Boston Comedy Festival returns with a slate of shows the week of March 25 through March 30. We’ve got the deets and who to watch.

 

The Festival dates all the way back to the year 2000, when it was launched as the First Annual Boston International Comedy Festival. Dave Russo won it all that year. He’s gone on to become a Boston comedy scene mainstay, and he’s also featured nationally, on E! TV’s The Entertainer. Oh, and you might have recognized him in a certain Tom Brady Super Bowl commercial.

 

The Boston Comedy Festival boasts over 1000 shows over the past 24 years. Their goal is twofold. First, they aim to promote comedy not only as a source of joy, but as an art from. Second, they endeavor to seek, find, and expose comedic talent from “all corners of the entertainment industry.” And when you look at this year’s lineup, you’ll find that they succeed at both.

 

Boston Comedy Festival 2024: 4 Fabulous Comics to Catch Now

 

The bedrock of the Festival is the Comedy Competition, which features comedians from around the country and around the globe. The preliminary rounds take place at City Winery in Boston from Monday, March 25 through Wednesday, March 27. The Semifinals are on Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29, with the Finale on Saturday, March 30.

 

Interspersed throughout are featured performers and events, which we’ll get into shortly. For the full schedule, information, and links to purchase tickets, visit the Boston Comedy Festival website. Sure, it’s fun to stay in and watch I Think You Should Leave for the umpteenth time. But you’ll get much more out of taking in some live comedy at a great local venue.

 

So let’s take a look at some of those featured performers, shall we? I think you’ll find a familiar name or two on my short list below.

Boston Comedy Festival 2024 Banner

  • Tony V

    Tony V is a Boston comedy legend. The BCF knows this, so not only is he hosting a couple of prelim nights, he’s getting his own night. Catch “A Celebration Of (The Comedy Life) Of Tony V on Tuesday, March 26.

  • Lenny Clarke

    What can I say about Lenny Clarke that hasn’t already been said? He’s a world-renowned star of stage and screen, and a world class stand up comedian. Oh, and he murdered by Michael Myers in Halloween Kills. He’s performing at City Winery on Wednesday, March 27.

  • D.L. Hughley

    Another absolute comedy legend. BET’s ComicView in the ’90s. The Hughleys in the ’00s. He’s one of the damn Original Kings of Comedy. He’s performing two sets each on Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30.

  • Bethany Van Delft

    Bethany was born in the Bronx, but came up in Boston. So she’s ours and we love her. You might have heard her on The Moth as a host, you’ve definitely seen her stand up, and you’ll see her hosting the two Semifinal sets on Friday, March 29.

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