The Art of Laughter with Headliner Marina Franklin

Marina Franklin is a veteran comedian, actor, writer, and host whose long tenure as a stand-up standout at premier comedy venues and festivals around the world – alongside her memorable TV and film appearances, and critically acclaimed podcast – have made her a fan favorite and in-demand creative force. She most recently joined the writers’ room on the new series “Crutch” for Paramount+.

The Chicago native’s onscreen credits include: Hulu’s “Life And Beth”, HBO’s “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”, TBS’s “The Last OG”, FX’s “Hysterical”, CW Presents One Hour Comedy Special: “Single Black Female”, HBO’s “Crashing”; the hit movie, “Trainwreck”; Stephen Colbert’s Late Show; the Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore; Conan O’Brien; “Louie” Season V; the Jim Gaffigan Show; Showtime’s “Women Who Kill”; Comedy Central’s “Chappelle’s Show”. Marina’s writing credits also include HBO’s “Divorce” and Paramount+’s “Crutch.”

Marina is a favorite at comedy festivals around the world, including the Melbourne Comedy Festival; Scotland’s Glasgow Comedy Festival; BBC’s World Stands Up; Rotterdam’s Comedy Factory; Montreal’s Just For Laughs; Ireland’s Kilkenny Comedy Festival; and Nashville’s Bonnaroo Music Festival. Her podcast, Friends Like Us, features a diverse group of women comedians of color – and their occasional male guests – and their takes on the news of the day.

A viciously likable person – if there is such a thing – Marina is a University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and Syracuse University graduate. She resides in New York City and loves dancing, house music, talking shit, and working on her sweet right hook.