Comedy From Scratch, at The Idea Kitchen

Sonya Vai (Edinburge Fringe Festival; TBS

Sonya Vai, a comedian, writer and actor, was born and raised in New York City but is constantly asked “where are you really from?” by drunk men in bars. Sonya’s subversive brand of comedy – challenging not only gender but ethnic and religious stereotypes – has been featured at comedy clubs as well as independent shows across the country. Sonya recently participated in the Desi Comedy Festival. Last year she opened for the ‘PBS Socal Presents’ film screening of the award winning documentary Meet The Patels. She was also on the ‘Comedy’s Best Kept Secret’ tour in 2016, performing in 25 shows over 23 days across 21 cities from Vegas to NY.

Sonya last performed on Comedy From Scratch, at The Idea Kitchen, on September 28, 2024.

Bassam Shawl (NY Comedy Festival)

Ben Frank is a New York-based stand-up comedian, who began his comedy career in Shanghai, China and regularly performs in both English and Mandarin. He has headlined across the U.S. and in more than 10 other countries, including China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Ben has been featured on SiriusXM & Amazon Prime and has also won numerous comedy competitions, including the World Series of Comedy in Boston & New Orleans and the Laugh After Dark ComedyFest in Las Vegas. Additionally, he has been named Best of Fest at Madison Comedy Week, Burbank Comedy Festival, Laugh Out Loveland, and Four Corners Comedy Festival. Ben's cerebral yet relatable style of comedy showcases the unique perspective of a Jewish Millennial Ivy League graduate who moved to China for a corporate job, only to become an entertainer. In 2024, Ben released the comedy special “Let Me Be Frank,” which was the follow-up to his 2022 debut album “Goodbye Shanghai.”