London Free Press

In only its third year, the Big Comedy Go-To has added a second weekend of laughs because there is so much talent to share, organizers said.

London funny man Jayson McDonald, who created and stars in the festival, which kicks off Thursday, called it “the comedy motherlode.”

Sketch, improv, stand-up, musical comedy, monologue, and comic theatre from performers from London and across the country, as well as entertainers from the U.S., are all on the schedule.

The Big Comedy Go-To kicks off with The No Show, a pay-what-you-can event, at the The Black Shire Pub.

The No Show launch is described as a “comedy cabaret featuring a hot tub’s worth of London’s brightest and funniest performers.” It begins Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The fest runs until Saturday and then starts up again April 21 and closes on April 23, with a night of stand-up comedy called The Big One.

There are many returning acts this year and some new ones. New York’s Kurt Fitzpatrick is at the festival for the first time.

He’s presenting Rebel Without A Niche, a one-hour solo comedy show about Fitzpatrick’s experiences working in different jobs while supporting his creative career as an actor and filmmaker. His odd jobs include bike messenger, Halloween-show zombie, and guerrilla marketer.

Fitzpatrick’s show is on April 22 at The Arts Project, beginning at 8 p.m.

Back for more fun is Toronto’s Chelsea Manders. She has performed her songs on CBC TV and radio and How To Be Indie on YTV.

Manders has starred on London stages as one-half of the Nefarious Black Roses, a comedy duo with former Londoner Hayley Gratto and in the solo show Naughty Little Children. She will be performing in The Big One.

The 100th episode of The Boneyard Man is on tap at the festival.

McDonald created The Boneyard Man as a parody of radio noir from the 1930s and ’40s and it has become a cult hit. The Boneyard crew has partnered with the London Public Library to present the episode at the Wolf Performance Hall. The show is Saturday at 8 p.m. Other hit shows in the festival include Jeff Culbert’s archy and mehitabel.

E-mail kathy.rumleski@sunmedia.ca, read Kathy's blog or follow Kathyatlfpress on Twitter.

IF YOU GO

What: The Big Comedy Go-To

Venues: The Black Shire Pub, 511 Talbot Street; Wolf Performance Hall (London Central Library), The Arts Project, 203 Dundas St.

When: Thursday to Saturday, April 21 to 23

Tickets: Advance tickets and festival passes are available at The Arts Project. Call 519-642-2767.

Schedule and information: www.bigcomedygoto.wetpaint.com