2015 Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival

Feb. 8, 2015

From one of the country’s biggest political comedians to a blockbuster film director to a roster of returning standup favorites and up-and-coming comedic talents, the has something for everyone. Here’s our guide to the star-studded lineup of guests stepping up to the mic Feb. 13-15.

Bill Maher & Michael Moore

Comedy Gets Political: Political talk show host Bill Maher ("Real Time with Bill Maher") and festival founder Michael Moore are both frequent courters of controversy in the press – sometimes on the very same issue. (See: the recent backlash after both men criticized the film "American Sniper.") What will happen when these two provocateurs share the stage? It’s anyone’s guess, but Moore has promised an "uncensored, no-holds-barred duet of ideas, laughs and things we hope no one will repeat outside the Opera House." Audiences are clearly intrigued; tickets for the event sold out in five minutes.

Performing: Maher and Moore appear on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7pm at the City Opera House; the event will also be simulcast at the State Theatre. Moore also performs solo on Friday, Feb. 13 at 7pm at the Old Town Playhouse. Tickets for Maher are sold out. Moore tickets are $35.

Judd apatow & wayne FederMan

Hollywood Comes to Traverse City: Before he became one of the most successful comedy writers/producers/directors in Hollywood – with hits like "Knocked Up," "Bridesmaids" and "Anchorman"– Judd Apatow followed the path of most struggling young comedians: he tried to make it in stand-up. "I did it from the time I was 17 until I was about 25, 26," Apatow recently told the Huffington Post. "[Then] I felt like the universe was telling me I was probably a better writer than a stand-up comedian." Now, with "more things to say," Apatow is slowly returning to his stand-up roots. Opening for Apatow is frequent collaborator and popular comedic actor Wayne Federman ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Step Brothers").

Performing: Friday, Feb. 13 at 9:30pm at the City Opera House. Tickets are sold out.

Doug Benson

The Onur Tukel Factor: You never know what will happen at a Doug Benson event. During a Doug Loves Movies podcast taping at the Traverse City Film Festival last summer, drunken filmmaker Onur Tukel derailed the live show, eventually forcing Benson to kick him off stage. "That was crazy!" Benson recalls to the Northern Express. "He got nervous and drank a bit too much and just ended up trying too hard. I’ve thrown guests off the show because they got too drunk, but Onur beat the record by getting the boot half-way through." Benson doesn’t anticipate having the same problem with his podcast guests at the upcoming comedy festival – "they are all friends of mine," he explains. Though he’s quick to add, "but you never know!" Whatever happens, audiences can expect the mayhem to be recorded for posterity. "That’s the thing about my podcast," says Benson. "I don’t like to bury episodes or edit stuff. I like people to hear all the spontaneous stuff that occurs, even if it gets ugly sometimes." Benson will also host another edition of his popular "Movie Interruption" series at the comedy festival, during which he and other comics provide live commentary during a film screening. After "Road House" last summer, what flick will be the target of merciless mocking this year? "We chose "˜Pretty Woman’ because, while the screening is happening, it will become Valentine’s Day," says Benson. "And is there a better way to start off the most romantic day of the year than the story of a rich man who falls in love with the woman he is paying to have sex with?" The event has already given Benson an idea for 2016. "Maybe next year we’ll show "˜Fifty Shades of Grey!’"

Performing: Friday, Feb. 13 at 11:30pm at the State Theatre for Movie Interruption: "Pretty Woman," Saturday, Feb. 14 at 4:20pm at the Old Town Playhouse for Doug Loves Movies podcast taping, and 9:30pm at the City Opera House for stand-up with Todd Barry. Tickets are $15 for the first two events and $30 for the third.

Todd Barry

The Fluffer: If you’re going to be described as a comedy fluffer – as Entertainment Weekly recently labeled Barry – it doesn’t hurt if the guy you’re fluffing for is Louis C.K. Barry opened for C.K. at Madison Square Garden last month, playing to a crowd of 14,000 people. It’s the continuation of a relationship that’s given Barry a recurring role on "Louie" and C.K.’s help producing Barry’s latest special, "Crowd Work." But, as the special makes clear, Barry is more than capable of holding his own. The comedian filmed seven tour stops where his entire set consisted of nothing but improvised crowd work – no prepared material, no safety net of jokes to fall back on. "It was kind of on the edge of whether I could pull it off or not every night," Barry says. "It was both terrifying and strangely relaxing." Expect to see that razor-sharp instinct – this time with prepared material – on display in Traverse City.

Performing: Friday, Feb. 13 at 9:30pm at the State Theatre and Sat, Feb. 14 at 9:30pm at the City Opera House.

Ben Bailey

King of Cash Cab: Ben Bailey wants to be upfront with you. "I’m not going to ask you trivia questions or give you cash at this show," he says. "But I can promise you’re going to laugh!" It’s a disclaimer the long-time comedian has found necessary after attaining fame hosting the Discovery Channel game show "Cash Cab." Though "completely grateful" for the experience, Bailey acknowledges "it can be tough" for his stand-up act.

"People tend to only want to see you as one thing," he explains. While Bailey’s material is "not PG," he warns with a laugh, his resume – which features appearances on "30 Rock" and "Premium Blend" and a recently taped special and a deal with A&E – prove it’s a ride worth buckling up for anyway.

