Michael Moore, Jeff Garlin plan winter comedy festival to warm hearts in northern Mich. town

Michael Moore, Jeff Garlin announce MI comedy fest

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Filmmaker Michael Moore started a summer film festival five years ago in his adopted hometown of Traverse City, Mich. Now he’s teaming with Emmy winner Jeff Garlin to organize a mid-winter comedic counterpart.

The inaugural Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival will be held Feb. 19-21. It will feature star performers, along with talented up-and-comers. The lineup will be revealed next month.

Moore is a Flint native who now lives in Traverse City. The Lake Michigan resort community is about 250 miles northwest of Detroit. He and Garlin say they want to boost a state where the economy was sinking long before the nationwide downturn.

In addition to stand-up performances by established artists, there will be acts featuring improvisational groups and premieres of comedy movies — plus a show for children.