This past spring, Milwaukee Comedy Festival announced its plans to return for a 20th annual installment this fall. That announcement also came with the exciting news that modern comedy legend Patton Oswalt would be headlining a Thursday, October 9 show at Pabst Theater as part of the festival. Today, just over six weeks before the six-day fest is set to begin, the MCF crew announced two more accomplished and all-around great headliners that will be taking part in this year’s event.
On Tuesday, October 7, the 20th annual Milwaukee Comedy Festival will officially kick off at Lakefront Brewery with a show headlined by Aparna Nancherla. Beyond her various specials and late night talk show performances in the realm of stand up, Nancherla has also amassed an impressive list of television and film credits, including appearances in A Simple Favor, Corporate, Crashing, Abbott Elementary, and recurring voiceover roles on animated shows The Great North and Bob’s Burgers. She’s also an author whose book, Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome, garnered critical acclaim.
The following night, Sean Patton will keep the laughs coming when he heads up a Milwaukee Comedy Festival show at The Cooperage. If you’re unfamiliar, Patton has performed on network television talk shows, had a Comedy Central half-hour special, released some outstanding albums, and has likely been a memorable guest on some of your favorite podcasts. He’s also an actor who you might know/love from the FX series English Teacher, as well as other TV appearances on shows like Maron, Those Who Can’t, and Inside Amy Schumer.
The 2025 Milwaukee Comedy Festival will take place October 7-12 at a variety of local venues, and it’s already shaping up to be one for the ages. Stay tuned for the full lineup in the coming weeks.