Starting with a smattering of shows at the West Bank Café Theater in 2003, the New York Underground Comedy Festival has transformed itself from a local event to a global comedy bonanza. Over a thousand comics have performed groundbreaking comedy sets for the festival, from Chris Rock and Colin Quinn to Josh Homer and Robert Klein to Dave Atell. have graced our stages. The festival attracts the best comedians from all around the world; so many, in fact, that the producers have staged international festivals in China and South Africa.

The wide range of performers have tickled the funny bones of an estimated quarter-million people since the festival's inception, in venues as varied as comedy showrooms and theaters, libraries, schools, hospitals and even homeless shelters. Many events during the festival are free, giving the gift of laughter and taking only that as payment.