SF Sketchfest 2025

To celebrate the new(ish) book "Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!" and the 45th anniversary of film, co-creator David Zucker and original star Robert Hays ("Ted Striker") come together for a special live read of the screenplay with special surprise guests, followed by a Q&A and book signing.

Beverly Live!: Bev's one-yente show takes audiences on a journey to starting over at age 70, becoming an entrepreneur, and parenting her twin girls, Laine and Rachelle. (Both 37 and still single. It's FINE.)
Special prize if you have long Covid!

There's not actually a prize but... congrats?

With Jamie Denbo and guests Rachel Bloom and Dan Gregor.

An international word-of-mouth hit, beloved by audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe and London’s Soho Theatre, John Norris is coming to SF Sketchfest with the greatest show in the entire world. Mr. Chonkers.

It’s a solo show. Absurd. Simple. Outrageous. Stupid. Fun. It’s terrible. An important waste of your time. It’s great. Please strongly consider all of this information before coming.

★★★★★ "Genuinely astonishing... legitimate shrieks of laughter." - The Skinny
★★★★★ "a wonderful experience… full of joy and generosity of spirit." - The Scotsman
★★★★ "…unnervingly odd…" – Beyond the Joke

Nominee: Malcom Hardee Award for Comic Originality
Official Selection: British Comedy Guide’s Top Pick of Fringe

Created and performed by John Norris

Directed by Corey Podell

John Norris is an absurdist comedian who performs at festivals and venues all around the world. He also spends part of the year performing in Absinthe at Caesars Palace in Vegas. Also, in 2008, he ate an entire Chystler Sebring (Largest midsize convertible in its class. It wasn’t his.)

Links to Reviews
★★★★★ The Scotsman
★★★★★ The Skinny
★★★★ Beyond The Joke
★★★★ Fest Mag
★★★★ Reyt Good Magazine

Natasha Leggero and Moshe Kasher, married comedians, are using their hilariously hard-won wisdom on relationships and building on their hit Netflix special to help others by offering love advice to callers while simultaneously examining the ups and downs of their own relationship! With guests Rachel Dratch and Simon Helberg.

Riddles! Puzzles! WhoDunnits! Adal Rifai, Erin Keif and JPC try and solve a few of these every episode while discussing and dissecting along the way. You can play along while listening but can you solve the questions before we do?? (You absolutely will.)

Celebrity Autobiography, the award-winning hit comedy show where celebrities act out other celebrities' jaw-dropping memoirs verbatim, returns to Sketchfest following its Broadway run! Winner of the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience, the show features star performers acting out “hot off the press” & hard-to-believe-they-wrote-‘em tell-alls live. Created by Emmy Award nominated writer-performer Eugene Pack and developed by Pack and Dayle Reyfel, Celebrity Autobiography features solos, duets, and mashups with the entire cast covering themes such as first time romance, fitness, music, food, sports, politics, celebrity poetry, and Hollywood love triangles, told from all sides. Critics Pick in NY Times and described as the "Funniest Show in Town, Hands Down"--NY Post. With Pamela Adlon, Richard Kind, Ralph Macchio, Laraine Newman, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Jennifer Tilly, and Blair Underwood.

SF Sketchfest presents some of our favorite hand-picked up and coming sketch and improv teams from around the United States and beyond!

With Big Apartment (NYC), Chugga Chugga (LA), Jane "Austin" Improv (Austin, TX) and Limited Breadsticks (SF). Hosted by Rachelle Cochran.

In this Southern-fried comedic romp, Stephnie Weir examines the uncanny parallels between the iconic 70’s film “Smokey and The Bandit” and her childhood growing up on a used car lot in West Texas, repossessing cars with her family.

With an opening set by Convoy.

The place? The Wild West. The year… The Wild West. Come see as comedy trio Business Casual presents with their new show: COWBOYS!

