Cinder Block Comedy Festival to Return with Janeane Garofalo and More

The Cinder Block Comedy Festival, presented by the Meatball Shop, returns for another year of shows throughout Williamsburg and Bushwick, Brooklyn and remains committed to showcasing a diverse lineup of talent. This year, Cinder Block is even bigger, with 80 shows and 18 venues, and most tickets are $5.

Performers include Janeane Garofalo, Judy Gold, Jeffrey Joseph, Nikki Carr, Jo Firestone, and many more. The festival kicks off on Thursday, September 7th with The Educated Guess Science Fair, hosted by Jo Firestone and Steven DeSienna at Rough Trade in Williamsburg.

Other highlights include:

-A showcase from the What a Joke! Festival on Saturday, September 9th at The Gutter. What a Joke! raised $50k for the ACLU on Inauguration Day weekend. Tickets are $10 and sales from this showcase will be donated to the ACLU as well.

-Speakout Laughout on Sunday, September 10th at Cantina Royal - an abortion storytelling show promising to bring both tears and laughter. Tickets are $10 and a portion of sales are donated to the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF).

-Two panels to help performers grow on Saturday, September 10th at Bar Matchless: Everything Explained with Carole Montgomery and Podcast Promotion with Stephanie Lyons. Both are $5.

-The Gold Comedy Showcase: The Gold School for Comedy was created by Lynn Harris to help give a platform and guidance to young female performers. Students will perform along with their mentors Joanna Briley and Jes Tom and will be hosted by Elsa Waithe. Saturday, September 9that Artichoke Pizza.

-Sketch Screening: Last Comic Standing's Kara Buller hosts a screening of comedy sketches submitted to the festival. Friday, September 8th at Cantina Royal.

For the full schedule and lineup, visit www.cinderblockcomedyfestival.com/schedule, and be sure to follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/cinderblockcomedy, Twitter: twitter.com/CinderBlockFest, and Instagram: www.instagram.com/CinderBlockComedyFest.

Headliners:
Janeane Garofalo
Jeffrey Joseph
Judy Gold
Nikki Carr

Features:
Aida Rodriguez
Amy Miller
Carole Montgomery
Jo Firestone
Shalewa Sharpe

With:
Aaron Chasteen
Alex Fleming
Alison Klemp
Alvin Irby
Amanda McQueen
American Express (improv)
Amy Shanker
Arish Singh
Astronomy Club (sketch & improv)
Barbara Bush (sketch)
Bill Larkin
Brian Mitchell
Brian Parise
Caitlin Durante
Caitlin Peluffo
Cameran Hebb
Camille Theobald
Cara Connors
Carolyn Castiglia
Carter Deems
Cassandra Dee
Catherine Zini
Cathy Humes
Chloe McGovern
Christina Catherine Martinez
Christina Galston
Christopher Crespo
Coree Spencer
Danielle Thralow
Derrick Lemos
Drew Anderson
Ed Galvez
Elsa Waithe
Emily Winter
Emmett Montgomery
Erin Lynn O'Connor
Erin Spencer
Fantasy Grandma
Gastor Almonte
Gianmarco Soresi
Hana Michels
Harris Alterman
Irene Merrow
J Smitty
Ja-Ron Young
Jacky Beren
James Huessy
Jenn Wehrung
Jenn Welch
Jes Tom
Joanna Briley
Kara Buller
Kat Herskovic
Kate Willett
Katherine Jessup
Katie Barbaro
Katie Boyle
Kelli Dunham
Khalid Rahmaan
Kristee Ono
L Michelle
Laura Merli
Lauren Faber
Lauren Hope Krass
Lynn Bixenspan
Maddy Smith
Mamoudou N'Diaye
Marie Faustin
Marisa Douenias
Mark James Heath
Mark Pagán
Marlon Jean-Baptiste
Maurice Licorish
Molly Kornfeld
Mostly Sara(h) (improv)
My Dark Little Corner
Nanie Mendez
Nasser Khan
Nick Chambers
Nicki Wright
Nina Manni
Patrick Holbert
Pedro Gonzalez
Rae Sanni
Raghav Mehta
Raj Sivaraman
Rhonda Hansome
Riley Silverman
Rosa Escandón
Sam & Bill
Sammie James
Sarah Kennedy
Sarah Sherman
SharRon Paul
Shelly Colman
Sonya Vai
Steven DeSiena
Steven Castillo
Stine An
Subhah Agarwal
Sydnee Washington
The Gay Trauma Archives (sketch)
The Unconventional Lesbians
Took Edalow
Tyler Snodgrass
Whitney Chitwood
Will Winner
Yogi Paliwal
Zack Hammond