TC Comedy Festival

All-star lineup to bring nationally recognized talent to Traverse City this winter. 

The 2024 Traverse City Comedy Fest will feature an all-star lineup of national headliners including Rory Scovel, Zainab Johnson, Joe List, Dwayne Kennedy, and Norm Stulz, festival producers the Downtown Traverse City Association and SamRose Entertainment announced today. Over 80 performers and dozens of shows – including four improv groups, a murder mystery show, Hip-Prov, Daily Dozen, Comedy Rumble, Clean Comedy Showcase, and more – will take place January 31-February 3, 2024 at seven venues across the downtown Traverse City area. Tickets for the second annual Traverse City Comedy Fest – presented by Traverse City Tourism – are on sale now at TCComedyFest.com. 

Rory Scovel can currently be seen starring as Danny in Apple TV+’s hour-long series “Physical,” as well as in Paramount Picture’s “Babylon.” Prior to that, he starred in “I Feel Pretty” opposite Amy Schumer and can be seen in New Line’s feature “The House,” ABC’s “Modern Family,” and NBC’s “Superstore,” as well as in his Comedy Central series “Robbie,” which he also created. His stand-up special “Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up for the First Time” is currently streaming on Netflix. 

Zainab Johnson is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. Her comedy is based on her unique point-of-view, which was shaped growing up in Harlem as one of thirteen siblings in a black Muslim family.  After getting a degree in education and math and taking a job as a teacher, she quickly learned that she had a different calling. Johnson debuted her one-hour comedy special “Hijabs Off” on Amazon Prime Video, is currently a series regular on the Amazon Original hit series "Upload" from Greg Daniels and co-hosts the Netflix show "100 Humans.” She starred as Dr. Hanniel in the popular web series “Avant-Guardians.” Johnson made her first late-night stand-up appearance on NBC's “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and had breakout appearances on HBO’s “All Def Comedy” and NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” She performed at the JFL Comedy Festival in Montreal first as a “New Face of Comedy,” then as one of “Variety's Top 10 Comics to Watch.” She is a regular at The Comedy Store, The Improv, and Laugh Factory in Los Angeles and the Comedy Cellar in New York City. 

Joe List is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor whose movie “Fourth of July” (directed by Louis C.K) played theaters all over North America and is currently available on louisck.com. List's latest one-hour special, “This Year’s Material,” premiered on his YouTube page in April and has over two million views. His previous special, “I Hate Myself,” was released by Comedy Central in 2020 and currently has over nine million views. List has performed on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and has appeared multiple times. 

on “Conan.” He was a finalist on NBC's “Last Comic Standing,” has his own half-hour special on Comedy Central, and also stars in season two of Netflix's “The Standups.” His albums “So Far No Good” and “Are You Mad at Me?” (through Comedy Central Records) can be heard all the time on Sirius Radio. List is the co-host of the popular weekly podcast “Tuesdays with Stories” with Mark Normand, and he hosts his own podcast, “Mindful Metal Jacket.” He can be seen regularly at the Comedy Cellar in New York City. 

Dwayne Kennedy is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer.  As a producer, he won a 2019 Emmy Award Winner for the CNN original series “United Shades of America.” Described as a “world-class stand-up” by The Village Voice and “legendary” by the Chicago Tribune, Kennedy is one of the funniest, most thought-provoking, and influential comedians of our time. His satirical diversions and piercing perspective on social and world issues showcase a comedic genius heralded by the likes of Chris Rock and Marc Maron. Winner of Best Comedian at the 2002 HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Kennedy has performed on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O'Brien,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and “The New Negroes.” He has both a Comedy Central Presents and Showtime special. A former writer and correspondent for the Chris Rock-produced, critically acclaimed FX series “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell,” Kennedy has also written for “The Arsenio Hall Show” and “The Orlando Jones Show.” His acting credits include roles on “Seinfeld,” “Martin,” “227,” “Amen,” and the indie film “Thin Skin.” After self-releasing his debut EP in 2016, his first full-length comedy album “Who the Hell is Dwayne Kennedy?” came out on Oak Head Records in May 2020. The album was produced by Ahamefule J. Oluo and co-produced by comedians W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu. 

Norm Stulz stands as Michigan’s premier storyteller, earning a reputation as a long- form comedy master. With a career spanning over forty years, Stulz has graced comedy clubs, cruise ships, and theaters across the nation. He’s a beloved figure at corporate events and has generously supported numerous charities over the years. As a consummate professional, Stulz’s commitment to excellence is evident in his work. His dedication to punctuality, professionalism on any stage, and the ability to captivate audiences – regardless of size – defines his approach. Stulz’s motto, “Show up on time, be professional on any and all stages, and rock each audience” reflects his unwavering commitment to delivering memorable performances. His impact extends beyond the spotlight, as Stulz has earned the respect and admiration of every comic he collaborates with. With a steadfast dedication to giving 100 percent in every performance, Stulz continues to be a driving force in the world of comedy, leaving audiences entertained and uplifted wherever he goes. 

In addition to these headliners, the 2024 Traverse City Comedy Fest will feature dozens of other shows and events featuring 80-plus performers from across Michigan and the U.S. This year’s lineup includes the return of multiple popular events from the inaugural festival, including Hip-Prov, Daily Dozen, Comedy Rumble, Clean Comedy Showcase, The Sal & Bob Show, Jokes On You, Kamikaze Comedy, Eyes Up Here, Next Up Showcase, The Nightcap: The Dirty Show, Open Mic, and Comedy Karaoke. The festival will also feature an expanded improv scene this year, with four groups performing – plus a performance by Big Fun Murder, a completely improvised murder mystery show. In addition to returning festival venues – including the City Opera House, Traverse City Comedy Club, Encore 201, The Workshop Brewing Company, and Hotel Indigo – this year’s festival will feature two new venues: the Old Town Playhouse and The Alluvion. 

Tickets for the 2024 Traverse City Comedy Fest are on sale now at TCComedyFest.com. Additional festival performers and events will be announced in the coming weeks. For special lodging deals for the festival, visit https://tinyurl.com/comedy-lodging.

The 2024 Traverse City Comedy Fest is produced by the Downtown Traverse City Association and SamRose Entertainment and is proudly presented by Traverse City Tourism.