Comedy That Packs a Punch: Twin Cities’ Punchline Punchout Making E.C. Debut
competitive comedy event takes a swing at the Valley Nov. 2
A low-stakes, high-fun comedy event that has been making noise in Minneapolis for almost 15 years is making its Eau Claire debut. Clear Water Comedy will present The Punchline Punchout on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 8pm at downtown Eau Claire’s The Plus (208 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire). The competition-style event features all walks of comedy, from Johnny Up-and-Coming to Bobby Been-Around (or as comedian Trevor Anderson, event founder and co-host puts it: something that rhymes with “young bucks and old ducks”). There may even be a “flop-crusher” or two, who, Anderson said, do “so bad that they end up doing great.”
The performers: A few brave Twin Cities comedians will venture east to take on Eau Claire’s best. This never-before-seen event (in Eau Claire, that is) will be co-hosted by comedians Trevor Anderson and Lucy Zarns. Tickets are $10 per person.
The premise: Comedians have one day to write original material based on a prompt (usually an open-ended word) determined by co-hosts Anderson and Zarns the night prior to the event. The “punchouts” will run for three rounds, featuring two comedians for five minutes each. After each round, the audience will vote on who they thought was more successful. As the votes are counted, a closer will “clean up the mess.” Winners go home with a whopping grand prize of $5.
Although the format is competitive, Anderson says, competition is not the aim of the event. “We’re just having fun doing comedy,” he said. Anderson and his friend Andy Erickson, also a comedian, came up with the idea when they were new to the comedy scene in order to create a show of their own. Since then, the laugh-traction has been a way for comedians to come together on an even playing field and to go home having written some new jokes and formed some great memories for both themselves and the audience.
“You’ll never see that again,” Anderson said when speaking about the importance of live comedy events. “We’re gonna try some jokes, we’re gonna take some big swings, we’re gonna fall on our faces, and we’re gonna have fun doing it.”
Keep up with Clear Water Comedy online and purchase your tickets today at Volume One Tickets.
