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Free showcase to replace Breuer at Laff Fest

Staff report
Stand-up comedian Pete Lee will host a free showcase of comedians Thursday night at the Wheeler Opera House.
Courtesy photo |

If You Go …

What: Free Festival Showcase, presented by Aspen Laff Festival

Where: Wheeler Opera House

When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m.

More info: http://www.wheeleroperahouse.com

What: Aspen Laff Festival

Where: Wheeler Opera House

When: Tonight through Saturday, Feb. 21

Tickets: http://www.aspenshowtix.com

More info: http://www.wheeleroperahouse.com

A free showcase featuring seven stand-up comics will replace Jim Breuer in Thursday’s headlining slot at the Aspen Laff Festival at the Wheeler Opera House.

The Wheeler announced the replacement Wednesday. Breuer canceled his appearance on Tuesday, citing a family emergency.

The showcase will feature short sets of eight minutes or so each by comedians who are in the lineup through the rest of the weekend. Hosted by Pete Lee, it will include Andrew Sleighter, Josh Sneed, Emily Galati, Hippieman, Ophira Eisenberg and Robert Dubac.



It will follow “Hippieman’s Plan For America,” a one-man show by Boulder-based comic John “Hippieman” Novosad, who has been a frequent Laff Fest guest since winning its “New Faces” competition in 2010. That performance – scheduled for 6:15 p.m. – is also free.

“The festival will launch with a free evening for all,” Wheeler senior operations manager Amy Kaiser said in the announcement. “We have the best of the best in town – all of the talent is hand-selected, because we know what makes Aspen laugh. We like smart. We like our boundaries tested.”




Friday’s lineup begins at 6 p.m. and includes a short set by Sleighter, followed by a double bill of Eisenberg and Dubac. The day will close with another double bill: Kira Soltanovich and Tom Rhodes.

On Saturday, the festival begins with Emily Galati at 6 p.m. followed by Lee and Sneed. Laff Fest closes Saturday night with the return of Christopher Titus, making his third headlining Laff Fest appearance with a new show he’s dubbed “Angry Pursuit of Happiness.”

Jim Breuer ticket holders and full festival pass holders were to be contacted by the Wheeler box office, according to a press release.