By Nick A. Zaino III Globe correspondent, Updated March 27, 2025
Reaching the 25-year mark would be a big deal for most comedy festivals. There would be fireworks and self-congratulations. Or at least a giant animated banner on the website with confetti and bouncing letters. Not for the Boston Comedy Festival, which kicks off its 25th edition Monday at City Winery. The lineup includes headliners Eddie Pepitone, Emo Philips, Michael Kosta of “The Daily Show,” former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Brooks Wheelan, and Amy Miller, as well as a series of stand-up contests, a benefit show for comedians affected by the fires in Los Angeles, a diversity showcase, a clean comedy show, and the customary ending gala/awards show.
Founder Jim McCue and his sister Helen DiMarzio, who does everything from graphic design to watching audition tapes, say the same thing in separate interviews. The anniversary is great, but the task is no different from any other year, and that’s to book as many kinds of funny shows as possible. “Every year we try to make it the best year we can,” says McCue by phone, “and this year is no exception.”
DiMarzio echoes his language. “I think we try every year to make it something special,” she says. She highlights the BCF’s comedy competition, which brings in dozens of comedians to face off in several rounds, before the winner is chosen from the final eight comedians at the finals event that ends the festival. “The contest has always been the heart of the festival, and so we always just kind of start with that, to get the best people to come into the contest.”