Business Casual (@businesscasualcomedy) is a sketch comedy trio hailing from Los Angeles. The group consists of Jeremy Elder (@jeremyelderr), Cory Peter Lane (@corypeterlane), and Hunter Saling (@idealstepdad), all graduates from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. The trio embody a unique blend of physicality, absurdist sketch comedy, and clown. Or as one drunken woman in Louisville titled it: comedy rock n’ roll. 

Critics have called their previous works “physical comedy perfection” (Three Weeks), “beautifully absurd” (Radio Haha),  “sheer Fringe genius” (The Scotsman), and “an evening of stupidity you’ll be sure to remember” (Broadway World). 

COWBOYS most recently completed a limited Off-Broadway run at Asylum NYC. Previously, the show was presented as part of the Netflix is a Joke Festival and Moontower Comedy Festival, both to sold out audiences. Their previous show FERAL has been featured at the Moontower Comedy Festival, New York Comedy Festival, SF Sketch Fest, and the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival (produced under the Stamptown banner).

The show tells the story of a gunslinging cowboy seeking revenge on the three men who killed his family. He must assemble a posse and set out on the journey of a lifetime. Along the way, the group encounter gold miners, snake oil salesman, and just about every Western trope you could think of. If you do think of a trope that they don’t mention, Business Casual kindly invites you to “keep it to yourself!”

Yeehaw pardner! Snake in my boot! Big pot of gold! 

PRAISE FOR COWBOYS:

“Business Casual are all going to be world famous in a few years and you are going to feel very cool about being able to say you saw them do a bizarre cowboy themed comedy show.” — Chris Gethard

“I love these boys with all of my heart.” — Natalie Palamides

With an opening set from Las Vegas' TSTMRKT

The Theme Park Improv Show's improvisers take a single suggestion from the audience, and wing an entire set of fast-paced long-form scenes and characters, based on stories from special guest monologist Kevin Pollak ("The Usual Suspects"). After several years of sold-out shows, they return to SF Sketchfest with another stellar lineup: Ian Brennan (co-creator of "Glee"), Rachel Dratch ("Saturday Night Live"), Simon Helberg ("The Big Bang Theory"), Michael Hitchcock ("Best in Show"), Jessica Makinson ("South Park"), Oscar Nunez ("The Office"), Cole Stratton ("Impeachment: American Crime Story"), Janet Varney ("Stan Against Evil"), and Gary Anthony Williams ("The Boondocks"). This will be a show you won't soon forget!

Comedian, writer and actor Riki Lindhome presents her one-person musical, which asks the question: Can infertility be funny?

Trigger warning: this show will candidly discuss aspects of infertility that might be a sensitive subject to some.

Fringe Review:  "Must See Show - "Dead Inside" is an extraordinary one-woman autobiographical comedy show about Lindome’s fertility journey. Lindhome tells a story of resilience and hope through a mix of storytelling, comedy, and her signature musical stylings."

Edinburgh Festivals Magazine:  "Riki Lindhome shares an important story of grief and hope with grace and humour."

The Scotsman: "It’s a set that’s as interesting as it is funny; with tragedy, disappointment and heartbreak offering ample shade amidst the lightness of her comic touch."

Chris Fleming was named one of Variety’s Ten Comics to Watch and has a new hour special out on Peacock titled "HELL". Of his live show, Chortle says, “you can’t take your eyes off this unpredictable, exciting performer.” “Glorious absurdity” boasts the New York Times, “a master of his craft” according to AVClub, and “truly one of a kind” -Paste Magazine. Splitsider says, “a madman and I think, genius.” According to Vulture, “equal parts imagination and inferiority complex, a combination that has led him to create some of the most bizarrely funny performance art taking place online and onstage today.”

