“I burst out laughing before hysterically crying” — Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Laughter has always been one of the ways we survive. All one needs to do is look at the long Jewish tradition of comedy to understand how critical humor is for the survival of the soul. That spirit is at the heart of the Ladies of Laughter Comedy Fest, returning this March to celebrate Jewish women comedians after a year-long hiatus.
Last year, the festival was paused when the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys redirected critical resources to support recovery efforts following the Eaton and Palisades fires. It was the right decision, but not an easy one. Arts bring joy, connection, and healing, but in moments of crisis, communities come together to meet urgent needs first. Even so, the absence of the festival was deeply felt. In its inaugural year, it reminded us just how important shared laughter can be, especially during difficult times.
Now, thanks to the overwhelming enthusiasm and support generated during its first year, and an ever-growing list of reasons to cry, the festival is back to help us laugh instead, and it is bigger than ever. This year’s Ladies of Laughter Comedy Fest will span nearly two weeks, running March 5 to 14, with performances and events across the region, from the Laugh Factory in Covina to the Sierra Madre Playhouse and beyond. What began as a bold idea has grown into a vibrant, multi-venue celebration of comedy, culture, and community.
From the start, Ladies of Laughter was envisioned as more than a series of shows. It was meant to become an annual tradition, a way to celebrate Women’s Month in March while shining a spotlight on the voices, perspectives, and creative contributions of Jewish women in comedy. That mission feels even more meaningful this year. Our communities are still healing, and life continues to give us plenty of reasons to laugh and cry. Comedy does not ignore that reality. It helps us face it together.
The festival lineup reflects that range, bringing together film, stand-up, podcasts, improv, and live performance in venues throughout the area. The festival opens Thursday, March 5, in Monrovia at Look! Cinemas with a screening of Golden Love Isn’t Blind, setting the tone with a raunchy gameshow that blends humor and heart.
On Saturday, March 7, back at Look! Cinemas in Monrovia, with a Night of Honor and the presentation of The Gilda Radner Award, celebrating the talent, impact, and enduring legacy of women in comedy. Radner’s spirit, joyful, vulnerable, and deeply human, is a fitting symbol for a festival rooted in humor and heart.
Sunday, March 8 offers a full day of laughter in two distinct styles. The morning begins with a live recording featuring the Amusing Jews Podcast Group, giving audiences a chance to experience smart and funny conversation in an intimate format. That evening, the Laugh Factory in Covina hosts the first Stand-Up Night with Becca Tham, Abby Schachner, Judy Carter, and headliner Cathy Ladman, a comedy veteran whose wit and warmth have made her a beloved voice in stand-up. You may recognize these names from the first year of the festival. We loved them so much, we had to invite them to come back.
Midweek, the festival continues to expand its creative reach. On Wednesday, March 11, Film Night at the Laemmle Theater in Glendale showcases a short comedic film by local filmmaker Anita Merzel-Todd, followed by the iconic musical comedy Funny Girl, a nod to the long legacy of Jewish women shaping comedy on screen and stage.
The laughs keep coming on Thursday, March 12, when the Sierra Madre Playhouse hosts an Improv and Sketch Night featuring Pure and Weary, Soup Sisters, and Messing with a Friend starring Susan Messing and Rose Abdoo. This evening celebrates spontaneous and collaborative comedy, the kind that reminds us laughter is often a team effort.
The festival concludes Saturday, March 14, another Stand-Up Night to close out the festival, at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. It features a stellar lineup of comedians including Jessica Winther, Eunji Kim, Gina Gold, and headliner Jena Friedman, known for her sharp and fearless comedic voice.
Ultimately, Ladies of Laughter is about more than punchlines. It is about creating space for laughter, camaraderie, connection, creativity, and inclusivity. It is about gathering in shared experience, finding lightness even when life feels heavy, and honoring the storytellers who help us do both. In a year when so much has been rebuilt, this festival is part of that rebuilding too, a reminder that culture, joy, and community matter.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.jewishsgpv.org. Join us for an unforgettable celebration of women, laughter, and legacy at the Ladies of Laughter Comedy Fest.
PRIMO CATALANO is an LOL Comedy Committee Member AND A contributing writer to Jlife magazine.
