FunnyFest comes to Alberta Hotel

FunnyFest comic and Artistic Director Stu Hughes
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

The Alberta Hotel in Pincher Creek hosted three comedians from the FunnyFest Calgary Comedy Festival on Friday May 10, 2013.   Performing for a small crowd were Stu Hughes, Grant Damsgaard and Noor Kidwai.


"Everything you're going to hear tonight is original," said Executive and Artistic Director Stu Hughes who was the first performer of the evening.  "All three comics are different, so it augments and compliments the process.  We want belly laughs, a physical reaction to comedy."  Hughes has been doing comedy for 15 years.  "It's tough, but if you make a connection with the audience, that's amazing.  When the audience laughs, it gives energy back to the performer.  We can do serious things, but we need to laugh more.  Our goal is to be catalysts for mental and physical well being through the gift of laughter."

Grant Damsgaard

Grant Damsgaard lives in Red Deer and has been doing comedy for 20 plus years.  Damsgaard says that his style involves intellectual quick changes of thought.  "I like to catch them off guard, and make them think a little bit."  I love to make people laugh, and it is a bit of an attention-getter."

Noor Kidwai ended the evening of fun.  Kidwai  is 26, and has been doing comedy for 7 years.  "At first, it was hard making it through the first five minutes, but now I have lots of material.  Travelling around doing comedy is one of my favorite things.  It's a great job." Kidwai said that he works on his timing a lot.  "I'm high energy, I'm loud, and I'm in your face.  The biggest thing for me is getting that timing down great."

To find out more about the festival that is happening May 31 - June 10 in Calgary, check out FunnyFest on line.