Comedy

Man sitting on a couch next to a lamp and a painting

Mr. Clean

October 20, 2025

Kellen Erskine, who has appeared on numerous national shows, will hone a new hour of comedy at the intimate Actors’ Theatre on Oct. 22.

Spark of Laughter

DNA and fellow local comedian Michael Booth will host the inaugural Laughtopus at Woodhouse Brewery.

Open Mic Nights: Live, Loose and Local

At open mics throughout the county, Santa Cruzans are out on stage, performing for their friends and neighbors.

Always on Tour

In spite of her easy 10K times onstage, Paula Poundstone might be best known for her current work on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! A radio show. Appearing Sept. 19 at the Rio Theatre.

Yuk It Up

Richard Stockton is a fixture in the local comedy scene, pioneering the revered Planet Cruz Comedy shows that zeroed in on “what’s weird (and funny) about Santa Cruz.”

Beef Stewed

Our divisiveness grows every day... We come together like a hospital gown. For my age range, that shows way too much ass.

Tragedy + Time

Aaron Foster’s show at the Actors’ Theatre on June 4 will be a one-man dive into the deep end with nothing but a mic as a flotation device.

Comedy Connoisseur

Every comic has their origin story, but for headliner Brad Williams, his path to the stage was a singular adventure.

On the Record

‘I’m the daughter of an Auschwitz survivor and I’ve finally found my time in history where I can do all my dark jokes about that experience.’ —Karin Babbitt