"I love Eagle Rock," says comedian Bobbie Oliver fervently. "I've lived here 13 years and I've always wanted to bring a comedy festival to Eagle Rock." In partnership with the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, Oliver has phoned, e-mailed, cajoled, and wrangled her dream into reality.

Sponsored by the Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena and The Black Boar, the First Eagle Rock Comedy Festival debuts Dec. 8 and 9. More than 150 comics will perform at 12 venues and the show, which is free and open to the public, will culminate in a final "Best of the Fest" at the Ice House on Dec. 12. 

Oliver, who produces comedy shows at the Ice House and at the Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank, thought the Eagle Rock Music Festival was a great model for the event she envisioned and approached the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock to co-produce with her. "They have the experience and the community connections and I know the comedy community and have produced comedy shows," she says. "So it was perfect."

Priscilla Page, assistant events coordinator at Center for the Arts, confirms that the chosen venues are "businesses we have good relationships with because of the Music Festival." Even with strong community support and participation, Page and Oliver acknowledge that the logistics have been daunting because of the unorthodox venues, most of which are restaurants.

"Someone asked about mic stands and I thought, 'How could I have forgotten about mic stands?'" marvels Oliver. "But of course, the shows I've produced are at comedy clubs. They have mic stands! There are just so many details with an event this size, especially the first time around."

Oliver laughs while describing the submission and selection process. "The last day to submit was like Miracle on 34^th Street, with all the letters pouring in," she recalls. As many as "150 comics submitted applications and we decided they could all do their thing," adds Page. Additionally, Oliver and Page each invited several comedians to perform at the event. "There are comedians I know personally, comedians from the community, comedians from my Stand-Up Academy [Oliver's comedy school at the Ice House]," notes Oliver.

Each night of the festival, 12 to 13 comics will perform at each venue. In addition to Oliver, other participating Eagle Rock residents/comedians include Jonathan Thymius, Eric Dadourian, Matt Dwyer, Marie DelPrete, Brenda Lamberty, Ralph Eddy, Josh Fadem (Eagle Rock-adjacent in Highland Park) and Monique Moreau, who recently took over producing fellow comedian and Eagle Rock resident Maria Bamford's Eagle Rock Singalong and Comedy Show, now a monthly event at the Center for the Arts. (Don't miss the Eagle Rock Patch interview with Maria Bamford tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 7.)

Both Oliver and Page cited boosterism as a significant motivating factor behind the festival. Page noted that the Center for the Arts wanted to produce a comedy festival to help support Eagle Rock eateries by bringing in patrons on Wednesday and Thursday nights. As a passionate promoter of Eagle Rock, Oliver also loves the idea of a comedy crawl, with crowds strolling in and out of various venues.  

"I'm always turning my friends on to places like Swork and Brownstone Pizzeria and Dave's Chillin'n' Grilliin'," she said, "and I thought, "Let's turn everyone on to these great places in Eagle Rock!"

Although Oliver is encouraging all of the 150 comedians to visit the other venues at the event before and after their sets, "audiences can go to multiple venues or stay in one place all night—whatever they want," sayd Oliver. "We're just encouraging everyone to bring money, come hungry, discover a comedian—and have a good sandwich."

Sponsored by the Ice House and the Black Boar Pub, the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, and Bobbie Oliver's Standup Productions present the First Eagle Rock Comedy Festival on Wednesday, Dec. 8 and Thursday, Dec. 9^,  from 8-10 p.m., with a "Best of the Fest" at the Ice House on Dec. 12. Venues include the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, Swork, Dave's Chillin'n' Grilliin', Brownstone's Pizzeria, Larkin's Joint, Coffee Table Lounge, Capri Italian Restaurant, Colombo's,  All-Star Lanes Bowling Alley, The York, and Corner Pizzeria. Reminder: The festival is free.

PLEASE NOTE!  Not all venues will be hosting comedy both nights! To check schedules and talent line-up at each venue and for additional info, visit www.centerartseaglerock.org or www.standupproductions.net.