Don’t miss out as some of Chicago's top comedians take the stage on WCIU, The U's upcoming "Chicago's One Night Stand-Up" comedy special!

Hosted by comedian and Chicago native Rebecca O'Neal, the showcase was taped in front of a live studio audience at Zanies Comedy Club in Rosemont, Illinois, and features hilariously funny stand-up routines from local comedic giants.

Check out their bios, social links and exclusive videos from our last comedy showcase below.

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  • Rebecca O'Neal

    Rebecca O’Neal - Host

    Rebecca O'Neal is a Chicago-based stand-up comedian, writer and editor. Since she began stand-up comedy in early 2012, O'Neal has performed at numerous festivals across the country. She has also opened for Maria Bamford, Janeane Garofalo, The Daily Show's Al Madrigal, Saturday Night Live's Sasheer Zamata and Hannibal Buress. O'Neal is a former cast member of the 14th season of the Lincoln Lodge and a regular at Laugh Factory Chicago. She currently produces a monthly free, BYOB comedy showcase in Chicago called Congrats on Your Success.
  • Jeff Arcuri

    Jeff Arcuri

    The Chicago Tribune calls Jeff Arcuri "a joke machine," but he's not! He's a person! Jeff has appeared on Comedy Central's Roast Battle, Laughs on Fox, Windy City Live, WGN, and a spot in a plethora of comedy festivals around the country. Based out of Chicago, Jeff works clubs around the country, including locally: The Laugh Factory, The Comedy Bar, and Zanies Comedy Clubs.
  • Bill Bullock

    Bill Bullock has been performing in Chicago and beyond for over 6 years. Bill's brand of comedy revolves around raucous, confessional, and personal (sometimes very personal) storytelling. Mix that with a neurotic self-awareness and extremely opinionated wit, you have a comic who can appeal to all types of audiences.
  • Kelsie Huff

    Kelsie Huff

    Kelsie Huff is the creator and host of the kates, a nine year comedy showcase, hosted by The Book Cellar and Laugh Factory Chicago. She also teaches at the the kates U - all female comedy courses specializing in making spaces for female identified voices. Kelsie performs at clubs all around the Midwest, as well as comedy and fringe festivals around the country. She is a regular guest on ABC's Windy City LIVE and WGN radio. Huff has written four solo shows. She is also a short film producer, screenwriter and voice over actor. Huff is also a fan of frosting and Cheese Whiz.
  • Matt Ryan

    Matty Ryan

    Matty has been touring and performing throughout the country for years. An alumnus of the Second City, Matty has appeared at The Hollywood Laugh Factory, The Hollywood Comedy Store, The Hollywood Improv, Laugh Factory Chicago, UCB LA, UCB East, The Knitting Factory Brooklyn, iO Theater, Zanies, The Chicago Improv, and UP Comedy Club. In 2013, he was invited to perform at the TBS Just for Laughs Festival in Chicago. In 2016 he made his feature film debut with a role in "Who Gets the Dog" (nominated for 'Best Actor' in the 2016 Midwest Independent Film Festival), and also recorded a standup set for MTV’s "Acting Out." Matty currently produces Parlour Car every Thursday at Bar DeVille in Chicago.

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  • Schmitty B

    Schmitty B.

    Schmitty B. is an actor turned comic who found his calling when he was convinced to hit the stage and speak for himself. Turns out, he received standing ovations night after night. Schmitty B. always possessed a natural talent of entertaining others and he lights up the comedy circuit touring colleges and clubs nationally. His style of comedy is one that hits hard with quick one-liners and creative truth. Schmitty B. is focused on making it to bigger stages and now, the screen.
  • Reena Calm

    Reena Calm

    Reena Calm is an East Coast Jew turned Chicago favorite and one of the most sought after comics in the Midwest. She is a regular at the Laugh Factory and she tours all over the country on her #CalmedyTours. Reena has featured in the RiOT LA Comedy Festival, The Comedy Exposition and Just For Laughs Chicago. Enough about her, let's talk about you! When are you coming to a show? Dates are listed at www.reenacalm.com.
  • Josh Ejnes

