Thursday, May 30, 2002 | 8:17 a.m.
No joke, Las Vegas could become the Comedy Capital of the World.
Comedians Mark Allen and Steve Caito announced an ambitious plan Wednesday: begin an annual nationwide search for the country's best comedians, bring those comedians to Las Vegas for a festival, then take them on a national tour.
Among those present at the announcement, made in the Stardust's Wayne Newton Theater, were Newton, veteran standup comics Norm Crosby and Pete Barbutti, magician Steve Wyrick and singer Steve Lawrence.
"It's only fitting and proper that (the festival) should be here," Crosby said.
"It is every comedian's dream to play Vegas," Caito said. "This city immortalizes fun."
The fun begins June 6 in Los Angeles, when the first of 30 elimination contests will be held during three nights of comedy competition in 10 cities. Other cities where contests will be held include Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta, New York City, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver, Seattle and San Francisco.
The competition, open to professional and amateur comedians, continues through Aug. 10.
There will be seven categories, including seniors (open to contestants ages 65 years and older); mainstream standup (18 through 65); teen (13 through 17); youth (6 through 12); college (18 through 64); original parody or comedy song (18 through 64) and props (ventriloquists, magicians, jugglers, 18 through 64).
Winners of the competition will receive an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Comedy Festival, set for Sept. 4 through 8 at the Stardust.
The festival will include a comedy trade show, with seminars on everything from how to perform comedy to showmanship to hiring an agent.
There will even be a seminar on how to be a late-night talk show host.
"People will be able to network with agents and agencies looking for the next crop of performers," Allen said.
The trade show will not be for comedians only. Politicians, businessmen, members of the clergy, after-dinner speakers and anyone who uses comedy in front of audiences are being targeted as potential attendees.
"Anyone who gets up in front of an audience and uses humor will find this of value to come here once a year to improve their skills," Allen said.
Winners of the competition will be announced at a banquet during the festival. After the banquet, winners will perform in the Wayne Newton Theater.
Also during the banquet, two awards will be given -- the Steve Allen Pioneer of Comedy Achievement Award and the Las Vegas Comedy Festival Lifetime Achievement Award.
After the festival, winners and a few select contestants will tour the country with a headline comedian for a series of encore performances in each of the original preliminary-round cities.
Organizers say they expect 25,000 people to attend the festival, which will be held at the Stardust Pavilion.
As far as finding enough contestants to participate, Allen said there won't be a problem. Before Wednesday's formal announcement, more than 200 aspiring comedians who heard about the idea pre-registered for auditions.
"We have been inundated with comedy tapes and requests for registration forms," Caito said.
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