StandUp NBC announces open call dates for 14th annual diversity talent search, with NBCUniversal holding deal as top prize

NBCUniversal’s 14th annual diversity talent search, StandUp NBC, is about to get underway, so mark your calendars for the following open call dates and locations.

2017 SCHEDULE 

CHICAGO

Open Call: June 10, 2017
Showcase: June 11, 2017

Laugh Factory
3175 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657

SAN FRANCISCO

Open Call: July 8, 2017
Showcase: July 9, 2017

Cobb’s Comedy Club
915 Columbus Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94133

PHILADELPHIA

Online Submission opens June 1st-June 16th at 11:59PT.  Submit here: https://bit.ly/2pE7kGl
Selected comics from the online submission will be notified the week of July 17th for a closed audition on August 11th.

Open Call: Aug. 12, 2017
Showcase: Aug. 13, 2017

Helium Comedy Club
2031 Sansom St
Philadelphia PA 19103

ATLANTA

Online Submission opens July 8th-July 23rd at 11:59PT.  Submit here: https://bit.ly/2oQEWxU
Selected comics from the online submission will be notified the week of August 21st for a closed audition on September 22nd.

Open Call: Sept. 23, 2017
Showcase: Sept. 24, 2017

Laughing Skull Lounge
Vortex Bar & Grill
878 Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30309

The annual contest awards a comedian with a one-year holding talent deal with NBCUniversal. Recent past winners include JR De Guzman, Dulce Sloan, Nick Guerra, Gina Brillon, Jon Laster, and Tone Bell.

You’ll notice that for Philly and Atlanta, you can submit ahead of time online instead of waiting on an actual line at the venue, and you’ll find out whether you’re selected for the showcases. In the Open Call cities, please note: “Only the first 100 comics who arrive will be seen. Comics will have one minute to perform at the initial audition. A handful will be invited back to callbacks later that day to perform a longer 2-3 minute set. From these, the top comics are selected to perform in the regional semi-finalist showcase the next evening.”

From those cities, about eight finalists will get flown to Los Angeles for a showcase in front of agents, casting directors and TV executives, with the winner receiving the talent holding deal. Of course, plenty of finalists also have gone on to much success. Among them: Hannibal Buress, Eric Andre, Lil Rel Howery.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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