Got Jokes?

Little festival, big laughs

Each of the three nights of the Huge Lighting Comedy Festival is full of different comedic styles — offering a unique night of entertainment every time.
Each of the three nights of the Huge Lighting Comedy Festival is full of different comedic styles — offering a unique night of entertainment every time.

People you know, people you recognize, people you love and then maybe some new faces of people that will just melt your brain!"

That's what Jordan Haynes says you can expect from year two of the Huge Lightning Comedy Festival. When Haynes and his wife returned to Northwest Arkansas from a few years in Chicago -- and time with the famed Second City comedy group -- they noticed an opportunity to bring comedians, artists, actors and musicians together under one roof and simultaneously build a bridge to the national comedy scene.

FAQ

Huge Lightning Comedy Festival

WHEN — Thursday through April 22

WHERE — The Path Outfitters, 21 W. Mountain St. in Fayetteville

COST — $10 single event or $15 all-night passes (limited quantity) available for each day

INFO — hugelightning.com

"Fayetteville's got such a great talent base and a burgeoning comedy scene, and we wanted to bring some of these talented people we knew from Kansas City, New York, Chicago, L.A., and show off Fayetteville and just have a super fun weekend," Haynes says.

This year's festival is three full days of readings, short- and long-form improv, stand-up and live music. All the biggest names in Northwest Arkansas comedy are participating: Phunbags, Rodeo Book Club, Last Saturday Fayetteville, Artist's Laboratory Theatre, the UA's Laugh Track and Field, Fort Smith's Naturally Imrov-able and more.

"That's how we built the weekend, just getting as many talented people as we know in the same room and turning them loose," Haynes says. "Show up with a smile and leave fulfilled."

-- Jocelyn Murphy

[email protected]

NAN What's Up on 04/14/2017

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