The Telluride Comedy Festival is bringing in the big guns for their annual laugh fest.
Comedy giants Nick Kroll – creator of Netflix’s “Big Mouth” – and festival-veteran Jason Mantzoukas are among those who will perform at the 20th annual show Feb. 14-17 at the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride, Colorado. The festival will be hosted by Jeb Berrier – former Telluride thespian now based in Portland, Oregon., comedian, former Shakespeare in the Park director, and SOH Second Stage Theater director and actor.
These are the festival performers attendees can expect to get a laugh in with:
Nick Kroll Nick Kroll is the co-creator, writer and producer of the Netflix animated series “Big Mouth” for which he voices numerous roles, including the lead character. Season 2 premiered on Netflix on Oct. 5 and is 100 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Additionally, on behalf of the series, Kroll was nominated for a 2018 Gotham Award for “Breakthrough Series – Long Form.” Kroll recently starred in Chris Weitz’s Operation Finale opposite Oscar Isaac and Ben Kingsley for MGM and Jeff Nichols’ Loving opposite Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga for Focus Features. Kroll made his Broadway debut with the successful and critically acclaimed show “Oh Hello on Broadway.” The play was filmed and premiered on Netflix in 2017. Kroll’s other film credits include: “Uncle Drew” opposite NBA star Kyrie Irving, “Sausage Party” with Seth Rogen, and “Sing” with Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, and Matthew McConaughey. On television, Nick had his own Comedy Central sketch show, “Kroll Show,” and starred as Ruxin on FX’s “The League.”
Jason Mantzoukas This marks Jason Mantzoukas’ 13th consecutive Telluride Comedy Festival. Credits include: “The Long Dumb Road,” which premiered at Sundance Film Festival, “The House” with Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell, “Brooklyn 99,” “The League,” “Baby Mama,” “Neighbors,” HBO’s “Enlightened,” “The Dictator,” “Drunk History,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Transparent,” “Children’s Hospital,” “Kroll Show,” “The Good Place,” “Big Mouth,” the upcoming “John Wick 3,” and more.
Matt Braunger Matt Braunger has performed his stand-up act on television programs such as “The Late Show” with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show” with Conan O’Brien, John Oliver’s “New York Stand-Up Show,” “Live at Gotham” on Comedy Central, as well as his own Comedy Central Presents special.
Brian Huskey Brian Huskey is an actor, writer, producer, and improviser performing for more than 20 years of at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. With more than 170 film and television credits, Huskey is proudly classified as a That Guy known for bringing his excellent comedic and improv skills to whatever role he takes on. As a series regular, Huskey most recently played Richard Schultz, the alien paranoid divorcee’, on the TBS series “People of Earth.” During that time, Huskey also created, wrote and starred in the darkly hilarious specials for Adult Swim, “Mr. Neighbor’s House” and “Mr. Neighbor’s House 2.” Best described as a darkly hilarious David Lynch-style children’s show, “Mr. Neighbor’s House” was voted as a New York Times “Best of” for 2016. In 2014, Brian played the lead as well as co-wrote with costar and director, Matt Walsh, in “A Better You,” about a self-help hypnotist whose own life is falling apart. He can be seen in hit films such as “Step Brothers,” “This is the End,” “Neighbors,” “Neighbor’s 2,” “The Disaster Artist,” and most recently in Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp.” Huskey lends his talents as a recurring character to see of the most celebrated shows on television. He voices of Regular Sized Rudy, Rudy’s father Sylvester, and numerous other voices on Fox’s “Bob’s Burgers.” On the Adult Swim series “Children’s Hospital” he played Chet, the kind but maybe a serial killer EMT worker, and will soon be Chet again in the upcoming Netflix series, “Medical Police.” Most recently, Huskey wrapped his seventh season as Leon West, the cruel and snide Washington Post reporter on HBO’s “Veep,” with his character taking a new position in the campaign team as speech writer. Huskey has also been described as a bald Jason Lee, but Huskey thinks it more like Jason Lee is the grossly hairy Brian Huskey. He lives in Los Angeles with his daughter and four dogs.
Seth Morris Seth Morris is an actor and writer. He’s had recurring roles on “Veep,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Parks And Recreation,” “The Good Place,” and “The League.” He’s also appeared on “Modern Family,” “Broad City,” and “Kroll Show,” among others. Writing credits include “Funny Or Die,” “Children’s Hospital,” “Kroll Show,” “The Eric Andre Show,” and “The MTV Movie Awards.”
Rebecca KohlerWhen not writing for CBS’s hit comedy series, “Happy Together,” Canadian Comedy Award winner Rebecca Kohler takes to demolishing stand-up stages in both Canada and the U.S. while balancing an innate benevolence with a tongue like an acid attack. With 15 years under her belt, Toronto’s Best Female Comic (NOW Magazine) has had her own half-hour special for the Comedy Network, multiple televised appearances at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, her own one-hour show at Toronto’s JFL42, several TV tapings at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Halifax Comedy Festival, Moncton Comedy Festival, and several other Canadian comedy festivals you may or may not have heard of. Kohler also tours nationally as a headliner and was nominated in 2018 for the Juno Award for best comedy album – it’s like a Canadian Grammy. She should be famous by now, but, whatever.
Lily SullivanLily Sullivan is a comedian/actor/writer who grew up in Telluride and Chicago. She performed for the Second City and iO Theater in Chicago before moving to L.A. in 2015. Lily was a part of JFL New Faces Characters showcase in Montreal in 2016. She wrote and starred in her own web series for Project Runway Way called “Project Sammy’s Way.” Her credits include “Comedy Bang Bang!,” “Jake and Amir’s Lonely and Horny,” “SHRINK,” and the upcoming Netflix sketch show “I Think You Should Leave.” She also recently made a blurry appearance in the background of a UPS commercial.
Tim BaltzTim Baltz is an actor and producer known for “Bajillion Dollar Propertie$” (2016), “Shrink” (2017), and “The Second City Project” (2015).
Thursday Locals’ NightLocals’ Night is always one of the highlights of the festival. The festival pays tribute to the hard-working, and not-so-hard-working, people of Telluride. Jason Mantzoukas and Brian Huskey will lead a mega-talented and hilarious crew with a send up of all things Telluride. Featuring: Jason Mantzoukas, Brian Huskey, Seth Morris, Lily Sullivan, Tim Baltz, Rebecca Kohler, and Matt Braunger.
Stand Up & Sketch FridayStand-up comedy with Matt Braunger and Rebecca Kohler, and an improv set from some of the very best in the business. Featuring: Jason Mantzoukas, Brian Huskey, Nick Kroll, Lily Sullivan, and Tim Baltz.
Sketch & Improv SaturdayWhatever happens will be simply amazing and hilarious with the best of the best. Featuring: Nick Kroll, Jason Mantzoukas, Brian Huskey, Matt Braunger, Seth Morris, Lily Sullivan, Tim Baltz, and Rebecca Kohler.
Stand Up & Improv SundayStand up comedy with Nick Kroll, followed by a grand finale long-form improv set to end the weekend. Featuring: Nick Kroll, Jason Mantzoukas, Brian Huskey, Seth Morris, and Rebecca Kohler.
For more information and tickets, contact the Sheridan Opera House Box Office at (970) 728-6363 ext. 5 or visit sheridanoperahouse.com.
Amanda Push
