Gilda’s LaughFest Will Announce Headlining Artists This Morning

TODAY, Nov. 11 at 7:30 a.m. Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s first ever community-wide festival of laughter, will announce headlining artists performing at the 2015 10-day festival, which runs March 5 - 15. This morning's event is free and open to the public.It all takes place at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center NW, downtown. This morning will be exciting, fun, and probably filled with a few laughs.

In addition, you could become LaughFest Friend, which gives fans of LaughFest opportunities to connect with the festival year round. Memberships are available for purchase at www.laughfestgr.org/membership2015, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids (1806 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504) and will be available at LaughFest Central (GRAM, 101 Monroe Center NW) when it opens mid-February. Attendees at the November 11 launch event will also be able to purchase a LaughFest Friends membership.

LaughFest Friends has been expanded to include two new levels of membership and benefits. There are three levels of memberships available, starting at $25. Level one includes an exclusive tee shirt designed by The Mitten State, High Five button and donation, exclusive content and experiences, and early access to Fast Passes for free events. Fast Passes guarantee holders a seat for free showings as long as they are seated 15 minutes prior to the event start time.

The second level costs $50 and includes everything in the $25 level, plus a Smile Pass Book with special offers and discounts from partners in February 2015 (valued at more than $100), a Mitten State Smile Decal, a 10 percent discount for merchandise at LaughFest Central and online, and entry into a raffle for free tickets to a LaughFest 2015 Starring Artist show.

The third membership level is $100 and includes all the items at the $25 and $50 levels, plus pre-sale opportunities to purchase ticket packages on November 13, 2014 and individual tickets on January 8, 2015 before the general public, and entry into a raffle for LaughFest 2015 Starring and Featured Artist tickets.

As an additional benefit for early birds, a $5 coupon for merchandise at LaughFest Central is added to any membership purchase that is registered or renewed by November 4, 2014.

Designed to celebrate laughter for the health of it, LaughFest features free and ticketed events including stand-up, improv, film, authors, community showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff. Past LaughFest headliners include Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Chris Tucker, Bill Cosby, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Mike Epps, Rodney Carrington, Martin Short, Kevin Nealon, Wayne Brady, Jim Breuer, Joel McHale, Lewis Black, Brian Regan and Anjelah Johnson.

If you're not able to make the festivities this morning, don't worry, the LaughFest folks will be on my show, "Andy in the Morning," this morning following their announcement. Tune in between 8 and 8:30 a.m. today to hear who this next year's headliners will be.