Indian-origin standups to feature in New York Comedy Festival

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A bunch of Indian-origin standups will make their debut at the New York Comedy Festival (NYCF), under the banner of ‘Made in India’, at Carolines on Broadway, on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Amit Tandon, Sanjay Manaktala, Tushar Singh and Arun Govada, will be seen at the largest comedy festival in the US (www.nycomedyfestival.com), which this year boast some top headliners, including Stephen Colbert, and runs from November 5-10, at various venues across New York City.

Top Indian comedian Vir Das is also slated to perform at the festival, headlining at Town Hall, on November 8, 2019.

Over 200 comedians, late-night hosts and podcast stars will perform in more than 100 shows at the city’s most prestigious venues, at the festival, according to a press release.

Top headliners in this year’s festival include Nate Bargatze, Nicole Byer, Stephen Colbert, Vir Das, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Kathleen Madigan, Bill Maher, Demetri Martin, Norm McDonald, Trevor Noah, Randy Rainbow, Tom Segura, Benito Skinner, Jenny Slate, Kevin Smith and Jay Mewes, No Such Thing As A Fish, and Betches Media’s U Up? Live.

Each year, the festival elevates the comedic landscape for fans across the country. This year, the NYCF is partnering with The Female Quotient (The FQ), a woman-owned business committed to advancing equality in the workplace. The FQ, in partnership with NYCF, is making strides to increase female comedic representation both on and off the stage by bringing their signature pop-up experience, The FQ Lounge, to the festival. The FQ Lounge will be live at Bloomingdale’s iconic flagship 59th St store in New York City from Thursday, November 7th – Friday, November 8th and will provide a space to activate solutions for change at this festival of top industry leaders and influencers.

“As we mark 16 years of the New York Comedy Festival, we celebrate the varied and diverse talent – both up-and-coming and established stars – who continue to come out to put on a great show each and every year,” said Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival and Carolines on Broadway, in a statement. “We’ve always supported and championed those in the industry, and we’re excited to continue to bring the very best comedic talent to entertain comedy fans this November.”

“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.  I can’t wait.” said comedian and television host, Trevor Noah, who will be headlining the festival’s largest venue, Madison Square Garden, as part of his “Loud & Clear” Tour, on Friday, November 8.

Each year, the festival aims to raise the comedic bar for loyal fans across the country. This November, comedy enthusiasts can expect entertainment including pop-up events, live improv and sketch comedy, panel discussions, film screenings, radio and podcast broadcasts and more from the industry’s leading talent.  Shows will take place on New York City’s most iconic stages, including the Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Carolines on Broadway, Madison Square Garden, Town Hall and the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, among others.

The festival has featured the country’s top comedians, including Judd Apatow, Hannibal Buress, Bill Burr, Margaret Cho, Billy Crystal, Larry David, Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin, Kevin Hart, John Leguizamo, Norm Macdonald, Bill Maher, Tig Notaro, Nick Offerman, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman, and Wanda Sykes, to name a few.

In 2007, the festival launched the “Stand Up for Heroes” event to benefit The Bob Woodruff Foundation, which has featured performances by Stephen Colbert, Ricky Gervais, John Mayer, Seth Meyers, John Mulaney, Trevor, Noah, John Oliver, Conan O’Brien, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart, and Robin Williams, among others. To date, the “Stand Up for Heroes” events have raised over $50 million.

Past winners have included last year’s winner Josh Johnson, Emmy nominee David Angelo, Saturday Night Live star Michael Che, former The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore correspondent Ricky Velez, Last Comic Standing’s Joe Machi, MTV2’s Joking Off Matt Pavich and Tim Dillon is Going to Hell podcaster Tim Dillon, among others.