HEADLINERS

bluebird improv

LOS ANGELES, CA

  • Tim Meadows, Matt Walsh, Joe Canale, Marc Evan Jackson

  • Bluebird is a collective of some of the best improvisers on the planet.

    The show is inspired by conversations with the audience and what follows is an evening of never before (and never again) scenes and characters that cascade into a hilarious and freewheeling improvisation.

  • This program is presented in partnership with support from Visit Williamsburg

  • Tickets are required for this show and can be purchased here.

charm scene LIVE!

CHICAGO, IL

  • Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Sam Scheidler

  • Chicago's fully improvised musical podcast - LIVE! Join Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, and Music Director Sam Scheidler as they create a brand new musical — completely on the fly — in a music improv experience unlike any other. Come be a part of our live taping!

    Collectively, the Charm Scene team can be seen across Chicago and beyond as members of Baby Wants Candy and Shamilton at The Second City, Phony Award Winning Musicals at iO Theater, Tuesday Musical Improv at Annoyance Theatre, RIFF, Lost Realms, and more. Members of Charm Scene have performed with Off Book: The Improvised Musical, the Second City Touring Company, Jackbox Games, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

    Want a sneak peek? We've got new episodes every Tuesday – wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to The Scene!

  • This show is included with the purchase of a festival pass.

cupid’s corner

  • Cupid (God of erotic love and affection)

  • Calling all hopeless and hopeful romantics! Cupid, The god(ess) of desire, erotic love, and TikTok interviews will be at The Last Word Comedy Festival for a one night only comedy event: CUPID'S CORNER! We're about to enter Valentine's season so get into the romantic spirit with your favorite cheeky cherub and some of the festival's most charming improvisors!

    The show features short form improvised scene work followed by some crowd work and love advice by Cupid herself! So whether you're as single as a pringle or madly in love with your heart's desire, Cupid's Corner is the perfect show to warm your heart.

  • This show is included with the purchase of a festival pass.

improvised chicago: the musical

CHICAGO, IL

  • Brady Barrow, Jessica Joy, Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Sam Scheidler, Heather Scholl, Brandon Michael Thomas

  • Created by Whose Line is it Anyway's Laura Hall and Annoyance Theatre's Lisa McQueen, Improvised Broadway presents Improvised Chicago! Complete with improvised songs, dances, and all that jazz, Chicago's best music improvisers will razzle dazzle you, all based on your suggestions and performed in the style of the Kander and Ebb classic.

    Born out of Chicago's iO Theater, Improvised Broadway was entertained audiences for years with improvised parodies of popular Broadway shows - including Wicked, Chicago, A Chorus Line, Little Shop of Horrors, Guys & Dolls, and Company. Members have performed with The Second City, Baby Wants Candy, Shamilton, ANARCHY: The Improvised Rock Opera, Charm Scene, and more.

  • This show is included with the purchase of a festival pass.

improvised wicked Feat. Laura Hall

CHICAGO, IL

  • Brady Barrow, Laura Hall, Jessica Joy, Lily Ludwig, Austin Packard, Heather Scholl, Brandon Michael Thomas

  • Created by Whose Line is it Anyway's Laura Hall and Annoyance Theatre's Lisa McQueen, Improvised Broadway presents Improvised Wicked! Performed in the style of the iconic Broadway hit, Chicago's best musical improvisers will take you to a fantastical world just over the rainbow, and beyond! Complete with improvised songs, dances, and more, these wickedly talented performers will leave you changed - for good!

    Born out of Chicago's iO Theater, Improvised Broadway has entertained audiences for years with improvised parodies of popular Broadway shows - including Wicked, Chicago, A Chorus Line, Little Shop of Horrors, Guys & Dolls, and Company. Members have performed with The Second City, Baby Wants Candy, Shamilton, ANARCHY: The Improvised Rock Opera, Charm Scene, and more.

  • This show is included with the purchase of a festival pass.

my best friend is black

CHICAGO, IL

  • Mike Atcherson, Marcus Banks, Chloe Mikala, Daryn Robinson, Arlieta Hall

  • Recently voted Best Comedy Show by The Chicago Reader for the second consecutive year - My Best Friend is Black is an all-Black comedy variety show based in Chicago that focuses on providing a platform for Black comedic performers. Our shows consist of stand-up, sketch, improv, games, and music. The show takes place every 4th Thursday of the month at The Lincoln Lodge at 8pm. Members of our group have performed on various stages and festivals  such as Laugh Factory, Zanies, Flyover, Limestone, SF Sketchfest, Laughing Skull, Lil Rel’s What’s Funny, Second City, and have also contributed to The Onion. Even though we celebrate Blackness, we encourage people of all backgrounds to come out and laugh with us!

  • This show is included with the purchase of a festival pass.

standup HEADLINERS feat. luke null

HEADLINER SHOWCASE

  • Randolph Washington Jr. (Richmond, VA), Brett Kline (Richmond, VA), Heather Joyce (Fredericksburg, VA), Randall Davis (Toano, VA), Joyce Lim (New York, NY), Luke Null (Los Angeles, CA)

  • Luke Null began performing comedy the moment he picked up a guitar in Chicago. During his stay in the Windy city he developed his signature musical comedy style, blending witty humor with catchy earworms. This unique approach garnered the attention of Lorne Michaels and earned him the chance to perform as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. After a year in New York as a featured player on SNL, Luke moved to LA and is now a regular at the Hollywood Improv. He performs standup comedy at clubs and colleges across the country. In 2025, Luke released a live standup special entitled Pretty Songs, Dirty Words through 800 Pound Gorilla Records, now available on YouTube.

