Stand-up comedy may have gotten a boost in the last two years by the success of the TV show “Last Comic Standing,” but Seattle has been hosting a stand-up competition for nearly 30 years. For the last several years the Admiral Theatre in Bremerton has been the site where it all comes down to a fight between “The Funniest Five.”

This year the competition comes to the Admiral Nov. 25, and producer Ron Reid promises it will be a funny show.

“In this show the people really stretch out,” he said, with the comedians getting 20 minutes to show off their best routines. “The roof comes off the place. It’s amazing to hear that many people in one place laughing.”

For the five comedians who make it that far, it’s a long and grueling road.

The competition starts with more than 100 hopeful class clowns, office cut-ups and weekend wannabe comics coming from around the world to try out for 32 spots. Over the next 26 days the chosen ones will travel all over the state and perform 22 shows in 17 different venues as the field is whittled down to the final five.

“The object is to give them a wide range of experiences,” Reid said. Venues range from a disco in Yakima to the Capitol Hill Arts Center in Seattle.

The touring comedy competition also brings entertainment to people who don’t often get to clubs like Reid’s popular Comedy Underground.

The final five weren’t known by press time, but the 10 semi-finalists were Paul Myerhaug, Toronto; Myq (pronounced Mike) Kaplan, Boston; Jeff Dye, Seattle; Natalie Gray, Los Angeles; Rory Scovel, Washington D.C.; Debbie Wooten, Tacoma; Tyler Boeh, Portland; Geoff Brusseau, Seattle; Damonde Tschritter, Vancouver B.C. and Dylan Mandlsohn, Toronto.

Reid said the contestants range in age from 22 to 50, with a wide range of comedy styles, including “human beat box.” Of the four women in the original 32, two have made it into the semi-finals. Reid said that’s about average.

“Stand-up comedy is just a very male-dominated field,” he said.

More than just a chance to play the Admiral, the contest draws the attention of scouts at major networks, which can lead to valuable contests down the road. It also comes with a $5,000 first prize.

Headlining the evening is professional Seattle comedian Brad Upton, who went from standing in front of a class of fourth graders, as their teacher, to standing in front of large audiences.

He has done more than 4,000 shows in his 22-year career, headlining at clubs from Anchorage to Miami. He is the past winner of the Las Vegas Comedy Festival and has opened for stars such as Rodney Dangerfield and Tim Allen.

He has been a regular guest on National Public Radio’s “Rewind” program and also performs regularly on cruise ships and at corporate events.

The Seattle Times said his comedy appeals to people from 18 to 80, but he said it’s more like 15 to 90 — “Any older and they don’t hear so well.”

The 27th Annual Seattle International Stand-Up Comedy Competition Final takes place 8 p.m. Nov. 25 at the Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Ave., Bremerton.

Tickets are $20 all seats, available at the box office or by phone at (360) 373-6743.