Performing: Friday, Feb. 13 at 7pm and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 9:30pm at the State Theatre. Tickets are $30.

Natasha Leggero

Uh-Oh, SpaghettiOs: Like other festival guests, Natasha Leggero has encountered her fair share of controversy. The comedian and actress ("Let’s Be Cops," "The League") found herself in hot water last year when she made a crack about a SpaghettiO’s Tweet on Pearl Harbor: "It sucks that the only survivors of Pearl Harbor are being mocked by the only food they can still chew." But Leggero didn’t back down. She tells the Northern Express, "If something’s clearly meant as a joke, you shouldn’t take it seriously. I never make political statements in comedy; I just find it all funny and absurd." Fans of Leggero’s biting humor – plus her hilarious interactions with boyfriend Moshe Kasher in the web series "Tubbin’ with Tash" – are in for a Valentine’s weekend special. The couple will perform back-to-back sets the opening night of the festival.

Performing: Friday, Feb. 13 at 7pm at the City Opera House and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 9:30pm at the State Theatre. Tickets are $30.

Moshe Kasher

Kasher in the Rye: "What this festival has been missing is Moshe Kasher," declares the 2015 Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival guide. "Comedian. Child genius. Jew. OB- GYN. Good tipper. Guiding Light. Beefcake." The 35-year-old has been named one of Variety’s "Ten Comics to Watch" and an LA Times "Face to Watch," racking up appearances on "Shameless," "Drunk History," "Chelsea Lately" and "Jimmy Fallon." After poignantly mining his background – including being raised by deaf parents, having multiple childhood stays in mental institutions and battling drug addiction as a teenager – in his acclaimed memoir "Kasher in the Rye," the comic brings the same fresh, witty sensibility to his live stage show.

Performing: Friday, Feb. 13 at 7pm at the City Opera House and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7pm at the Old Town Playhouse. Tickets are $30.

Kurt Braunohler

The Roustabout: "What’s the dumbest way to make the world a better place? That’s what I want to do." Kurt Braunohler – Nerdist podcast host, This American Life veteran and frequent Kristen Schaal collaborator – is describing the concept behind his new Comedy Central show "Roustabout." Braunohler rode a Jet Ski down the length of the Mississippi River from Chicago to New Orleans over the course of seven days, taping the journey with the goal of raising funds and sending "500 goats and 1,000 chickens to Africa" through Heifer International. "Personally, I just loved doing it so much," says Braunohler. Originally from Grand Rapids, this will be Braunohler’s first time performing in Traverse City. "It was silly"¦but also so positive."

Performing: Friday, Feb. 13 at 7pm at the State Theatre and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 9:30pm at the Old Town Playhouse. Tickets are $30.

Ted Alexandro

The Repeat Guest: Called "one of the funniest comedians working today" by Time Out NY, Ted Alexandro will make his second appearance at the comedy festival this year after first performing here in 2011. The comic has boosted his national following with appearances on "Louie," two Comedy Central specials and a hit web series ("Teachers Lounge"). He’s also become a passionate political activist, working with Occupy Wall Street and helping found the Occupy Astoria Long Island City group. As Lewis Black says, "Ted will take you to places you don’t want to go, but you’ll be glad you did."

Performing: Friday, Feb. 13 at 9:30pm at the State Theatre and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 9:30pm at the Old Town Playhouse. Tickets are $30.

Nikki Glaser

The Multi-Hyphenate: Nikki Glaser wears a lot of hats: comedian, writer, podcast host and TV star. She was the co-host of the MTV late night talk show "Nikki & Sara LIVE" and the hit podcast "You Had To Be There," and has appeared on The Tonight Show, Conan and Last Comic Standing. A regular contestant on Comedy Central’s @Midnight, Glaser is also scheduled to guest star on the upcoming season of "Inside Amy Schumer." Frequently during her tours Glaser invites fans to "come to a show if you can and then, afterwards, let’s take a selfie together."

Performing: Friday, Feb. 13 at 7pm at the State Theatre and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7pm at the Old Town Playhouse. Tickets are $30.

Bill Mccuddy & Good on Paper Improv

The Local Talent: Traverse City native Bill McCuddy will return home from New York – where he regularly performs standup at Caroline’s on Broadway and is a contributor to the New York Post and Forbes.com – to warm up the stage at this year’s festival. Good on Paper – Traverse City’s only professional improv comedy company – will also help rep the talented scene of local performers at this year’s event.

Performing: McCuddy performs Friday, Feb. 13 at 9:30pm at the State Theatre and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 9:30pm at the Old Town Playhouse. Tickets are $30. Good on Paper performs Sat, Feb. 14 at 9:30pm at the InsideOut Gallery. Tickets are $8.

Sinbad

The Closer: On the heels of a sold-out show at last year’s Comedy Festival, Sinbad returns to close down this year’s event with a special Sunday night show. It’s a fitting schedule match for the famously "clean" comedian and actor who hasn’t sworn on stage in 30 years and performs jokes his father "taught him back in the day." Named one of Comedy Central’s top 100 comedians of all time, the native Michigander offers an engaging show the whole family can enjoy.

Performing: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 6:30pm at the City Opera House. Tickets are $35-$50.

For tickets and the complete TCWCAF schedule of events – including additional performers, tapings and shows – visit www.wintercomedy.org.