Moontower Only for Laughs Comedy Competition mixes legends with rising stars

When Andrew Murphy moved to Austin after highschool, he stated he had no plans. Within the spirit of his new metropolis, he began working at a meat market, the place in between chopping the day by day choose, he grew shut with a “curmudgeon” coworker who took up facet gigs as a comic. 

Murphy’s butcher’s block colleague instructed him he was humorous and inspired him to strive stand-up. A decade later, Murphy, now a neighborhood funnyman, prepares to return to Austin’s Moontower Only for Laughs Comedy Competition alongside among the greatest names in present enterprise. 

“I began in 2015 or 2016, and it was a humble little pageant,” Murphy stated. “It was a blast and had loads of large names coming by. Now, I’m slightly bit extra established, and it’s cool how I’ve been in a position to meet a bunch of comics I’m already a fan of. … It’s a very heartwarming factor to be part of.” 

The pageant started as a four-day occasion in 2011 however expanded to 11 days in 2021 after partnering with Only for Laughs, the world’s largest comedy pageant model. The infinite joking began final week on the Paramount and Stateside Theatres with movie star headliners and native expertise. 

“Austin has a vibrant comedy scene, and it provides us an opportunity to combine locals into the group of larger individuals,” stated Javier Ramirez, director of promoting for the pageant and a 2015 UT promoting alum. “They’re used to enjoying golf equipment, however we get them in entrance of 1,200 individuals. The expertise is there, however I’m simply so blissful to have them multi function place.” 

This yr’s lineup contains Jenny Slate, Leslie Jones and Howie Mandel together with Murphy, who lately obtained the title of Austin’s Funniest Particular person. Along with performances on the Paramount and Stateside in addition to ACL Stay and golf equipment, the pageant provides numerous group gatherings from a golf event to pull reveals. 

“What’s cool about Moontower is that comedians name us a summer time camp,” Ramirez stated. “They’re all the time touring and get to really feel like that is the time they get to hang around. Our after events are crammed with comedians swapping tales and jokes. We’re one large household.”

Moontower additionally opens doorways for individuals aspiring to affix their humorous household. Sylvia Hansen, a radio-television-film senior and member of UT’s long-form improv group, SNAFU, attended Jenny Slate’s act and stated seeing the star in motion and testing new materials humanized the craft of comedy.

“It’s cool to see the larger comics in a smaller place and see their course of after they’re in a weak place,” Hansen stated. “Generally I assume (greater comics) simply step on stage and have their complete set polished, however that’s not the case. It’s nice that Austin has this, however whereas it’s a chance to see an enormous comedian, it additionally brings consideration to smaller ones.” 

After a few years of guffaws, Murphy stated each pageant promotes a brand new probability for discovery. 

“(Moontower) will get higher comics, and it will get extra people who find themselves searching for precise expertise and voices as a substitute of simply enjoyable comics, which is a crucial distinction,” Murphy stated. “This yr, I’m excited to see who will get a bump from this, like if somebody will get signed or extra consideration. On high of getting a superb time, it’s actually cool to see the group and those who I like and care about get a bump.”