Comedy Showcase
Est. 2010
The Road to NYC was first introduced in 2010 by Actor/Comedian Kenan Thompson and Cherie Chiles-Buchanan. The pair partnered to create a platform that allowed emerging comedians to grace the stages of America’s best comedy clubs. Their mission was to curate a pool of talented yet unknown comedians and elevate their careers beyond stand-up. As Kenan’s star power rose, his commitment to highlight others in the genre intensified, bringing us to what is now known as Kenan Presents’ The Live Performance Showcase. Over the last 13 years, this multi-tiered grassroots campaign has produced some of your favorite comics turned sketch artists into bonafide stars!
The best stand-up comedians in the country will perform for the opportunity to laugh themselves into the right rooms with the right people to enhance their careers. This innovative comedy showcase for proven comedians is designed to provide a stepping stone to the next level of entertainment. Selected comics will battle to be the best in their region, as only the premier performers will progress to the national showcase finale in New York City. The hand picked finale line-up will be met with an opportunity of a lifetime when NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” longest cast member, Kenan Thompson hosts them on the mainstage in front of an audience filled with network executives, talent agencies and casting directors. After the finale, select participants will be invited to attend a live taping of “SNL,” meet & greet with industry professionals and possibly get signed to Kenan’s newest venture, Artist for Artist.
- Each city will have one or more showcases
- The comedians will perform their best 3-minutes of original material
- A team of talent scouts will attend the showcases to select who advances
- Each of the US states will have a second round of an audition to find the “Funniest Comic of (STATE)”
- The scouts will watch those showcases and some comedian(s) will receive a spot at the finale in NYC to represent their home state in the national showcase.
- The advancing comedians are slated to perform live at the Hard Rock Hotel in New York
- 2-4 Comedians will receive a spot in the state level audition.
- Our favorite:
- Receive the title “Funniest Comic in (STATE)”
- Spot in the Finale showcase on Broadway in NYC
- Show your skills in front of network executives in NYC.
- Paid comedy tour opportunities
- Round trip tickets to NYC
- Hotel stay in NYC
- Video Audition for NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”
- Cash and other prizes
- Our Second Favorite:
- Stand-by spot in the Finale Showcase
- Video Audition for NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”
- Cash and other prizes
- Our Favorite
- Receive the title “Funniest Comic in America”
- Tickets to see NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” and meet the cast
- Meet with the network executives and talent scouts
- National TV show and movie role opportunities
- National comedy tour opportunities
- Cash and other amazing prizes
- Our Second Favorite
- Receive the title “Funniest Comic in America Runner-Up”
- Tickets to see NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” and meet the cast
- Meet with the network executives and talent scouts
- National comedy tour opportunities
- Cash and other amazing prizes
- The Other Finalist
- Receive the title “Funniest Comic in America Finalist”
- Perform in front of network executives and talent scouts
FOR A GOOD CAUSE
A portion of the proceeds from Kenan Presents’ will be donated to the Cristian Rivera Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to find a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare pediatric brain tumor that claims the lives of 200-300 children a year. Come out and support rising comedians while helping a great cause!
SHOWCASE DETAILS
- Must be over 18 years old to participate
- Comics have 3 minutes of stage time to win over the audience.
ABOUT THE LIVE SHOWS
- Kenan Presents’ showcases have expanded to include 45 cities across globe
- Only the best comedy clubs in the country will host the LIVE events
- All events are paid admission
- Complimentary entry for a limited number of comedians
HOW TO GET TO NYC FINALE
- Impress the Celebrities, Scouts, and Agents in the LIVE audience
- Be the funniest comedian on the show, because the LIVE audience will be voting at the end of each show
- Another chance to go to NYC is have a comedy routine that the online voters choose as the funniest comic