  • This show is included with the purchase of a festival pass.

tj & dave

CHICAGO, IL

  • TJ Jagodowski, David Pasquesi

  • TJ Jagodowski and David Pasquesi have been performing together as TJ and Dave for over 20 years. Starting at the IO Theater in Chicago they have performed all over the U.S. as well as Poland, Italy, Ireland, the UK, Denmark and Austria. In Chicago, they have also gotten to play at The Steppenwolf, The Goodman, The Annoyance and at The Old Town School of Folk Music opening for their friend Ike Reilly.

    David and TJ co-authored a book along with Pam Victor called Improvisation At the Speed of Life. They have also been the subject of a documentary directed by by Alex Karpovsky entitled Trust Us, This Is All Made Up. They have promised to perform together until they get one of these shows right and still hold to that.

    The show TJ and Dave is a two-person completely improvised performance that sometimes resembles a one-act play. They likely will play multiple characters as the story unfolds.

  • This show is included with the purchase of a festival pass.

trike

NEW YORK CITY, NY

  • Peter McNerney, Nick Kanellis

  • "Reliably one of the best improv performances in the city."
    - The New York Times

    Peter McNerney & Nick Kanellis have been performing their unique blend of fast paced physical transformations and thoughtful scene work at the Magnet Theater in New York City since 2009. Trike is an upbeat and impressively layered improv that is always worth checking out.

  • This show is included with the purchase of a festival pass.

whose live anyway?

TOURING COMPANY

  • Scheduled to appear: Greg Proops, Jeff Davis, Joel Murray, Gary Anthony Williams, Chip Esten, Laura Hall

  • The current cast members of the Emmy-nominated TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? are proud to present their new improv tour: Whose Live Anyway?, a 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions. Cast members Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray will leave you gasping with the very witty scenes they invent before your eyes. Audience participation is key to the show so bring your suggestions and you might be asked to join the cast onstage! Whose Live Anyway? showcases some of the improv games made famous on the long-running TV show as well as some exciting new ones, featuring musical direction by Laura Hall.

    The following cast members are scheduled to appear: Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, Joel Murray, Charles Esten, and Laura Hall. Please note the final cast is subject to substitutions due to potential TV and film commitments.

  • This program is presented in partnership with Arts at William & Mary.

  • Tickets for the Saturday performance are available at this link.

    Tickets for the Friday performance have sold out.

IMPROV

BABE

RICHMOND, VA

  • Anthony Brazeau, Elizabeth Byland

  • Two weirdos who travel through space and time to deliver you an inter-dimensional improv show that will have you on the edge of your seat, asking yourself, "what the hell is going to happen next?!"

BARDALICIOUS

RICHMOND, VA

  • Guy Winterbotham, GeGe Beall, Susan Scoven, Kate Simonsen, Chip Marshall, Jacob Horowitz

  • You suggest, we jest! Shakespeare, Improvised. Armed with Shakespearean wit and a flair for utter buffoonery, our players seize upon the Bard’s high drama and twist it into a hilarious tangle of modern jest and antique verse. Prepare for belly-aching laughter that shall surely leave thee with a sore cheek and a spirit wonderfully lightened.  

BIANCHI & BYLAND

RALEIGH, NC & RICHMOND, VA

  • Jenn Bianchi, Elizabeth Byland

  • Imagine a unicorn. Now forget about it. Imagine a tornado. Now forget about it. Imagine if a unicorn of comedy ran into a tornado of good time.... NEVER FORGET ABOUT THAT... or about Bianchi & Byland!

blueballs & Casserole

NEW YORK CITY, NY & RICHMOND, VA

  • Josh Bluabaugh, Bianca Casusol

  • Josh Blubaugh and Bianca Casusol are long time long distance improv friends and this weekend THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME! Watch them explore a special friendship between two very silly people. Josh Blubaugh is co-artistic director of the Coalition Theater and got his start at the Magnet Theater in New York. Bianca Casusol is an instructor at Second City New York and was the Mega Watt Director at the Magnet Theater. Two people with unpronounceable names, one show. Blueballs & Casserole.

CAN’t hardly date

RICHMOND, VA

  • Connor Doyle, Kimberly Nario, Casey Searles, Ryan Dondero, Josh Wright, Michelle Murgia, Jesse Hill Jr, Madeline Smith, Bob Nickles

  • Swipe right on Can’t Hardly Date! This improv team tackles the wild world of modern romance, turning dating disasters into big laughs. Awkward? Absolutely. Hilarious? Sure!

Commonwealth comedy

NORFOLK, VA

  • Dustin Noack, Erin Lindstrom, Ed Phillips, Matt Holeman, Austin Priest, Jeff Beaulieu, Erika Guess, Kenzie Fisher, Trip Rumble

  • Commonwealth Comedy is a comedy collective that experiments with a variety of improv styles, long and short form. They have a monthly show at The Annex in Norfolk, VA and have produced shows for The Generic Theater. With a large cast of minds from many backgrounds that have been working together for many many years, Commonwealth Comedy know how to bring the funny while thrilling any improv enthusiasts.

