(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Art House Productions has announced Raanan Hershberg and Kasaun Wilson as the 2025 Jersey City Comedy Festival headliners. The festival takes place June 10-14 at Art House Productions and The Laugh Tour Comedy Club at Dorrian's Red Hand.
The Jersey City Comedy Festival kicks off on Tuesday, June 10th with a headlining performance by Raanan Hershberg. The Wednesday, June 11th performance features a headlining set by Kasuan Wilson. Ranaan Herschberg first performed at JCCF in 2020 as part of “The Roast of Harry Potter” which was presented virtually during the pandemic. Kasaun Wilson is a Jersey City-native who has worked extensively writing for Jon Stewart and opening for him on tour.
The Jersey City Comedy Festival features a stand-up competition. From more than 375 submissions, 48 comedians from 10 states and Canada have been selected to perform in this year’s competition. From June 12th to June 13th, four showcase competitions will feature 12 comics each, leading up to the Best of the Fest Final on June 14. Awards include $1,000 in cash, bookings at major comedy clubs, and the Best of the Fest title.
Tickets are $40 for Headliner Shows; $25 for Competition Showcases; and $45 for Best of the Fest Finals. Tickets are available for purchase online.
Jersey City Comedy Festival features a series of stand-up comedy competition showcases. Two winners from each showcase (an audience pick and an industry pick) are selected to perform in a final competition where they can win cash prizes and spots at local clubs. The Jersey City Comedy Festival puts a premium on diversity and inclusion in comedy.
Raanan Hershberg is a loud, neurotic Jew from Louisville, KY. He has performed his high-energy, joke-packed comedy on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late, Late Show with James Corden, and Comedy Central. His latest special ‘Jokes from the Underground’ was just included in the New York Times ‘Best Comedy of 2022’, where critic Jason Zinoman called it the funniest YouTube Special of the year, and said ‘his punchy and deliriously funny club comedy made me laugh after second and third viewings.’ His first special ‘Downhill Ever Since’ is almost at 200K views on YouTube. Raanan performs all over the world and is a regular at The Comedy Cellar.
You’ve seen him performing on stages from NBC’s Last Comic Standing to Broadway but there’s more to this Jersey kid. Kasaun Wilson began his comedy career during his time at Howard University with the urging of his professor, the legendary Al Freeman Jr. Since that time, he has been featured on platforms as recent as TruTV’s Laff Tracks, TVOne’s NewsOneNow with Roland Martin, and too many more to name! He’s performing in colleges, churches, theaters, and arenas around the country including the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, THE Ohio State University, Gotham Comedy Club in New York, and the Kennedy Center, and back where he started comedy, the DC Improv. He’s opened up for acts like Donnell Rawlings (Chappelle’s Show), Michael Blackson (Friday After Next), and Griff (Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell). He’s currently co-hosting “YouthFul Praise with JJ Hairston” on Rejoice Musical Soul Food Network and creator of the Generational Curse Breaker brand. At his core, he’s just Tiffany’s husband and still that sheltered church kid from Jersey City, NJ!
2025 Jersey City Comedy Festival Schedule
June 10 @ 8:00pm – Raanan Hershberg | Art House Productions
June 11 @ 8:00pm – Kasaun Wilson | Art House Productions
June 12 @ 7:00pm & 8:30pm – Stand-Up Competitions 1 & 2 | The Laugh Tour Comedy Club at Dorrian’s Red Hand
June 13 @ 7:00pm & 8:30pm – Stand-Up Competitions 3 & 4 | Art House Productions
June 14 @ 8:00pm – Best of the Fest Finals | Art House Productions
Art House Productions is located at 345 Marin Blvd in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The Laugh Tour Comedy Club at Dorrian’s Red Hand is located at 555 Washington Blvd in Jersey City, New Jersey.
