PORTLAND, Maine — When Ian Stuart helped found the first Portland Maine Comedy Festival nine years ago, he had no grand vision of what it might turn into nearly a decade later.
“I was just hoping we could get through the first year,” Stuart said. “So to be here now is an absolute dream.”
This year’s festival, the largest such event in New England and bigger than ever, will run from Sept. 5-9 at nine venues in Portland. The talent is impressive just in terms of numbers. There will be about 100 standup comics, sketch comedy teams, and improv groups, some from Maine, the rest from around the country.
"People really want to come to Maine in the summer to do comedy,” festival director Greg Baker said. “We had over 330 comics [apply] to the festival this year, which was a record for us. We’re really happy.”
“This was started to have fun,” Stuart said. “The idea that more people are joining the fun is exciting. It’s great.”