Get ready for the funniest week of the year as the 16th annual New York Comedy Festival (NYCF) rolls back into town from November 4 through 10. With some of the biggest names in comedy, the festival will feature improv sketches, podcast broadcasts and panel discussions in addition to regular stand-up. For this year’s partnership, NYCF is teaming up with The Female Quotient (The FQ) to strive for increased female representation in comedy. For those who love gender equality in the workplace, The FQ will be hosting a pop-up lounge in Bloomingdale’s iconic 59th street store from November 7 through 8.
“Nothing beats being able to perform stand-up comedy in New York to some of the best audiences in the world, and that’s what this festival is,” said host of “The Daily Show” and festival headliner Trevor Noah. “I can’t wait.”
With tickets ranging from $8 to $90, more than 100 shows will take place at some of New York’s hottest venues, including Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Town Hall and the Tribeca Performing Arts Center.
Here are some of the acts that we’re looking forward to:
Jenny Slate:
As a performer who can dazzle in many roles, Slate will be exercising her comedic side at Town Hall on November 5 at 8 p.m. Her Critic’s Choice Award for Best Actress in a Comedy for “Obvious Child” and her multiple nominations for BTVA awards promise that you won’t want to miss her one-woman show.
Nicole Byer:
Actress, comedian and writer Byer will be bringing her talents to the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center on November 8 at 7 p.m. You may know Byer from MTV’s “Girl Code,” or from her popular podcast “Why Don’t You Date Me?”, but this rising star is still a female comic to look out for according to Refinery 29. Byer was also named a Time Out LA “Comic to Watch” in 2015, so we can be sure that when it comes to her live comedy performance, Byer will totally nail it.
Stephen Colbert:
This “Late Show” host is moving to a slightly earlier time slot to bring you an exclusive look at how his top-rated show comes together. At Carnegie Hall on November 7 at 8 p.m., Colbert will be on stage with a team of “The Late Show” producers for a night of laughter and insider secrets. Colbert gained traction as a comedian with the famed Second City improv troupe in Chicago, and he has since used his dramatic talents to impact culture and politics with his time on “The Colbert Report” and his own Political Action Committee, “Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow.”
Comedy Bang! Bang!:
Scott Aukerman of hit podcast Comedy Bang! Bang! will be hosting a live version of the show at the Beacon Theatre on November 8 at 10:15 p.m. along with some surprise guests! Ackerman grew out of the cult classic sketch series “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” and has since served as the co-creator and director of Emmy award-winning web series “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.”
Trevor Noah: Loud and Clear Tour 2019
Headlining this year’s festival, Noah will be drawing crowds into Madison Square Garden on November 8 at 8 p.m. As the host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning “The Daily Show,” Noah is one of the world’s most successful comedians. Last year, he won a GLAAD award Outstanding Talk Episode and received nominations for two NAACP Image Awards. We can’t wait to see what his “Loud & Clear Tour” has in store!
U Up? Live:
Don’t worry, this comedy duo from Betches Media won’t let you die alone. Their live, audience-interactive show at Town Hall on November 8 at 9:45 p.m. promises to cover relationships, awkward sexual encounters and so much more. Between hosts Jordana Abraham and Jared Freid, this show is sure to offer insight into the trials of dating along with quite a few laughs.
Bill Maher:
You may be used to Maher’s unflinching and boundary-pushing comedy after his more than 25 years on stage, but this comic is ready for more at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 9 at 8 p.m. His years on TV shows “Politically Incorrect” and HBO’s “Real Time” have garnered him 41 Emmy nominations. Maher is also known for his five best-selling books, most recently including “The New New Rules: A Funny Look at How Everybody but Me Has Their Head up Their Ass.”
Events are confirmed to date and are subject to additions and changes.
