Novato Theater Company
Comedy Festival January 2024
NTC proudly presents the next in our wildly popular series of Comedy Festivals.
The best of the Bay Area stand-up talent right here on our stage.
Friday January 12, 2024, 8:00pm
Saturday January 13, 2024, 8:00pm
Novato Theater Company, 5420 Nave Dr #C, Novato, CA 94949
$25 per night!
$40 for both nights!
Tickets at the door, or on-line in advance below
Sponsored by
Organized and MC'd by John Griffin
Friday, January 12, 8:00pm
Natalie Diaz
Josh Argyle
Martin Marrufo
Steve Ausburne
Cody Smit
Saturday, January 13, 8:00pm
Marcus Howard
Daniel Lewis
Alexia Nye Jackson
Austin Carr
Gina Stahl-Haven
WINE AND BEER WILL BE AVAILABLE!
Line-up subject to change. Photos and Bios in no particular order.
Gina Stahl-Haven
Gina Stahl-Haven is one of the most dynamic comics in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been performing in the comedy and improv world for over 15 years and is the 2nd Place Winner of the 2019 San Francisco International Comedy Competition (the 1st woman in 36 years, and the only woman other than Ellen Degeneres to hold this title). You may have caught Gina on season 17 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent where she received 4 yesses from the celebrity judges. Howie Mandel calls her “wonderful” and “memorable”. Festival credits include the World Series of Comedy Las Vegas, Boston Comedy Festival, SF Improv Festival, Hawaii Improv Festival, and more. She was featured on the Andrea Savage podcast, in the Un-Scripted Theatre Company and headlines at comedy clubs throughout the country. Frequently recognized for her captivating story-telling, Gina’s real take on life, motherhood, dating, and navigating Costco; combined with her intoxicating stage presence make her irresistible to watch!
@TheFunnyGina on Facebook and Instagram
Marcus Howard
Born and raised in Oakland, Marcus Howard is a comedian who's been making audiences laugh for years. With a sharp wit and a unique perspective on life, Marcus has become a regular on the Bay Area comedy scene. He's performs regulary at the SF Punchline, Cobbs Comedy Club, and Rooster T Feathers. His comedy touches on everything from kids to race to relationships. Marcus is known for his ability to turn everyday situations into hilarious stories, and he's not afraid to tackle tough topics with humor and heart. Whether he's riffing on the absurdities of being a liberal or sharing his thoughts on the state of the world, Marcus is always entertaining, insightful, and funny.
Steve Ausburne
Steve Ausburne is a Northern California based comedian but started his comedy career by getting a lifetime ban from a church Grant’s Pass Oregon. Buoyed by that taste of success, he has since embraced the stage as a place to present a spoken word memoir of all the embarrassing life moments that lurk in a place that only stand up or therapy sessions can reveal. Steve is a regular at the San Francisco Punch Line and Cobb’s Comedy Club as well as a cohost of multiple mildly popular podcasts. He is also allergic to cats.
Cody Smit
Before doing stand-up comedy, Santa Rosa native Cody Smit started out as a rapper under the stage name, C-Smitty. After realizing he was tone-deaf and possessed no rhythm, he gave up on his dreams of becoming a white rapper and took to stand-up comedy. His first gig was at a slam poetry open mic and consisted of him jotting down jokes about an ex-girlfriend on a bar napkin. His would-be set quickly escalated into a dreary tirade about her infidelity. Before he knew it, Smit was producing and hosting comedy shows throughout Sonoma County. At 22 years old, Smit learned the art of what it truly means to “bomb” on stage in the preliminary rounds of the San Francisco Comedy Competition. Now he does so with class and dignity.
Natalie Diaz
A new face to the Bay Area comedy scene, Natalie’s journey into the world of comedy began as a spontaneous decision to try her hand at the art of stand-up during an open mic night at a local bar. Not long after that she won the "So Your Friends Think You're Funny" competition at Sonoma County’s Barrel Proof Lounge, and has been on the rise ever since. Born and raised in rural Northern California, Natalie has a unique perspective on the absurdities of life and delights audiences with her infectious energy.
Josh Argyle
Josh Argyle is equally at home telling jokes at comedy club as he is at a BBQ or barbershop. His quick wit and “everyman” relatability have helped him carve out a respected spot in the competitive Bay Area comedy scene. He is a paid regular at the Punch Line and Cobbs comedy clubs. Josh has opened for national touring comedians such as Kyle Kinane, Doug Stanhope, Pablo Francisco and Dave Attell. When he is not telling jokes, Josh can be found at his apartment losing at Mario Party to his Fiancé and pontificating about the ridiculousness of writing in the third person with their tiny dog.
Daniel Lewis
Daniel Lewis, originally from Detroit, is an Oakland-based stand up comedian. Winner of the 2022 East Bay Comedy Competition, he is a regular host and feature at the Alameda Comedy Club. He enjoys cheese sandwiches, and in his free time he likes to count.
Martin Marrufo
In 9 years of comedy, Martin Marrufo has delighted audiences by blending stories of his big-city upbringing with his many neuroses, creating an unforgettable experience for audiences all over. Martin has performed in comedy clubs all over the Bay Area, including Punch Line San Francisco, Cobb's Comedy Club, Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club, and Tommy T's. He has also produced and hosted several comedy shows over his career. You'll be calling him Marty in no time.
Austin Carr
Austin Carr is a Stand Up Comic based in the Bay Area. He is the creator & producer of the hit live show “Talking After Sets” as well as the co-producer of “Comedy on the Bay” putting on some of the most exciting shows in San Francisco! His debut album “Nice to Meet You” hit #2 on the iTunes billboard charts in 2021 & he performs all over the country!
Alexia Nye Jackson
Alexia arrives on stage with one simple question, “For the love of God – can someone please tell us how to parent?” Her comedy looks at the state of humanity through the lens of procreation and the skill set of our collective parenting – or the lack thereof. Alexia made her LA debut in October 2022 at The Hollywood Improv, The Lab. She produced her first comedy line-up show in January 2023 co-headlining with international comic, Maureen Langan, to a large sold-out audience in her benefit production for The Lion’s Club in Marin County, California. She has written and directed her first one-woman stand-up comedy show, You’re Not the Boss Of Me, which she performed in 2019 to a sold-out audience at McGrail Winery in Livermore, CA, and which will finally return to the Bay area in 2023. She has performed all over the SF/Bay area as well as in the prestigious San Francisco Comedy Competition.