As the 2023 Flyover Comedy Festival gets ready to invade the Grove from November 9-11, it’s important to start planning what performers you want to see early. The full lineup and schedule are out now, and with that in mind, we asked festival co-founder and producer Zach Gzehoviak for five of his top recommendations from among the dozens of scheduled events. Here are his picks:
Picture This
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Hot Java Stage, Friday, November 10 at 10 p.m
For those looking for something a little bit different from the standard comedy show, Gzehoviak recommends Picture This, a live animated comedy show where stand-ups do their material while on-stage animators do live drawings of the jokes. “It’s a unique visual way to capture these jokes,” Gzehoviak says. “It’s also double the opportunity for laughs, because you get to see these jokes get put into visuals.”
Katherine Blanford
Urban Chestnut Stage, Thursday, November 9 at 9 p.m.
Gzehoviak got to see comedian-on-the-rise Katherine Blanford perform at Laughing Skull Festival in Atlanta a few years back, and he’s been talking about having her perform at Flyover ever since. Blanford is a regular featured opener for David Spade and will be performing on Bert Kreischer’s Fully Loaded at Sea cruise later in October. At Flyover, she’ll be headlining a performer showcase at Urban Chestnut with five other comedians from across the country, along with local host Matt Wayman.
Dasariski
Improv Shop Main Stage, Friday, November 10, 7 & 9 p.m.
A legendary improv group out of the Chicago iO (ImprovOlympic) theater, Dasariski is made up of Bob Dasse, Rich Talaricho, and Craig Cackowski. Gzehoviak notes that they are known for a slow-play, highly intelligent longform style of improv. “When it comes to longform improv, like they do at the Improv Shop or any of the top places around the country, these guys are some of the best to do it,” he says. “If you’re looking to see an improv show, that is definitely one to check out.”
Janelle James
The Sheldon, Saturday, November 11 at 9 p.m.
It’s likely you’ve already come across Janelle James in her role as Principal Ava Coleman on the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary, but she’s also an accomplished stand-up. James’ headlining slot this year is something of a full-circle moment—she previously performed at Flyover back in 2018. “The people that were in that crowd and saw that show loved it, so it’s really cool to be able to bring her back as a top-line headliner five years later.” Gzehoviak says. “It’s fun to see comics do our festival and grow into their careers and come back. ”
STL Made Showcase
Dogwood in the Grove, Thursday, November 9 at 7 p.m.
Gzehoviak always recommends a mainstay of Flyover, the STL Made Showcase, which features some of the best stand-up talent in the region. This year’s STL Made will be hosted by Angela Smith and feature 12 comics, including Mychael Anthony, Ellie Kirchhoefer, Mary Jayne, JC Sibala, Ronaldo Mercado, and Rebecca Jaffe, among others. “Everybody that goes to that show each year seems to have a good time and walk away with a good impression of what we have going on in terms of up-and-coming folks,” Gzehoviak says.
See the full lineup and get tickets at flyovercomedyfest.com.
