Bios |

Joe Fernandezis a half-Cuban, half-Irish, (Or Cubish) comedian. Growing up in Texas, he had an affinity for the sport of baseball and dreamed of playing for the Houston Astros, but when his body didn’t grow up with his dreams he moved to performing comedy. Joe is currently a member of Chicago Underground Comedy and was recently a Finalist for the Andy Kaufman Award, a performer at the Chicago Just For Laughs Festival in 2011, as well as the Boston Comedy Fest. Armed with smart satirical jokes that often toe the line as well as bits that involve character work and audience participation, he always finds a way to make the audience have fun.

Megan Gaileyis a rising star in the Chicago comedy scene. With a sorority girl chip on her shoulder and say-anything attitude she has had audiences laughing all over the city of Chicago, Midwest and Internationally. She can be seen in Chicago’s top shows: The Improv, The Comedy Bar, Comedians You Should Know Show, Zanies and Mikey O’ Comedy Productions and is a graduate of the iO Training Program. Winner of numerous comedy competitions at Indiana University’s Funny Bone, Ball State University, and Audience Favorite at Chicago’s very own Fat Wednesdays Comedy.

Acceptable answers for “Who is Lane Pieschel?” include comedian, a guy eating a foot long sub while writing this piece and terrible autobiographer. Lane has a distinctly wry and self-deprecating voice that works wonders for clubs and colleges alike and has helped him place highly in several nationwide comedy competitions. He appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a finalist in the Sierra Mist National College Comedy Search and took the stage at the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival as a finalist in the National College Comedy Competition. He would describe those experiences as “self-affirming” and “free.” Although he would love to tell you more, he is an idiot and just spilled honey mustard all over this keyboard.

Matt Riggs has burst onto the comedy scene like a piece of Gushers gum. He got his start in Chicago performing comedic roles in several locally acclaimed plays, including “Chair,” “2012″ and “You are Poop.” He segued into online sketch comedy as a member of the group The Wilton Way whose videos have amassed more than a half million views on YouTube and can be found on TheWiltonWay.com. He is now a mover and shaker in the Chicago stand-up scene, having won the Casting Couch Headliner award at Sidetrack. He can be heard weekly on his podcast “Bad News, Good Timing” which is available free on iTunes.

Jeff Steinbrunner started performing stand-up comedy at his alma mater Ohio University, founding the institution’s first and only stand-up club OUSUCC (sound it out dummy). He grew rapidly and quickly sought out more opportunities in Columbus and Cincinnati where he honed his skills at renowned clubs The Funny Bone and Go Bananas. Since bringing his talents to the Windy City, he has performed on several prominent shows for packed audiences, including Chicago Underground Comedy and the Lakeshore Theater. He currently produces the amazing local comedy showcase Speak Easy Comedy every Monday at Stanley’s Tap and Kitchen.