sa国际传媒官网网页入口

No matter what makes you laugh, sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Funny Fiesta鈥檚 got you covered. From stand-up to burlesque to sketch comedy and improv, the annual comedy festival, now in its sixth year, boasts 101 performers and every flavor of 鈥渇unny鈥� imaginable.

Funny Fiesta kicks off Monday, March 2, and culminates with headliner Marc Maron鈥檚 Kiva Auditorium performance on Sunday, March 8. Maron, who grew up in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 and graduated from Highland High School, has released five hit stand-up comedy specials throughout his career, including last year鈥檚 鈥淢arc Maron: Panicked鈥� on HBO. He is also known for his pioneering podcast series, 鈥淲TF with Marc Maron,鈥� whose guests have included everyone from Mel Brooks to former President Barack Obama.

鈥淭his year, we are doing a huge focus on the Route 66 centennial, so we鈥檝e made a point to include comics who are mostly local to New Mexico,鈥� Kate Anella, program director, said, 鈥渁nd the out-of-town comics we鈥檝e included in the festival all have ties to New Mexico in some way, including our festival headliner, Marc Maron.鈥�

While past editions of Funny Fiesta have been spread out across the city, Anella said this year鈥檚 festival will take place at eight Downtown venues.

鈥淎ll of our venues are going to be in the Downtown neighborhood, which I hope helps spotlight the greatness of that area,鈥� Anella said, 鈥渁nd it is all totally walkable, which is awesome.鈥�

Local improv comic Dana Agatha is performing with three groups at the Funny Fiesta this year. One half of the comedy duo Future Women, Agatha is also part of The Box鈥檚 long-form improv team, The Nightcap, and a cast member in Nan Kossar鈥檚 Salem Witch Trials-themed musical comedy, 鈥淧earl.鈥�

Future Women will present an improv concept called Hot or Not, which they invented.

鈥淲e take people鈥檚 suggestions of what they think is hot or not, like what鈥檚 in or out 鈥� So, someone shouts out, 鈥楶ineapple on pizza is hot鈥� 鈥� and then something that鈥檚 not hot, like 鈥榗old weather鈥� 鈥� Then, we would do a scene with those suggestions,鈥� Agatha said. 鈥淪o, maybe we are two slices of cold pizza. That鈥檚 where my brain would go. And I鈥檇 be like, 鈥業t鈥檚 freezing in the fridge right now. When is Adam gonna eat us?鈥欌��

sa国际传媒官网网页入口-based stand-up comic AJ Matthews has been obsessed with comedy since childhood. He said he used to secretly watch Dave Chapelle鈥檚 stand-up specials on his portable PlayStation in church.

鈥淢y mom would sit at one end of the pew with my siblings, and I鈥檇 sit a couple seats down. 鈥� I would put in my earphones, turn it on and hunch over with it in my lap, just watching,鈥� Matthews said. 鈥淭o this day, I don鈥檛 think she knew I was watching Dave Chappelle in church.鈥�

Matthews is performing at Funny Fiesta for the fifth year in a row.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always a wonderful time,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou get to meet so many comedians from all over the country, you get all these great connections and you get an opportunity to show your craft off to your city 鈥� which is nice, because we have a good scene here.鈥�

This time around, Matthews is participating in 鈥淭he Crypt Keeper鈥檚 Comedy Hour鈥� and 鈥淭he Mother Deck,鈥� a Route 66-themed comedy slideshow experience.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got 27 different shows during the festival, so we鈥檙e hoping there will be something for everybody,鈥� Anella said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got a blue show specifically for those who want a racier kind of comedy. We鈥檝e got a brunch show for those who want calmer, daytime comedy, and we鈥檝e even got some concept shows, (including) 鈥榊our Rong,鈥� which is a debate comedy show that鈥檚 always a good time.鈥�

Hannah Joy is another local comic 鈥� and a member of Funny Fiesta鈥檚 planning committee 鈥� who will be performing in three shows this year.

鈥淚鈥檓 doing one show called 鈥楪od Save the Queens,鈥� which is a really funny concept show. 鈥� The comedians go up and have three to five minutes to do a joke. Then, the panel of judges are drag queens who nitpick your little set and make a big joke about it,鈥� Joy said.

Joy isn鈥檛 too afraid of the judges hurting her feelings.

鈥淚 love a good roast 鈥� and drag queens are the best roasters out there,鈥� Joy said. 鈥淪o, I think it鈥檚 going to be really fun.鈥�

On Friday, March 6, Joy will open for Anthony A, a nationally touring comedian who鈥檚 making his hometown return at Moonlight Lounge.

鈥淗e鈥檚 one of our OG鈥檚,鈥� Joy said. 鈥淪o, I鈥檓 really looking forward to that show.鈥�

Joy moved to sa国际传媒官网网页入口 from Dallas about four years ago. In that time, she said sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 comedy scene has grown a lot, but it still remains friendly and supportive.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 perfect, because there鈥檚 a lot more opportunities to do comedy, and we鈥檙e still growing,鈥� Joy said, 鈥渂ut we also have a really good, close community.鈥�

Logan Royce Beitmen is an arts writer for the sa国际传媒官网网页入口. He covers visual art, music, fashion, theater and more. Reach him at lbeitmen@abqjournal.com or on Instagram at @loganroycebeitmen.