The Main Event of The World Series of Comedy

About this event

Excitement continues to build as Casino Queen is preparing to welcome one of the best and biggest comedy festivals in the nation to the St. Louis region for the first time Sept. 23-28. The World Series of Comedy (WSOC), a live stand-up comedy festival, is designed to showcase the top 101 touring professional comedians who will take to the stage during The Main Event, which will feature an entire week of comedy shows. Audience members will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite comedians to help determine who will reign as the new king or queen of comedy.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, The WSOC is best described as a contest, festival, networking event, professional development conference and job fair all wrapped into one.

Over the past nine months, a panel of 6 WSOC judges have watched more than 700 videos submitted by professional comedians in order to determine the Top 101 comics now advancing to The Main Event. Winners from 12 regional preliminary events will also be part of the Top 101, having won their way into the contest with their live performances in cities dotting the nation – from Boston to Las Vegas, Chicago to Sarasota, and various cities in between. Among the impressive names competing this year are Andrew Frank, who finished fourth at The Main Event last year and recently completed a seven-show run of his one hour stand up show entitled Cognitive Goof at the world famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and local rising star Nathan Orton, who won St. Louis’ Funniest at Helium Comedy Club in 2017 and St. Louis Funny Bone’s Best of St. Louis competition in 2014. Other hometown favorites scheduled to compete include JC Sibala, Rafe Williams, Larry Greene, Marcus Stewart, Robert Alan Hall, Max Price and Rich Braun.

“It’s such a treat for Casino Queen to be chosen to host one of the biggest and best comedy festivals in the nation,” said Terry Hanger, President of Casino Queen. “St Louis’ comedy scene has been undeniably growing in recent years, and we’re excited to be a part of that and to have the opportunity to welcome fans, friends and comedy enthusiasts to our facility for this iconic event.”

The festivities get underway with a Wildcard Night on Monday evening with shows at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Each show features 15 comedians, performing for five minutes with eight comics advancing to Round 2. Tuesday through Friday the shows are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and will feature eight comics performing for eight minutes each, with the first and second-place finishers from each show moving on to the semi-final rounds on Saturday. Saturday’s finals include a series of three shows, with the second-place finishers from earlier in the week going head to head at 6 p.m. The winner of that show will join the first-place finishers at 8 p.m. and the evening wraps up with a 10 p.m. face-off between the top three comics and ultimately, the crowning of The Main Event champion for 2019.

A post-show gathering at SEVENS sports lounge at the Casino Queen will follow the last show each night, giving guests the opportunity to mingle with the comedians and enjoy a limited menu and specialty beverages.

In addition to the full week of comedy performances, the event features seminars and social and networking events for comics, comedy club managers and bookers from the U.S. and Canada. The event helps comics obtain contacts and secure more paid work by creating a setting where both comedians and decision makers mingle throughout the series of events. Prizes offered for the winning comedians include jobs at various comedy clubs throughout North America – including Rick Bronson's House of Comedy, Laugh Boston, Zanies, Loonie Bin and McCurdy's Comedy Theatre – a recording contract with Uproar Entertainment, and professional representation from managers and agents.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Casino Queen to introduce these comedians to a new fan base, as well as important industry insiders like America’s Got Talent, comedy club owners, and numerous managers and agents,” said Jason Rowland, Vice President of The World Series of Comedy. “We can’t think of a more perfect time to showcase comedy in the St. Louis region, where the comedy scene is booming.”

The WSOC has welcomed to its stage comedy luminaries such as international touring headliners Dante Rusciolelli (Last Comic Standing), Jerry Corley (The Joke Doctor, Evening at the Improv), Geechy Guy (Star Search winner, America’s Got Talent), Gabe Lopez (Dirty at 12:30, Ralphie May’s personal opening act), Brian McKim (Last Comic Standing, Star Search, Late Show) and Traci Skene (Last Comic Standing). Numerous former contestants have gone on to perform on shows like Late Night with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show, America’s Got Talent, NBC’s Stand Up For Diversity, The Daily Show, Ridiculousness and Conan.

“We’re excited to bring our festival to such a great comedy community and welcome some of St. Louis’ heavy hitters to the stage to perform for their hometown crowd,” said Joe Lowers, CEO of The World Series of Comedy. “While it’s impressive to host a national festival in the St. Louis region and have 10% of the performers from the local area, we’re also proud to offer a distinguished lineup featuring some of the best national touring comedians from coast-to-coast.”

Individual show tickets and events passes for The Main Event are available at www.wsoctickets.com, where people will also find links to the Top 101. Group discounts are available for groups purchasing 20 tickets or more, and local charities are invited to inquire about fundraiser tickets they can then sell to help raise funds for their organizations. For additional questions or more information regarding the comedy festival, contact The World Series of Comedy Vice President Jason Rowland at jason@theworldseriesofcomedy.com.