40 comics began. Now only 10 remain. Join host Skip Clark for the penultimate round of the second annual Loons on the Lake 10k Competition. 10 elite competitors will perform 8 minutes of new material. Votes will be tabulated live and 5 finalists will be chosen to move on!
HOST
FEATURED COMEDIANS
Ben Frank is a New York-based stand-up comedian, who began his comedy career in Shanghai, China. Ben's comedy has been featured on SiriusXM and has won him numerous competitions, including the World Series of Comedy in New Orleans and the Laugh After Dark Clean Comedy Award. He has also been named Best of Fest at Burbank Comedy Festival, Laugh Out Loveland, and Four Corners Comedy Festival. Ben released his debut comedy album “Goodbye Shanghai” in 2022, and during his time in China, he became the first comedian to headline a stand-up show in Wuhan following the city’s infamous 76-day lockdown from COVID-19.
Bill Chadwick has been telling stories from the pulpit for nearly fifty years, and from comedy stages for the past five years. Bill has recently sold out shows at Excelsior 318 Café and Music Venue, and at The Hive Collaborative in St. Paul. In addition, he regularly provides entertainment at churches and housing communities. He is the author of Still Laughing, Still Learning (Still Looking for a Good Title): Mostly True Stories of Family, Friends, Faith & Foibles. It was awarded the Silver Medal in the category of Non-fiction Humor by the Midwest Book Awards, and recently was named “Best First Book” by the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.
Comedian, actor, and hilarious force to be reckoned with! Seen on Ryan Reynolds' "Discontinued" and shining bright in films like "Rent Due" and "Hey Mr. Postman." Chris Harvey adds humor to the beat, appearing in music videos alongside rap heavyweights Roddy Ricch, 42 Dugg, Gunna, Young Thug, and Cordae. This seasoned performer has graced stages nationwide, sharing laughs and opening for comedy legends such as Kevin Nealon, Damon Wayans Jr., Tommy Davidson, Chris Kattan, and Faizon Love.
From the land of sunkissed beer guts, Stillwater, MN, in the scenic St. Croix Valley, Chris Maddock performed in the 43rd Annual San Francisco Comedy Competition in 2018. For 15 years beginning in 2003, Chris "Mad Dog" Maddock hosted the storied Death Comedy Jam, a weekly hub of MPLS comedy and subject of a documentary film, “Death’s Last Stand”. He recorded his first comedy album, Point of Entry, at the legendary Minneapolis rock ganglion First Avenue in the 7th St. Entry, and released it in 2012 on the Grammy Award winning Stand Up! Records.
What do you get when you cross an inventive corporate executive with a retired kick boxer? A stand-up comedian, of course! Prior to taking the stage,
Dougie Almeida gauges his audience, reaches into his vault and prepares his onslaught of humor. Once on stage, he delivers blow after blow of hilarity, hitting the audience with punch line after punch line. His wit and stage presence is second to none. One thing is always certain – Dougie Almeida will KNOCK YOU OUT!
James Hancock III is a globetrotting veteran who helps bring laughter to people all around the world. From entertaining fellow troops in Korea, to finishing second in both the prestigious San Francisco and Seattle international comedy competitions, audiences of all backgrounds are drawn to his hilarious and diverse comedic style.
Kayla McCaffrey is a lot of fun and very cool. Not only is Kayla a comedian, but she’s also a daughter, a lover, and a vegan. She’s performed at the Laugh Factory, the iO Theater, graced The Second City’s stage. She has even performed at the Guthrie Theater and graduated from the University of Minnesota’s BFA Actor Training Program, but will be making her first appearance at the Loons on the Lake Comedy Festival!
Linda Aarons recently won the Funniest Person in Minnesota Contest and was first runner-up in Acme Comedy Company's Funniest Person in the Twin Cities Contest. She also performed in The Boston Comedy Festival, San Francisco Sketchfest, and has opened for Louie Anderson.
Meet your new best friend, Maggie Faris. She is noted for her ceaselessly cheerful personality and seemingly endless series of quirky, intelligent jokes dissecting our fears and social barriers. Maggie is a comedy competition assassin, having won the Minnesota Laugh off. Another competition win made Maggie the Public Address Announcer for the St. Paul Saints professional baseball team! She beat out Tig Notaro to win both the Funniest Clip of the Year and the Silver Nail award at the Aspen Comedy Festival. Curve magazine named Maggie Faris one of the Funniest Lesbians in America, and she has opened for such greats as Jeff Ross, Dave Attel, Jay Pharoah, and Michael Che.
Randall Reid is a comic on the rise! His playful, nonchalant, and thoughtful style of comedy has taken shape after years in the comedy game. He has a unique perspective to find the balance between the lightest and darkest of topics. From battling his young daughter to retrieving his friend from tight situations, Reid will take you on a fun journey.
