Steven Rogers will perform at The Gambit Bar at The Sebastian - Vail

Vail Comedy Show is flying in New York City based comedian Steven Rogers to kick off the Mountain Fresh Comedy Festival on Thursday at The Gambit Bar at The Sebastian - Vail. The multi-night festival includes shows in Vail, Eagle and Frisco and focuses on late night television friendly comedy. Comics from as far away as Alaska will be telling jokes.

Rogers has appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on CBS, the "Late Late Show with James Corden," is a former headliner of the Vail Comedy Festival and regularly opens for Nate Bargatze and Brian Regan. Tickets for all Mountain Fresh Comedy Festival events can be found at MFComedy.com. Rogers answered these questions in advance of his visit:

Have you ever performed in the Vail Valley?

Yes! I've done the Vail Comedy show and the Vail Comedy Festival. I've always loved the valley! This time I'm bringing my family and very excited to show them.

Do you have a favorite Colorado comedy memory?

I have too many to be honest. Colorado is one of my favorite states for comedy. The crowds are so fun, excited to be there and really seem to appreciate comedy. It makes me try to come to Colorado as much as possible.

Tell us about your latest special?

It was my very first special and it was taped at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York where I had a lot of my biggest moments in comedy (outside of Vail of course) and it was a truly magical weekend that I'll never forget! The special is out on YouTube and it's called "Before He Was Super." I'm taping a second special this weekend!

What is the biggest theater you have performed at this past year, tell us about it?

I'm honestly not sure, I know that's crazy, but I'm so fortunate that I get to do a lot of theaters and have some more on the schedule. Theaters are probably my favorite stage to perform on because I feel like I belong up there and it's really where I'd like to be as a headliner some day.

What do you know about Vail Comedy Show?

I know Mark Masters really puts in a lot of effort for these shows and it's very clear when I get there. Every show I've done with him has been set up right and made to guarantee everyone has the best show possible.

Any major events coming up?

I'll be recording my next special the rest of the time I'm in Colorado at the Comedy Fort in Fort Collins. After that it's just getting ready to go out and start putting the next one together.

How would you describe your comedy?

I like to talk about my life, my experiences and what's going on around me and help people escape from the outside world for an hour.

Any final thoughts?

Follow me on Instagram and YouTube @StevenRogersComedy

Ben Peterson is a comedian traveling to Vail for The Mountain Fresh Comedy Festival from his home in Anchorage, Alaska. He answered these questions:

What are you excited about at Mountain Fresh Comedy Festival?

The first mics I ever did were in Boulder when I was a student at University of Colorado. Ten years later it feels like coming full circle to perform in Colorado again. Plus, I get to visit the only parts of the state that make Boulder look like garbage.

How has working clean impacted your comedy career?

I would say working clean has been way more of a help than a hindrance. There are more opportunities available to you if you're able and willing to tell clean jokes. But the main reason I write clean is that I find it more creatively rewarding -- it drives me to think about concepts and feelings that stay funny when you sit with them. You might laugh because someone says a naughty word, but that laugh fades quickly.

Have you ever been to Vail and what did you love / what are you excited about if you've never been?

When I was a sophomore at CU Boulder, my friends took me to a music festival in Vail. It was my first time smoking pot. We watched Matisyahu and I remember thinking he kind of sucked.

The Mountain Fresh Comedy Festival will finish up in Eagle on Friday with Leah Bonnema from Los Angeles. On Saturday, Chris Voth from "Last Comic Standing" and "The Late Late Show" will be in Frisco. The Vail Comedy Show will be back in Vail in November with Raanan Hershberg who recently appeared on "The Joe Rogan Experience," and in December with Comedy Central's Carmen Morales.