At the biggest comedy event in Dallas/Fort Worth this year, three names on the bill are a little bit more local than the rest. Stand-up comedians Christopher Darden, Josh Johnson and Clint Werth have been touring the local clubs, bars and any other places that will let them set up a microphone for an audience and now they've been invited to open the comedy portion of the Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival on Friday, Sept. 19 at the Gexa Energy Pavilion. They will perform on the second stage with comedian and star of the Comedy Central series Enjoy It!
Naturally, these guys are more than a little excited about the opportunity to perform for such a massive crowd. And, like you'd expect, they're a little bit nervous too.
"I'm super excited," Werth says. "I'm sure I'll get more nervous in the days leading up to it, as I consider the fact I'll be doing comedy at 5 p.m. in the afternoon, outdoors, in a giant amphitheater, but for now I'm super excited."
Darden said he's still in a bit of shock over hearing the news and that he won't truly believe he's part of the festival until he steps on stage in front of the mic.
"I went to the festival last year just to watch but to actually be a part of it this year is pretty crazy," Darden says. "I'm still a bit in the dark as far as some of the details so I don't want to get my hopes up and think that I'll get to meet all the big names on the bill. But man, it'd be sweet. I hate to sound like a pessimist but with big shows, I tend to believe there's a large chance something might fall through. So I don't ever really 100-percent believe I'm going perform until my name is announced to walk on stage."
Johnson, who recently appeared on an episode of Fox's Laughs, described the experience as an interesting showdown between his professional showmanship and inner fanboy.
"You're always a comedy fan before you're a comedian, so to see all the acts coming through is great enough," Johnson says. "To be performing is just the cherry on top. I've always wanted to die of heat stroke telling jokes near my heroes."
See the full line-up and grab a ticket to see the hometown boys at oddballfest.com.
