Chapel Hill and Carrboro are about to get a lot funnier.

Wednesday marks the start of the 17th annual North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, hosted each year by the DSI Comedy Theater. Featuring two weeks of improv, sketch and standup, it’s one of the biggest comedy festivals in America.

Get the full schedule for the festival here.

This year’s NCCAF runs from Wednesday, February 15, through Sunday, February 26, with shows at DSI, Local 506, and the ArtsCenter in Carrboro. Headliners include a returning favorite, standup comedy legend Emo Philips – as well as a live recording of Kevin Allison’s podcast RISK! and rising comedy star Aparna Nancherla. Emo Philips kicks off the festival with a show at DSI on Wednesday, February 15. (The festival unofficially opened on Valentine’s Night, when Philips got on stage to improvise with DSI regulars.)

Emo Philips performs improv at DSI to help launch the 2017 NC Comedy Arts Festival. (Photo via Zach Ward.)

Emo Philips and DSI owner/artistic director Zach Ward discussed the festival (and Valentine’s Day) with WCHL’s Aaron Keck.

 

Visit NCComedyArts.com for a full schedule and ticket info.

Emo Philips with Aaron Keck at the WCHL studios. (Photo via Zach Ward.)