Comedy in the Plaza – the Mill Valley Arts Commission’s annual night of hilarity on the downtown plaza – regularly draws some of the best standup comedians in the business, and this year’s edition, in a year when we could all use some laughter, is no different. The event is set for Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 6pm.
Longtime Bay Area actor, comedian, author, playwright, TV and radio talk show host Brian Copeland serves as masters of ceremonies for the occasion, which features a trio of acclaimed comedians. Copeland began his career in standup at the tender age of 18 performing in comedy venues in San Francisco, and was soon traveling the country opening for such legendary performers as Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Ray Charles, The Temptations and more.
Longtime Bay Area comedy stalwart Johnny Steele is no stranger to Mill Valley stages, from the Throckmorton Theatre to the annual Memorial Day Parade, his annual chance to gently rib the participants and performers of all ages. Steele has headlined across the country, written for some of America’s best comics, and is a former winner of the San Francisco International Comedy Competition.
Standup comedian Maureen Langan, who was an on-air personality for KGO in San Francisco, has performed on Broadway with Rosie O’Donnell and has shared the stage with Robin Williams, Steven Wright, Joy Behar, Gladys Knight and Jordin Sparks…just to name a few. Langan believes there are important insights to be culled from comedians, which is why she tailors her TEDx Talk, “The Business of Fun: Lessons Learned from Performing in South Africa,” to companies and organizations looking for a thought-provoking and entertaining talk about diversity, equity and inclusion in our work, lives and culture. She currently hosts the podcast Hangin’ with Langan, where she interviews comics to activists and academics to alcoholics.
Joe Klocek says that he’s “politically left of Jesus, a stand-up comic, agnostic, sarcastic like Superman is strong and a scorpio.” Klocek has performed at every major comedy club in the country, is a regular on the Bay Area Comedy Scene and was voted “Best Comic” in a former SF Weekly Readers Poll.
Scroll down to see past sets from Langan, Steele and Klocek.