Chicago entrepreneur Knowledge Beckom is teaming up with longtime friend and collaborator Lil Rel Howery to bring the inaugural Whats Funny Comedy Festival to Chicago this fall, Deadline can exclusively reveal.
The festival will take place from September 16th-22nd at the historic DuSable Museum of African American History, along with a few other prime Chicago locations. It represents a labor of love for Beckom and Howery, driven by their desire to provide something unrivaled to their hometown of Chicago. Their vision for this yearly spectacle is to celebrate humor and fellowship while highlighting the skills of gifted comedians, both up-and-coming and established, at the same time providing them the opportunity to network with industry insiders.
In addition to live comedy performances, the festival will feature assorted vendors, merchandise, food, musical performances, special panels with comedic legends, and the taping of Howery’s first self-produced stand-up special, which will close out the week. Up-and-comers will also benefit from workshops looking at the fundamentals, when it comes to the art and business of comedy.
A major influence on the festival’s formation is Mary Lindsey, the founder of well-regarded Chicago comedy club Jokes & Notes, which closed in 2016 after operating for 11 years. Based in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, the space is remembered for offering platform for African American comedians to showcase their talent and nurturing the careers of dozens of up-and-coming comics.
Tickets for the Whats Funny Comedy Festival go on sale Monday, July 8th at the link, with early bird discounts to be available for a limited time.
The founder of Classic Hip Hop Lives and Jokes Beats x Culture, Beckom stepped into the comedy scene nearly two decades ago, with the aim of offering guidance, platforms, and funding to talented individuals who lacked the resources to advance their careers.
An actor, comedian, writer and producer native to Chicago, Howery debuted his first stand-up special, Kevin Hart Presents: Lil Rel: RELevent, on Netflix in 2016. He followed up that hour with Lil Rel Howery: Live in Crenshaw and Lil Rel Howery: I Said It. Y’all Thinking It, a pair of specials released on HBO in 2019 and 2022, respectively. Best known on the acting front for roles in films like Get Out and series like The Carmichael Show, he’ll next be seen starring in a live-action adaptation of the beloved children’s book Harold and the Purple Crayon, which Sony is releasing on August 2nd.
