Stand-up comedy is a comic style in which a comedian performs in front of a live audience, usually speaking directly to them. The performer is commonly known as a comic, stand-up comic, comedian, comedienne, stand-up comedian, or simply a stand-up. In stand-up comedy, the comedian gives the illusion that they are dialoguing, but in actuality, they are monologuing a grouping of humorous stories, jokes and one-liners, typically called a shtick, routine, or set. Some stand-up comedians use props, music or magic tricks to enhance their acts. Stand-up comedy is stated to be the "freest form of comedy writing" that is normally regarded as an "extension of" the person performing. The improvisation of stand-up is often compared to jazz music. A comedian's process of writing is likened to the process of song writing. A comedian's ability to tighten their material has been likened to crafting a samurai sword.
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might take many forms including jokes, satirical observations, amusing situations, acting foolish or employing prop comedy. A comedian who addresses an audience directly is called a stand-up comedian. Other practises include the sitcom, sketch comedy and improv genres.
Matthew Gregory Besser is an American actor, director and comedian best known as one of the four founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy troupe, who had their own show on Comedy Central from 1998–2000. He currently hosts the improvisation-based podcast Improv4humans on the Earwolf podcasting network.
Victor Varnado is an American stand up comedian and actor. He is African American and albinistic. He was born legally blind due to his Albinism. He grew up in Huntsville, Alabama and later moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Jim David is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He is originally from Asheville, North Carolina, and lives in New York City. He performs stand-up comedy at comedy clubs and other venues worldwide.
Theatre Strike Force is the University of Florida's premier improv and sketch comedy troupe. The group also goes by TSF. The style of improv performed by Theatre Strike Force is a combination long form and short form. They both teach and perform improvisational comedy. They have six house teams which include both forms of improv as well as a sketch team. There are four long form house teams which are cast every semester and usually have six to eight members. The TSF Short Form Team is cast every semester as well and usually has fifteen to nineteen members. TSF Sketch is the final house team and usually has twelve to sixteen members, cast each semester.
The Cologne Comedy Festival is an international comedy festival held in Cologne, Germany every year since 1991. It was founded by Achim Rohde in 1990 in Kleve, Germany. The festival initially started by importing comedians from around the world. During the 1990s, stand-up comedy became popular with young German audiences, who had experienced humor whilst living outside Germany. This led to home-grown comedy acts, which in turn led to the growth of the festival, to its present point, where many of the brightest stars of German and international comedy perform to sold-out houses in over 20 venues, ranging from small clubs to large theatres. Many German comedy acts have been discovered via the festival.
Saad Haroon is a Pakistani comedian, actor, and writer. Haroon is the creator of the first ever Pakistani improvisational comedy troupe "BlackFish", he was the first Pakistani Stand Up comedian to perform in English in cities across the whole of Pakistan in his tour "Saad Haroon: Very Live". Haroon created and hosts the first ever English language comedy television show in Pakistan. In October 2014, Haroon was voted the second funniest person in the world, securing 59,213 votes in the Laugh Factory competition.
The culture of Singapore is a combination of Asian and European cultures. Influenced by Malay, South Asian, East Asian, and Eurasian cultures, Singapore has been dubbed as a country where "East meets West", "Easy Asia" and "Garden city".
The Tokyo Comedy Store (TCS) is an English-language comedy show held in central Tokyo, Japan, which features stand-up comedians and improvised comedy.
Founded on April 1, 2008 by Broadway veteran and award-winning Comedian, Arts Educator and Entertainer Mina Liccione and Stand-Up Comedian and Producer Ali Al Sayed. Dubomedy Arts produce stellar events and Festivals and are the premiere comedy and urban arts school in the MENA region offering professional training in comedy: stand-up and sketch, Improvisation, Writing & Performance, Character development and acting, Arabic Comedy, Basic Circus Skills, NYC Tap Dance and Body Beats, Learn to Speak Emirati classes all year round for kids, teens and adults. Dubomedy's mission is to use comedy as a tool to bring people of diverse cultures, religions and financial means together. To produce high quality events featuring international artists as well as annual festivals that are relevant to the MENA Region, celebrate laughter and break stereotypes. To create a sustainable local comedy community by providing professional comedy and urban arts training as well as platforms for local artists. To pave the way, coach, empower, inspire and begin to export comedy talent from the Middle East to the West.
Taz VanRassel is a Canadian Comedian and Actor primarily known for his work in Improv theatre. He was nominated as Best Male Improviser in Canada at The Canadian Comedy Awards from 2007-2015, is a founding member of The Sunday Service improv troupe, of Instant Theatre Company, 9-year member of the Vancouver TheatreSports League and is a member and co-creator of the sketch comedy group Titmouse! with Eisner Award-winning comic book writer/comedian Ian Boothby.
Ali Al Sayed is a comedian based in Dubai. Al Sayed was named "one of the most influential comedians in the world" by Toastmasters International Magazine and was recently dubbed the “King of Laughter” by a group of university students competing for an internship with Rolling Stone ME. Al Sayed is the founder of the local entertainment company Viva Arts and is the co-director of Dubomedy Arts, the first and only Comedy and Urban Arts School in the MENA region.
Tom Segura is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster. Segura co-hosts Your Mom's House podcast. He lives with his family in Los Angeles, California.
Rory Scovel is an American comedian, writer and actor from Greenville, South Carolina. He lives in Los Angeles.
Joel Creasey is an Australian stand-up comedian, actor and television presenter living in Melbourne. Creasey has performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, as well as performing at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2013 and 2014 and the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015. Creasey is also known as the "Acid Tongue Prince". Creasey is currently Australia's commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest alongside Myf Warhurst.
Ismo Leikola is a Finnish stand-up comedian.
Nishant Tanwar is an Indian comedian and actor. He began performing in Gurgaon in 2009. He started off his career working at NDTV, when he found his passion in stand up comedy at an open mic event.
Dwayne Perkins is an American stand-up comedian from Brooklyn, New York, currently residing in Los Angeles. He is best known for his appearances on Conan, Comedy Central, and as a regular correspondent on The Jay Leno Show. In August 2012, he was selected by Rolling Stone magazine as one of their "Five Comics to Watch". In October 2015, he was the artist-in-residence at the Rotterdam International Comedy Festival.
