The Black Women in Comedy Festival is a new festival celebrating its inaugural year in historic Bed-Stuy over the weekend connecting Black History Month and Women’s History Month, February 28 to March 3.
The Black Women In Comedy Festival was born out of rage. For decades of being left out, unseen and overlooked in the industry, we decided it was time to have something of our own. Taking place during Black Herstory Month & Women’s Herstory Month in Brooklyn, NY, this festival will showcase some of the best, brightest and funniest black women, those who identify as women, and those from the LGBTQ community. The festival will feature multiple facets of comedy including stand up, solo works, and improv. Our goal is to create the opportunities to be seen and expose bigger audiences to our talents while also creating a community and safe space for black women to shine.
The festival will be headlined by Calise Hawkins (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and @midnight), Pat Brown (Late Show with Stephen Colbert and BET Comic View), and now on tour with Tracy Morgan, as well as Meshelle “The Indie-Mom of Comedy” (Nickelodeon’s Search for the Funniest Mom in America 3 and Martin Lawrence Presents: THE FIRST AMENDMENT STAND UP.) The festival will also include guest headliners Jenelle Kporha Jackson, Ashima Franklin, Stephanie McCrae, Franqi French, MeMe Simpson, Leighann Lord, and Nikki Carr.
The festival will feature industry showcases, a tribute showcase that pays homage to the Icons of Comedy, where performers share how they have been influenced by a comedy idol past or present; Cheap Date, a fun and interactive show and we even have a Sunday Comedy Brunch Show. We would be honored for coverage about any of the several shows happening nightly across four (4) venues: Brooklyn House of Comedy, Joloff Restuarant, The Corners BK, & Tilly’s along with over 30 other performers from all over the USA.
The founder of the Black Women in Comedy Festival, Joanna M. Briley says, “creating a platform for women of color, specifically Black Women, empowers the next generation of young people who aspire to become stand up comedians.” “Moms Mabley opened the door while Whoopi Goldberg took the hinges off so Mo’Nique, Leslie Jones, Tiffany Haddish and Issa Rae can walk on stage without anything in their way.”
Tickets for each individual show are $15, but an inclusive festival pass or daily passes can be purchased through Eventbrite.
Black Women In Comedy Headliners
Calise Hawkins is a stand-up comedian and writer. She has performed her standup on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC), Russel Simmons Presents Live At The El Rey (Comedy Central), among others. She has written for Comedy Central’s @midnight and Hood Adjacent, MTV’s Totally Clueless, Girl Code, and Charlemagne’s Uncommon Sense. And she was a cast member of Oxygen’s Funny Girls.
Pat Brown is a New York-based comedian that can be seen on CBS’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Fuse’s Uproarious, Axis”s Gotham Live, NBC’s Comic’s Unleashed and BET ‘s ComicView for multiple appearances. Pat’s animated conversational style is smart silliness that blends societal commentary with first-person storytelling.
MESHELLE “The Indie-Mom of Comedy” is a wife, mother of 3, and sought after comedienne whose appearances include: Nickelodeon’s Search for the Funniest Mom in America 3 (Hosted by Roseanne Barr), Martin Lawrence Presents: THE FIRST AMENDMENT STAND UP (STARz), THE BLACKLIST: 20 Most Notable and Notorious Moments of 2009 & 2010 (TV-ONE); BET News Presents; Obama: Journey to the White House, as well as BET’s ComicView (2014)
Brooklyn born, Connecticut raised Joanna Briley is a New York City-based actor, stand-up comedian and writer. Joanna manages the Brooklyn House of Comedy & has appeared on Lifetime TV’s “Fempire” ad campaign, “Watch What Happens Live” on Bravo TV with Andy Cohen, and several appearances on Wendy Williams “Street Talk” segment.
Black Women in Comedy Festival – Founder
We look forward to hearing from you.
Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/BlackWomeninComedyFestival/
