2nd Annual Desi Comedy Fest Returns To Northern California in August 2015
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 19, 2015 -- This August, San Francisco Bay Area-based comedians Abhay Nadkarni and Samson Koletkar bring you the 2nd installment of “Desi Comedy Fest,” an annual comedy festival featuring the funniest and most talented South Asian comedians alongside some up and coming ones that are rocking the mics across the Bay Area and beyond.
“Last year, we did four shows in four cities on four consecutive nights and sold out each show. This year, we decided to expand. We have 8 shows in 5 cities spread over a week. Last year, we had 10 comics, and this year, we have 16 with varied backgrounds and styles that are sure to add a bit of flavor to the festival. This time, we have 8 shows at comedy clubs, lounges and theaters. Each venue has its own character and that will give audiences access to an entire spectrum of shows,” says Abhay Nadkarni, one half of the brains behind the idea. Abhay Nadkarni moved from South-India to South Central Los Angeles for grad school. His act is an eclectic mix of his experience as an immigrant in the US. He recently performed at the Ventura and SAC Comedy Festivals 2014. He was also featured in the Best of the Fest showcase at the Burbank Comedy Festival-2014. In 2015, he was selected to be a part of SF SketchFest Comedy Festival and the San Diego Comedy Festival.
“The comedians we showcased last year have gone on to do bigger things in their own careers. Some have appeared on TV (BBC, Comedy Central, MTV, PBS, CBS, KRON4), others are touring the world, appearing on billboards, while yet others have gone on to work with some of the biggest names in the industry like Dave Chappelle, Russell Peters, Greg Proops, Marc Maron, the late great Robin Williams and more. While Indian kids are busy winning spelling bees, the comedians are stacking up trophies at various events like San Francisco International Comedy Competition, SF Sketchfest, Boston Comedy Festival, The MOTH StorySLAM, and more. With so much talent coming out of the Bay Area, this festival is a great opportunity to see all these comedians on a single stage. This year we also have a comedian coming from India!” explains Samson Koletkar, co-producer and world’s only Indian Jewish standup comedian. He has entertained audiences with his cerebral, witty, thought-provoking, clean humor in India, Canada & 14 states in the U.S. He is also the producer of Mahatma Moses Comedy Tour, a featured member of Funatical Comedy Tour, and is currently performing all over U.S. with “You’re Funny, But You Don’t Look Jewish” tour which has sold out 10 of its 13 shows so far. His weekly show “Comedy Oakland” was voted “Top 10 Theatrics” by East Bay Express and is in its 7th year running.
Joining Abhay and Samson in this year’s fest are Dhaya Lakshminarayanan (Comedy Central Asia, NPR’s Snap Judgment), DJ Sandhu(Punchline Sacramento, CBS), Hark Dulai (Comedy Time TV), Imran G ( Winner of The Moth 2014 StorySLAM), Kabir Singh (Comedy Central, The BBC Comedy Night), Keith D’Souza (SF SketchFest), Priya Prasad (Boston Comedy Festival), Priyanka Wali (Sedona International Film Festival), Raj Dutta (Cobb’s, Punch Line), Rajeev Dhar (Troubled Comedy), Richard Sarvate (SF SketchFest), Sanjay Manaktala (Comedy Central India, BBC, Forbes), Shanti Charan (SF Weekly’s Best Stand-Up On The Way Up), and Smita Venkat (TakeOut Comedy Hong Kong).
The Desi Comedy Fest runs on the following dates
Wednesday August 12 8pm at Punch Line Comedy Club in Sacramento
Thursday August 13 8pm at The Washington Inn in Oakland
Friday August 14 8pm at The Basement in San Francisco
Saturday August 15 7.30pm and 10pm at Sunnyvale Theater in Sunnyvale
Sunday August 16 7pm at Firehouse Arts Theater in Pleasanton
Tuesday August 18 8pm at Punch Line Comedy Club in San Francisco
Wednesday August 19 8pm at Punch Line Comedy Club in San Francisco
Shows are for audiences 18 and over. Tickets range from $20 - $30 and can be purchased on http://www.DesiComedyFest.com.
Samson Koletkar, Desi Comedy Fest, http://www.DesiComedyFest.com, +1 415.676.1371, [email protected]
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