    Josh Ejnes

    Josh Ejnes grew up in Rhode Island where nothing funny ever happened. Then he went to school in Missouri where some funny things happened and he started doing stand-up. Josh lives in Chicago now, where he produces the independent showcases 'Colleen: A Comedy Show' in Wrigleyville and 'Undergrad Underground' at the Playground Theater, as well as the hip-hop comedy game show 'What the Hipnonics' at the Laugh Factory.
  • Calvin Evans

    Calvin Evans

    Calvin Evans is a Chicago native and has been seen on Kevin Harts' Hart of the City on Comedy Central and Acting Out on MTV. He made his acting debut on Showtime's Shameless and followed up with a co-star role on Chicago PD. Evans graduated from the famed Second City and is a recipient of the Bob Curry Fellowship. 2017 is looking very promising for this rising star out of Chicago.
  • Jim Flannigan

    Jim Flannigan

    Over the past few years, Jim Flannigan has become a mainstay at the top comedy clubs around the country, including Zanies, The Improv, The Laugh Factory and Brad Garrett's Comedy Club in Las Vegas. Hailing from Chicago, Jim's quick wit and smart humor have made him a favorite at colleges, comedy clubs and corporate events alike. In 2016, Flannigan was invited to perform at some of the biggest comedy festivals in the country, including Gilda's LaughFest and The Great American Comedy Festival, honoring the late Johnny Carson. Jim also co-hosts the official Chicago White Sox Podcast, The Cycle, available on mlb.com and iTunes.
  • Steven Haas

    Steven Haas

    Steven Haas is a stand-up comedian, screenwriter, and author. Steven's brand of comedy is based on his life, covering topics from student loan debt to dating to searching for jobs. He performs at comedy clubs and colleges across the country and is a house MC at Zanies Comedy Club. Steven competed in TBS' College Comedy Competition and was a finalist in the 2015 Beverly Hills Screenwriting Contest.
  • Kellye Howard

    Kellye Howard

    Kellye Howard is what the Chicago Sun-Times calls "Chicago's boldest comedian." Kellye has been featured on Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, ABC, FOX Laughs, as well as several other media outlets. Howard recently made her acting debut in the new hit series Chicago Justice. She is a Harvey, IL native and can be seen locally at the Laugh Factory and Second City's twisty team beginning in March 2017.
  • Michael Issac

    Michael Issac

    Michael Issac is committed to Making it Happen in Chicago with his entertainment career. He has appeared on several television commercials as well as co-starring roles on Chicago Fire and Empire. He has been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1999 and serves on the Chicago Local board. Issac performs stand-up comedy locally at Zanies Chicago where he headlines regularly. He has also performed on forty college campuses across the country. This past March, he was awarded the 2016 College Comedian of the Year.
  • Melody Kamali

    Melody Kamali

    Melody Kamali is a first generation Iranian-American stand-up comedian. The dualities of her life make for an awareness and appreciation of the absurd, and an almost confessional style of comedy she delights crowds with across Chicago. In addition to being a member of the female comedy collective Hoo HA Comedy, she also produces and performs at the bi-weekly stand-up showcase Guest List Comedy. Recent festivals include the Chicago Comedy Expo and the All Jane Comedy Festival. For more information and booking inquiries please visit melodykamali.com.
  • Dwayne Kennedy

    Dwayne Kennedy

    Dwayne Kennedy is a stand-up comedian, actor and writer whose TV writing credits include The Arsenio Hall Show (CBS), The Orlando Jones Show (FX), and the critically acclaimed FX/FXX original series, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. Dwayne got his start in comedy in his native Chicago at Zanies Comedy Club, and has since evolved into one of the funniest and most thought-provoking comedians of our time. His satirical diversions and piercing perspective on social and world issues showcase a comedic genius heralded by the likes of Chris Rock and Marc Maron.
  • Alex Kumin

