New York Comedy Festival to Feature Louis C.K., Margaret Cho and ‘Strangers With Candy' Reunion
The festival will feature more than 200 comedians at 100 shows at venues across the five boroughs for 10 days from Nov. 7-16. This year's headliners include such acts as the Basement Yard, Hannah Berner, Michael Blackson, Louis C.K., Margaret Cho, Alex Edelman, Chris Fleming, Pete Holmes, Morgan Jay, Ismo, Ryan Long, Nurse John, Yohay Sponder, Trevor Wallace and more.
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Also on the lineup is a special reunion for Strangers with Candy creators and stars Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris. The event, to be held at Town Hall on Nov. 8, is billed as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the show's cancellation. Strangers with Candy aired for three seasons on Comedy Central and became a cult classic thanks to its risqué humor and wild storylines. It cast Sedaris as Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old ex-drug addict who returns to high school to do it a second time as a freshman. As the show grew in popularity, it snagged high-profile guest stars like Will Ferrell, Andy Richter, Tim Meadows, David Cross, Paul Rudd, Winona Ryder and more. It currently streams on Paramount+.
'We're thrilled to unveil this year's incredible lineup — a dynamic mix of global headliners and rising voices that reflect where comedy is right now and where it's headed. We're proud to continue to bring New York City the very best of the best' said Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival which launched in 2004. 'In a constantly shifting landscape, we stay committed to spotlighting new voices, championing fresh perspectives, breaking form and shaping a festival that sets the standard both creatively and commercially.'
Added the Basement Yard's Joe Santagato: 'I have no idea how many planets had to align for this opportunity to be given to two kids from Queens but we are so excited and will give New York the best possible show we can.'
Beyond headliners, the New York Comedy Festival is expected to reveal details for additional events in the coming months for its Stand Up for Heroes, New York's Funniest Stand Ups presented by Threads, Comics to Watch, live podcast recordings, panel discussions and more.
More information can be found here. Tickets are available to the general public starting July 21 at 11 a.m. ET. Bread Financial serves as the official sponsor of the festival and the Bread Cashback American Express Credit Card is the official card, and holders have early access to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning July 16. Additional sponsors include Threads, Hard Rock Hotel New York (the official host hotel for a fourth year), ABC7, iHeart Radio, NYC Media & Entertainment, NYC Tourism + Conventions, Founded in NYC, New York Magazine, New York Post, Vulture and The Wall Street Journal.
Since it landed on the scene, the NYCF has hosted top talents like Judd Apatow, Bill Burr, Margaret Cho, Larry David, Kevin Hart, Jo Koy, Nick Kroll, Bill Maher, Trevor Noah, Conan O'Brien, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman, Wanda Sykes, Tracy Morgan and many more. The 2025 lineup thus far is below.
Friday, Nov. 7
7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. – Ryan Long at the Venue at Hard Rock Hotel New York
8 p.m. – Nurse John: The Short-Staffed Tour at The Beacon Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 8
7 p.m. – A celebration of the 25th anniversary of the cancellation of Strangers with Candy with Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris at Town Hall
7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. – Ryan Long at the Venue at Hard Rock Hotel New York
7 p.m.– Trevor Wallace: The Alpha Beta Male at Beacon Theatre
8 p.m. – Hannah Berner: None of My Business Tour at Carnegie Hall
Sunday, Nov. 9
7 p.m. – Ismo: Woo Hoo! World Tour at Town Hall
Thursday, Nov. 13
7 p.m. – Yohay Sponder at Town Hall
7 p.m. – Morgan Jay: The Goofy Guy Tour at The Beacon Theatre
8 p.m. – The Basement Yard: From the Basement to the World Tour at Madison Square Garden
Friday, Nov. 14
7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. – Michael Blackson: America Is Fkd Comedy Tour at the Venue at Hard Rock Hotel NY
7 p.m. – Pete Holmes: The Pete Here Now Tour at Town Hall
7:30 p.m. – Louis C.K. Ridiculous at The Beacon Theater
Saturday, Nov. 15
6 p.m. – Alex Edelman: What Are You Going To Do at Carnegie Hall
7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. – Michael Blackson: America Is Fkd Comedy Tour at the Venue at Hard Rock Hotel NY
7 p.m. – Margaret Cho: Choligarchy at Town Hall
7:30 p.m. – Louis C.K. Ridiculous at The Beacon Theater
8:45 p.m. – Chris Fleming at Carnegie Hall
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