Rachel Kaly (she/they) is a queer NYC-based comedian of middle-eastern descent. She is story editor on "Digman!" for CBS/Paramount + and is a contributing writer for ClickHole. Rachel has studied at the Annoyance Theater, Second City, and at UCB as a diversity scholar. She has three regular monthly shows that have been written up by the New York Times, Time Out NY, and GOLD comedy: Ladies Who Ranch, The Ellen Show But Violent, and Improv. She graduated from Wesleyan University in 2017 and founded the Absurd Comedy Collective in 2016 in an effort to make more inclusive spaces for marginalized comics. Rachel is developing an original comedy pilot with HBO and Abso Lutely Productions.

Ikechukwu Ufomadu is an Emmy-nominated and Drama Desk Award–winning actor, writer, and comedian, named a “Comedian You Should and Will Know” by Vulture/New York Magazine and a “Comic to Look Out For” by Time Out New York. 
His one-man show, "Amusements", premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons after being workshopped at the Edinburgh Fringe to sell-out audiences and strong reviews. He co-wrote and stars in the indie feature "Inspector Ike" (Factory 25) and short-form series "Words with Ike" (FX). 
He wrote for the TV series "Ziwe", "Tooning Out the News", and "Paid Off". On screen, he can be seen in recent Sundance hit "Your Monster", as well as "Judas and the Black Messiah", "Los Espookys", "Three Busy Debras", "Joe Pera Talks With You" and more. As a comedian, he's performed at The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, SXSW, The Public Theater, Joe’s Pub, Ars Nova, New York Comedy Festival, and the Netflix is a Joke Festival.

Hosted by Kavita Singh.

Celebrity Autobiography, the award-winning hit comedy show where celebrities act out other celebrities' jaw-dropping memoirs verbatim, returns to Sketchfest following its Broadway run! Winner of the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience, the show features star performers acting out “hot off the press” & hard-to-believe-they-wrote-‘em tell-alls live. Created by Emmy Award nominated writer-performer Eugene Pack and developed by Pack and Dayle Reyfel, Celebrity Autobiography features solos, duets, and mashups with the entire cast covering themes such as first time romance, fitness, music, food, sports, politics, celebrity poetry, and Hollywood love triangles, told from all sides. Critics Pick in NY Times and described as the "Funniest Show in Town, Hands Down"--NY Post. With Pamela Adlon, Richard Kind, Ralph Macchio, Laraine Newman, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Jennifer Tilly and Blair Underwood.

FUTURAMA is LIVE and in your vicinity! Join superstars John DiMaggio, David Herman, Maurice LaMarche, Phil LaMarr, Lauren Tom, and Billy West, plus super-producer Lee Supercinski, and duper-head-writer David X. Cohen for an unruly live show, personally endorsed and condemned by the Space Pope. Do not miss this gluttonous feast of entertainment!

SF Sketchfest presents some of our favorite hand-picked up and coming sketch and improv teams from around the United States and beyond!

With Chicken Big (NYC), Gunk (LA), Improv All Stars (SF) and Whoops! (LA). Hosted by Diante Neagle.

SF Sketchfest presents some of our favorite hand-picked emerging stand-ups comics from around the country and beyond!

With Aivy Cordova, Ren Q. Dawe, Phil Griffiths, Nora Jefferies, Virginia Jones, Ben Kolina, Farzin Moradi, and Faraz Niafattah. Hosted by Alisha Dhillon.

Rachel Kaly (she/they) is a queer NYC-based comedian of middle-eastern descent. She is story editor on "Digman!" for CBS/Paramount + and is a contributing writer for ClickHole. Rachel has studied at the Annoyance Theater, Second City, and at UCB as a diversity scholar. She has three regular monthly shows that have been written up by the New York Times, Time Out NY, and GOLD comedy: Ladies Who Ranch, The Ellen Show But Violent, and Improv. She graduated from Wesleyan University in 2017 and founded the Absurd Comedy Collective in 2016 in an effort to make more inclusive spaces for marginalized comics. Rachel is developing an original comedy pilot with HBO and Abso Lutely Productions.

