United States of Comedy showcases emerging, diverse voices in comedy from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Austin, providing a rare, intimate glimpse into their backstories alongside a mix of standup.
Their jokes strike a chord with audiences from all walks of life, but here you get to know their personal stories, giving a finer appreciation of how they’ve honed their craft.
Legendary Chicago comedy club Zanies, where anyone who’s anyone in stand-up (Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Kevin Hart) has appeared since 1978, is bringing out a new voice: Iranian American comic Sohrab Forouzesh.
Sohrab Forouzesh: A Chicago based comedian and writer who won’t take it personally if you say his name wrong. He moved to the U.S from Iran when he was just eight years old, and his material is heavily influenced by his experiences as a fat Persian kid growing up in America. His rapid-fire delivery paired with his down to earth relatability is what makes him a favorite of the Chicago comedy scene. Along with being a finalist for StandUP NBC in 2019, Sohrab also tours colleges and was also a writer for the sketch show Group Therapy featured on Complex. If you’re ever in Chicago make sure to catch him at the world famous Laugh Factory, Comedy Bar, and Zanies Comedy Club. Sohrab got his start in comedy while attending Western Michigan University where he won The Kalamazoo Comedy Competition and was a finalist in the TBS and Rooftop Comedy’s National College Comedy Competition. Before graduating college he opened for Nick Swardson and performed at the prestigious Gilda’s Laughfest Comedy Festival. He’s an Iranian comedian even your racist uncle will love.