Women In Comedy: How Local Comics Kept Up During COVID

We sure do make a lot of funny people here in Massachusetts: Amy Poehler, Conan O’Brien, Jay Leno, Steve Carrell, Mindy Kaling — ever heard of ‘em? And how about Patrice O’Neal, Mike Birbiglia, Rachel Dratch, and Jenny Slate? All were raised here, and the list goes on.

And for over a decade, the Women In Comedy Festival in Boston has been closing the gender gap in comedy by highlighting women across comedic platforms during the annual event. Nationally known stars headline the festival, like Wanda Sykes and Nikki Glaser, alongside local favorites from the region. But, due to COVID-19, the festival has been cancelled for the last two years, while comedy clubs shuttered and local comedians found themselves without any in-person gigs.

So what is the state of comedy like now in Massachusetts as we emerge from the pandemic? In a year of such loss, increased violence against Asian Americans, and police brutality against Black lives, is it even okay to be funny? Well, if we ever needed a laugh, it’s now. So we’re yukking it up with some local women comedians to kick off our summer fun series.

Guests:

Bethany Van Delft, founder of the “Artisanal Comedy” show, host of iHeart Radio’s “The Ten News” podcast, and co-host of NOVA and PBS’s Parentalogic digital series. She is a regular performer and producer at the Women in Comedy Festival in Boston and her debut comedy album “I’m Not a Llama” landed in 2019. She was named Boston Magazine’s “Best Comedian” in both 2019 and 2020.

Kelly MacFarland, a featured headliner for the Women in Comedy Festival in Boston for over a decade and first runner up at the Boston Comedy Festival. Kelly has appeared on The Today Show, The View, Comedy Central and NBC’s Last Comic Standing, to name just a few. She has two comedy albums out, “Bombshell” and “You Woke up Today.”