"There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor." - Charles Dickens

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts knows this quote to be true. It's firing up its annual Comedy in the Box season, which kicks off Thursday, Jan 23. Once a month, through June, the region's finest and funniest comedians will perform. 

Booked in conjunction with the Seattle Comedy Competition, most evenings feature a headlining performer as well as two openers. 

This Thursday, David Crowe headlines. Crowe is a past winner of the Seattle and San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy competitions. According to pre-show hype, Crowe's act has been described as "an alternative universe where Bill Gates takes on Led Zeppelin, Bull Riding is an Olympic event, Pearl Jam stars in The Sound of Music and customer service employees say what they truly feel."

Also on tomorrow's bill will be Todd Armstrong, a comedian from Portland, who was named to Comedy Central's "Comics to Watch" list. Expect stranger than fiction stories and clever wit from this chap.

Geoff Brousseau will be the emcee.

Cozy into the Black Box Theater-turned-cabaret, and enjoy. A full bar in the lobby completes the action for those 21 and older.

COMEDY IN THE BOX, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23, Washington center, 512 Washington St., Olympia, $17, $15 military, 360.753.8586