Dad company

MOBILE, AL

  • Chip Goff, Steven Castle, Barney March, Lesley Roberts

  • The baddest, daddest improv comedy troupe around, Dad Company is a quartet of improvisational comedy veterans that have performed live comedy in Mobile, AL for decades. Dad Company uses audience input to make one-act comedic plays with no planning, no preparation, no rules, and no filter, which means every single show is completely unique.

DOG EATS GOD

CHICAGO, IL

  • Brady Barrow, Adam Cox, Li Angarola, Peyton Baisden

  • Dog Eats God is a four person improv troupe from Chicago, IL. What started out as four enemies stayed four enemies who decided to do improv together. We have performed at many incredible comedy venues including the Annoyance Theater, The iO Theater, Second City, and in comedy festivals such as Mud City Improv Fest and The Last Word Comedy Festival. Come watch us battle it out with love and anarchy through the intricacies of the Dog Eats God form.

ephemera

NEW YORK CITY, NY

  • Rick Beck, Max Feldman, Jackie Ferro, Ilya Khodosh, Maria Nally, Sonia Nam, Jenny Shaw, Curry Whitmire

  • Formed in October of 2022, Ephemera is a Musical Improv house team at the Magnet Theater in New York City, where they recently celebrated their 100th show. Ephemera is known for their cohesive narratives, strong characters, theatrical choices, and well-balanced harmonies.

Festival favorites

RICHMOND, VA

  • Roxi Jara, Laurel George

  • Festival Favorites is a two woman Improv team that transforms the audience suggestion of their favorite song and a bustling location into a fully-improvised world populated entirely by Roxi Jara and Laurel George. After building the two main characters, they cue the song and the audience witnesses the character’s memories through a brief moment of dance/silent movement. Once a memory has run its course, it dissolves back into the previous scene. Festival Favorites’ shows are funny, surprising and rich with characters!

GIRass!

WASHINGTON D.C.

  • Aimee Imundo, Alissa Platz, Armin Haracic, Devon Grams, Jake Boggs, Jason Fliegel, Javi Calderon, Stacey Pelika

  • Every Girass! show is a once in a lifetime experience. These talented improvisers use your suggestion to create an all-new comedy show right on stage.

girlprov

NORFOLK, VA

  • Hannah Sabo, Sydney Plackett, Cristina Rose, Cherise Pack, Cheyenne Walters, Erika Guess, Kayla Helmkamp

  • GirlProv is a Norfolk-based all-women improv house team founded in 2017 that performs with full girls’-night energy: wild, warm, and willing to follow the chaos wherever it leads. We take one audience story and blow it open into a long-form set full of crawling-on-the-floor physicality, high highs, patient lows, and the kind of choices you only make when you trust the people beside you. It’s creative, a little subversive, extremely fun, and feels like a slumber party where absolutely no one is supervising us.

goat rodeo comedy co

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA

  • Deborah Arenstein, Jordan Breeding, Keaton Ray, Marjory Ruderman, Kevin Sawyer, Rachel Showalter, Robin Smith, Teja Vadlamudi

  • Goat Rodeo Comedy Co. is eight smart, playful grownups with kids and mortgages, who love make-em-ups and supporting the crap out of each other.

HOT COMPUTER

RICHMOND, VA

  • Jessica Brooks, Chandler Brooks, Madeline Smith, Mikaela Uricheck, Nolan Hicks, Nick Tenaglia, Wes Parker, Chris Nelson

  • Insane, intimate, and iconic: that's Hot Computer. Hot Computer is an independent improv team primarily based in Richmond, Virginia. Since their debut in 2023, HoCo has performed in shows and festivals up and down the east coast, including Baltimore, Charlotte, Williamsburg and their hometown of Richmond.

just fine dining

RICHMOND, VA

  • Addie Stevens, Z Seliquini, Emma Bailey

  • You are invited to attend a decadent three-course meal hosted by Emma Bailey, Addie Stevens, and Z Seliquini. Entertainment will be provided; please BYO suggestions.

LEMON PEPPER & SAZÓN COMEDY

NORFOLK, VA

  • Loriah Nichols, Robert Torres, Erika Hill, Jessica Wright, Angel Sanchez, Daijreous Poole, Christina Cagle, Ernestine Powell, Tré Porchia, Lisa Powell

  • Lemon Pepper & Sazón Comedy is a POC (Person of Color) centered improv collective based in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Rooted at Push Comedy Theater, our ensemble brings high-energy improv driven by culture, character, and community. We highlight diverse voices and perspectives while creating fast-paced, unscripted comedy that’s bold, clever, and full of flavor.

Live. laugh. murder.

DALLAS, TX

  • Lynsey Hale, Elizabeth Robinson, Shenelle Peart, Alida Liberman, Melanie Robinson, Sarah Worsham

  • Live. Laugh. MURDER is a Dallas-based, all-female improvised murder mystery troupe. They perform an interactive crime procedural that lets the audience identify and interrogate suspects, posit theories with the detectives, and vote for who they think is the killer.

JUST ONE BED

WASHINGTON D.C.

  • Ahsan Butt, Betty Yu, Bradley Galvin, Garima Singal, Jared Leute, Kenneth Bender, Michael Lawernce

  • Just One Bed is a DC-based high-energy indie improv team that builds a fast-paced montage from a single audience suggestion. Expect goofy characters, playful relationships, and plenty of tag-outs and walk-ins as they follow whatever strange paths the scenes take them down. They're never quite sure where the show will go —and that's exactly how they like it.

