3
FESTIVALS
EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS
AROUND EASTERN OREGON
JANUARY 19�26, 2022
Melonville Comedy Festival returns to Hermiston
By Tammy Malgesini
Go! Magazine
H
ERMISTON — Get ready
for some laughs — a
pair of funnymen and a funny
woman are ready to yuck it up
during the Melonville Comedy
Festival. The headliner is Dale
Jones, the featured comedian
is Monica Nevi and Taylor Clark
will serve as emcee.
In its 28th year, the event
is Friday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. at
the Eastern Oregon Trade and
Event Center, 1705 E. Airport
Road. A no-host bar is available
when the doors open at 7 p.m.
Open to adults 21 and older,
tickets are $300 for a table for
10 or individual reserved seats
are $35 each — tickets pur-
chased at the door are $40.
With a rapid-fi re delivery,
Jones has honed his skills as
a comedian for more than two
Dale Jones
Monica Nevi
Taylor Clark
dozen years. The headliner’s
high-energy performances in-
clude plenty of animated faces,
physical comedy and improvi-
sation.
In addition to training at
Second City, Jones has earned
his comedy chops on stages
across the county and the seas
— he’s a favorite on Carnival
Cruise Lines. He’s also had
numerous television and radio
appearances, including Sea-
son 6 of NBC’s “Last Comic
Standing.” And in 2017 after
performing on two episodes
of “The Comedy All Stars” for
Pure Flix, he was off ered an
acting role on the TV series,
“Malibu Dan the Family Man.”
A native of the Seattle area,
Nevi said she grew up sur-
rounded by a humorous family.
After injuries ended her col-
legiate basketball career, she
pursued her interest in stand-
up comedy while obtaining her
degree at Seattle University.
And since then, Nevi hasn’t
looked back — performing at
comedy clubs, festivals and
competitions. Also, she has
appeared on FOX’s TV show,
“Laughs.” In late 2020, she
debuted a pair of albums within
a month of each other. The
fi rst, “Mostly Finger Guns,” is a
standup album and the other
is “Chill, which she describes
as a comedic guided medita-
tion. Both topped the comedy
charts.
A Seattle-based comic,
Clark spent time grinding the
rails in Brooklyn. After an ankle
injury took a toll on his career
as a sponsored skateboarder,
he embarked on managing
apartment rentals. With special
access to the CastleBraid
building, he started host-
Gourmet Provisions,
Majestic Pizza,
Wine & Beer Bottle Wonderland,
Dedicated Tap House,
Craft Cocktails,
Espresso Bar, Local & Far-Out Deli
403 S. Main Street Pendleton • 541.276.1350
ing and producing stand-up
shows.
After becoming a dad, he
packed up his family and moved
to Seattle. However, after be-
ing invited to audition for the
Seattle International Comedy
Contest, he re-dedicated him-
self to a career in comedy.
The comedy festival began
nearly three decades ago as
a fundraiser for the Umatilla
County Fair. After the fair board
discontinued involvement, War-
ren Smith, who coordinated the
event as a fair board member,
continued to bring national
comedy acts to Hermiston as a
fundraiser for the local Special
Olympics program.
When Smith stepped back
several years ago, Stuart Rice,
owner of Midway Bar & Grill,
took the reins. His establish-
ment had been involved for
many years with bar service.
“Warren Smith and his family
did a wonderful job for many
years,” Rice said. “I think this
is an important event in rais-
ing money for our local Special
Olympics athletes.”
For more information or to
purchase tickets, visit www.mel-
onvillecomedyfestival.com. For
questions, call 541-567-5180.