Be among the first to learn who this year’s finalists will be in America’s biggest touring comedy festival at the show’s one-night-only stop at Bainbridge Performing Arts.

The 38th annual Seattle International Comedy Competition started earlier this month, and continues nightly at venues throughout the region until a winner is crowned Sunday, Nov. 26, at the Comedy Underground in Seattle.

It’s America’s biggest touring comedy festival — 25 days, 20 shows, a host of regional venues, 32 comedians and more $15,000 in cash and prizes — with talent executives from CBS, NBC, and more, and movie studios, managers, agents and producers in attendance.

There are two “preliminary” rounds of 16 comedians, and each comedian gets just five minutes to impress.

Each preliminary round consists of five shows, and a combination of entertainment industry and celebrity judges and audience reaction determines who moves on when all the scores are tallied.

The top five comics from the two preliminary rounds make the semi-finals. All the semi-finalists win some cash and get to compete for the title by performing for 10 minutes nightly for five shows.

At the last semi-final show, starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at BPA, the finalists will be announced.

Five comedians will get to go big, and five will get to go home.

Tickets, $30 per person, may be purchased online at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, by phone at 206-842-8569 or in person at BPA (200 Madison Ave. North). BPA Box Office hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and one hour prior to each performance.

The performance, however, is not suitable for children.