By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday, March 25, 2015
For the past 13 years, Marshall Chiles has been a Pied Piper for the Atlanta stand-up comedy scene.
First with the Funny Farm in Roswell, then the current Midtown Laughing Skull Lounge, he has been booking hundreds of comics while nurturing their development. He has encouraged other clubs and bars to hold comedy nights. He helped Atlanta Improv in Buckhead up its game. And over six years, he has been holding an annual Laughing Skull Comedy Festival to showcase both local and national talent.
At the same time, he wants comics from all over to know Atlanta is a great place to work their craft. And he also wants TV and comedy club booking agents from New York and L.A. to appreciate how important the South is in terms of finding talent.
"Everyone knows this is a great stepping stone," Chiles said. "This is a great scene."
Over five days starting Thursday, March 25 through Sunday March 29, 72 stand-up comics will perform at multiple locations, with a March Madness-like process cutting them down to an eventual winner. (Coincidentally, the 33-year-old Punchline Comedy Club shuts down March 29 as well. If you're a subscriber to our paid site, read my story here about the closing of the place.)
Chiles organized a whopping 25 shows at five venues: Eddie's Attic, Smith's Olde Bar, Hard Rock Cafe, Atlanta Improv and his home base of Laughing Skull.
You can buy tickets for various shows here.
Chiles said semifinalists have been able to get work just for having the festival on their resume. Josh Gondelman , who won the first year the festival was held, is now a writer for "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" on HBO. Past finalist Tom Cotter came in second on "America's Got Talent."
Hundreds of would-be and rising comics apply for slots on the show, sending Chiles three-minute sets. He picks 72. This year, eight are from metro Atlanta, which is pretty typical. They are then culled down by a set of judges, including:
Lizz Winstead, co-creator of "The Daily Show"
Paul Provenca , a professional stand-up
Michael Cox , former booker for "Chelsea Lately" and now for Fox TV including "World's Funniest Fails"
Jeff Singer, television producer and a consultant for the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.
Peter Rosegarten , Ray Romano's manager and TV producer
Reg Tigerman, TV producer and manager
Dan Pasternack, former IFC executive
Chris DiPetta, who manages Billy Gardell and is a minority owner of the Punchline Comedy Club, said he has never chosen to take part in this particular festival because Chiles charges comics to take part.
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