“Best of the Mitten” Comedy Showcase (feat. Brad Wenzel)

***THIS SHOW IS IN THE THEATER, WHICH IS ON THE 2ND FLOOR & ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY STAIRS. We would love nothing more than to be able to welcome every human into the theater and are working really hard to have an elevator built in the near future.***

Headliner: Brad Wenzel (Detroit)

Brad Wenzel’s offbeat one-liners, dry delivery, and unassuming presence are what set him apart from other comedians. Brad has made 3 stand-up appearances on CONAN and more recently performed on Netflix is a Joke Radio. His debut comedy album Sweet Nothings was released on Jack White’s rock label, Third Man Records and can be heard on SiriusXM. Paste Magazine described Brad’s 2023 special, joke. joke. joke. as “Watching Wenzel feels like hanging out with your funniest, weirdest friend; it’s relaxing and utterly enjoyable” Paste also listed joke. joke. joke. as one of the 20 best comedy specials of the year.

Since the age of 17, Brad has toured the country, honing his unique non-sequitur style of joke telling, all while maintaining an original, comedic voice. Simply put, he’s really funny. Other appearances include “New Faces” at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival and High Plains Comedy Festival.

Host: Esteban Touma (Ann Arbor)

Esteban Touma is a comedian from Ecuador adjusting to life in the US. He was featured in Comedy Central and was part of Clusterfest “Up Next” showcase in San Francisco. His comedy has also been featured on NPR, Sirius XM, The Moth, the NBC Second City Break Out Festival, and the World Comedy Expo. He has opened for comics such as Judd Apatow, Mark Normand, Michelle Wolf, and Roy Wood Jr. The U.S. Government once officially declared him an “authorized legal alien with a reentry permit.”

Featuring:

Jake Russell
Jake Russell is a comedian, improviser, and writer. He is the creator of the Stand up/Improv show “I ain’t no joke” and the one-man show “Birth of a Ho ass Nation.” He’s opened for Fred Armisen and Zarna Garg. He’s also a sneaker enthusiast.

Patty Rooney
Patty Rooney is a Detroit-based comedian and self-proclaimed recovering people pleaser, using her sharp, self-deprecating humor to make light of life’s awkward moments. Patty has opened for comedic legends like Tim Meadows (SNL), Alex English (SNL), Dave Hill, and some of the finest of the Midwest. She has been featured at the Traverse City Comedy Fest and the Detroit Women of Comedy Fest.

Blain Hill
Blain Hill is a comedian, writer, and podcaster from Detroit. A mainstay of the Detroit comedy scene for more than a decade, Blain has entertained audiences all across the country with his sharp, original writing and deadpan delivery. Blain is a regular performer at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, and The Detroit House Of Comedy and has shared the stage with greats like Barry Crimmins, Jimmy Pardo, and Sam Morril.