Axel Cardenas
Axel Cardenas is a stand-up comedian from Chicago whose comedy blends storytelling with real-life experiences about childhood, marriage, and raising a family. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and now living in the suburbs, Axel brings a unique bilingual voice to the stage, performing in both English and Spanish. He has featured […]
Forrest M Wheeler
There’s a small asian boy with my same name. How crazy is that? He’s an actor on the show Fresh Off The Boat. He has 200k followers on Instagram. I say all this to say this, I am not that guy. So if you book me for this fest, it will not be him. With […]
Laughaplegic
Laughaplegic is a high-impact stand-up comic from Compton, California, turning real-life adversity into unapologetically raw, laugh-out-loud storytelling. A quadriplegic who uses a wheelchair to get around, he brings a perspective to the stage that’s as rare as it is real—without ever leaning on it as a crutch. He flips expectations fast—hitting audiences with sharp punchlines, […]
Kathryn Gongaware
Kathryn Gongaware is an overeducated and under-focused comedian, writer and hypocrite. By day, she teaches yoga at Chicago’s Cook County Jail. On stage, she’s known for dry wit, an unfortunate amount of self-awareness, and race takes that won’t ruin your night. Kathryn is a paid regular at The Laugh Factory, Zanies, and The Lincoln Lodge […]
Karin Lopez
Raised on struggle but fueled by determination, this Latina comic from Los Angeles flips life’s toughest moments into unforgettable punchlines. Even though she’s new to the mic, she is making serious noise in the LA comedy scene. In just half a year, she’s hit major stages and built a reputation for turning struggle into standout […]