Iowa City's Comedy Showcase Roundup

There's lots of reasons I love my state of Iowa. We're pretty awesome, if you think about it. Legalized same sex marriage, always on the top of the food chain in education and honestly, we have some of the hardest working people in the country making a life here.

The same can be said for our comics. In Iowa City alone, showcases have sprung up in every club or bar imaginable. What started as some smaller, more intimate crowds at The Yacht Club has slowly turned into an amazing standing room only crowd every Monday night.

I suppose you can chalk some of the success up to students looking for ways to procrastinate. Who doesn't love a good laugh to take a break from all the serious stuff in our lives? I think all the showcases' successes come from hardworking talent, hitting the streets and garnering a loyal fan base.

Looking to spend a night on the town and avoid the sweaty, sticky, dumpy atmosphere of obnoxious people in the "bar" bars?  Check out these comedy showcases instead and laugh the night away!

Caribbean-born, Midwest-bred: Janelle James brings her comedy to Iowa City

The beautiful and hilarious, Janelle James.
Photo courtesy of janellejamescomedy.com

Like many comics, stand-up and open mics was a chance to get to know the community she was in and for Janelle James, moving from the Caribbean to New York City, and eventually to the Midwest was certainly a different experience.

Starting out at a bar in Champaign, Ill., she now tours the country and opening for such names as Todd Barry ("Flight of the Conchords") and Rob Delaney (@RobDelaney on his popular Twitter feed), and she still makes her appearances in small clubs, even in humble Iowa.

And mega congrats to her, she was just selected to perform at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, OR. Way to go, Janelle!

In fact, Janelle will be performing in Iowa City at The Mill for Bobby Ray Bunch's Comedy Showcase on Saturday, March 30. I love that through this blog and the comedians in my area, I get to meet other Midwest-bred comics. Janelle is a perfect fit: Raunchy jokes, stories about family and musings on aging make up her set, and here in Iowa City and with the crew at The Mill, she'll fit right in.

Janelle decided to share a little bit about herself and her comedy with Corn-fed Comedy. While you're online (and I know you are, because you're here), follow / like / check out Janelle!

A Balancing Act: Daniel Frana is a student on the stage

Don't let the headline mislead you: Daniel Frana is no rookie to stand-up comedy. As a frequent performer in the Iowa City / Cedar Rapids area, Daniel is also a common face in the Quad City comedy scene at The Establishment Theater and Circa 21 Speakeasy, both in Rock Island.

Above: Daniel Frana takes part in "The Smartest Iowan" on PATV Channel 18

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But as a comic who's also going to the University of Iowa, his life is a bit of a balancing act with spurts of sleep in between. Nonetheless, he keeps moving along, drawing in crowds, making friends (and fans) along the way.

Daniel took a few minutes to chat with CFC about his life between Iowa City and the QCA, and how it's been riding the wave of growing comedy in the state.