(L-R: Matt Billon (4th), Jose Sarduy (1st), Andy Haynes (3rd), Rodger Lizaola (2nd), Jane Stanton (5th), Paul Myrehaug (host)
The Columbia City Theater may have originally been a Vaudeville theater, but it has definitely been restored and fitted with all mod cons...which made it the perfect place for the Opening Night Gala for the 30th Annual Seattle International Comedy Competition. This is where 16 of the 32 comedians participating in this year's competition will begin their journey--the first of their six shows in their Preliminary Week.
These comedians did not disappoint the near sell-out crowd...and, it's always a good sign when the staff has to go looking for more chairs so everyone who wants to get in and see the show has somewhere to sit...as every comic brought their A-game tonight.
Here's how the judges, including 2002 Seattle International Comedy Competition Champion Harrold Gomez, saw things on opening night:
5th Place: Jane Stanton (vancouver)
4th Place: Matt Billon (toronto)
3rd Place: Andy Haynes (new york)
2nd Place: Rodger Lizaola (seattle)
1st Place: Jose Sarduy (miami)
The competition continues across the bridge, as Preliminary Week One-Show Two will take place at Laughs Comedy Spot in Kirkland tonight!