MATchbox cartoons

CHICAGO, IL

  • Mackenzie Wright, Adam Rozak, Delaney Sterling, Leo LaCamera, Corson Lewarne, Brian Huther

  • Matchbox Cartoons formed through the Annoyance Theatre's Musical Improv program and featured show "Tuesday Musical Improv," now in its 7th season. The Toons are a bunch of musical theatre nerds based in Chicago who love getting silly, playing with joy, heart, and a hell of a lot of musicality.

METTLESOME TOURCO

DURHAM, NC

  • Jack Reitz, Ashley Melzer, Jess Bowers, Matthew Schmitz, Megan Myers, Meredith Biechele, Miles Amiri, Mira McMahon, Marmiss Khosravi, Sam Cripps

  • The Mettlesome TourCo consists of teachers and performers from the award-winning Mettlesome Theater in Durham, NC. Mettlesome produces weekly improv and sketch comedy. Come check out Durham's best!

MAGAZINE DAIRY ANNOUNCEMENT

WASHINGTON D.C.

  • Katie Garbart, Julia Marcus, Fred Gilbert, Jason McPeak, Joel Larin, Ali Cheraghpour, Kate Gilbert

  • Magazine Dairy Announcement is a group of friends and enthusiastic improvisers who have been performing together for two years. They are ready to milk the laughs! This long-form team specializes in silly, friendly scenes full of unforgettable weirdos. Come for the bovine name, stay for the joyful chaos!

NYTEshift

PHILADELPHIA, PA

  • Tia Kemp, Jabari Saeed, Tanya Morgan, Marcely Jean-Pierre, Keane Cobb, James Knight

  • NYTEShift is an all POC comedy troupe performing improv and sketch in Philadelphia for over 10 years. The "NYTE" in NYTEShift stands for "Not Your Token Entertainers" - NYTEShift takes pride in being a beacon for representation within the improv community in Philly. Composed of dynamic and multi-talented comedians, NYTEShift brings their unique voices into a high-energy and thought-provoking show.

mouth stuff

BALTIMORE, MD

  • Topher Darragh, Daniel Costa, Sarah Madrid, Lisa Perrin, Lindy Rhodes, Genevieve O'Keefe, Noelle Davis

  • Mouth Stuff comes in many forms. This one is long-form improv. Might be talking animals. Might be science fiction. One of us will probably die. Only one thing is for sure—these hot, hip Baltimore improvisers will use our personal (sometimes traumatic) stories to take you on an epic improv journey. Mouth Stuff has brought their weird and wonderful brand of comedy to stages across the country, including performances at the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival in Austin, TX, XL Festival in Happy Valley, PA, 2nd Best Festl in Richmond, VA, and the Uptown Improv Festival in Utica, NY. You can regularly catch Mouth Stuff performing at the Highwire Center and the Baltimore Improv Group in beautiful downtown Baltimore, MD.

tacklebox

SAVANNAH, GA

  • Chelsea Jensen, Shaylyn Mackey

  • Gone fishin? Tacklebox is an improv comedy duo based out of Savannah, Georgia consisting of Chelsea Jensen and Shaylyn Mackey. They focus on scene painting, object work, and living in a created space on stage. Their goal is always to bring joy to the people of the audience with trust, connection, and surprising call backs. Time to break out the ol' rods and lures cause Tacklebox is here to catch the big one!

teen angst

BALTIMORE, MD

  • Millie Hoffman, Misty Letts, Jessica Robey, Brian Shea, Justin Yaquiant

  • Teen Angst is an improvised teen movie with all the trappings and tropes of those classics (from whatever era means classic to you).

the beavers

NORFOLK, VA

  • Kenzie Fisher, Ana Elezovic, Erin Lindstrom, Erika Guess, Molly Graham, Marcella Nicotra

  • The Beavers are an all-female improv comedy group based in Norfolk, VA. These fiercely funny women light up the stage with big energy, bold choices, and plenty of unhinged scenes.They have performed in several comedy festivals including iO Fest, the Last Word Comedy Festival, Baltimore Improv Festival, and more. Get ready to have a damn good time with these babes!

the short straw

DURHAM, NC

  • Charles Letizia, Amanda Brosseau, Jared Reed, Ethan Burch, Laura Walton, Daphne Hoover, Claire Blandin, Molly

  • The Short Straw is a Harold house team for Mettlesome Theater in Durham, NC! Sometimes they organically form into a giant bird on stage, and they always try to make their coach proud.

Thelma & Louise

WILLIAMSBURG, VA

  • Brendan O'Brien, Haley Parker

  • Thelma & Louise are a duo act consisting of improvisers Haley Parker & Brendan O'Brien. Originally from the suburbs of New York in the Hudson Valley, Haley and Brendan met in 2019 while performing with the musical improv troupe Duly Noted. During this time, they discovered their chemistry with one another and became immediate kindred spirits with the same shared sense of weirdness. Brendan and Haley moved to Williamsburg, VA in 2023 and have performed together at CSz Richmond, Bridge 9 and Coalition Theater. They've been together for 6+ years, sharing a love of improv comedy, professional wrestling, film noir and their canine and feline daughters Sally & Grayce O'Malley.

