COMEDY




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This New Club is All About Getting Tipsy for History

Did you know that at one point Pepsi was the 6th largest navel power in the world, or that there is supposedly a box of dicks in the Vatican Museum? These were just some of the surprising history stories I heard at the first meeting of the RVA Tipsy History Club,...

Where to Watch the World Cup in Richmond

We looked into getting World Cup tickets. Apparently, FIFA believes everyone has a trust fund. For those of us who do not, Richmond has the next best thing. Over the next month, bars, breweries, restaurants, and soccer pubs across the city will fill up with people...

New Menu | Richmond Grew Up. So Did Harry’s

Editor's Note: RVA Magazine is partnering with Harry's at The Hof on coverage related to their 10th anniversary celebration and new menu. We stopped by to see what was new, eat some good food, enjoy a few cocktails and report back. Richmond, we blew up our own spot....

The Last Ride of The Golden Pony

Every good music scene has a few rooms that become bigger than themselves. They rarely make headlines while they're open, but their importance becomes obvious when they disappear. For Harrisonburg, The Golden Pony was one of those places. After eleven years of hosting...

The Fight Over Who Gets to Sell Weed

A recent report by Radio IQ suggests Virginia lawmakers are once again inching toward a legal recreational marijuana market, this time through the state budget process. Following Governor Abigail Spanberger's veto, Senate Democrats have threatened to fold retail...

Three Tall Ships, One River, 250 Years of American History

Editor's Note: RVA Magazine is partnering with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture on coverage related to America's 250th anniversary, including Richmond SailFest and the upcoming IllumiNation. Also, filmmaker Justin Black of Headwaters Down is sailing aboard...

Richmond’s Funniest Weekend Returns With 2nd Best Comedy Fest

It’s time for the 9th Annual 2nd Best Comedy Fest running June 11–13, 2026. The Coalition Theater hosts this annual event, and is the brick-and-mortar heart of Richmond's alternative comedy ecosystem. Calling it the 2nd Best Fest is a beautifully defensive undersell...

Stay Hungry pt. 1 | Band on the Road

Editor's Note: Writer's Block is a space for Virginia writers to share personal essays, fiction, memoir, and works that fall somewhere in between. In Stay Hungry, Richmond local Eric Kalata looks back on a cross-country tour and the restless optimism of...

As Funny As Possible: An Interview With Annie Lederman

This week I got to talk with Annie Lederman. You may recognize her from Opie and Anthony, as the voice of Cheryl Fawkes on Grand Theft Auto V, her new hit podcast Trash Tuesday with cohosts Esther Povitsky and Khalyla Kuhn, or the comedy stage. I called while Lederman was shooting a promo video for her upcoming shows -- a few of which are here in...

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Bring Back Apu: An Interview With Akaash Singh

This week I got talk with the undeniably flagrant Akaash Singh. The outspoken comedian has been lighting up the stage and the podcast world with his hot takes, outsider perspective, and crowd work for a while now. The buzz has now officially climaxed into his new special, Bring Back Apu, which will be available on YouTube on February 2 -- the...

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This Holiday, Punks Bring Presents In The Form Of Laughter

After 16 years of raising money for the Children's Hospital of Richmond through the hosting of Christmas-themed punk/metal tribute shows, Punks For Presents has broadened its horizons, presenting its first-ever comedy show at Cobra Cabana on Thursday, December 9. Hosts Benjamin Braman and Mike Engle gave us a preview of what the event has in...

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Cheap Suits And Bad Jokes

Neil Hamburger's standup comedy often feels more like performance art that is primarily intended to make you uncomfortable. What would that be like live and in person? When Hamburger came to Richmond Music Hall last month, Ryan Kent went to find out. The elephant graveyard for suits is the thrift store. Mostly you’ll find hangered sports...

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Outlaw Comedy: An Interview With Paige Campbell

Born in Staunton and based in Richmond, comedian Paige Campbell wears a cowboy hat and books a monthly showcase at Buskey Cider. This month, it's on Black Friday, and it's got a lineup sure to excite RVA comedy lovers. Gabe Santamaria caught up with Paige to get the scoop. This week I talked with outlaw comedian Paige Campbell. The cowboy...

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Winston Hodges Is Already Aware (And Thank You For Asking)

Virginia standup comedian Winston Hodges just released his first professionally-recorded album, Already Aware, with Helium Comedy Records. But he's far from new to the comedy game, as RVA Mag's Ash Griffith learned during their conversation. Winston Hodges is doing pretty okay these days. Originally from Farmville, VA and getting his start in the...

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Comedy Comfort Food

When Steve Martin and Martin Short came to the Altria Theater on October 22, they proved that comedy doesn't have to be edgy to be extremely funny. "You can start by wiping that fucking dumbass smile off your rosy fucking cheeks. And you can give me a fucking automobile – a fucking Datsun, a fucking Toyota, a fucking Mustang, a fucking Buick....

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Nightmare On Broad Street: An Interview With David Pijor

After a long pandemic-related sabbatical, the Coalition Theater has returned to action, and this Halloween weekend will bring the eighth incarnation of their long-running Halloween event, spread across four nights. Gabe Santamaria spoke to Coalition co-founder and creative director David Pijor about improv in a post-pandemic city, their mutual...

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