Stand Up is only one-third of the story at this year's Comedy Festival. A big attraction for comedy nerds is the sketch and improv shows that will be happening on stages big and small all across the peninsula.

Let's start off by plugging a new venue. Eye Level Art has become a hub of activity in Charleston over the last year, so it seemed only natural to use the funky space for a couple of comedy shows. The crew over there couldn't be any cooler to work with, and they're looking forward to hosting some kick-ass comedy tonight. At 8 p.m., some heavy duty Chi-Town talent takes the stage for a double bill of improv and sketch comedy. Switchboard features three key female players in Chicago's comedy scene. We're very excited that they're here. On a double bill with them is Sitting at the Grown Up Table, a sketch show performed by two members of The Reckoning, a prestigious Chicago troupe that's come to town for Piccolo. Holly Laurent has also performed here in "I Live Next Door To Horses" and is married to Greg in Cook County Social Club. Incestuous, we know.

At 9:30, Eye Level will host a triple bill with Hunter Famlily Crest, Russ Armstrong and Nick Kanellis Armstrong present
No Swallow, and Matt Donnelly's Celebrity Tarot Lounge. Expect to see some familiar faces at this show. Camille Lowman in Hunter Family Crest is one-fourth of Mary Kay Has A Posse. Russ Armstrong is an ex-Charlestonian. And the Tarot Lounge has plenty of comedy fest vets returning to town including Eli Newell of UCB Tourco and Rebekka Johnson of the Apple Sisters.

Over at Theatre 99, Cook County Social Club return after a great run last year, and a memorable warm up bit at last night's Cabaret Kiki show. They'll be performing with the band Butterscotch, On the Rocks, which features Henry Riggs (Hobo: The Musical) and Chris Gingrich (Working TItle) along with Matt and Evan Bivins (Dangerous Strangers of Cabaret Kiki). Those tickets will probably go pretty fast, so don't delay in getting yours.

Following Cook County is a double bill featuring some pure comedy blood. The son and nephew of Jim and John Belushi respectively — Rob Belushi — teams up with comedy fest vet Tim Stoltenberg (Dad's Garage) for some BS, a half hour of pure-audience-driven improv. After them, Eliza Skinner will perform her SHAMELESS sketch, featuring three pathetic NYC types. Eliza is the girl pawing through the trash in a bathroom stall on this week's cover of the City Paper. So hot. She also performed here for two years as part of the beloved musical improv show, I Eat Pandas.

Over on King Street, the CBT hosts the triumphant return of NYC sketch team Elephant Larry at 8 p.m. All you need to know is that you'll see stuff from these guys that puts SNL to shame. Seriously. Following them at 9:30 p.m. will be a double bill featuring Pangea 3000 and Sidecar from the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre in NYC, our favorite conduit for New York's top talent and most-kick-ass shows.

And if you're a fan of such things as wicked satire and biting commentary, the kind you might find on Colbert Report and in The Onion, then you should make plans to see the Found Footage Festival. Two comedy writers do what comedy writers are best at — get together and riff on stupid shit like ridiculous VHS tapes from the 80s.

The night ends with a $6 improv all-star jam at Theatre 99, which will pull one player from each of the six teams performing at the Improv Marathon over at Stars at the American Theatre (there are two of those shows tonight — 7:30 p.m. and 9 pm.). 

On Day Two of the Comedy Fest, a handful of shows rocked Theatre 99 and Charleston Ballet Theatre, including the sold-out return of the Dangerous Strangers of Cabaret Kiki. 

And plenty of artists are beginning to roll into town for this weekend's full roster of comedy shows (31 on Friday and Saturday combined!). 

At around midnight, the L'After Party at Mellow Mushroom filled up with improvisers from Atlanta, Vegas, L.A., New York, and Charleston. 

We caught a glimpse of Eli Newell from Upright Citizens Brigade who is traveling with Matt Donnelly's Celebrity Tarot Lounge. Also performing in that show is CCF alum Rebekka Johnson, who you might remember from the hilarious WWII-era singin' and 

dancin' act The Apple Sisters, who appeared at the 2008 festival and are still doing shows out in L.A. 

