About Us
The Cleveland Comedy Network & Festival began in 2008 as a celebration of local, independent comedy and has grown into much, much more in the near two decades. It was founded by Joe Hannum, J.D. Sidley, & John Wellington.
Annual Festival
The planning for our annual festival include diverse and inclusive forms of comedy, national headliners, promoting the best local & regional comedians on the rise, industry opportunities and partnerships with Northeast Ohio & out of state comedy clubs and venues.
Education
the Festival teaches the unique art of stand-up comedy to are youth, ages 11 - 17, as a creative outlet of expression through the Class Clown Workshop.
In the Community
The Cleveland Comedy Festival is a unique performing arts organization and we take that to heart. We attract national comedians and industry representatives to Cleveland and join in the laughs.
Partnerships
We also began working with Science Riot to teach standup basics to professionals in scientific fields to improve presentation skills with shows happening at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Please contact us to find out more about this unique approach to showing a passion for the performing arts. or seeing how the Festival can do good for your organization.
In the Community
We want to celebrate Cleveland’s comedic past, present & future, and help promote one of Cleveland’s greatest exports — our collective sense of humor and comedic talent.
Community Partners We Proudly Support
Annual Festival
We want to be that neighborhood club that supports aspiring local talent as they find their unique voice from the multiple styles & genres of the art, and encourage their development into A-Level, Stan-Up performers in comedy.
We encourage you to see a show, come to an event, and see for yourself what the Cleveland Comedy Festival is all about. After all, it’s Cleveland so how it could NOT be funny?
Education
We want to celebrate Cleveland’s comedic past, present & future, and help promote one of Cleveland’s greatest exports — our collective sense of humor and comedic talent.
The Cleveland Comedy Network & Festival is an event that is uniquely Cleveland and continues the legacy of funny that includes Bob Hope, Ernie Anderson, Tim Conway, Arsenio Hall, Steve Harvey, Drew Carey, and many, many others.
Cleveland has always been a funny place that seems to foster more than its fair share of hilarious people. The wealth of comedic talent in Cleveland has never been stronger, and that’s what our Network & Festival is all about.
Festival Awards
We want to celebrate Cleveland’s comedic past, present & future, and help promote one of Cleveland’s greatest exports — our collective sense of humor and comedic talent.
The JD Sidley Award for Best in Writing
Co-Founder & creator of the Class Clown Comedy Workshop. Sidley taught stand-up comedy at Tri-C, wrote & performed nationally, and was involved in fundraising efforts for the Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Center.
The Nate Cockerill Award for Best Stage Performer
Cockerill studied at the Second City Conservatory and taught improv for Second City Cleveland from 2002-2004. Cockerill passed away from cancer in 2016.
The Mike Veneman Award for Best Overall Comedian
A graduate of Kent State University, Mike was known as "The Professor" for his Comedy 101 stand-up workshop over his 25-year career. Veneman died in 2010 of ALS.
Executive Lineup
Steve Guy
Executive Director
Cait Hogan
Director of Class Clown and Community Outreach
Rob Coleman
Class Clown Instructor, Planner & Show Host
Elton Lytle
Director of Funding
Kyle Haunhorst
Director - Rubber City Comedy Festival
Dwayne Duke
Director of Venue Expansion
Rodney Begston
Media Relations,
Class Clown Instructor
Holly Braschwitz
Director of Sales