Make ‘Em Laugh—HK’s Stand-Up September
Stand-up comedians from around the globe descend on Hong Kong this month for 30 days of non-stop laughs at the 7th Annual HK International Comedy Festival. Don’t miss a second of this year’s yuks.
The 7th Annual HK International Comedy Competition Sep 26-Oct 5
Who’s going to be the last comic standing? 30 of Asia’s best comedians will vie to be named Hong Kong’s Funniest Comic this year, with US$5,000 and three gigs at stateside clubs on the line. The field will be narrowed to just nine after three preliminary rounds at TakeOut from Sep 26-28, after which the finalists face-off for the title at the 600-seater Y-Theatre in Chai Wan on Oct 5 (with host Paul Ogata).
For tickets to the preliminary shows visit www.takeoutcomedy.com, or go to www.urbtix.hk to book a seat at the finals. $200-250.
FESTIVAL HEADLINERS
Dwayne Perkins
Sep 5-7
Veteran comic Dwayne Perkins is on a hot streak. The regular on the Los Angeles circuit appeared on Conan last month to do stand-up (see the clip at tiny.cc/hk-perkins) and promote a new e-book, and his three-night run at TakeOut Comedy kicks off the club’s month-long festival. This is his third time performing for Hong Kong audiences, so he must be doing something right. That something? Avoiding SARS. $250. Want more? See our UpClose interview with Dwayne.
John Moloney
Sep 19-21
Twice named the London Comedy Festival’s “Best Live Performer,” John Moloney is a 20-year stand-up vet who has earned laughs world-wide, including every prestigious festival from Melbourne to Edinburgh to Montreal (see his 2007 Just For Laughs set at tiny.cc/hk-moloney). The UK’s Channel 4 named him to their list of the World’s Top 100 Stand-Ups, and he returns to Hong Kong for three shows. His bio doesn’t specify, but I’m guessing he’s… Korean? $250.
Paul Ogata
Oct 3-4