When the HBO/U.S. Arts Comedy Festival rolled out of town, it left a hilarious void in the Aspen market. Fortunately, the Aspen Laff Festival at the Wheeler Opera House stepped in to fill that three years ago, and this year organizers are bringing comedians such as Colin Quinn and Jake Johanssen to the stage, Thursday through Saturday (Feb. 21-23).
The multi-day festival is full of stand-up shows and comedy panels. It starts on Thursday with a free show featuring Marion Grodin (7:15 p.m.), who’s a veteran of shows like Joy Behar and “The View.” Following Grodin, “Saturday Night Live’s” Colin Quinn returns to Aspen with his new Off-Broadway show “Unconstitutional,” which will cover everything from the Founding Fathers to the Kardashians (8:15 p.m.).
On Friday, a comic panel will discuss “Congress and Lady Parts” at 6 p.m. Funny Italian Tammy Pescatelli (of “Last Comic Standing” and Comedy Central) and Nick Griffin, who’s appeared on the majority the late-night talk shows, will double headline the 7:15 p.m. slot. Following, Robert Hawkins and Bobby Slayton promise a raucous double-bill.
Catch the comedians freestyle on “Elective Surgery” at 6 p.m. on Saturday. That’s just a warm-up Letterman favorite Jake Johanssen, who’s appeared on the late-night show more than 35 times, and local favorite and 2012 “New Faces” winner Nick Griffin (7:15 p.m.) Wrapping it all up is Carlin-funny Christopher Titus, who wowed fans during the first Laff Fest (9 p.m.)
Tickets and full information can be found here.
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