A cadre of comedy vets from around the country descend on Charleston tonight for a big night of Charleston Comedy Festival shows. The Improv Marathons take over the intimate Stars at the American Theatre. At 7:30 p.m., it's comedy duo ShawnMikael(s) from DC, a nine-member strong troupe called Popular Science from LA, and three gals from Canada in We're From Here. The 9:30 p.m. show has two more Canadian women performing in Mañez, The Day Camp Kids of NYC doing fairy-tale inspired improv, and local comedy duo Doppelganger riffing on VH1 Storytellers.

Kenny Z, our favorite morning DJ who moved to New York and made it big, returns once again to do some standup. He's bringing Vic Henley down with him for a two-night stand at the American. Also playing the American is the Most RACES Show on Earth, a stand-up smorgasbord featuring a Jew, a Filipino-Canadian-American, an African-American, a Jamaican-Canadian, a Polish-Peruvian and a Goose Creeker. 

If you want to see some stand-up but don't want to come downtown, we've got a perfect show for you: the Stand Up Showdown with Nate Bargatze, Travis FromLongville, and Tone Bell at the Pour House on James Island. A great double bill in a great venue. 

And if that's not all, our newest venue this year, Threshold Repertory Theatre on Society Street, will host a couple of shows tonight. At 7:30 p.m., it's the Improv and Sketch Invasion with the Village Theatre of Atlanta doing improv using one prop, Meghan O'Neill performing a one-woman sketch show Fraidy Cat, and Big Dicktionary crafting a show from one word picked randomly out of the dictionary. At 9:30 p.m., it's Rockola, Phat Beethoven, and Sandino's turn to make you laugh. These troupes come to us from Atlanta, Chicago, and New York and should pack quite a punch. 

But wait, there's more! TJ Miller and Team Submarine perform at the Footlight Players Theatre at 8 p.m. followed by festival favorites the musically improvisational Shock T's, who will share the stage with the Reformed Whores of Brooklyn, who also play music in their set, and stand-up comedian Sunah Bilsted, who does not play music but who does drink whiskey.   

Theatre 99 always hosts a great lineup and this year's festival is no exception. Chicago Deep Dish Comedy kicks off the fun tonight at 8 p.m. with two Chicago troupes: Michael Pizza and Tulle, with festival darling Jet Eveleth, who's performed in Charleston many times over the years. She's a real clown, that one. (Literally. She went to clown school). At 10 p.m. the Kick Ass Comedy Show featuring the Two-Man Movie and POSE Magazine is your best chance this year of seeing people who are on TV or will be on TV. (For real. Many CCF alums have gone on to primetime stardom, including Aziz Ansari, Casey Wilson, and Adam Pally). At 11:30, a bunch of random players will gather on the stage for the Improv Jam show. A good place to get some value if you've got limited fundage ($5!)

Last but certainly not least, we will tell you about the 10 p.m. show at PURE Theatre, and this one promises to be the most profane, outrageous of the bunch. It's been billed Slap Yo Pappy and it features Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting, Pound for Pound, and The Pushers, whose notoriety precedes them. These cats are sure to offend even the not-so-easily offended. Fun times. 

Now, get out there and see some comedy. This is some good shit. Click Schedule & Tickets to the right for the, duh, schedule and tickets. 

The Charleston Comedy Festival hosted a six-round stand-up competition, beginning in August and ending in December, which resulted in local boy Dusty Slay being crowned the best stand-up comic. He had some stiff competition in number two finalist Roz McCoy and third placer Devon Gollinge. The three will return to the stage on Saturday, Jan. 21 as part of the official comedy fest. 

Read all about them in City Paper's article this week, and learn how to buy your tickets for their showcase here.  

The Charleston Comedy Festival is a week away, and there's plenty of opportunity to laugh it up — for free. 

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Red's Ice House is hosting Stand Up on the Creek, featuring six of Charleston's funniest comics: Mark Szlachetka, David Appleton, Jon Ballard, Derek Humphrey, Shon Kennedy, and Andrew Rider. The show starts at 8 p.m. and will be an awesome kick off to the festival. 

You'll laugh so hard, you'll wet someone else's pants.