Tiptoe

NEW YORK CITY, NY

  • Jenna Barron, Bridget Holmes, Chrissie Gruebel, Daniel Lempert, Fu Goto, Aaron LaRoche, Morgan Phillips, Will Jacobs

  • A group of funny and absurd people, some may say trolls, who have the energy of an entire bar scream-singing the song of summer, and are as supportive and caring as they are sick and nasty. Eight absurd minds, one hilarious heartbeat.

Twig!

BALTIMORE, MD

  • Drew Hatter, Nancy Jin, Lee Synkowski, Ian Cameron, Todd Wade, Melissa Eagen, Johanna Alonso

  • Twig! is a Baltimore-based improv troupe started by a crew of silly, silly gooses (geese?) that love comedy and at some point decided they didn’t mind each other so much, either. And what’s with all this Twig! business, you ask? Well… that’s “The Wednesday Improv Group,” of course!

Wolf night

RICHMOND, VA

  • Ryan Dondero, Z Seliquini, Josh Wright, Brandon Beswick, Casey Searles

  • Wolf Night is an improv team at the Coalition Theater in Richmond, VA. Their show is a cavalcade of weirdo characters from all eras of history.

wolf town

CHICAGO, IL

  • Ashley Whitehurt, Eric Pedersen, Jordan Reichardt, Kaya McCaffrey, Marino Korellis, Sam Huff, Selim Ozden

  • Fresh off performances at the Boom Chicago Comedy Festival in Amsterdam and Edinburgh Improv Fest, WolfTown is jazzed to continue their 2026 festival fun! WolfTown was formed in 2023 at iO Theater as part of New Team Smell Season 6, coached by Creamboy’s Matty Vergun. The team’s signature form features 20-25 minutes of long form improv. Part La Ronde, part Goon River, all chaotic high energy, the cast teases the frayed edges of grounded scenes and surreal experiences. What unfolds is a romp of montages, tag-out runs, sweep edits, and call backs all occurring within the confines of WolfTown: a fictional town in the middle of nowhere. WolfTown features players of diverse backgrounds and performance experiences and is a well-balanced team of heart, head, and x-factor playing.

1-800-FIREDEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON D.C.

  • Chris D’Silva, Madeline Dozier, Mikail Faalasli, Svend Larsen, Ryan McCloskey, Eli Okun, Bethany Stokes

  • 1-800-FIREDEPARTMENT is a DC-based indie improv team that formed in 2020. They're a group of friends who love pushing their improv skills to the limit. From the quirky chaos of Spokane to the intricate layers of Deconstruction, this team dives headfirst into a variety of formats to keep their audience and themselves on their toes. Get ready for a blazing good time!

STAND-UP

blake carlson

RICHMOND, VA

  • Blake Carlson is a professional copywriter, improviser, and stand-up comedian based in Richmond, Virginia. His upbringing during the internet boom filled his head with too much information to process alone, so he is excited to share his insights and observations about this overwhelming world with you. And also talk about himself.

brett kline

RICHMOND, VA

  • Brett Kline is a comedian, actor and writer who works consistently in television, film and radio. He started stand up comedy during high school, performing at clubs and bars around the Detroit comedy scene. While earning his BFA in Acting from Michigan State University, Brett won the school's comedy competition 'Last Spartan Standing' and received paid gigs opening for touring acts like Melissa Villeseñor and Mark Normand. After graduation, Brett moved to New York City to work as a comedy writer for national radio stations while performing nightly at top venues like Dangerfield's, New York Comedy Club, Carolines On Broadway and Gotham Comedy Club. Brett has since made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC), The SLO Comedy Festival and Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (TriStar Pictures). His act incorporates hard hitting jokes with characters, impressions and music.

chris waller

RICHMOND, VA

  • Chris Waller has had a blast in his rookie year of comedy. He’s performed all over his home city of Richmond from the Game of Jokes to Cowbell Comedy. He knew comedy was his dream after performing at the Funnybone just one month into his career. He now TA’s for standup classes and hopes to expand his act beyond the city.

edward phillips

NORFOLK, VA

  • Ed Phillips is a stand-up, sketch, and improv comedian and Co-Founder of Commonwealth Comedy Network. He’s opened for Orlando Jones and Johnny Pemberton and combined his love of nerdy stuff and comedy for packed audiences at BlerdCon and Tidewater ComicCon. When he’s not on stage you can catch him hunting for action figures, hanging out with his friends, and struggling to close a bio in an authentic and meaningful way.

heather joyce

FREDERICKSBURG, VA

  • Heather has been doing standup since 2019 after moving back to Virginia from LA (Lower Alabama). She performs all over Virginia, DC, and Maryland in comedy clubs, festivals, scifi conventions, and even elementary schools. She has opened for national acts like Dusty Slay, Brad Upton, Kevin James Thornton, and Leah Rudick. She explores topics from the nerdy to the risque with a unique and sometimes musical perspective. Her album, “Come and Get It, Nerds!” is available on the web.

jabari saeed

PHILADELPHIA, PA

  • Jabari Saeed is a Philly based Standup Comedian. He's a recent finalist in Philly's Phunniest Person at Helium Comedy Club. Jabari’s humor is deeply personable, making the chaos of family life and the absurdities of social issues feel instantly relatable (and hilarious). He is also the host and curator of the popular showcase, "Liberty Bell Laughs."

jordan boyd

RICHMOND, VA

  • Jordan Boyd is a Richmond-based comedian and producer who has performed on Don't Tell Comedy, The Last Word Comedy Festival, The Baltimore Comedy Festival, and many more. She co-produces the Coalition Theater's Open Mic, Champions, known for its exclusively curated lineup of comedians from across the state, and runs shows around Richmond with the goal of promoting diversity within stand up.

joyce lim

NEW YORK CITY, NY

  • Originally from Malaysia, Joyce Lim is a NY based standup comedian. Former choreographer/dancer who has toured internationally, her comedic style is subversive and playful.

