YALL Comedy Fest, sponsored by Comedy Central and NBCUniversal, announced its panel of entertainment industry leaders and advocates for their seventh annual Pitch Showcases.
YALL’s Pitch Showcases are a unique exhibition of top tier writers and performers sharing new comedy projects that address social issues. The event features 10-minute pitch presentations from emerging and established creators alike, all of whom are members of YALL’s 2024 Fellow cohort and are looking to create and/or further develop their comedy projects. The pitches are judged by the panel of industry experts who will provide individualized feedback and advice to the Fellows.
Since its inception, the YALL Pitch Showcases have been designed to introduce comedians to the entertainment industry, social justice organizations, philanthropists and activists who can help bring their work into the comedy marketplace – and into movements for social change. The 2025 YALL Pitch Showcases will take place at Asylum NYC during YALL Comedy Fest.
The Pitch Showcase on Thursday, April 3 will feature panelists Josh Church (Executive at Apatow Productions), Jennie Church-Cooper (Manager at Levity Entertainment), Roy Wood Jr. (Host of CNN’s Have I Got News for You), Deniese Davis (Executive Producer of HBO’s Insecure), Dan Powell (Co-president & Founder of Irony Point), and Jandiz Estrada Cardoso (Director of the Episodic Program at Sundance Institute).
The Thursday panel will see pitches of new comedy specials, films, and podcasts from Alison Zeidman (TBS’ Full Frontal with Samantha Bee), Andre D Thompson (NBC’s The Tonight Show), Chanel Ali (MTV’s Girl Code), Eric Lockley (Max’s Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin), Orli Matlow (SundanceTV’s Indefensible), Sam Morrison (NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers), and Rima Parikh (The New Yorker).
The Pitch Showcase on Friday, April 4 will feature panelists Jennie Church Cooper (Manager at Levity Entertainment), Jandiz Estrada Cardoso (Director of the Episodic Program at Sundance Institute), Sarah Cooper (Netflix’s Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine), Ai-jen Poo (President of the National Domestic Worker’s Alliance and Executive Director of Caring Across Generations), Deniese Davis (Executive Producer of HBO’s Insecure), Josh Church (Executive at Apatow Productions), and Taylor Kowalski (Supervising Producer at Irony Point).
Friday’s panelists will see pitches of new scripted television series’ from Rasheda Crockett (Apple TV+’s The Changeling), Carlos Greaves (Peacock’s Back That Year Up), Kate Sisk (Comedy Central’s Stand Up Featuring), Greg Roque (Comedy Central’s Roast Battle II), Batoul Mourad (Sesame Workshop’s Writer’s Room Fellow), and Cecelia Ticktin (Wicked National Tour).
Former YALL Fellow and host of the new Hulu show Muslim Matchmaker, Yasmin Elhady will serve as host of the YALL Comedy Fest Pitch Showcases.
YALL Comedy Fest is the first and only comedy festival that celebrates the power of humor to change the world. Showcasing a diverse community of Yes, And…Laughter Lab creators, YALL Comedy Fest spotlights the best comedy writers and performers who take on social justice issues while making us laugh. From pitches to table reads to stand-up, sketches, and more, YALL Comedy Fest is the place to discover some of the most talented creators in the industry for three days of next-level comedy. See the full schedule and get your tickets to YALL Comedy Fest now at yallcomedyfest.com.
Those looking to attend the private Pitch Showcases must be approved through the official waitlist. Click here to join the waitlist.
Yes, And… Laughter Lab is a competitive incubation lab, pitch program and showcase that uplifts the best comedy writers and performers creating new comedy about topics that matter, with a focus on BIPOC, immigrant, Muslim, LGBTQ, and women creators. Follow Yes, And… Laughter Lab on Instagram and Twitter/X at @YALLcomedy.
The Yes, And… Laughter Lab is generously supported by Doris Duke Foundation’s Building Bridges Program, MacArthur Foundation, Pop Culture Collaborative, Open Society Foundations, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
