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In case you haven’t noticed, Portland is a hotbed of comedic talent—one that’s been a springboard for the careers of such nationally recognized stand-ups as Ian Kamel, Shane Torres, Kyle Kinane, Matt Braunger, Ron Funches—the list does not stop. That’s why the Mercury is dedicated to spotlighting some of the best comedy Portland has to offer (as well as up ‘n’ coming newbies you just gotta see) with our annual showcase, The Undisputable Geniuses of Comedy!
Since 2016, the Mercury’s Geniuses of Comedy has been a celebration of local talent as well as a sure-fire night of belly laughs. And this year’s edition of Geniuses promises even more fun, with 10 highly curated acts of standup, sketch comedy, and wild stuff you’re not going to see anywhere else—since this sparkling night of laughs plays for only one night (Thursday, March 20 at Revolution Hall), you should get your tickets quick at merctickets.com because it WILL sell out!
Check out our shit-hot lineup of pants-peeing comedic talent at this year’s UNDISPUTABLE GENIUSES OF COMEDY!
YOUR HOST... ADAM PASI!
Quickly becoming one of the most sought-after and highly regarded comics in the Pacific Northwest, Adam is a former Portland’s Funniest Person winner, was featured on the hit show Portlandia, and has appeared at tons of comedy festivals, including the Bridgetown and Big Sky fests. He's also one of Portland's best comedy hype men, and trust us, you’ll fall in love with his intense (yet oh-so-lovable) style.
SUPER SPECIAL GUEST… MOHANAD ELSHIEKY!
A blazing former Portland talent, the brilliant Mohanad Elshieky is currently making it big in NYC… but he’s making a special trip back to share his sharp-as-a-whip jokes with YOU. And check out his stats: Mohanad made his national TV debut on Conan and has been featured on Comedy Central as well as Late Night with Stephen Colbert. He’s a writer / consultant for the wildly popular podcast Lovett or Leave It (told you he was smart), and in 2024 was picked for the SF Sketchfest Dozen, a showcase for stand-up comedians on the verge of blowing up big-time! Get ready for his dry, intelligent comedy that will make you laugh at the seemingly unlaughable.
SHAIN BRENDEN
We’re very excited for the return of former Genius of Comedy, Shain Brenden, who seemingly cannot stop getting funnier! Hailing originally from Millington, Tennessee, Shain now calls Portland home, where he became a well-deserved recipient of Portland’s Funniest Person, and was also awarded a featured set on the national pop-up comedy show, Don’t Tell Comedy. When he’s not knocking you on your ass with hilarious jokes, he’s usually at home with his son watching Bluey (so needless to say, he’s very happy to be performing for you at this year’s Geniuses show).
ALLY J WARD
If you aren’t familiar with Ally, she’s one of the hottest Portland up ‘n’ comers in the scene, self-describing as “a dumb baby and good girl.” Along with being an accomplished stand-up, improviser, and story teller, she hosts such queer-driven local shows as Hear You Loud & Queer and the comedy wrestling show Punchlines & Piledrivers. Despite being relatively new to the scene, Ally is already making a big noise, winning a Moth story slam, being chosen for Willamette Week’s Funniest Five, and was featured as one of the hottest queer comedians of 2024 by Out Magazine. Get to know her and you’ll get to love her!
BEN HARKINS
Most recently crowned as Portland’s Funniest Person 2024, Ben Harkins is well known as both a man of mystery and a public access television legend. His deadpan, quirky / smart style has served him well over the years, scoring him a spot as a 2019 Genius of Comedy and WW’s Funniest Five as well as appearing in various festivals including Bridgtown and the San Francisco Sketch Fest. He’s also opened for such comedic luminaries as Kyle Kinane, Paulie Shore, Nick Thune, and Louis Katz. Check him out every Thursday as the host of Chill N Fill’s weekly comedy show, or his hilariously weird public access soap opera called Intrigue (now on YouTube)!
GABBY POCCIA
Gabby may be new to you, but this well-established comedian was knockin’ ‘em dead in San Francisco and beyond before making Portland her home. A vet of the San Francisco Sketchfest and the Savage Henry Comedy Festival, Gabby is ready to get right in your face with her sharp, hilarious, and “unapologetically dirty, shock-and-awe” style of comedy. She’s also a member of the comedy folk rock trio, the Satan Sisters—soooooo… prepare to laugh and be only slightly scarred by the experience.
ANDREA MACHACA
If you love self-effacing humor that can spin on a dime and then viciously stab you in the funnybone, then you’re going to flip ass-over-teakettle for comedian Andrea Machaca. A rising star in the Portland comedy scene, Andrea is both a mom and first-generation immigrant whose life experiences form her sharp-witted standup every step of the way. She’s headlined shows across the Northwest, was a Portland’s Funniest Person semi-finalist, and enjoys spending time with her family and giving Republicans sweat-inducing nightmares.
LEE H. TILLMAN
Lee H. Tillman’s comedy may seem laid back, but get ready for lots of very unexpected surprises and left-turns, taking you on a comedy journey you never knew you needed. Hailing from Los Angeles, Lee’s performed at comedy clubs worldwide, knocking them dead at such prestigious comedy fests as the Blue Sky Festival, the Limestone Comedy Festival, and Asheville Comedy Festival. Plus he’s opened for such luminaries as Kyle Kinane, Baron Vaughn, Gabe Rutledge, and Shane Torres, was chosen as one of WW’s 2025 Funniest Five, and is even the star of his own comedy special Bad at Math. If you love impeccable timing, sharp observations, and a sense of humor drier than a cat’s tongue, get ready for Lee Tillman!
DEVI KIRSCH
A California native who cut her comedy teeth on the stages of comedy clubs (and dive bars) all over the West Coast, Devi Kirsch has the kind of natural, fun-loving stage presence most comedians would die for. Now a proud Portland transplant, Devi says the most important reason she moved here was because she “was too old to be a stripper anywhere else.” Her sex positive, pointed delivery on such topics as undercover cops and “titty meat” make her a true one-to-watch in the Portland comedy scene—plus she has a pet Pomeranian. (That’s a plus, right?)
PLUS, SKETCH COMEDY FROM THE ACES
Self-described as “the tallest comedy troupe in North America,” The Aces (Shelley McLendon and Michael Fetters) have been absolutely slaying Portland audiences for years with their insanely creative characters, which run the gamut from Wild West lesbians, to helicoptering gorilla parents, to wildly awkward teens on a log flume ride. Their dynamic sketch comedy stylings have been hailed at the Portland Sketch Fest, the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, and were so good at the 2016 Mercury Geniuses of Comedy show, we’re inviting them back for another hilarious run! (You’ll thank us later.)
As you can see, this year’s lineup of Portland’s most undisputable geniuses is an undisputable BANGER. So don’t wait—since this show will absolutely sell out, you’ll want to get your tickets quick at merctickets.com for the 2025 edition of the UNDISPUTABLE GENIUSES OF COMEDY on Thurs, March 20, 8 pm, at Revolution Hall! Miss it at your comedic peril!