CHICAGO, IL

kelli tosic

  • Kelli Tosic (they/them) is a stand-up comedian, improviser, singer, and actor based in Chicago. You’ve seen them perform at the Floodwater Comedy Festival and all over Chicago, including Second City, iO Theatre, the Annoyance Theatre, Bughouse Theatre, and in Selected Stand-Up at the Ramova Theatre. They also play on the improv teams Old Friends, Late Day Cappuccino, and Class Action.

leon scott

WASHINGTON D.C.

  • Leon Scott is a comedian and Emmy-nominated writer who has hosted and performed in comedy festivals across the country.

mazdak

SAN DIEGO, CA

  • Mazdak is an Iranian-American comedian and writer based in San Diego. Born and raised on the east coast, he started standup comedy in 2023 to help combat inflation. When he realized it had no effect on inflation, he kept doing it anyway. When not performing, he works as a software engineer and roots for his hometown Washington Commanders. He regularly performs at Comedy Heights and is also co-producer of Slap Diego Comedy. While performing all over Southern California, he has also toured with La Cabrona Comedy and performed at the World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas, Big Laughs Fest 2025, San Gabriel Comedy Festival 2025, and Vermont Comedy Festival 2025. He still hopes comedy will, one day, solve national economic problems.

mike veasey

STATEN ISLAND, NY

  • Mike Veasey is a New York Comedian who has performed at venues such as Gotham Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, and the St. George Theater. He has also performed in the Good Karma and Fifth Boro Comedy Festivals. Mike Veasey is an actor/writer/comedian who has been involved in theater since high school. As an actor, he has performed with several local theater companies, including Sea View Playwrights, Staten Island Shakespearean Theater, and Sundog. His plays have been staged by Sundog Theatre, The Peoples Improv Theater, and Manhattan Repertory Theater. He is a producer at Staten Island Community Television, producing various programs including his periodic talk show Mike’s Alternate Reality Show, which can be seen on Youtube. He has also had sketch shows staged by Sundog Theatre and the People's Improv Theatre.

mo macsai

BROOKLYN, NY

  • Mo Macsai is a Brooklyn-based comedian who has been hosting The Gatekeeper Live! since 2021 and can be seen at venues around New York like Caveat, Asylum NYC, NYC Shakedown, and Brooklyn Comedy Collective. In 2025, Mo established residencies at both Broadway Comedy Club and Greenwich Village Comedy Club. Mo recently took home the “Best of the Fest” honor at the Comedy Chateau’s 4th annual Comedy Festival in LA.

nik narain

DURHAM, NC

  • Nik Narain (he/they) is a writer, comedian, science communicator, singer-songwriter, drag artist, and visual artist based in Durham, NC. Nik has performed his dry-witted, introspective, and heartfelt stand-up comedy around the world. He most recently debuted his one-hour special "Rusk" at the Edinburgh, NYC, and Raleigh Fringe Festivals, which was reviewed as "sharply funny" by Theatre Beyond Broadway and as "brilliant, original, [and] authentic" by comedian and actor Ken Jeong. He recently hosted for Atsuko Okatsuka and Sureni Weerasekara, and is a regular performer in the Triangle comedy scene. Nik holds a background in physics, neuroscience research, K-12 STEM education, and LGBTQ+ and Mental Health advocacy, which inspire his love for working at the intersection of art, science, and community engagement. You may find him trying new recipes, going on long walks, or reciting yet another dad joke.

randall davis

TOANO, VA

  • Hailing originally from Ettrick, VA, and now based in Toano, VA (Williamsburg area), Randall is a fresh face in the comedy world. His childhood memory of Sinbad's HBO special, uniting his mother, grandparents, and himself in laughter, serves as an early motivator of his comedic journey. Since stepping onto the stage he's been lighting up rooms with his warm personality and relatable humor. Randall weaves stories about his wife, kids and his adventures as a big guy navigating life—with a sprinkle of childhood anecdotes. Randall has performed at DC Improv, Richmond Funny Bone, Last Word Comedy Festival, Good Karma Comedy Festival, Church of Satire Comedy club, The Comedy Catch and Give a Hoot comedy club!

randolph washington jr.

