Comedy Competition

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Each spring Rooster T. Feathers is proud to host an Annual New Talent Comedy Competition.  It starts with a large pool of amateur comedians. The audience votes for their favorites at each show, advancing them to the semifinals and finals, and ultimately picks the funniest local comedian. The top finalists compete for cash prizes and a week of paid emcee work at Roosters. All competition shows feature a professional emcee and headliner.

Sign ups start towards the beginning of each year, with the competition beginning in March. To sign up, email roosterbookings@yahoo.com with the following information:
  • Subject Line: 2026 Roosters Comedy Competition Submission
  • Full name
  • Stage name (if different)
  • Cell number
  • City where you live
  • Tell us if there are any prelim dates you CAN’T DO otherwise just say "open" (must have at least 2 dates open) Prelims dates/shows are listed on our web site.
  • If you can’t commit to at least one Preliminary, one Semi-Final, and the Finals, please DON’T sign up.

2026 Prelim Dates: Mar 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6
Semi Dates will be: May 13, 20, and 27
Finals: June 10th

TO QUALIFY:

• This is an amateur comedy competition - if you make your living doing stand up or you're on the road working in clubs then you do not qualify.
• Participants must live within a 1-hour driving distance radius from Roosters. (Within: Golden Gate Bridge, to Walnut Creek, to Gilroy, to Santa Cruz area)

Past Winners

Year	1st place	2nd place	3rd place
20th Annual (2025)	Albert Lin	Alisha Dhillon	Rea Kapur
19th Annual (2024)	Faraz Abidi	Dan Aguinaga	Inanc Ino
18th Annual (2023)	Benton Harshaw	Mex-e-King	Dara Kosberg / Kelsie Rae (Tied)
17th Annual (2019)	Brooke Heinichen	Arjun Banerjee / Marcus Mangham (Tied)
16th Annual (2018)	Hannah Evensen	Jeremy Talamantes	Geneva Rust-Orta / Ryan Goodcase (Tied)
15th Annual (2017)	Emily Catalano	Frankie Marcos	Caroline Doyle
14th Annual (2016)	Terrell "Big-T" Butler	Shannon Murphy	Marks Smalls
13th Annual (2015)	TJ Kelsall	Steve Poggi	Danny Allen / Joey Avery (Tied)
12th Annual (2014)	Kiry Shabazz	Mean Dave	Michael Montgomery
11th Annual (2013)	Matt Lieb	Torio Van Grol	Ori Zadok
10th Annual (2012)	Keon Polee	Susan Maletta	Raymond Santos
9th Annual (2011)	Shanti Charan	Nick Aragon	Duncan Riach
8th Annual (2010)	Red Scott	Joey Bragg / Dave Thomason (Tied)
7th Annual (2009)	Kabir Singh	Kevin Munroe	Rad Reyes
6th Annual (2008)	Sammy Obeid	Keil Kennedy	Mike Lemcke
5th Annual (2007)	Mari Esther Kaplan	Marty Grimes	Hasan Minhaj
4th Annual (2006)	David Van Avermaete	Sam Bamm	Ali Mafi / Debbie Campo (Tied)
3rd Annual (2005)	Michael Slack	Jen Kober	Dave McRea
2nd Annual (2004)	Mike E. Winfield	Jimmy Gunn	Dan Anic
1st Annual (2003)	Reggie Steele	Tim Babb	George Corrigan