A COMEDY SHOW ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH
STAND UP NY Presents A BANQUET FOR WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS A COMEDY SHOW ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH With a Global Lineup of New York Comedians in Tux and Gown Saturday, January 24, 2026 Dinner 7:00 PM, Show 8:30 – 10:00 PM Portobello Banquets 155 Ramapo Valley Rd Oakland, NJ 07436 TICKETS and MORE INFO
Stand Up NY presents
Stand Up NY Presents “A BANQUET FOR WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS: A COMEDY SHOW ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH” at Portobello Banquets on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Dinner at 7:00 PM, show at 8:30 PM, hosted by MJ Standup Korean. Enjoy a global lineup of New York comedians, dressed in tux and gown, including Peter Banks-Kenny, Bobby Gonzalez, Ryan Chazie, Yatin, Jonah Bowen, Adam Thomas, and Naveed Mahbub.
The theme of the comedy show is life and death, weddings and funerals, "life events” – that are a shared human and cultural experience, things that create a pause in everyday life, an arrest from the ordinary. These all-consuming moments, which create pockets of liminal experiences in our lives, are ripe for a comedic response. As one of the monthly Comedy Nights, this comedy show is itself a banquet staged right at the famous Portobello Banquets, which frequently hosts weddings and memorials. Don’t miss out on the funnies and the ha-has coming from the favorite comics of New York City, who all originate from different parts of the world, bringing intercultural insight into life and death through their jokes.
Stand-up comedians are truth-tellers of our time; most are pacifists with uplifting views on life and society, even if their jokes are dark and gritty. Comedians help transport audiences to worlds, ideas, and storytelling from all cultures and walks of life. What makes us laugh is the exploration of the funnies of our time. Comedy prompts us to reflect on our times, surroundings, and what it means to be human. And laughter is a powerful experience that brings immediate joy and fulfillment. Join us for an evening of deep contemplation on life and death – and bring your biggest laughter to the global lineup of comedians who will take you on a comedic ride. It will be an adventure that takes you away from your everyday life.
STAND UP NY
This comedy show is a cultural production, produced and curated by MJ, Chief Talent Curator and Head of Creative Programming at Stand Up NY. Stand Up NY, established in 1986, is one of New York City’s premier comedy clubs. Celebrated for its rich history and for showcasing outstanding performers, Stand Up NY has created an exclusive comedy experience that sets the standard for other comedy clubs. From Jerry Seinfeld to Chris Rock and Amy Schumer, our stage has been a breeding ground for the brightest stars of today and tomorrow.
PRODUCER CURATOR
MJ Standup Korean is a Professor Emerita and former Dean of an art college, turned comedian. With a luscious career as a global Korean contemporary artist featured in museums, galleries, and biennales around the world, known as the artist Mina Cheon who does global peace work known as “Polipop,” political pop art, she takes the stage as a standup comic performing all around New York with art history jokes and observational, satiric, dark romantic comedy that is message-driven, once a professor, always professing. She is a cultural producer and curator and has mounted thematic comedy shows in art and cultural spaces, including the premier of bridging art and laughter for peace-building at KODA NY, K-Comedy Night at the AHL Foundation Annual Gala NY, and this show, “A Banquet for Weddings and Funerals: A Comedy Show about Life and Death” at the Portobello Banquets, NJ. She is the Chief Talent Curator and Head of Creative Programming at Stand Up NY, and while her past academic career served faculty and students, she retired and happily serves comics as a living.
HEADLINER
Naveed Mahbub, is the headliner of this show, once an engineer turned CEO turned comedian (by choice!), is a Bangladeshi comedian and columnist who created one of Asia's first comedy clubs, "Naveed Comedy Club (NCC)" in Dhaka. He was awarded Best Male Comedian in the 2007 Las Vegas Comedy Festival. In 2016, Mahbub was featured on the US-based comedy television channel Comedy Central. He hosts the morning radio show "Good Morning Bangladesh" on ABC Radio. He writes articles for the newspaper "The Daily Star." Re-transporting himself to New York, he has brought the house down across comedy clubs in New York, appearing in "South Asian Comedy Laughing Lassi," "NY Tech Week 2025" of Broadway Comedy Club, and headlined at Stand Up NY.
GLOBAL LINE UP COMEDIANS
The comedians were curated based on their diverse global identities and existing comedy material. They are also selected for their impressive work as emerging comics, the headliner's fierce veteran status in comedy, and their hyperactivity in the New York comedy scene. Comedians often reference their visible identity as a draw into their world and storytelling, making jokes more appealing, relatable, and funny. Their range of origins and heritage backgrounds is referenced in the show’s statement, which addresses the themes of life and death, weddings and funerals, "life events,” with a direct global perspective or an Americanized version of it. These comedians have agreed to write and develop new material that adds an extra layer to the theme while performing their usual set, demonstrating their agility in comedy writing and leadership in what comedy can be. This is comedy on the brink – Drum roll, here comes the comedians:
Peter Banks-Kenny is a New York-based comedian. He has featured in the New York Comedy Festival and performed masculinity, both to mixed reviews. They host and produce Succulent Comedy, a standup show in Midtown or Chelsea, depending on who’s asking. A former radio host turned restaurateur turned performer, Peter has performed Shakespeare in a park. His comedy unflinchingly examines the inherent contradiction of being down for whatever while also subverting the heterodox expectations society places on a pretty chill dude. A hobbyist filmmaker and political activist, Peter looks forward to the coming deluge.