RICHMOND, VA

  • Randolph Washington Jr. is an aspiring comedian, professional homosexual, and tenured nerd. A Charlottesvillian who graces stages all over the DMV, including premier venues like The Southern, Coalition Theater, and Room 808. He is a member of Traverse Comedy which produces open mics and showcases in the Richmond comedy scene. Follow him @RandolphComedy on whichever social media you find least annoying.

rey tang

CHICAGO, IL

  • Rey Tang is a Chicago-based writer, performer, and filmmaker, recently written up by the Chicago Reader. She performed stand-up in the 2024 SNL Showcase at the Annoyance Theater and sketch as part of Right Wrong Radio Hour, a very funny comedy show. She's also performed in venues such as Laugh Factory, Zanies, and Hollywood Improv. Rey is currently represented by Stewart Talent Agency Chicago. You can catch Rey every Tuesday at her open mic "Pizza Mic," which had been shouted out by the New York Times.

rome davis

CHESAPEAKE, VA

  • Rome Davis is a Virginia-based comedian whose high-energy style and quick crowd work have earned him spots at the Baltimore Comedy Festival, Funny Bone stages, and features on WHRO, AfroTV, and the Michael Colyar Morning Show. He’s also the creator and host of the No I.D. Podcast, bringing raw, funny conversations to a growing national audience.

roni nicole

CARY, NC

  • Quick with a quip and fluent in funny, Roni Nicole blends sharp stand-up, wild improv, and character-rich sketch comedy into a style that’s as unpredictable as it is unforgettable. With roots in realness and a knack for the absurd, they turn everyday chaos into comedy gold—one laugh at a time.

sam nelson

RICHMOND, VA

  • Richmond-based comedian Sam Nelson wants you to envision a smile. Now try it on. Don’t get too caught up in the details. It’s not about you.

samantha lukasiewicz

RICHMOND, VA

  • Known for her sharp storytelling and unapologetic opinions, Samantha has brought her unique humor stages across Richmond and beyond, performing in Philadelphia, Miami, Houston, Minneapolis, New York City, Atlanta, New Orleans, Nashville, and Washington D.C. Drawing inspiration from everyday experiences, she weaves relatable humor into her sets, embraces the art of a selfie, and isn’t afraid to celebrate the occasional ugly cry. She has been featured on Don’t Tell, Next in Line Comedy, and has performed at the Richmond FunnyBone. Samantha currently produces an open mic, Comedy Cub, and co-hosts a monthly showcase in Richmond, The Mane Event.

shaylyn mackey

SAVANNAH, GA

  • With a unique style of storytelling, Shaylyn’s stand up sets are full of wonky characters and strange encounters. Her knack for reading folks has given her the power to spot a midwesterner from blocks away. Shaylyn Mackey is a performer in the beautiful Hostess City - Savannah, Ga. She’s a regular on stage at Front Porch Improv and has been invited to perform at Cobblestone Comedy, The Laugh Lounge, Savannah Loves Comedy and more. Shaylyn is a co-producer of Big Chick Energy - a stand up show that showcases the ladies of the lowcountry. She also produces a monthly Hip Hop Comedy Game Show called Rap it Up. All of these things fit together very naturally.

travis lincoln

COLUMBIA, SC

  • Born in The Lowcountry of SC, Travis began his comedy career in Columbia SC. Known for his witty humor, impersonations, sultry singing impressions, and smooth delivery, Travis is highly regarded throughout the Southeast as a Comedian to watch! With over 11 Comedy Festivals attended, 150,000 followers and well over 100 million views on Social Media, Travis is also making a name for himself as a content creator as well as an established powerhouse comedian.

vinny seeram

NEW YORK CITY, NY

  • Vinny Seeram is a Bronx-born stand-up comedian based in New York City. His comedy weaves together personal anecdotes with social commentary to highlight everyday absurdities, delivered in his distinctive voice and cadence. He has appeared in various festivals including the Boston Comedy Festival and the HaHa Harvest Comedy Festival, and regularly performs across New York.

last word academy

TEAM BLUBAUGH

COACH: JOSHUA BLUBAUGH

  • Josh Blubaugh is the Co-Artisitic Director of the Coalition Theater in Richmond, Virginia.  He has a long resume of sketch improv and stand up projects including Trash Bang, RVA Tonight, The Trollnight Show and can be seen performing regularly with Fan Friction and Roll 4 Improv. As an improviser Josh focuses on bringing realistic emotions to absurd and surrealist situations.

  • Alex Bullard (Virginia Beach, VA)
    Debbie Campbell (Blacksburg, VA)
    Gracen Greenburg (Columbia, SC)
    Jasito Perez (Norfolk, VA)
    Jennifer Tasso (Johnson City, TN)
    JFur Rasputin (Charlottesville, VA)
    Kimberley Neal-Helt (Chester, VA)
    Nigel Poh (New York, NY)
    Rae Weaver (Richmond, VA)
    Rhett Epler (Portsmouth, VA)

TEAM NARIO

COACH: KIMBERLY NARIO

  • Kimberly Nario is the Co-Artistic Director at the Coalition Theater. She’s a stand-up and improviser who performs in the monthly bad-date themed show, Can’t Hardly Date. In 2023, she started coaching Still Life, a monthly improvised two-act play. She loves knowing glances, longing looks, and knowing exactly what to say. 

    A professional digital communicator, she focuses on narratives and messaging. Her writing has been featured in Refinery29 and on The Drew Barrymore Show almost too long ago to mention.

