Join us June 5–8 for a 4-day comedy festival that brings the funny to Union Square—indoors and out! In partnership with The Stand Restaurant & Comedy Club and Union Square Partnership, Union Square becomes NYC’s summer comedy HQ.
Thursday, June 5 | Union Square Plaza | 5:30 – 9:00 PM
FREE Outdoor Headliner Show | Thursday, June 5
Featuring Rachel Feinstein, Sam Jay, Pete Lee, Chris Redd, Shane Torres & Emil Wakim.
Think of this as our own Global Citizen… but more local and way funnier. We call it Local Citizen—a celebration of New Yorkers helping New Yorkers, powered by laughter.
Stop by our WABC-TV Gratitude Wall & Joke Wall to leave a thank-you note or crack a joke for a chance to win prizes before summer ends (winners chosen at the discretion of our very serious, very giggly judges.)
TICKETED SHOWS JUNE 5 – 8, 2025
Want more?
Check out our ticketed late-night shows during the festival, featuring:
• Michael Che, Emmy-winning SNL star
• Vinny Guadagnino, the meatball-slingin’ icon from Jersey Shore
Free RSVPs and tickets: www.nylaughsfest.com + www.nylaughs.org
Special thanks to our media sponsor WABC-TV for spreading love and laughter!
Funding and support provided by: Union Square Partnership, The Stand, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC City Council, Councilmember Carlina Rivera and NYSCA. Special shout-out to USP board members GFP Real Estate and Mount Sinai for keeping Union Square funny.
Lineup
Rachel Feinstein
Rachel Feinstein is a stand-up comedian and actress known for her bold characters and razor-sharp storytelling. She’s released three specials, including Only Whores Wear Purple (Comedy Central) and Big Guy (Netflix, 2024), and was a finalist on Last Comic Standing. Rachel has appeared on Inside Amy Schumer, Last Week Tonight, and Crashing, and lent her voice to Grand Theft Auto and Venture Brothers. Catch her in Netflix Is a Joke: Parental Advisory.
Emil Wakim
Emil Wakim is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer based in Brooklyn. A Just For Laughs New Face and Tonight Show alum, he’s also been featured on Comedy Central’s Stand-Up Featuring and Don’t Tell Comedy. In fall 2024, Emil joined the cast of Saturday Night Live‘s 50th season, making history as its first Lebanese-American cast member. He’s opened for Roy Wood Jr., Nikki Glaser, Hasan Minhaj, and more.
Chris Redd
Chris Redd is an Emmy-winning comedian, actor, and writer best known for his breakout work on Saturday Night Live, where he earned acclaim—and a Primetime Emmy—for the viral song “Come Back, Barack.” A Second City alum, Redd got his start in stand-up before landing roles in Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Empire, Chicago P.D., and Netflix’s Disjointed. He co-created and stars in Peacock’s Bust Down and has been featured in a Comedy Central half-hour special.
Pete Lee
Pete Lee made history as the first stand-up to receive a standing ovation on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, leading to 9 appearances and a recurring spot. A Just For Laughs standout and Last Comic Standing semi-finalist, Pete’s sharp yet joyful Midwestern humor has been showcased on Comedy Central’s Half Hour, Roast Battle, and This Week at the Comedy Cellar. He’s also appeared on Nickelodeon, TruTV, and co-created the Duck Dynasty spin-off Going Siral.
Shane Torres
Shane Torres is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor whose unique mix of dry deadpan and emotional punchlines has earned praise from The New York Times, AV Club, and GQ UK. He’s appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan (twice), Comedy Central’s Half Hour, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Bang Bang, and After Midnight. In 2023, he released his first hour-long special, The Blue Eyed Mexican, produced by Bert and LeeAnn Kreischer and named one of Vulture’s top 10 specials of the year. Shane is also the creator of the Comedy Central series Shane Torres Conquers Fearand co-host of the hit podcast No Accounting for Taste.
Sam Jay
Sam Jay is a stand-up comedian, actor, and two-time Emmy-nominated writer known for her bold, unfiltered comedy that explores race, gender, and identity. A former Saturday Night Live writer, she created and starred in HBO’s PAUSE with Sam Jay and has released two acclaimed stand-up specials: 3 in the Morning and Salute Me or Shoot Me. Sam also co-created and stars in Peacock’s Bust Down and appears in the Netflix film You People alongside Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill. Named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch, Sam continues to push boundaries with sharp wit and fearless honesty