Ikechukwu Ufomadu is an Emmy-nominated and Drama Desk Award–winning actor, writer, and comedian, named a “Comedian You Should and Will Know” by Vulture/New York Magazine and a “Comic to Look Out For” by Time Out New York. 
His one-man show, "Amusements", premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons after being workshopped at the Edinburgh Fringe to sell-out audiences and strong reviews. He co-wrote and stars in the indie feature "Inspector Ike" (Factory 25) and short-form series "Words with Ike" (FX). 
He wrote for the TV series "Ziwe", "Tooning Out the News", and "Paid Off". On screen, he can be seen in recent Sundance hit "Your Monster", as well as "Judas and the Black Messiah", "Los Espookys", "Three Busy Debras", "Joe Pera Talks With You" and more. As a comedian, he's performed at The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, SXSW, The Public Theater, Joe’s Pub, Ars Nova, New York Comedy Festival, and the Netflix is a Joke Festival.

Hosted by Kavita Singh.

Come along with Two Married Couples on their fully improvised Dinner Date!

Spend an evening with Rachel, Dan, Jamie and John as they improvise a full double date that could end in anything from murder to polygamy depending on the suggestion!

With Rachel Bloom, John Ross Bowie, Jamie Denbo, and Dan Gregor. With an opening set from Max & Nicky.

Chris Fleming was named one of Variety’s Ten Comics to Watch and has a new hour special out on Peacock titled "HELL". Of his live show, Chortle says, “you can’t take your eyes off this unpredictable, exciting performer.” “Glorious absurdity” boasts the New York Times, “a master of his craft” according to AVClub, and “truly one of a kind” -Paste Magazine. Splitsider says, “a madman and I think, genius.” According to Vulture, “equal parts imagination and inferiority complex, a combination that has led him to create some of the most bizarrely funny performance art taking place online and onstage today.”

New York Times Critic’s Pick (2024)
Vulture’s Top Comics You Should and Will Know (2023)

After an eleven week run Off-Broadway in NYC with four extensions and a New York Times Critic’s Pick, the bad boy of clown Zach Zucker makes his SF debut with his award-winning alter-ego Jack Tucker.

A well-respected journeyman and bonafide legend on the Upstate New York regional comedy scene, Jack Tucker is the ultimate comedian's comedian. Fighting to save his marriage, regain the respect of his son, and pay off countless loansharks looking to collect their debts, Tucker (Jack) will do whatever it takes to make you laugh.

If the joke doesn't land, it's not because it isn't funny - you just didn't get it. Nothing can stop him... except himself.

This show has sold out in New York, London, Los Angeles, Edinburgh, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Mumbai, achieving a total of 498 walkouts worldwide.
 
Created and Performed by Zach Zucker
Directed by Jonny Woolley
Co-Devised by Jonny Woolley and Dylan Woodley
 
★★★★★ “Standing ovations, sold out performances, walk-outs and one star reviews – Jack Tucker is disruptive and a hurricane of fresh air.” Entertainment Focus
★★★★★ "Jack Tucker is one in a million. It's anti-comedy but also pure comedy. Tucker is so brilliantly over the top he is terrifyingly hilarious. Embrace the lunacy and enjoy” Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke
★ “A fraud completely out of his depth” Skinny

Gays and Straights battle it out in a comedy war of attrition! Get ready for a hilarious battle of wits and stereotypes as Gays take on Straights in a comedy showdown! Who will come out on top? Who will bottom live on stage? Find out at Gays VS Straights: A Gene Show Death Match! Hosted by Vic Michaelis ("Very Important People") and Chris Renfro ("Queer as Folk").

An all African-American cast of seasoned improv specialists from the world-famous troupe The Groundlings asks the audience to suggest a popular film title and then performs the black version of that movie. And with experienced and talented performers like Nyima Funk, Daniele Gaither, Phil LaMarr, Karen Maruyama, Gary Anthony Williams and creator Jordan Black in on the fun, audiences are sure to see off-the-cuff comedy at its best. The cast's stellar credits range from "Saturday Night Live" and "Mad TV" to "The Boondocks" and "Reno 911!"