2025 San Leandro Comedy Festival – June 20 & 21

On June 20th and 21st, 2025, the City of San Leandro, in partnership with the BAL Historic Theatre and 21st Amendment Brewery, will present the 2025 San Leandro Comedy Festival. After 4 successful years of Comedy in the Plaza, the event has expanded and will now include 3 shows! This free event will feature 15 world-class stand-up comics, including Darren Carter, Samson Koletkar, and San Leandro’s own Brian Copeland, and will be held at three venues in San Leandro:

Friday, June 20th – 7PM
The Historic BAL Theatre (14808 E 14th St.) – Free event! You do not need a ticket. First come, first served. Performances by comedians Darren Carter, Cathy Zhao, Jay Rich, Jose Contreras, and Liz Grant. Full details here.

Saturday, June 21st – 6PM
Outdoors at the Main Library (300 Estudillo Ave.) – no tickets necessary. Bring your own lawn chair!  Performances by comedians Laurie Kilmartin, Maureen Langan, Nato Green, and Joe Klocek with special guest host Brian Copeland. 

Saturday, June 21st – 8:30PM
21st-Amendment Brewery Taproom (2010 Williams St.) – no tickets necessary. Performances by Samson Koletkar, Gina Stahl Haven, Carla Clay, Joseph Nguyen, and Ira Summer.

FEATURED COMEDIANS:

June 20th – 7PM – The Historic BAL Theatre (14808 E 14th St.)

• Darren Carter – As soon as Darren Carter takes the stage he unleashes a captivating flurry of impersonations, observations, and off-the-wall social commentary that is a comedy experience unlike any other. Darren’s contagious charm and vivid imagery paints a picture that is both relatable and one of a kind.
• Liz Grant – If you like belly laughs caused by silly, sorta smart comedy then you’ll love Liz’s best material from her highly acclaimed dating & relationship shows. Rapid fire jokes drawn from the audience’s participation make it a different show every time. 
• Cathy Zhao – Cathy Zhao is a stand-up comedian and a sit-down entrepreneur based in San Francisco. She has a unique ridiculous perspective of American culture, and brutal honesty about Asian immigrants’ lives. She’s co-founded a non-profit Laughitouthub.org to empower underprivileged teenagers with humor in the format of stand-up comedy and improvisation.
• Jay Rich – Comedian Jay Rich hails from Oakland California. Jay rich comedy has a high energy story telling and observational style of comedy. A real down to earth kind of guy.
• Jose Contreras – Jose Contreras is a comic from the East Bay Area who entertains audience with his infectious smile and witty perspectives on everything from race to bathroom etiquette.

The Historic BAL Theatre is a significant historical, art and entertainment asset to the community, it was built in 1945 as a modern Art Deco, 800 seat, community based, movie palace and performing arts theatre. The BAL Theatre and hosts, promotes, and produces a multitude of world class, culturally diverse, programming, entertainment, education, motion pictures and other experience based arts. Check out upcoming shows here!

June 21st – 6PM – Outdoors at the Main Library (300 Estudillo Ave.)

• Host – Brian Copeland – Brian Copeland is an award-winning actor, comedian, author, playwright, television and radio talk show host based in San Leandro. His one-man play about growing up in San Leandro, “Not a Genuine Black Man,” went on to become the longest-running solo show in San Francisco theatrical history. He has produced a number of performances, and most recently has released 2 thriller novels: Outraged and Shadows of Justice.
• Laurie Kilmartin – Laurie Kilmartin addresses “tough topics from the vantage of someone who’s seen, done and survived everything the industry can throw at her. An Emmy-nominated and WGA-winning writer for “Conan” and bestselling author of “S— Mom: The Parenting Guide for the Rest of Us,” Kilmartin has become one of the most fearless, respected performer-writers in the L.A. stand-up scene over the last three decades.” – Julie Seabaugh, LA Times
• Maureen Langan – “Maureen has everything in her arsenal that a great comedian needs. People are not only going to love her. They’ll want to see her. They are going to imitate her.” – Howie Mandel
• Nato Green – Nato Green is a San Francisco native who has an incredibly sharp wit and highly intelligent brand of cerebral humor. He has been called the country’s only semi-functional hybrid of standup comedian and union organizer.
• Joe Klocek – Joe is a square peg in a round hole sort of guy. Raised a midwesterner, so he has manners, but living in San Francisco for more than 30 years, so he thinks he’s better than you.
  Joe does two things great — tells stories and talks to the crowd.

June 21st – 8:30PM – 21st-Amendment Brewery Taproom (2010 Williams St.)

• Samson Koletkar – Samson Koletkar, a.k.a. Mahatma Moses, is the world’s only Indian Jewish Stand-Up Comedian! Samson’s comedy is a unique blend of his Indian background, Jewish roots, and American life. His clean comedy has been described as cerebral, witty, & refreshing. He founded the ongoing Comedy Oakland series and Desi Comedy Fest.
• Gina Stahl Haven – Gina Stahl-Haven is one of the most dynamic comics in the San Francisco Bay Area. Frequently recognized for her captivating story-telling, Gina’s real take on life, motherhood, dating, and navigating Costco; combined with her intoxicating stage presence make her irresistible to watch!
• Carla Clay – Carla Clay is a native San Franciscan and has spent the last several years making people laugh all over the country. Since childhood, her quick wit has gotten her out of and into trouble. Carla’s act is clean, has mass audience appeal, and is just plain funny!
• Joseph Nguyen – Subtle but sharp, laid-back yet engaging, Joseph Nguyen is the smart slacker beloved by audiences for his easygoing delivery and good writing.
• Ira Summer – After getting divorced and sending his sons to college, Ira Summer thought he could do whatever he wanted. Coming from a large dysfunctional family that loves to share, Ira decided to try standup comedy, and has been performing all across the country since then. Ira enjoys talking about his sons, his siblings and his mother (but never his ex-wife, because she will sense it).