Funny Ladies Wanted

This summer, comedy producers are searching for the New York metropolitan area’s funniest women to take part in the Ladies of Laughter comedy contest for cash prizes, comedy bookings, gift certificates, merchandise and the 2012 Ladies of Laughter titles.
“Since it was first introduced into comedy clubs in 1999, the Ladies of Laughter series has awarded comedy bookings, major publicity and over $20,000 to comediennes and has been a driving force behind women comediennes getting to the next level in their careers,” said Executive Producer, Peggy Boyce.
The events have led contestants to appearances in local and national media, including ABC-Television, Comedy Central, FOX-TV and even to feature stories in the New York Times, not to mention the paid bookings many comediennes receive afterwards at major comedy clubs.
A percentage of proceeds from this year’s events will benefit Buddy Cares – an animal rights advocacy group that provides wellness and services to abandoned animals in need.
2012 Ladies of Laughter sponsors include, Gotham Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, The Comic Strip, Leica Camera, Back Stage Magazine, Comic Bible and Andover Communications. Part of the prize package will also include the winner taking part in a paid comedy tour co-produced by Ladies of Laughter and Admire Entertainment.
Those interested in registering for Ladies of Laughter should go to www.ladiesoflaughter.org. Contestants must be eighteen years or older and must enter no later than July 20th to be considered for the 2012 competition.
Ladies of Laughter has separate categories for “Professionals” and “Newcomers”. Each contestant will be judged on audience response, originality, material and delivery by a panel of entertainment industry judges. Winners from each event advance to the Finale where they will be perform before Comedy Central, major talent representatives and press.

The 2012 Ladies of Laughter Event Schedule:

Tuesday, July 17th @ 8:00pm-Broadway Comedy Club- 318 W. 53rd St. New York, 212-757-2323

Tuesday, July 24th @ 8:00pm-Broadway Comedy Club-318 W. 53rd St. New York, 212-757-2323

Friday, July 27th@ 6:15pm-The Comic Strip-1568 Second Ave. New York, 212-861-9386

Wednesday, Aug. 1st @ 8:00pm-Broadway Comedy Club-318 W. 53rd St. New York, 212-757-2323

2012 LADIES OF LAUGHTER FINALS:

Wednesday, Aug. 15th @ 8:00pm-Gotham Comedy Club-208 W. 23rd. St. New York, 212-367-9000

Tickets for all preliminary events can be purchased at Ladies of Laughter.org under “2012 Events”

Tickets for the 2012 Finale on August 15th can be purchased at gothamcomedyclub.com

For more information on Ladies of Laughter, go to www.ladiesoflaughter.org. To keep up to date on all the developments in this year’s Ladies of Laughter series, “Like” “The Ladies of Laughter” on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at LadiesOLaughter.

Women & Comedy

Comedian Producer, Peggy Boyce began the Funniest Females Contests in the early 90s. Using her knowledge of the business, and her public relations experience Boyce quickly grew her local contest into a National Ladies of Laughter competition. The contest became and is still renown for showcasing the female comedy stars of the future. All of its winners -and many of its participants - have gone on to successful comedy careers.
After establishing itself as a prestigious national event and many funny females being awarded cash and other prizes at fabulous gala events, including at Madison Square Garden, Ladies of Laughter's major sponsor partner bowed out due to the economy and the events came to an end.

In its wake, there have been several other events celebrating female comedy, however the gap Ladies of Laughter left in the promotion of female comedy was felt by funny ladies throughout the industry.

The Women in Comedy Festival had come to be, once put on by the producers of The Toyota Comedy Festival, it too ended abruptly. Several years ago a Women in Comedy Festival in Boston began and has quickly become a popular and ever-growing showcase of top and up-and-coming female talent every March. Comic Bible's Deb Farrar-Parkman was on the scene and details of this past March's event are in the next issue of The Comic Bible Magazine.

Bill Word Productions and Flappers Comedy Club hold a long-running local contest for California's Funniest Females. Funny lady, Jackie Fabulous usually hosts the finals after months of competition rounds. In Oregon, Leigh Anne Jasheway created and for five years produces the a popular, Women in Comedy Annual. In San Francisco, Kung-Po Productions has a less consistent Female Comedy Showcase event.
This year, Hope Flood held the first-ever Females in Comedy Convention in California and deserves Kudos for her efforts to bring female comedians together, and for a successful first-time event. While the Females in Comedy Convention events did showcase some comedy, its main focus was on workshops and the business of comedy.

And what about the business? Without showcase opportunities for female comedians, it's hard for female comedians to be seen. Many club bookers are still under the impression females aren't funny and will not give more than one slot a night to a woman comedian. The new abundance of female starring sitcoms may change that, but for now, the fact remains, female comedians don't have many opportunities for stage-time, or to showcase themselves.

... Until this week - when LADIES OF LAUGHTER announced the competition is back, taking entries and will again offer fabulous prizes including cash and publicity.

Comic Bible is proud to have signed on as a sponsor and encourages other business to do the same, while also shouting to female comedians: Enter Ladies of Laughter! Be Funny! Be Heard!