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What do 16 comics, SiriusXM and Erie have in common? The World Series of Comedy in June

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SiriusXM is planning on bringing the laughs to Erie with its World Series of Comedy tour.

A live audience recording of the show, The World Series of Comedy hosted by comedian Joe Lowers, will take place at Kellar’s Modern Magic and Comedy Club at 1402 State St. from June 5 to June 8. SiriusXM, a satellite and online radio service, will air the event on their World Series of Comedy channel at a later date.

“The World Series of Comedy … (has) satellite shows (around the country),” said Bobby Borgia, owner of Kellar’s. “They started building up this contest where they try to pick a winner at the end of every year and then they do tape for SiriusXM based out of Los Angeles and Las Vegas.”

What is the World Series of Comedy?

Lowers said that the series is his way of helping comedians find their way.

“I’ve been doing comedy for 30 years,” Lowers said. “And I wanted to help comics out, so I started the World Series of Comedy to help comedians get work in the business. Every year we travel to 10 to 12 cities to do the World Series of Comedy satellites where different comics can come in and perform. We’ve been doing that for 15 years, and at the end of the satellites we go to Las Vegas for the main event where over 100 comics come out.”

Lowers said people were telling the organizers they should record the comics.

“Then we got in talks with SiriusXM,” he said. “A year ago, we started WSOC Records and that’s what we’re doing in Erie, we’re doing recorded shows.”

In Erie, 16 comedians will take the stage to show what they’ve got.

“The comedians are handpicked,” Lowers said. “We’re going to record them doing their sets. We have a feature act that will be doing their time or longer so we can get a longer album out of that comic. Then I will be headlining.”

Comedian Derek Luna will be the host, featuring Jessia Rosas. Other comedians set to take the stage include Maria Herman, Auggie Cook, Michael Whatule and more.

One of the comedians performing in the show is Erie’s own Lisa Chimenti-Foster, who refers to herself as “the Glam Ham” and has made multiple appearances at Kellar’s using her childhood and life experiences for powerful comedy.

Double life: Erie’s Lisa Chimenti-Foster is a teacher by day, stand-up comic by night

“When you’re a fat kid who survives middle school, you never think you’ll make it into the World Series of anything,” Chimenti-Foster said. “So, to be an adult who gets to compete on a stage with other world-class comics, where we can showcase our skills, it’s a time to shine and revel in laughter and talent.”

How the World Series of Comedy got involved with Erie

How did this SiriusXM show find Erie?

Borgia was flown out to Las Vegas by SiriusXM to attend the World Series of Comedy with other club owners, including Brad Garrett, perhaps best known as Robert on the long-running sitcom “Everyone Loves Raymond.”

It was the mix of comedy and magic that caught the attention of SiriusXM, Borgia said.

Borgia is hoping that he can find some talent from these shows to showcase at Kellar’s.

“When we did it in Vegas you’re watching 18 comics every night,” Borgia said. “Some of them are just starting out. You must start somewhere and there were a few that just stuck out that were just like wow, you could tell they were a natural. I’m hoping that we’ll pick up a couple of good people. I think it’s going to be cool for Erie to have (SiriusXM) fly in and record it.”

From the archives: Erie native Bobby Borgia brings magic home

Exposure for Erie

Bringing more than 16 comedians, a national comic and SiriusXM to Erie could put a spotlight on the city.

“I think it’s great exposure for our area to get in front of a group of comedians that Bobby and his crew are bringing in,” Christine Temple, director of communications for VisitErie said. “… it’s a wonderful opportunity not only for our residents and visitors to see some fantastic shows, but for the comedians themselves to be exposed to our area. Some of them have never been here before, so I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised at all there is to see and do, not just at Kellar’s and downtown but all over the county.”

Borgia is already getting attention from national acts including Tape Face. Tape Face, from America’s Got Talent, will be performing in Erie on June 21-22.

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If you go …

The World Series of Comedy at Kellar’s schedule includes the following dates and times:

  • June 5-6: 7:30 p.m. start
  • June 7-8: 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. starts

Tickets to be part of the audience during the live recording are $25 and can be purchased in advance online at kellarsmagic.com or at Kellar’s by calling 814-461-0911.

Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.

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