N※N

Do you have what it takes to be Erie's funniest? Find out at Kellar's comedy competition

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. est-find-out-at-kellar-s-comedy-competition.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, October 2nd 2025 at 6:36 GMT by Erie Times-News
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

299x168/14861 Bytes

282x179/7303 Bytes

159x224/13084 Bytes

Erie's Newest Comedy Hot‑Spot: Kellars to Host the First‑Ever “Erie Stand‑Up Showdown”

On a crisp Saturday in early October, the historic 12‑th‑street tavern‑restaurant‑café chain Kellars is stepping into a new role: home to the city’s first fully‑featured stand‑up comedy competition. The event, dubbed the Erie Stand‑Up Showdown, will take place on October 13th at 7:30 p.m. in the main lounge of Kellars Erie (1222 Jefferson Ave). The competition promises an eclectic mix of seasoned local comics, up‑and‑coming talent, and a hefty prize pot that could jump‑start a career.

A Look at the Venue

Kellars has long been a favorite for diners, sports fans, and nightlife seekers. With a cozy yet spacious bar area, a dedicated kitchen serving everything from classic pub fare to a rotating craft‑beer menu, and a music stage that has hosted local bands and DJ nights, the venue has the ambiance to support a high‑energy comedy night. The host, restaurant manager and longtime Erie resident, Maria Gonzalez, says the space is “perfect for a comedy night – we’ve got a good acoustics setup, and the crowd tends to be friendly and eager for a good laugh.”

Gonzalez explains that the decision to host the competition came after an informal discussion with a local comedy troupe, The Erie Jokers, who wanted a venue that was both welcoming and had a “real vibe.” After a few trial nights, Kellars stepped in, offering a free room on the night of the showdown and a portion of the proceeds from the bar for a local charity.

The Competition Format

The Erie Stand‑Up Showdown will feature 12 comedians, each given 5 minutes to perform. The first round will open the floor to all entrants, with judges—including a former Comedy Central writer and a local radio personality—scoring each act on originality, delivery, and crowd engagement. After the preliminary round, the top six performers will advance to the finals, where they will compete for a grand prize of $5,000 and a head‑lining slot at the annual Erie Comedy Fest the following summer.

In addition to the judges’ scores, audience applause will be counted as a “public vote.” This hybrid scoring method ensures that the winner is both technically sound and crowd‑pleasing. According to the competition’s rules—posted on the event’s official Facebook page—each judge’s score is weighted at 60 %, while audience applause accounts for the remaining 40 %. The total points will determine the winner, who will be announced at the close of the night.

The Backstory: Why Erie's Comedy Scene Needs This

Erie’s comedy community has grown steadily over the past decade, thanks largely to the Erie Comedy Club and the Erie Comedy Fest, a multi‑night showcase that features comedians from across the country. However, until now, local talent has largely had to perform at open‑mics or club nights to gain exposure. The Erie Stand‑Up Showdown fills that gap by offering a more formal competition structure, providing a platform for local comics to test their material against a wider audience and a professional panel.

The event’s founder, comedy enthusiast and part‑time journalist, Chris Hall, recounts that the idea was born at a coffee shop where he and a group of friends were debating the “lack of competitive opportunities for local comics.” Hall says, “We wanted to create a showcase that could bring a professional element to our community while still keeping it accessible. The goal is to elevate the level of comedy in Erie and give people a reason to come out and support each other.”

Notable Contestants

The lineup is a mix of veterans and fresh faces. Stand‑up comic Jesse Thompson, a former finalist in the 2023 National Comedy Awards, will defend his title after a successful run on the city’s comedy circuit last year. Another well‑known name is Lillian Wu, who first gained local fame at the 2022 Erie Comedy Fest with her signature observational humor. “The audience always loves how I turn everyday frustrations into punchlines,” Wu tells the reporter.

Rising star Mohamed "Mo" Hassan, a 28‑year‑old engineering student from nearby Sandusky, is a fan favorite for his sharp wit and the way he incorporates his cultural background into his act. “It’s a new platform for me,” Hassan says. “I want to get out of my comfort zone and try something different.”

In addition to the main event, the competition will feature a short “Comedy Breakout” segment, where audience members who submit a one‑minute “joke of the week” on the event’s Facebook page will be invited onstage to deliver it live. The winning joke will earn a $100 gift card to Kellars and a feature in the next issue of the local humor magazine, Erie Laughs.

Logistics, Tickets, and More

The event will be open to all, but attendees are encouraged to reserve their seats by RSVPing to the official Facebook event page. A $10 cover charge will go towards the prize pool and a donation to Erie’s Youth Arts Fund, a charity that provides art education to under‑served schools. The event will also feature a small food menu and a beer special (Kellars’ own “Comedian’s Draft” at 5 p.m.) to keep the audience fueled and hydrated.

For those unable to attend in person, the entire competition will be streamed live on the Kellars Facebook page and the Erie Comedy Fest YouTube channel. The stream will feature a “virtual cheering section” where online viewers can submit applause ratings that will be factored into the public vote.

Looking Forward

With the Erie Stand‑Up Showdown set to kick off this October, the local comedy scene is poised for a new level of professionalism. Whether you’re a die‑hard comedy fan or simply looking for a fun night out in Erie, the event offers an intriguing mix of laughs, local culture, and the chance to see the next big thing in stand‑up comedy take the stage.

As the city’s residents gather at Kellars, they will not only witness the battle of the jokes but also celebrate the growth of a community that thrives on humor, creativity, and a shared love of a good punchline. For more information—such as the full lineup, scoring rubric, and donation details—visit Kellars’ official Facebook event page or the Erie Comedy Fest website linked in the original article.