Comedy Nerdz Happy Hour

Come early. Get nerdy. Stay for the show. Comedy Nerdz is a pre-show happy hour for stand-up fans and comedy-curious folks who want to meet the comics before they hit the stage. Hang out in the Laugh Lounge and meet some of the performers from the 3/11 Comedy Jamm open mic—no panels, no pressure, just comics being delightfully awkward in public. Host Bruce Umpstead & Featured comedians! Details: 🕔 Doors open at 5:30pm (with valid ticket or guest pass) 🍺 $1 off draft beers from 5:30–6:30pm (Laugh Lounge only) 🍿1/2 off popcorn baskets from 5:30-6:30pm (Laugh Lounge only) 🎟 No cover for the happy hour—check in at the box office 🎤 Showroom opens at 6:30pm and the mic goes live at 7:15pm

Comedy Jamm Open Mic

It will be a comedy cavalcade as we present the current rising stars in the Detroit Metro area and beyond. You will see a variety of comedians, from beginners trying their hand at comedy (sometimes they are the funniest) to established comics unveiling new material & comedians auditioning to perform at the Comedy Showcase.

Kelly Collette

Kelly Collette has been featured on Dry Bar Comedy, SiriusXM, NPR, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV. Her Dry Bar special I Made You This has garnered millions of views online, and she was a finalist on CMT’s Next Big Comic. Kelly has also toured theaters nationwide with The Nobodies of Comedy, a showcase highlighting the best up-and-coming talent in stand-up.

Dan Mintz *Special Engagement*

Dan Mintz is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer best known as the voice of Tina Belcher on the Emmy-winning animated series Bob’s Burgers. In addition to his iconic voice work, Mintz has become a favorite on late-night television, appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Comedy Central Presents.

Ricarlo Winston

Ricarlo Winston has appeared at Gilda’s LaughFest, one of the Midwest’s premier comedy festivals, and the Traverse City Comedy Festival, and is the founder of the Laughter on the Lakeshore Comedy Festival. His comedy special, Since We’re Family Now, filmed at the historic Park Theatre in Holland, showcases his signature blend of heartfelt storytelling and big laughs. Ricarlo has shared the stage with comedy heavyweights including Doug Stanhope, Gary Owen, Donnell Rawlings, Dean Edwards, and Brent Morin.

Derek Richards

Derek Richards has a Dry Bar Comedy special, a one-hour special with The Irish Comedy Tour, and appears in the documentary One for the Road. He has also opened for Motown legends The Temptations and The Four Seasons. Derek has appeared on The Weather Channel’s Top 10, BlazeTV’s Normal World with Dave Landau, and in the film Don’t Suck alongside Matt Rife and Jamie Kennedy, now streaming on Amazon Prime, Hulu, and AppleTV. Derek delivers unapologetic, razor-sharp observations that feel like the funniest conversation you’ve ever had at a bar —consider yourself warned if you’re easily offended.

Adam Degi

Adam Degi has been a staple at LaughFest for over a decade, both as a performer and producer, and has taken the stage at major festivals including the Boston Comedy Festival, Asheville Comedy Festival, Comedy 10K, and the Traverse City Comedy Festival, Adam won the Funniest Person in Grand Rapids Competition and was featured on the cover of Revue Magazine.

John Heffron *Special Engagement*

As seen on Netflix and Amazon Prime, John Heffron has appeared on The Tonight Show, Chelsea Lately, The Late Late Show, HBO, FX, VH1, A&E, and CMT. He rose to national prominence after winning Season 2 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and has since gone on to release multiple comedy albums and specials, including Middle Class Funny and Notes From a Blender. Heffron has also appeared in the Netflix special Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo, starred in the sketch comedy series The Tony Rock Project, and performs regularly on television, podcasts, and stages across the country.

Irene Tu *Special Engagement*

Irene Tu is a Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian, actor, and writer who honed her chops in San Francisco. Her debut comedy album We’re Done Now premiered at #1 on the iTunes Comedy Charts, earning praise from Paste Magazine for her “quick wit, relaxed stage presence, and hilariously off-the-wall observations.” She was selected as one of Netflix Is A Joke Festival’s “Introducing” comics, and her 2024 show was named one of the funniest of the year by the Los Angeles Times. Irene has appeared on After Midnight, Hulu, Comedy Central, and CBS’s Comics Unleashed, with her stand-up also featured at Netflix Is A Joke and Don’t Tell Comedy.

Comedy Writing & Performance Workshop

6-Week Course | Beginner-Friendly | Culminates in a Live Showcase. Whether you’re a beginner ready to craft your first “tight five” or a seasoned comic looking to refine your material, this 6-week workshop is designed to elevate your comedy. Through weekly sessions, you'll explore essential topics such as joke structure, comedic style, point of view (POV), timing, stage presence, and delivery. Each class includes opportunities to perform your material in a supportive, collaborative environment that encourages experimentation and growth. Beyond writing jokes, this workshop helps strengthen overall communication skills—building confidence, enhancing stage presence, and learning how to authentically connect with an audience using humor as a tool. The course culminates in a live performance at the legendary Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, where students take the stage and share their work with a live audience.

Gift Cards

Give the Gift of Laughter! Perfect for birthdays, holidays, date nights, and “just because” No wrapping paper required. Gift Cards can be purchased at the box office or ONLINE!!

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