Austin Sketch Fest returns with an SNL cast member, a delusional starlet and rising Texas comedians

This month some of the country’s best sketch comedy performers will head to ColdTowne Theater in the Texas capital city for this year’s Austin Sketch Fest.

“We review dozens of submissions every year to pick the cream of the crop,” said executive producer Ashley Ellis, “and we’re looking for unique perspectives, fresh ideas.”

Over the years, the festival has gained a reputation for showcasing comedians on the cusp of breaking out into mainstream pop culture.

“We’ve had Tim Robinson, Amber Ruffin, Meg Stalter, James Adomian,” said Ellis. “There’s so many acts that we’ve had before they were big.”

One of this year’s headliners is Saturday Night Live’s Andrew Dismukes, who attended the University of Texas and started his comedy career in Austin.

“We’re so excited to have an active SNL cast member,” said Ellis. “I’m gonna have to try really hard not to be a fangirl when I meet him.”

Festival organizers also go out of their way to showcase a variety of Texan performers like Mimi Meier, whose comedy journey started when she made a joke on an elevator and somebody suggested she try standup.

“That was all it took,” said Meier.

She moved to Austin five years ago to pursue her comedy dreams and at this year’s Sketch Fest, she’ll be performing her show “Me? Me!”

Meier put together a character comedy show that centers around a Hollywood starlet telling her life story.

“But she doesn’t realize she’s not famous,” said Meier, “which is kind of me as a person.”

In addition to stage time and exposure, Austin Sketch Fest allows performers the chance to learn from and network with other performers navigating the entertainment industry.

“It’s not only for an audience to have fun, it’s for performers to connect with each other,” said Meier, “to learn and have a friend in another city.”

This year, the festival runs two weekends, Aug. 14-16 and 21-23.

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