Who’s ready to laugh?
The Flyover Comedy Festival is returning to St. Louis Nov 9-11, 2023 with three days of stand-up, improv and sketch comedy.
Some big names are headlining the event happening in The Grove neighborhood including Jeff Ross, Sheng Wang and Janelle James.
Wang will perform on Thursday, November 9 (8 p.m.) at Hot Java Bar (4193 Manchester Ave) in The Grove. Ross and James will perform on Saturday, November 11 (Ross 7 p.m., James 10 p.m.) at The Sheldon Concert Hall (2648 Washington Ave) in Grand Center.
Flyover will also feature national acts like Shane Torres, Sarah Tiana, Emil Wakin, Katherine Blaford, Luke Null, Zach Zimmerman, Dasariski, Andrew Orolfo and more. Let’s not forget about local talent. Flyover Comedy Festival will feature several St. Louis-based comedians, improv troupes and sketch comedy groups.
About the headliners:
Sheng Wang released his first Netflix comedy special “Sweet & Juicy” (directed and produced by Ali Wong) in September 2022. He was a featured stand-up on HBO’s “2 Dope Queens” special and also wrote for the ABC show “Fresh Off the Boat.”
Jeff Ross, iconically known as The Roastmaster General, is a 30+ year veteran of stand-up comedy, best known for his crowd work and participation in celebrity roasts (held by New York Friars Club, Comedy Central and Netflix). Ross has participated in the roasts of Drew Carey, Jerry Stiller, Pamela Anderson, William Shatner, Charlie Sheen, Bob Saget, Roseanne Barr, James Franco, Justin Bieber, Rob Lowe, Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin and Donald Trump, to name a few. Most recently, Ross starred in Netflix’s “Bumping Mics” (alongside fellow comic Dave Attell) and hosted a season of Netflix’s “Historical Roasts.”
Janelle James currently stars as Ava Coleman on ABC’s hit series, “Abbott Elementary,” which has earned her Emmy, Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe nominations, as well as wins at the NAACP Image Awards and SAG Awards. James began her stand-up career in 2009 and opened for Chris Rock on his 2017 Total Blackout tour. In 2020, James was named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch and podcast, You In Danger Gurl, was listed as one of Spotify’s top comedy podcasts. James’ latest (Dec 2021) half hour stand-up special is featured on Netflix’s “The Standups.” 2023 is James’ return to Flyover Comedy Festival, having performed in 2018 before her role in “Abbott Elementary.”
The Regional Arts Commission of St Louis’ (RAC) cultural tourism initiative, StLouisArts.org, is a major sponsor of the Flyover Comedy Festival in 2023. Such support allows Flyover to cover travel and lodging for up-and-coming, submission-based traveling artists, as well as pay for homegrown, locally-based talent.
“Comedians are artists, but a lot of people don’t think of them that way,” said Jay Scherder, communications senior manager at RAC. “We are trying to change that perception. Comedians are writers. They are performers. Some even play music. Flyover Comedy Festival gives local artists a platform to perform alongside major headliners from across the country.”
About Flyover Comedy Festival
Flyover Comedy Festival started in 2017. Past performers have included Sarah Silverman, Ron Funches, Rachel Feinstein, Doug Benson, Todd Barry, Jeremiah Watkins, Kyle Kinane, Joel Kim Booster, Sasheer Zamata, Cameron Esposito, The Improvised Shakespeare Co, Shane Torres, Patti Harrison and hundreds more, including top regional talent and St. Louis-based favorites.
