL/ AEG/Network LIVE partnered with The NYUCF making history again becoming the first comedy fesival reaching a global market

• 189,000,000 – People reached by the 2006 NYCUCF

• 10,000 + – Comedian submission tapes the NYCUCF has received since it started

• 1,034 – Comedians who have participated in the NYCUCF

• 417 – Industry professionals who have attended festival shows searching for fresh talent

• 300 - Combined years of experience in comedy from members of our 2007 Advisory Board

• 45 – Comedians who have received development deals and auditions for the major networks within 6 months after participating in the festival

• 43 – Age NYCUCF Executive Producer George Sarris retired to start the largest comedy festival in the history of NY.

• 10 – Shows dedicated to fundraising efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims at the 2005 NYCUCF

• 15 – Different charities the NYCUCF has raised money for

• 11 – Members of the press who participated in the first annual “NY’s Funniest Reporter Contest” at the 2006 NYCUCF

• 7 – Number of hours George Sarris and Co-Producer Jim Mendrinos get during the festival

• 5 – Comedians who won auditions for CBS’s Late Show David Letterman

• 1 – Number of New York Mayors who have endorsed the NYCUCF.