Comedy is sweeping through the bars and colleges of Jackson County, and now, through the Civic Center in Carbondale.

Jeff Batts, a 13-year comedy veteran, does it all: stand-up, improvisation, characters, interaction with the audience. West Frankfort High School graduate Nikki D, who will be opening for Batts, is a talented musician who will be gearing up the audience for a performance Carbondale will never forget.

National touring headliner Jeff Batts and opening act, singer and songwriter Nikki D, will perform shows at 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.

The Civic Center is a large venue that holds about 500 people. It's a large room and has a great stage. With two shows on Saturday, the turnout is expected to be superb.

The event is for those age 18 and older and show tickets are priced at $12.00 with $10.00 tickets available for those with a valid student I.D. Advance tickets are available at all Illinois Liquor Mart locations in Carbondale, Marion, Murphysboro, Mt. Vernon and online at www.comedytickets.com. There will also be a cash bar and a $10 Italian food buffet available, and doors open at 7 p.m. Hangar 9 will be setting up the bar.

The headlining act is comedian Jeff Batts. He has toured the U.S., performing in more than 40 states. In 1989, when comedy was becoming America's No. 1 source of entertainment, Batts started his stand-up career in Orlando, Fla., by winning a competition titled "Central Florida Laugh-Off." From there, he became acquainted with and worked along side other comedians such as Carrot Top, Tom Rhodes and Darrell Hammond from "Saturday Night Live."

He quickly became popular and has opened for The Charlie Daniels Band, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and Gallagher. As Batts' popularity was increasing, he was receiving offers to perform at prestigious corporate events for companies such as the NBA and 3M. Batts said it could be anything from a Christmas party to an end-of-year gathering.

The companies were able to see his performance through a taped performance 14 months ago in Indianapolis. The agent sends the tape or DVD out to those interested, and due to his wild, entertaining and audience-friendly act, he receives excellent feedback. Normally, a comedy club paycheck gives him $300 to $500. A corporate event: $2,000 to $3,000!

Since returning to Southern Illinois in 1994 to raise his two sons, Batts has been working in comedy clubs, colleges and concerts. His last Carbondale performance was in 2000 at the SIU Arena with "Weird Al" Yankovic.

His television credits include "The Howard Stern Show" and appearances on both MTV and Comedy Central. Batts act is one part "Saturday Night Live" and one part "Whose Line is it Anyway?" It's fast paced and full of high-energy. He mixes stand-up comedy with improvisation, wild characters and audience participation.

"My show is not offensive but wild, loose and out of control," Batts said. "The audience gets the idea that I'm winging it and that's what I want them to think."

But Batts' performances are definitely planned chaos, he said. Only 20 minutes are usually unscripted and improvised.

This show is 100 percent unpredictable, and he pushes the envelope without offending anyone but also involves the entire audience.

Batts said he prefers to move around and for this reason uses a cordless mic.

"I drive the guy with the spotlight crazy," Batts laughed.

He brings audience members on stage and intertwines them into the act. Once, he dressed a person up as a rap star.

Batts loves to bring out new characters - his alter egos, as he likes to call them. Saturday night, be prepared to see General Anesthesia, who will get the audience into "ship shape;" Mayor Angus, a nearby mayor who, when Batts performs, looks nothing like him at all; and Bachelor Chef, a college student who has his own cook show.

While his talent is right up there with the best of them, Batts said he stayed back while comedian friends such as Carrot Top and others sought the fame. Even though Batts isn't making a name for himself through 1-800-CALL-ATT commercials, he is planning on making an impact on America soon. In about two years, he said he should be ready to make the leap to New York or Los Angeles.

As far as making an audience laugh, it's practically guaranteed each time.

"I will do anything to make them laugh," Batts said. "I'm a comedy hoe."

Batts received two standing ovations last weekend at Cape Girardeau. Maybe this means Carbondale has some competition now. Let's see if residents can live up to the good humor of a neighboring city.

"If you believe in what you're selling - in the material - the audience will get on board," Batts said.

Nikki D, a West Frankfort High School graduate, is a singer, songwriter and comedian. On Saturday, she will perform her own brand of eclectic music, which is a mix of country, folk, and blues-y original tunes and some recognizable favorites, all done with a comic twist. She does sing-alongs and hilarious parodies of classic hits playing in clubs and colleges from St. Louis, MO, to Austin, TX.

"Nikki is more of a singer/songwriter," Batts said. "She is a nice warm-up act. I thought I would try a musical performer for an opening act. She sounds like one of the Dixie Chicks."

Their first time working together was at their Cape Giraudeau performance, and Batts said she set the mood and kept the audience's attention nicely.

Nikki D performs for about 20 minutes prior to Batts, who then headlines with an hour to an hour-and-a-half performance.

DVDs and VHS tapes of Batts' performance will be available for purchase, and T-shirts will be, too. Batts' tees tie in with his act, and generally, he tosses some out to the audience and/or gives them away after the show.

"The 2003 Tour de' Farce!" will also be in Nashville, Tenn., on March 1, Paducah, Ky., on March 8 and Terre Haute, Ind., on March 15.

Batts said this could possibly be his last show in Carbondale, so don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a master comedian.