Atlanta's Einstein Meets Elvis was also in the house. We saw Jen Caldwell and the guys enjoying the hell out of the Cabaret Kiki show. Afterwards, they joined up with local comics like Jason Groce for some $1.50 PBRs, $3 Southamptons, and a bunch of yummy food (the kitchen stayed open til 1 a.m. just for us — we love you Mellow). Also spotted was Charleston's number one comedy fan, 

Gardner Guess, who you might know from his role as movie-loving bag boy at the Harris Teeter downtown. It wouldn't be a comedy festival in Charleston without Gardner, that's for sure. 

We'll be posting some hot ticket updates once we check in with the box office. In the meantime, head over to the Charleston City Paper's guide to the festival, and take a gander at what we've got in store for you to tonight. The madness has only just begun. 

Opening night of the 2010 Charleston Comedy Fest was a great time. The Music Farm was slammed with nearly 700 folks showing up to vote for Charleston funniest person (see below for info on winner) at the Stand Up Finals. 

Over at Theatre 99, local groups — Assorted Rogues, Doppelganger, Hot Pants, Moral Fixation, and Shattering Pearls — performed to full houses, with audience members tweeting from the back row. 

The fun continues tonight, and if you haven't gotten your tickets yet — well, what the hell are you waiting for!?

Get Hypnotized starts at 7 p.m. at the Charleston Ballet Theatre and it's pretty much the only family-friendly event of the festival. And by family friendly, we mean 8 and up. Leave the toddlers at home, but feel free to bring your tweens and teenagers. This is the kind of good, clean show even a surly know-it-all can enjoy, particularly if they volunteer to be hypnotized. Peter Gross performed at the festival last year and was a ton of fun. Thanks to our sponsor S.C. Federal Credit Union for helping us bring him back for another mesmerizing performance. 

One of the hottest tickets of the festival is the reunion show for the Dangerous Strangers of Cabaret Kiki tonight at 9 pm. at the Charleston Ballet Theatre. Brandy Sullivan at T99 tells us that there are only a handful left, so you better hurry if you want to see this show. It shouldn't be a huge surprise that these tickets are so hot. It's the first glimpse of  Matt and Evan Bivins that Charleston's had since they moved to Chicago more than a year ago. It promises to be a raucous homecoming. And don't worry if you miss this one — the Bivins boys will be performing on Fri. & Sat. night as Butterscotch, On the Rocks with Cook County Social Club.

And speaking of Brandy, she'll be performing in two shows over at Theatre 99 tonight. Considered the Michael Jordan of T99, Brandy will appear in Neckprov at 8 p.m. — a redneck-inspired improv show — and with her pal Jennifer Dyer Buddin in the two-woman show Hot Pants at 9:30 p.m. It's good, cheap fun as always with tickets a mere $5 per double-bill.

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It's on people. Today kicks off the 7th annual Charleston Comedy Festival, and the co-producers at the Charleston City Paper have put together a complete guide to the festival.

Go here to read about all the acts.

Tonight, 16 finalists in the Charleston Stand Up Competition will take the stage at the Music Farm at 9 p.m. to battle it out for the title of Charleston's funniest person. See video of the finalists here.

There's plenty of room at the Farm, so we don't expect it to sell out. Make plans to come by, try a Southampton (our beer sponsor), crack open a PBR (our other beer sponsor), and enjoy the laughs.

Over at Theatre 99, four local troupes will be performing two double bills: Shattering Pearls / Moral Fixation and
The Assorted Rogues Sketch Comedy / Doppelganger. It's a mere $5 to see some of our best homegrown talent.

Mellow Mushroom has returned once again as our After-Party sponsor.  Every night during the festival, stop by for the L'After Party (get it?) and enjoy drink specials and their heated outdoor smoking lounge.

And for real-time news and updates during the festival follow us on Twitter.