  • Aj Surrell (St. Louis, MO)
    Ashlyn Chapman (Durham, NC)
    Becca Groner (Nashville, TN)
    Bradley Laas (Chicago, IL)
    Chelsea Mahaffey (Richmond, VA)
    Harry David (Richmond, VA)
    Jesse Breazeale (Columbia, SC)
    Katherine Holmes (Atlanta, GA)
    Nina Unger (Reston, VA)
    Sam Rizzo (Richmond, VA)

TEAM casusol

COACH: BIANCA CASUSOL

  • Bianca Casusol is a performer and teacher based in NYC, currently teaching at the Second City in Brooklyn, with past experience at Magnet theater, the Pit, DSi and others. You can find her work featured in The Truth Podcast, Story Pirates, Reductress, Risk! Podcast and hot mic with Dan Savage.

  • Andre Keels (Richmond, VA)
    Emily Baker (Blacksburg, VA)
    Jay Frank (Richmond, VA)
    Jeffrey Sheary (St. Louis, MO)
    Jessica Brooks (Richmond, VA)
    Jessica Callahan (Schenectady, NY)
    Matt Black (Williamsburg, VA)
    Megan Nguyen (Saint Louis, MO)
    Peggy Kageleiry (Williamsburg, VA)

TEAM socO

COACH: BILLY SOCO

  • Billy Soco is an NYC-based actor, voice artist, and improv teacher of Chilean and Filipino descent. He serves as Artistic Director for Megawatt at Magnet Theater, where he teaches improv and musical improv. He also teaches with The Second City Conservatory. 

    He has trained at Magnet Theater, Upright Citizens Brigade, The Second City, and Freestyle Love Supreme Academy. Performance credits include SaltPepperKetchup, North Coast, Baby Wants Candy, Shamilton, ComedySportz, Big Whoop, Kittyhawk, The Armando Diaz Experience and Story Pirates. He has taught and performed at Improv Utopia, Vancouver Improv Festival (Canada), Out of Bounds (Austin), Robin Hood International (UK), and Teatro Lospleimovil (Chile) to name a few. Learn more at billysoco.com

  • Alison Lazo (Richmond, VA)
    Amy McCluskey (Williamsburg, VA)
    Beth Hailey (Richmond, VA)
    Brian Sallade (Vinton, VA)
    Miki Manting (Boston, MA)
    Ryan Casey (Richmond, VA)
    Samantha Jane Williams (Peekskill, NY)
    Sean Geary (San Carlos, CA)
    Tiffany Boyd (Williamsburg, VA)

college acts

amuse bouche

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA - CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA

  • Brigit Bundick, Jesse Smith, Reese Robers, Kate Delaney, Harrison Bontecou, Rand McAvoy, Kieran Warner, Jack Yasenchok, Eva Geisinger, Grant Goco

  • Amuse Bouche is UVA's premier and only long-form improv group. Known as the self-proclaimed “Bad Boys of Improv Comedy," Amuse Bouche is renowned for its mind-boggling hilarity and strikingly good looks.

new & improv’d

JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY - HARRISONBURG, VA

  • Audrey Sparrow, Finn Bernuy, Nico Peeples, Justin Monroe, Finn Wagner, Harrison Wright, Emily Spielman, Sammie Ames, Connor Casadonte, Spencer Jackson, Julia Finkler

  • New & Improv’d is JMU's oldest and boldest comedy troupe! Established in 1999 with the mascot from their game Bear Country, they have been performing in Harrisonburg and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley area for almost 30 years!

OVERREACTORS

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA - COLUMBIA, SC

  • Gracen Greenburg, Will Hahne, Francis

  • The Overreactors are back at it again at the Last Word Festival! Hailing from the University of South Carolina, the Overreactors are here to show the city of Williamsburg a prov'ing good time!

SANDBOX IMPROV

WILLIAM & MARY- WILLIAMSBURG, VA

  • Declan Walsh, Mac Johnson, Finley Cochran, Nathan Kulp, Sydney Phillips, Aidan Delpino, Allison Monfalcone, Maddy Garnet, Emily Tifft

  • Sandbox Improv is a long form improv troupe at William & Mary! They don't mess around when they're messing around.

THE WHETHERMEN

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA - CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA

  • Farooq Khan, Jack Wolff, Jack Ireland, Matthew Bach, Zayne Sayers, Alec Emond, Bryce Kirkland, Tara Cochrane, Mel Josephson, Caitlin Durgin, Becca Bolick

  • Don't ask them the weather, they don't know. Hailing from Charlottesville, VA and founded in 1997, the Whethermen are the University of Virginia's oldest performing improv group, specializing in both short and long form comedy. Whether you're looking for a life-changing experience or just a quick laugh, the Whethermen are what you're looking for.

VCU IMPROV

VA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY - RICHMOND, VA

  • Diana Altenhof, Casey Henley, Aidan Campbell, Eliana Miller, Kylie Metheny, Simon Skinner, Katherine Nguyen

  • VCU IMPROV is bringing all the long form narrative vibes with big bold characters in detailed environments that pack all the feels in just one set!

COLLEGE SHOWCASE HOST - CONNOR SNOW

DEPAUL - CHICAGO, IL

  • Contrary to his name, Connor Snow is from the American South. Concieved in the city of the New Orleans and raised in Texas, he has a cajun-italian flair with an “everything's bigger” personality. Beyond stand-up, Connor performs improv and sketch comedy around Chicago, with his sketch group Semicolon Parenthesis recently performing at Sketchfest. And when he's not performing, he's enjoying nature, food, sleeping, or all three at the same time. Connor Snow's comedy follows one main principle: We’re all stuck here together, so we might as well laugh!