Comedy Fest in Shreveport will host talent and judges from New York, Los Angeles, Austin

If you believe the adage that ‘laughter is the best medicine,’ then here’s your prescription: get thee down to Comedy Prize 2024 in Shreveport.

But did you know that Comedy Prize is larger than just bringing entertainment to town? It offers a national platform for rising comedians to win a $2,500 cash prize and the ability to network with influential professionals in the comedy industry, who have the potential to advance their careers.

Both talented comedians and experienced industry professionals will be descending on our corner of the state next week. This year’s roster of judges include Michael Cox (The Jimmy Fallon Show), Charlie Sotelo (SXSW Comedy), Emilie Laford (Comedy Store), Bart Coleman (Live Nation Comedy), and Elizabeth Furiati (Comedy Cellar).

“To have these comedy industry luminaries travel to Shreveport for Comedy Prize and help these comedians advance their careers shines a light on our town and on Prize Fest,” Executive Director of the Prize Foundation Gregory Kallenberg said. “It’s going to be an epic night of comedy, and I hope everyone is there to see it!”

Comedy Prize is such a fan favorite of Prize Fest that this year the contest has doubled in size. There will be two separate shows, with five comedians each.

Each finalist will perform a 7—10 minute set, with their performances being judged by a panel of industry professionals.

Here are the ten stand up comedians who will perform Thursday at the Remington Garage in Shreveport.

Early Show Lineup at 7 p.m.

Buy your Comedy Fest passes (ages 18+) here. 

Dylan Carlino is an Austin-based stand up comic, who has done comedy all over the country for the last nine years. Winner of the “Funniest Person in Austin” competition in 2023, he has been to multiple festivals including Moontower 2024. Most recently, he was featured in the Netflix Is A Joke 2024 “Introducing” series. 

Jasmyn Carter is based in Los Angeles, originally from Cleveland. She has over one million followers on social media. She wrote and stars “BFFs” on Amazon Prime and her comedy album “Too Much Head” is available on all streaming platforms.

Matt Koff is a NYC-based comic and TV writer who won an Emmy for his work on “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart. Matt recently won the title of NY’s Funniest Standup at New York Comedy Festival. He performs regularly at the Comedy Cellar in New York City and has appeared on Comedy Central, SiriusXM, and WFMU. 

Kristen Toomey’s standup career began in 2008. She has headlined comedy clubs across North America and the UK and regularly appears at top clubs in New York and Chicago like The Stand, New York Comedy Club, Zanies, and Laugh Factory. She has performed at numerous festivals, including such as the prestigious Just For Laughs in Montreal, Netflix Is A Joke Festival, 312 Comedy Festival, Oddball Festival and more.

Jay Washington is a professional wrestler turned high energy stand-up comedian and actor. Jay has headlined one night of the Netflix Is A Joke Festival and been a runner-up at the 2023 Big Sky Comedy Fest. He’s appeared on Showtime’s “American Gigolo,” HBO Max’s “Rap Sh!t” on HBO Max, and just released his debut stand-up special, “Big, Black & Nerdy.”

Late Show Lineup at 8:30 p.m. 

Buy your Comedy Fest passes (ages 18+) here. 

Mike Feeney is a New York City-based comedian. His high energy and sharp wit captivate young and old audiences alike. He has been featured on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, NBC’s Last Call with Carson Daly, Barstool Sports, Fox’s Laughs, Funny or Die, Sirius XM, The Chive, ABC’s Right This Minute, Inside Edition, Reader’s Digest, and Food Network’s Restaurant Stakeout.

Macey Isaacs, originally from Austin, studied at The Groundlings School and is a nationally touring stand-up comedian. She has performed in festivals including Netflix is a Joke, Bergamot, and World Series of Comedy. She’s featured for comedians such as Shane Torres, Alonzo Bodden, Dean Delray, and Taylor Williamson. She runs a monthly stand-up show at The Crow in Santa Monica called “The Picture Day Show.” In 2022, she was named one of the Top 35 Comics to Break Out by Interrobang. In 2023, she was a finalist on KTLA 5 Los Angeles “Summer of Funny.”

Grace Johnson is a stand up comic and Bell House Newcomer for 2023 and one of New York Comedy Festival’s 2023 “Comics To Watch.” You can catch Grace at shows all around New York, through her “Don’t Tell” comedy special or at festivals like The Northwest Black Comedy Festival and The Big Sky Comedy Festival, where she was a finalist. When she’s not on stage she’s a voice actor and writer. She’s a series regular on the Apple Top 50 Comedy Podcast “The God Pod” and spent some time in the writer’s room on the CBC Gem show “virgins!” Unapologetically Black and nerdy, she calls her brand of humor “Glasses Comedy” as she invites you to see things from her lens.

Opeyemi (‘Opey’) Olagbaju is a Nigerian American stand-up comedian and writer. He recently shot and starred in the pilot of his series “Bammas” at Hulu.  He has written for “Close Enough” at HBO Max and was story editor on “Betty” for HBO. Other writing credits include “Unrelated” for Freeform, “I Love Your America with Sarah Silverman” for Hulu, “The New Negroes” for Comedy Central, and Phoebe Robinson’s “Doing the Most.” Opey was selected to participate in the 2019 Sundance Institute Episodic Lab, and chosen as one of JFL’s 2019 New Faces. He has showcased in festivals like  Bridgetown Comedy Festival, SF Sketchfest, and the World Series of Comedy.

Cameron Peloso is a young, ethnically ambiguous comedian and writer who was recently voted first by Willamette Week’s Funniest Person in Portland. He’s been seen on Coming to the Stage Season 10’s Amazon Prime Comedy Showcase as well as on campus at Portland Community College.