Comedy Gets Spicy! : Lincoln Center Celebrates India’s Influence on Art
Celebrate Diversity, Cultural Exploration and Inclusion Through Comedy
Get ready for a night of humor intertwined with cultural exploration all brought to you by a powerhouse lineup of comedians whose South Asian heritage infuses into their comedic brilliance.
As Lincoln Center celebrates a week-long festival of India’s rich artistic influences throughout the campus, NYLaughs is thrilled to present a special comedy night showcasing the groundbreaking work of rising comedians, including those of Indian heritage and other South Asian voices from around the world. Audiences can expect an evening filled with diverse perspectives and impactful stories that delve into identity, family dynamics, cultural clashes, and the immigrant experience. Join us for a deliciously spicy comedic treat as we highlight the vibrant traditions and contemporary contributions of Indian culture through the lens of comedy. Don’t miss this opportunity to laugh, be enlightened, and experience a karmic namaste in the heart of NYC!
The event is on July 10 in Jaffe Drive which will be the delicious spicy side to the NYLaughs curated main course on July 13th in Damrosch Park. Talent line-up is below. Line-ups are subject to change.
For more info on this free performance and obtaining Fast Track tickets, check Lincoln Center for details here.
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NYLaughs is excited to be back this summer with its highly anticipated series of free comedy performances, offering New Yorkers a much-needed laughter intervention! NYLaughs is thrilled to join forces with Lincoln Center for it’s summer programming for our fourth year, a celebration of collaboration and giving back to the community. Our calendar has expanded to 8 nights. Now New Yorkers have a place to laugh every Wednesday at 8pm. Best of all, admission to all shows is free!
This remarkable program is made possible by the generous support of various organizations. In addition to Lincoln Center, NYLaughs would like to extend its gratitude to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council for public funding; A.R.T./New York; A.R.T./New York’s NYC Small Theatres Fund made possible with support from the Howard Gilman Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul. We thank the New York City Council for Discretionary Funding in addition to the Honorable Gale Brewer and Keith Powers for their ongoing support of NYLaughs’ programming and mission.
Please follow us for details on talent announcements. Contact details and information for the public can be found by visiting www.nylaughs.org, calling 917-727-5233 or following NYLaughs on twitter / X @NYLaughs or Instagram #NYLaughs.
Lineup
Lady Bushra Host
Shortlisted for a BBC New Comedy Award, the iconic character of Lady Bushra is played by fast growing comedian Amir Dean. Often seen performing his sold out ‘Drag Comedy Cabaret’, this drag queen has taken the scene by storm with online videos viewed over 20 million times whereas his live performances have been enjoyed as far as Europe and USA.
Ayanna Dookie
Ayanna Dookie, a stand-up comedian, writer, storyteller, and Lupus Advocate, channels her experiences as a first-generation American, woman of color, and daughter of immigrants (one Black, one Indian) into her comedy. She’s appeared on HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay, truTV’s Laff Tracks, 2 Dope Queens on WNYC, NPR’s Snap Judgement, Fox’s Laughs, and AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live. Ayanna also writes for BET’s 50 Central and MTV’s Wild n’ Out. Additionally, she organizes an annual comedy show with the Lupus Foundation of America to raise awareness and funds for Lupus research, and co-hosts Hydroxychloro QUEENZ, a podcast about living with Lupus.
Maddy Kelly
Maddy Kelly is known across Canada for her unique comedic voice. Some of her funniest work is centered around her cultural identity as she has an Irish father and Indian mother. As a performer, writer, and producer, Maddy has worked on projects that have been spotlighted in Vulture Magazine, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Webbys. You can check out her work on CBC’s The New Wave of Standup, JFL’s The Standup Show, The Debaters, or her podcasts Popcorn for Dinner, Let’s Make A Sci Fi, and Let’s Make A Rom Com. Currently she is working on the political satire series, CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
Alingon Mitra
Alingon Mitra, a stand-up comedian, made his mark on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, winning the public vote for five weeks and securing a spot on the finale. He’s appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Comedy Central’s Adam Devine’s House Party. A former writer for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and Adam Ruins Everything, Mitra has claimed victories at the Boston Comedy Festival and the “Funniest Comic in New England” contest. Alingon was a writer for the humor magazine The Harvard Lampoon. Born and raised in Worcester to Indian immigrant parents, Mitra’s comedic journey is characterized by sharp wit and insightful humor.
Sahib Singh
Sahib Singh, a first-gen Indian-American, is a comedian, writer, and actor. He’s been on the road with Nimesh Patel, opened for Hasan Minhaj on his King’s Jester Tour, and starred in Comedy Central’s Creators Program. His work includes the 2021 ViacomCBS Comedy Showcase and appearances on AS SEEN ON ADULT SWIM. Originally from Baltimore, Sahib has won Magooby’s New Comedian of the Year in 2019 and gained a strong social media following with his mellow yet hilarious style. Execs from NBC, CBS, and more have taken notice of his talent.
Kaneez Surka
Kaneez Surka is a South African improv artist, actress, comedian, and YouTuber of Indian descent, who primarily works in India. She gained mainstream popularity on the satirical news show *The Week That Wasn’t* on CNN-News18 and has performed on various stand-up platforms. Surka was a judge on the first two seasons of Amazon Prime Video’s stand-up comedy reality show *Comicstaan* and hosts *The General Fun Game Show* on YouTube. She has been an integral part of the Mumbai improv scene since 2009, co-directing the story-telling club *Tall Tales* and collaborating with All India Bakchod on several popular videos. Kaneez is part of the improv group *The Improvisers* and has an improv special titled *Something From Nothing* on Amazon Prime Video. Her additional credits include producing and performing in her Netflix Special *Ladies Up*, Netflix’s *Comedy Premium League*, and Amazon Prime Video’s *Improv All Stars – Games Night*. Kaneez currently resides in New York City and continues to make her mark in the comedy world.