    Alex Kumin

    Alex Kumin's bold and socially conscious standup delights crowds across the city of Chicago and around the US. She is a cast member of the longest running independent standup comedy showcase in the country, The Lincoln Lodge, and has opened for Aparna Nancherla, Jen Kirkman, Kyle Kinane, and Todd Barry, among others. Kumin has appeared in the Limestone Comedy Festival, Orlando Indie Comedy Fest, The Chicago Comedy Exposition, and in 2016 was invited to perform at the NBC Universal Breakout Comedy Festival. She was recently featured in Timeout Chicago as a comic to watch, and tackles heavy hitting social issues, ranging from gender inequality to thigh chaffing.
  • Michael Larimer

    Michael Larimer

    Michael Larimer reigns from the cornfields of Iowa. He has written and acted in numerous films, commercials, pilots, sketch comedy reviews, and plays. His true passion, stand-up comedy, started nine years ago when he was hit in the head with a golf ball – no seriously – and lost a little vision. Mr. Larimer found a new light in stand-up and strives to produce smart, crazy, original, and highly energetic comedy.
  • Kristen Lundberg

    Kristen Lundberg

    Kristen Lundberg is a Chicago-based Second City comedian, writer, actor, producer, violinist, and former toy sculptor from Dayton, Ohio. Lundberg won the 'Whiskey Tango Foxtrot' award in the 2013 48hr Film Project. She also brought home an Orchid Award in Cincinnati for best comedic actress in the production of "The Curious Savage." Lundberg has completed both the Second City writing and conservatory programs. She was recently named one of Chicago's "Comedians You Should Know," which featured shows in Chicago, LA, and NY.
  • Rachel McCartney

    Rachel McCartney

    Rachel McCartney is no fun at all, but she's pretty damn funny. Her weird, obsessive brain fixates on topics like God, death, mental illness, electoral reform, and the pointlessness of trying to be right about any of those things. The Chicago Tribune once called her "wise beyond her years," so go see her before her youth runs out. She is a regular at the Laugh Factory and has performed several times at Comedians You Should Know, including as an opener for Drew Michael at his album recording.
  • Pat McGann

    Pat McGann

    Pat McGann is a stand up comedian and television host from Chicago. In 2015, he made his second appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. Pat created and hosted the Emmy-nominated television show The Chicago Stand Up Project. He has been invited to The Great American Comedy Festival, Laugh Fest, The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival and has been heard on the nationally syndicated The Bob & Tom Show as well as seen on AXS-TV's Gotham Comedy Live. His debut comedy album "Sounds Good" can be heard on Sirius/XM radio.
  • Martin Morrow

    Martin Morrow

    Martin Morrow is originally from Birmingham, AL where he began his start in comedy. He is an actor on The Second City Mainstage in their current 105th revue, "The Winner...of Our Discontent." He has worked clubs, colleges, and festivals all over the country and with some of the top names including Tim Allen, Amy Schumer, and Katt Williams. Morrow is a producer of "Comedians You Should Know" and has been featured on "NBC's Last Comic Standing," The Huffington Post, and more.
  • T. Murph

    T. Murph

    T. Murph is an internationally known comedian who has been featured on nationally syndicated shows such as Chicago Fire, Comedy Centrals Key & Peele, and the 2014 ReBoot of BET ComicView. You can catch Murph producing his own show FADED by T. Murph every third Saturday of the month in Chicago.
  • Abi Sanchez

    Abi Sanchez

    Abi Sanchez hit the stage in 2010 and hasn’t stopped since. His views on family life, relationships, social media and life's vices have all been formed by a childhood of too much TV and not enough guidance. His mellow demeanor and stage presence keep audiences captivated, which has allowed Abi to form a category all his own.
  • Russ Williamson

    Russ Williamson

    New Jersey native Russ Williamson moved to Chicago in 2005 to pursue a career in comedy. During that time he's played Chicago's biggest rooms and has worked with comedy's biggest names. You may have seen him on the NBC show Chicago Fire or the USA network show Sirens. Russ was named Best of the Mid-West at Gilda's LaughFest in 2016.