Stand-Up Comedy in Germany seems like a punchline in itself. However, over the past decade, many English-speaking comedians have made a name for themselves in various and evolving open-mic nights throughout the city. Meanwhile, Berlin has more than a few regular comedy nights in multiple languages - a long way from the one or two nights a week the handful of aspiring comedians crowded the sign-up sheets in select bars. 

We are happy to welcome you to an evening in conjunction with “We Are Not Gemuesed” and showcase the Best of the Best of the Berlin comedy scene as part of Brad Downey’s exhibition “Slow Motion Disasters” at Kunstraum Kreuzberg Bethanien on Wednesday, May 29th 2019 at 19:00. 

Comedians:

Carmen Chraim

Born and raised in Lebanon, she wins over crowds with her high energy presence & rapid-fire anecdotes. Thanks to her Middle Eastern background, passion for hummus, deep experience with corporate Germans and sarcastic political views, she’s often seen as an alternative Arab success story that hasn’t yet been discovered by the media. Carmen used to produce many popular comedy shows in Berlin, but got so tired of trying to decipher Facebook ad algorithms, that she stopped being a producer. 

Georg Kammerer

Georg Kammerer is a Berlin based comedian and TV writer/director. He has performed Standup Comedy and Performance Pieces in Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Manila and produced segments for German comedy shows such as Heute Show, Browser Ballett and Shapira Shapira. He once ran for mayor of Neukölln. His comedy combines social commentary, painful self-awareness and pure nonsense.

Freddi Gralle

As a pastor’s daughter, the first stages Freddi spent much time on were those in church. Now that she is doing comedy, being judgmental comes in very handy. Freddi is frighteningly confident and self-deprecating at the same time. Her comedy embraces the existential crises around God, sex, and the challenge of making Germans laugh. Freddi has performed all over Germany, in the US, AUS, CZ, and appeared on German’s comedy central, Nightwash and SKY One. She is also a tv writer for the Late Night show “Shapira! Shapira!”.

Paul Salamone

Paul Salamone is a retired comedian currently living in Paris. He spends his time drinking Latte Machiatto through a straw and training pitbulls to breakdance.  Paul Salamone is also an American comedian living in Berlin. He writes for the German TV show „Shapira Shapira“ and is the host of Berlin‘s longest-running English comedy show „We Are Not Gemüsed“. He‘a been seen on Comedy Central, Nightwash, Tele-5, and also works as the warm-up act for Neo Magazine Royale.

Drew Portnoy

Drew Portnoy moved to Berlin nearly 20 years ago and still isn’t sure he wants to stay. He uses his dry wit to recount his love affair with Germany’s capital and the scars (and children) it’s left him. He performs in both German and English.

Toby Arsalan

Toby Arsalan is a German-Pakistani standup comedian writing, performing and procrastinating in Berlin. Toby has toured four continents, featured on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle and opened for Todd Barry, Judah Friedlander, Godfrey and Tom Rhodes. Most weeks, you can catch Toby hosting Monday Night Mics and Joke Time, two of Berlin’s most popular English standup comedy open mics.

Amelia Jane Hunter

Riveting, ribald and completely uncensored, Amelia Jane Hunter is a powerful storyteller with a penchant for the theatrical. Never short of a story or afraid to pepper the air blue, she is the carnival ride that should have been closed down the day Michael Jacksons’ hair caught fire. 

HOST: Liliana Velasquez

Founder and principal member of the Freudian Slip Club,  Liliana has taken on many roles throughout her career as a performer as well as acted as a model, actress and Tango teacher in both Berlin and New York. Liliana Velasquez grew up bi-culturally in the Americas, with a passion for movement and performance. After beginning her studies in dance at a young age, she studied jazz, folk, modern and tango throughout her childhood and as a young adult. Later moving to New York City to study fashion design and theatre, she was employed as a choreographer at the Queens Museum and produced monthly shows at the Kraine Theatre, Dixon Place Theatre, and the Producers Club. Since arriving in Berlin in 2014,  Liliana has written and created the magical life of Tango Vaudeville Berlin and Sunday Slips.  Her autobiographic solo show “Suitcase Stability” portrays her many adventures and transformations and received positive reviews.