Aiming to put the ha-ha in Hollywood, Bangor’s Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway is raising the stakes on its comedy cachet with a weekend laugh-in this October.
Taking place Oct. 23-24, the inaugural Bangor Comedy Festival aims to build on the success of the venue’s High Stakes House of Comedy, a monthly Friday-night series that has featured regional headliners with Maine-based supporting acts and hosts.
“We dipped our toe into comedy a little more than a year ago, and after several nights of sold-out crowds and a very popular comedy class, we are ready to expand the offerings,” said Alton Buzzell, the casino’s marketing director.
“Between the comedy events at the casino, and the increased comedy offerings at the Cross Insurance Center and in the Hollywood Casino Concert Series at the Maine Savings Amphitheater, we’re seeing a lot more interest in comedy in Bangor,” he added. “We are excited to expand that.”
Organizers are lining up headliners for each night with the possibility of a late-night offering, an introduction to comedy workshop and local comedians to round out the program. Tickets to individual events as well as festival passes will be available starting Tuesday, Aug. 4.
“Hollywood Casino has proven itself to be a fantastic destination for comedy in eastern Maine,” said Adam Hatch, a comedian who is helping organize the event.
“This festival will not just celebrate comedy, but it will celebrate people who love the art form and those who simply love to laugh,” he said. “This is an exciting opportunity to bring more laughs to all of our lives while increasing Bangor’s stature as a comedy destination.”
Headliners for the Bangor Comedy Festival will be announced later this month, along with ticketing information before tickets go on sale.
About the business
Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway, a Main Street anchor in the Queen City, is owned by Penn Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq: PENN), the Pennsylvania-based operator of 42 casinos and racetracks nationwide along with more than 7,800 hotel rooms.
The Bangor venue includes a state-of-the-art gaming floor with nearly 800 slot machines and 16 table games, including live poker and a Race Book simulcast betting parlor; 152 hotel rooms and suites; live music entertainment on weekends; and multiple dining options. Its outdoor harness-racing track hosts live races from May through November.
Hollywood Casino employs around 300 people in total but doesn’t track data on visitors, according to a spokesman.
