Milwaukee Comedy Festival turned 10 last summer. Originating long before the city had anything even resembling a sustainable comedy community, the Matt Kemple-curated undertaking has grown and evolved in kind with Milwaukee’s humor scene. From August 3-7, the days-long blend of stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy will return bigger, better, and with a more renowned headliner than ever in its 11th year. The festivities kick off with a Wednesday night showcase at Lakefront Brewery before the official events move to the Next Act Theatre for three days and select few shows at The Underground Collaborative before, finally, culminating with a Turner Hall show headlined by the hilarious and New York Times best-selling likes of Jen Kirkman on August 7. Here’s the full lineup:
Thursday, August 4 – 7:30 p.m. (Next Act Theatre)
Matt Werner
Broadminded
David Louis
Sketch Marks
Chris Schmidt
Friday, August 5 – 7:30 p.m. (Next Act Theatre)
Terence Hartnett
Improvised Mythology
John Egan
Kelsie Huff
Friday, August 5 – 9:30 p.m. (Next Act Theatre)
Mike Hover
Variety Hour Happy Hour
Brian O’ Sullivan
Bobby Hill
Saturday, August 6 – 4 p.m. (Next Act Theatre)
A Visitor’s Guide To Springfield (Live podcast recording)
David Rader
Brian Bayer
Amanda Cohen
Sameena Mustafa
Saturday, August 6 – 7:30 p.m. (Next Act Theatre)
Will Green
Rehner & Nixon
Andy Fleming
Jim Flannigan
Saturday, August 6 – 9:30 p.m. (Next Act Theatre)
Steve King
Interstellar…And Beyond
Arish Singh
Xavier Lamont
Saturday, August 6 – 11:30 p.m. (Next Act Theatre)
Andrea Guzzetta
The Journal
Wisconsinuts
Damon Millard
Sunday, August 7 – 2 p.m. (The Underground Collaborative)
Late Late Breakfast
Milwaukee Record presents “On The Record” live podcast recording
Sunday, August 7 – 8 p.m. (Turner Hall Ballroom)
Jen Kirkman
Allison Dunne