Indianapolis will soon host The World Series of Comedy (WSOC).
The annual competition is the country’s largest touring comedy festival and sees more than 500 comics “battling to be crowned champion,” according to a press release. This year, the 16th annual competition will be held March 12-15 at the WIT Theater in Indianapolis.
“The World Series of Comedy has been a stepping stone for many of the best working comics in America who can now be seen on Netflix, Comedy Central, ‘America’s Got Talent’ and more,” former Champion Wyatt Cote said in a statement. “Winning this event landed me on the news, helped sell out several of my shows and provided me the chance to tour all over the country. Of all the events I’ve done, none have provided me more opportunity for exposure than this one.”
The multi-day event combines the elements of a contest, festival, networking event and job fair all in one — providing a unique platform to comedians stemming from the desire to both educate and entertain.
WSOC often serves as a career springboard for many comedians, with comedy club owners and bookers serving as contest judges. Prizes for winning comedians include paid gigs at comedy clubs throughout the country and a record contract with WSOC Records.
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Previous winners can be found performing in comedy clubs around the U.S., appearing on Sirius XM and making television appearances on shows such as “The Late Show,” “The Tonight Show,” “@midnight” and NBC’s “Stand Up For Diversity,” and written on such shows as “The Daily Show,” “Conan” and “Crashing.”
Past alumni of the WSOC include Josh Blue, Kabir Singh, Beth Stelling, Kiry Shabazz, JR De Guzman, Ryan Neimiller, Alex Elkin, Ellis Rodriguez, Zoltan Kaszas, Willie Macc and Mia Jackson.
For more information about the World Series of Comedy or to attend one of the shows, visit viptickethub.com.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
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