New York Comedy Festival Sets Lineup for ‘New York’s Funniest Stand-Ups’ Showcase (EXCLUSIVE)

The New York Comedy Festival has unveiled its lineup for the “New York’s Funniest Stand-Ups” showcase, a new spin on a long-running tradition to find the next great voice in stand-up comedy.

The show will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. at The Venue at Hard Rock Hotel in Times Square. The comedians include: Geoffrey Asmus, Gabby Bryan, Jason Choi, Rocky Dale Davis, Lev Fer, Ontonio Kareem, Jaye McBride, Amber Singletary, Maddy Smith and Joe Zimmerman.

For 16 years, the event was a competition where comics battled it out to win the title of “New York’s Funniest Stand-Up.” Previous performers include Nate Bargatze, Michael Che, Tim Dillon, Josh Johnson and Ricky Velez. Now in its 17th year, the event will function more like a showcase of rising comedic talent.

“This next chapter for ‘New York’s Funniest Stand-Up’ is incredibly exciting — not only for the comedians, but for the fans and the industry, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with Threads,” said Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival. “We’ve seen how Threads has taken off — more than 350 million people use it every month—and it’s catching fire in comedy and creator circles. It’s become a space where comedians can be raw, spontaneous, and hilarious. We’re proud to partner with Threads to amplify these rising voices and help them connect with new fans and future collaborators. This new showcase reflects what comedy is today: immediate, personal, and everywhere.”

This year’s New York Comedy Festival is headlined by The Basement Yard, Hannah Berner, Michael Blackson, Louis C.K., Margaret Cho, Alex Edelman, Chris Fleming, Pete Holmes, Morgan Jay, Ismo, Ryan Long, Nurse John, Yohay Sponder, “Strangers With Candy” with Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris, Trevor Wallace and more.