BCF Contest: Prelim Round 2 Hosted by Myq Kaplan

May 16, 2023

9:30-11:00PM

City Winery - Haymarkt

Join The Boston Comedy Festival at the Preliminary round of a nationwide stand-up competition. Forty-eight, bright-eyed comics from all over the country compete for $5,000 dollars in prize money. When it's over, there will be one comic standing with a nice little bag of money and a ton of bragging rights.

MYQ Kaplan Myq has appeared on the Tonight Show, Conan, Letterman, James Corden, Seth Meyers, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, and America’s Got Talent. He has a one-hour standup special on Amazon, “Small, Dork, and Handsome,” and two podcasts, The Faucet and Broccoli and Ice Cream. His first album, “Vegan Mind Meld,” was one of iTunes’ top 10 comedy albums of the year, and his newest album, “A.K.A.,” debuted at #1. The NY Times called it “invigoratingly funny” and included it among its five “coronavirus best new comedy specials”… “to remind you of the old normal.” And now, here we are in the new weird!

Emily Ruskowski Emily Ruskowski is a Boston-based stand up comedian. She has performed across the country and participated in several comedy festivals. In 2015, she was named of one the Comedy Studio's Comics in Residence and opened for Maria Bamford a the Wilbur

Ian Macdonald Growing up in Auburn, ME, Ian MacDonald now spends his Winters, Springs, Summers, and Falls in Brunswick, ME. Ian was a contestant in The River Comics’ Maine's Wicked Funny Laugh Off Contest 2021, finalist in Maine Event Comedy's Tightest Five Competition, performed at the Bricks & Bridges Comedy Fest 2021, Portland Maine Comedy Festival 2022, third place finalist in New England's Funniest Comedian Competition 2022, and was a regular performer at Empire Comedy Club, including the Make ME Laugh game show. His Mom will tell you he's been doing comedy his entire life. Others may tell you his life is absurd. Specifically, Camus. To quote Ian, himself, from his upcoming book: “I like to hit things with sticks.” And, “I didn't know what a River Comic was, but I knew I had to be one.”

Derek Humphrey As a comic, Derek has been featured in the 2022 New York Comedy Festival, The 2021 Red Clay Comedy Fest, The 2022 New York Theater Festival and was named one of "New York's Funniest" by TBS. His acting work has Derek featured currently in the award winning play "Race: The Play: The Movie" and campaigns for Gillette, with appearances on MTV and ABC. 

Joseph Nunnink Joe Nunnink is a writer and comedian based in New York City. Originally from Kansas City, Joe performed in the midwest for years, winning audiences over both in big cities and in the middle of nowhere with his accessible brand of high-flying absurdism. Joe became the first paid regular at the Comedy Club of Kansas City in 2019, and took 2nd at the Loony Bin's Funniest Person Contest that same year. Joe has selected to perform at the 2021 Flyover Comedy Festival, the 2022 Fountain City Comedy Festival, 2022 Comedy Mob Fest in NYC, and has opened for Shane Gillis and Andy Dick. Joe is currently co-writing an animated comedy series for ROKU Animation in partner with Abso Lutely Productions created by Hunter Hancock, AKA Meatcanyon. 

Peter Liu Peter is one of Boston's fastest rising comics. He majored in chemical engineering and minored in sadness. Now, he makes drugs by day and laughs at night. His comedy is quick, sharp and insightful. He has been featured on Don't Tell Comedy and Amazon Prime. Peter performs regularly across New England at venues such as The Comedy Studio, the Comedy Connection, Laugh Boston, Patriot’s Place, Chunky’s, Headliners, McCue’s Comedy club and Mohegan Sun (Last ComiX Standing). He was a finalist at the Boston Comedy Festival and New England's Funniest Person Contest, and was featured in the the World Comedy Expo in Chicago, Salem Comedy Festival and New York Underground Comedy Festivals. He has also performed across the country at the Comedy Store, Flapper's Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, Greenwich Comedy Club, the Comedy Chateau, West Side Comedy Theatre, The Second City, the Laugh Factory. 

Holly Johnston Holly Johnston is a standup comedian from the suburbs of Massachusetts. She is currently based in Austin, TX and performs at clubs all over the US. Holly premiered on Kill Tony episode #512 and has performed on DeathSquad Secret Show. She recently earned the title of Austin Roast Battle Champion and has competed in numerous roast battles. Holly has performed at clubs all over the country, including Capcity, Creek & The Cave, Dallas Comedy Club, Addison Improv and New York Comedy Club. Festivals/ Competitions: Roast Battle Austin Champion- Vulcan Gas Company, October 2022 Funniest Person in Austin at Capcity Comedy, Austin TX, August 2022 Mutiny Radio Comedy Festival, San Francisco, CA, Oct 2021 Las Vegas 420 Cannabis Comedy Festival, May 2021 The World Series of Comedy Las Vegas, NY, November 2020 Follow Holly on Instagram: @holly.johnston_ and YouTube: @holly.johnston

Rafi Gonzalez Rafi Gonzalez transitioned from being the lead singer of a nationally touring rock band, to the world of stand up comedy in 2015. There has been no looking back since. Filmed for HBO MAX Ha Comedy Festival 2021. Selected to compete in the 2022 San Francisco Comedy Competition. 2022 Burbank Comedy Festival. Winner of the 2017 Finger Lakes Comedy Festival. Appeared on History Hyenas Podcast with Yannis Pappas and Chris Distefano. Headlines comedy clubs throughout New England. Travels internationally performing on cruise ships. Millions of views on social media. 

Santiago Angel Santiago Angel just wants to be happy. He moved to Berlin to do drugs and get laid. Instead he wound up getting sober and doing stand up. He can be found performing nightly at clubs and shows all over NYC. He has taken part in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2x), Red Clay and Rogue Island Comedy Festivals. His comedy has landed him in Vice, New York Times, Time Out, & NY Mag.

Melissa Diaz Bronx native Melissa Diaz (New York Comedy Festival, SXSW, NBC Stand-up) is a rising talent on Earth. Her quirky wit paired with an edgy attitude takes audiences through a funhouse of absurdity and fun that no amount of therapy will let you forget. Melissa is featured regularly at Caroline’s on Broadway, has performed on television (like that's still a thing), appeared in the New York Comedy Festival and has been named one of NBC’s comics to watch.

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