Best of the Mitten Comedy Showcase featuring Brad Wenzel

Headliner: Brad Wenzel (Detroit)

Brad Wenzel’s offbeat one-liners, dry delivery, and unassuming presence are what set him apart from other comedians. Brad has made 3 stand-up appearances on CONAN and more recently performed on Netflix is a Joke Radio. His debut comedy album Sweet Nothings was released on Jack White’s rock label, Third Man Records and can be heard on SiriusXM. Paste Magazine described Brad’s 2023 special, joke. joke. joke. as “Watching Wenzel feels like hanging out with your funniest, weirdest friend; it's relaxing and utterly enjoyable" Paste also listed joke. joke. joke. as one of the 20 best comedy specials of the year.

Since the age of 17, Brad has toured the country, honing his unique non-sequitur style of joke telling, all while maintaining an original, comedic voice. Simply put, he’s really funny. Other appearances include “New Faces” at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival and High Plains Comedy Festival.

Hosted by: Esteban Touma (Ann Arbor)

Esteban Touma is a comedian from Ecuador adjusting to life in the US. He was featured in Comedy Central and was part of Clusterfest “Up Next” showcase in San Francisco. His comedy has also been featured on NPR, Sirius XM, The Moth, the NBC Second City Break Out Festival, and the World Comedy Expo. He has opened for comics such as Judd Apatow, Mark Normand, Michelle Wolf, and Roy Wood Jr. The U.S. Government once officially declared him an “authorized legal alien with a reentry permit.”

Featuring:

Sam Rager (Detroit)

Sam Rager has been sharing her charmingly dark perspective with audiences for over a decade. Rager has been a headliner at both the inaugural Detroit Women of Comedy Festival and inaugural Stand U.P. Festival, named a rising star in Detroit’s comedy scene by 101.9 WDET, and her debut album Trigger Warning can be heard on SiriusXM.

Andrew Yang (Ann Arbor)

Andrew Yang is a Michigan comic who has been a featured performer at festivals across the country including Let’s Fest in Indianapolis, Sketchfest in San Francisco, and many others (no, not that one he was rejected from there). He has been fortunate enough to work with a few of his comedy heroes including Beth Stelling, Jackie Kashian, Joel Kim Booster, and one time had lunch with Maria Bamford. He has also been featured on NPR. When he’s not on stage Andrew is probably cooking dinner for his wife and daughter to make up for all the jokes he's written at their expense.

JeCorey Hawkins (Flint)

JeCorey Hawkins, an up-and-coming comedian hailing from Flint, MI, has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with his style of comedy that is both relatable and hilarious. He has a knack for sharing his unique perspective on the challenges of parenting, his experiences growing up in Flint, and the many quirks and idiosyncrasies of life that we all encounter.