Bobby Gonzalez is a Miami-born Cuban who held deep ties to his cultural heritage before moving to New York. Having been an actor for almost 30 years, he has starred in Nickelodeon and HBO shows, as well as guest spots and radio appearances across various projects. As a comedian, he can often be found at shows and clubs, including Gotham and Broadway Comedy Club, and he co-hosts the Succulent Comedy Show and Mic, where he recounts his life as the child of immigrants and his work as a young actor.
Ryan Chazie is a Moroccan American comedian based in New York. He studies cybersecurity at Columbia University by day, where he acquired his penchant for penetration tests. By night, he's a stand-up comedian, which he describes as a far more effective method of social engineering. His comedy is a high-energy, rapid-fire audit of human fallibility. A high-speed roller coaster through a system of logic you didn't know existed; you’ll leave confused, impressed, and wondering why it all made perfect, undeniable sense.
Yatin is a comedian from New York City who spends most of his time performing at various comedy clubs in Manhattan each week. He has featured at the Jersey City Comedy Festival, the World Series of Comedy, the Comedy Chateau Festival LA, and, most recently, the St. Marks Comedy finals. He co-produces and hosts a monthly comedy show in Bushwick, which (in his humble opinion) features the best line-up of rising New York comics in a free comedy show. He also hosts a few open mics each week at St. Marks Comedy Club and The Stand with Laughing Buddha Comedy. Yatin is half-Indian and half-Pakistani, which for Americans simply means you can blame him for every tragedy that hits your country. He's a bit of a goofball - no show of his goes according to plan. Love him or hate him, you're unlikely to forget him.
Jonah Bowen is a comedian and writer based in NYC. Before receiving his BFA in Comedic Arts from Emerson College, he co-founded Stand-up In The Park, a student-led organization established to provide a safe environment for comedy during the pandemic. While working as the General Manager for Stand Up NY, Bowen performed at various venues including The Stonewall Inn, Rodney’s, Zeam Studios, Broadway Comedy Club, Gotham, and the Koda House on Governors Island. He is very thankful to MJ, who is a pioneer in producing comedy shows that not only make us laugh, but make us appreciate being together.
Adam Thomas is a born-and-bred New York standup comic with Puerto Rican heritage. His unique brand of acerbic humor touches on current events and his relationship to those around him. You can find him hosting weekly open mics at Rodney’s or performing at venues in and around New York City. He was recently featured on Comedy Fight Club and at The NY Queer Comedy Festival, and was a preliminary-round winner & finalist in the 2025 Laughing Buddha Comedy Festival. He will be featured in the “LGBTJEW” show of the Chosen Comedy Festival NY 2025 at Rodney’s Comedy Club, organized by Stand Up NY.
Peter Banks-Kenny is a New York-based comedian. He has featured in the New York Comedy Festival and performed masculinity, both to mixed reviews. They host and produce Succulent Comedy, a standup show in Midtown or Chelsea, depending on who’s asking. A former radio host turned restaurateur turned performer, Peter has performed Shakespeare in a park. His comedy unflinchingly examines the inherent contradiction of being down for whatever while also subverting the heterodox expectations society places on a pretty chill dude. A hobbyist filmmaker and political activist, Peter looks forward to the coming deluge.
Bobby Gonzalez is a Miami-born Cuban who held deep ties to his cultural heritage before moving to New York. Having been an actor for almost 30 years, he has starred in Nickelodeon and HBO shows, as well as guest spots and radio appearances across various projects. As a comedian, he can often be found at shows and clubs, including Gotham and Broadway Comedy Club, and he co-hosts the Succulent Comedy Show and Mic, where he recounts his life as the child of immigrants and his work as a young actor.
Ryan Chazie is a Moroccan American comedian based in New York. He studies cybersecurity at Columbia University by day, where he acquired his penchant for penetration tests. By night, he's a stand-up comedian, which he describes as a far more effective method of social engineering. His comedy is a high-energy, rapid-fire audit of human fallibility. A high-speed roller coaster through a system of logic you didn't know existed; you’ll leave confused, impressed, and wondering why it all made perfect, undeniable sense.
Yatin is a comedian from New York City who spends most of his time performing at various comedy clubs in Manhattan each week. He has featured at the Jersey City Comedy Festival, the World Series of Comedy, the Comedy Chateau Festival LA, and, most recently, the St. Marks Comedy finals. He co-produces and hosts a monthly comedy show in Bushwick, which (in his humble opinion) features the best line-up of rising New York comics in a free comedy show. He also hosts a few open mics each week at St. Marks Comedy Club and The Stand with Laughing Buddha Comedy. Yatin is half-Indian and half-Pakistani, which for Americans simply means you can blame him for every tragedy that hits your country. He's a bit of a goofball - no show of his goes according to plan. Love him or hate him, you're unlikely to forget him.
Jonah Bowen is a comedian and writer based in NYC. Before receiving his BFA in Comedic Arts from Emerson College, he co-founded Stand-up In The Park, a student-led organization established to provide a safe environment for comedy during the pandemic. While working as the General Manager for Stand Up NY, Bowen performed at various venues including The Stonewall Inn, Rodney’s, Zeam Studios, Broadway Comedy Club, Gotham, and the Koda House on Governors Island. He is very thankful to MJ, who is a pioneer in producing comedy shows that not only make us laugh, but make us appreciate being together.
Adam Thomas is a born-and-bred New York standup comic with Puerto Rican heritage. His unique brand of acerbic humor touches on current events and his relationship to those around him. You can find him hosting weekly open mics at Rodney’s or performing at venues in and around New York City. He was recently featured on Comedy Fight Club and at The NY Queer Comedy Festival, and was a preliminary-round winner & finalist in the 2025 Laughing Buddha Comedy Festival. He will be featured in the “LGBTJEW” show of the Chosen Comedy Festival NY 2025 at Rodney’s Comedy Club, organized by Stand Up NY.