US and Canadian comedians to see at the 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
A host of big-name US comedians are making their comedy festival debut in 2019, along with a handful of regular favourites. Here’s our pick of the ones to catch while you can.
Comedy Festival
Don't miss out on the headlines from Comedy Festival. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Home to Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy and the late, greats Joan Rivers and Robin Williams, the US of A is the ultimate melting pot for the biggest on-screen to stand-up comedy crossovers.
A host of big names making their festival debuts join a bunch regulars from the US and Canada in 2019.
Here’s our pick of the ones to catch while you can.
TRUMP ROAST COMEDIAN MICHELLE WOLF TO MAKE AUSTRALIAN DEBUT
BRITISH AND IRISH COMEDIANS TO SEE
COMEDY NEWCOMERS AND RISING STARS TO WATCH
MICHELLE WOLF
She’s been hailed as the voice comedy needs right now and the future of stand-up.
And in 2018, she made global headlines for an infamous speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner, in which she tore shreds off President Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
OUR REVIEW OF MICHELLE WOLF ★★★★★
Having stepped out from the writers’ room on US TV on Late Night With Seth Meyers, then The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, the fearless Michelle Wolf is making her Australian stand-up debut at MICF.
The 33-year-old will be in town for just six shows.
Michelle Wolf, March 27-March 31. Max Watt’s. Tickets.
MARIA BAMFORD
When Stephen Colbert announces you’re his “favourite comedian on planet Earth” you know you’re doing something right.
Drawing on her own dealings with depression and anxiety in her stand-up routines, self-deprecating Maria Bamford is best known for her work on a lengthy list of US TV shows — including Arrested Development — and films, as well as lending her voice to characters on the likes of American Dad!
For the first time since 2011, the queen of the US alt-comedy scene will return to Melbourne for five shows only.
Maria Bamford, The Irrelevant Redundancy, April 9-April 13, The Forum Downstairs. Tickets
RON FUNCHES
UK comedy bible Chortle calls Ron Funches “comedy’s relaxing equivalent of a glass of wine in a fragrant bubble bath”. In an era where many of his peers rely on savage tirades as the crux of their stand-up material, Funches is known for relying on a more positive spin to illicit the laughs. The hugely in-demand US funnyman regularly performs on Conan, The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon and The Half Hour on Comedy Chanel. His latest show makes razor-sharp observations on everything from casual racism to raising a son with autism.
Ron Funches, Live, April 16-April 20, Comic’s Lounge. Tickets.
JOHN HASTINGS
A regular at all the major comedy festivals around the world, Canada’s John Hastings is back after being hit by a car and breaking his arm in 2018. The unfortunate cycling mishap in London forms the basis of a story in his new show, Float Like A Butterfly, John Hastings Like A Bee, in which he masterfully intertwines Brexit, vegetarianism and gun control.
John Hastings, Float Like A Butterfly, John Hastings Like A Bee, April 1-April 15, Melbourne Town Hall Cloak Room. Tickets
CHRIS REDD
After a career as a rapper, Chris Redd turned his talents to stand-up and sketch comedy eight years ago in Chicago. The St Louis native is a current cast member of Saturday Night Live and Neflix’s Disjointed and is an impression maestro, nailing take-offs of the likes of Wesley Snipes and Lil Wayne. His most memorable send-up was impersonating Kanye West meeting Alec Baldwin as President Donald Trump in a SNL sketch. Catch him in a special one-off show at MICF.
Chris Redd, April 7, The Westin. Tickets
AMY CUNNINGHAM
Anorexia, carbon footprints, lesbianism and family troubles were all fair game in Canadian Amy Cunningham’s comedy festival show last year.
In 2019, the Canuck returns with Funbags, a dark and deadpan routine that dips into the Boot Story, a show about containers, wrappers, skin sacs and borders.
Her series, Off Kilter, features on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s digital platform.
Amy Cunningham, Funbags, March 27-April 7, Crowded in The Vaults, Vault 10, Federation Wharf. Tickets
DEANNE SMITH
Fresh from taping the acclaimed 2019 Netflix special Gentleman Elf, popular Canadian-American DeAnne Smith returns to Melbourne with Epiphany.
A former Barry Award nominee, the agender Smith brings high energy and quick-fire delivery to her shows and is part of the viral video, “Straight Men, Step Your Game Up”, which has more than 35 million views.
DeAnne Smith, Epiphany, March 28-April 21, Mantra on Russell. Tickets.
ARJ BARKER
Observational/satirical stand-up Arj Barker is an honourary Australian being so familiar to our comedy stages.
The 43-year-old is back with his show from 2018, We Need To Talk, a dig at the obsessions of living in modern society.
Arj Barker, We Need To Talk, April 9-April 21, Athenaeum Theatre. Tickets.
HEADLINERS
Hit US comics Jo Firestone, Emmy Blotnick, Joel Kim Booster, Langston Kerman, Liza Treyger, Samantha Ruddy, Chris Redd and Sam Jay join forces to bring you the star-spangled best of American comedy.
It’s a highly credentialed line-up with appearances on Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and Saturday Night Live.
Headliners, March 28-April 21, Max Watt’s. Tickets.
What to see at the comedy festival this weekend
From a big-name benefit in support of Christchurch terror victims to a chat show with a difference, these are the best offerings at the Melbourne comedy festival this weekend.
Who’s firing at the comedy festival?
We’ve just passed the halfway mark of the 33rd Melbourne comedy festival. Mikey Cahill takes us through the bangers and clangers so far — who has excelled or repelled?