Born and raised in Detroit. Justin, fell in love with comedy at a young age. He followed his dream to New York City where he quickly worked his was up to comedy clubs throughout the state. Upon returning to Detroit, he was named Detroit Metro Times Best Comedian in 2021. He’s performed in the Windsor Comedy Festival: Next Best Comic Competition, Chatham Comedy Festival, and Vans Warped Tour. Justin’s Raw, no holds bar, observational comedy would be a blunder to miss
Bob Phillips saunters on stage wearing a black suit and black tie, a gentle smirk gracing his goateed face as he takes the microphone out of the stand. He is cool, confident.
This guy is in charge and he knows what he is doing.
There are no sacred cows in Bob’s act, and there are no safe havens. He covers a lot of ground, with a show that is a blend of observational, topical, political, and biographical material. He talks about every day subjects, from his Catholic upbringing to growing up in the seventies and the absurdities of modern life. He does so with wicked timing, intelligence and sarcasm.
Bob has been seen on the Fox stand-up comedy series “Laughs” and is heard daily on SiriusXM satellite radio’s Rawdog, Laughs USA, the The Foxxhole, Jeff & Larry’s Comedy Roundup. He is a contributing writer to the website “Funny or Die”, and is one half of the popular internet podcast, “The Sal & Bob Show.” In addition, he has also appeared several times on the Anthony Cumia Show Featuring Dave Landau.
Bob has recorded three full length comedy CD’s. “Live In Fargo,” “Pop Tarts and Air,” and the newly released, “Ten Dollar Gift Card.” He performs at all the top clubs, theaters, and casinos around the country. From Detroit to Las Vegas, from Fargo to Miami, and all points in between, Bob keeps a busy schedule.
Sometimes biting, sometimes endearing, but always in charge, Bob Phillips isn’t cynical. But he is a smart aleck with a quick wit. His show isn’t dirty, but it can be occasionally naughty, concentrating more on clever rather than crass.
Michael Cesaro is a fresh new comic who hails from Chesterfield, Michigan. After honing his skills at Mark Ridley’s comedy classes, Michael has been performing all around the Metro Detroit area. When he isn’t on stage you can find him in front of a classroom teaching high school social studies, or spending quality time with his wife and young children.
A Michigan native who cut his chops working the clubs, contests, dive bars, senior centers and ice cream socials of the 1990’s Detroit Comedy Scene. He moved to LA with stars in his eyes and loose change in his pockets and soon found himself performing at some of the most legendary clubs in comedy like the Laugh Factory on the Sunset Strip. He has opened for and worked with Comedy Central and Netflix stars Nate Bargatze, Shane Mauss, Chris Porter, and Alonzo Bodden.
After returning to the Midwest he was able to build on his experience from the West Coast and began to feature and headline some of regions biggest and most significant clubs like Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Detroit, MI, Helium in Buffalo, NY, and Crackers in Indianapolis, IN.
Now a staple on the Midwest club and festival circuit, he has been seen on “Laughs” on the Fox Network, was a regional finalist on National Lampoon’s “Comic Search”. Recently he was a featured performer at the prestigious “Brew Ha Ha” festival in front of a record crowd of over 1,500.
He also is the host of the weekly ” Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle Podcast” where he chats up the biggest names in comedy every Tuesday! Recent guests have included Dave Attell, TJ Miller, Shane Mauss, Chris Kattan, and Mick Foley among many others.
A master story teller who has seen it all and remembers some of it, he does not care if you’re laughing with him or at him as long as you are laughing. Make sure to check out his new album “Say It, Don’t Spray It” available on I-Tunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon.
Paul Pipitone is a fast paced comedian. Who’s been delivering laughs and excitement for over a decade across metro-detroit.
Cam Rowe is the biggest thing in comedy-Literally! At 6’9 inches tall, he has taken the comedy world by storm as a fresh new face! He was a regular on TRU TV’s Storage Hunters as the security guard known as “the green Mile.” He has also appeared on the hit show Comedy Bang Bang with Aziz Ansari! Cameron touches on real life stories that everyone can relate to. He was a 1st place winner in the Uncle Clyde Comedy Contest at Flappers Comedy Club and The Next Comic Standing Contest at the HaHa Comedy Club in Los Angeles! He has also performed over in the U.K. At the world renowned Leicester Comedy Festival! You also check out his comedy special that he filmed in Tampa, Florida that will be available on Spotify soon! Be sure to watch out for this big guy-he won’t be hard to miss!
Headliner Steve Sabo is edgy, angry, honest and hilarious! He has been seen on HBO, Comedy Central, UPN and E! He has also been heard on SiriusXM and has performed for the troops in Iraq and Kuwait. He is also the author of four books, one an Amazon bestseller and has released seven full length comedy cds.
Ms. Chris, as she is known to her students, has taught Isshinryu Karate since 1992.
Chris is currently an 8th degree Master in Isshinryu. She has taught at several OKC schools and has attended numerous teaching and instructional seminars through the National Association of Martial Artists, and is certified by the Cooper’s Institute. Chris co-owns Family Self Defense Center with her husband “Mr. Z” Szelap, an 8th degree Isshinryu Black Belt.
She invented the first ever Isshinryu History Board Game: “Vertical Punch”, which is used as a study tool for her students. In 1994 and 1999 the International Isshinryu Hall of Fame Board chose Ms. Chris as one of the top 5 Female Instructors, in 2003 she was voted the Top Contributor to Isshinryu Karate, and received the same Contribution honor again in 2009 this time paired with Mr. Z. In 2010 and 2018, Ms. Chris was honored as Top Female Instructor of the year, and was honored in the top five in this category in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2014 Ms. Chris was nominated Top 5 internationally for Master Senseis and in 2017 and 2018 for Sensei of Senseis. In 2012, Ms. Chris became a charter member in the Midwest Women’s Martial Arts Hall of Fame for Excellence.
Chris currently teaches with her husband, and attends local and national tournaments with her students. She received a BA degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in Child Psychology.
Ed, Mr. Z, Szelap has trained in the Martial Arts since 1977 and has taught since 1986.
Mr. Z currently holds the rank of 9th degree Grand Master Black Belt in Isshinryu and a 1st degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. He has attended seminars by many noted Isshinryu Masters, and teaching seminars through the National Association of Professional Martial Artists. He has been certified by the nationally accredited Cooper’s Institute. Master Z was inducted into the prestigious Isshinryu Masters Hall of Fame in July of 2016. He is one of only 134 Masters selected from all over the world in the past 60 years to receive this honor.
In 1992 Ed started his own Isshinryu school, Family Self Defense Center, which he now co-owns with his wife Chris, a 8th degree Black Belt in Isshinryu.
In 1993, 1994 and 1997 Ed was chosen in the top five nationally for Male Instructors, receiving a #1 ranking in 2011. In 2012 and 2014, Ed was chosen the Top Master Sensei in the country. In 2002 Ed was chosen #1 for his “Isshinryu Spirit” by the Isshinryu Hall of Fame Board, and received top five honors in 2011 and 2015. Master Z was inducted into the prestigious Isshinryu Hall of Fame in 2016. His school, FSDC, was voted one of the top five Dojos in the country in 1999, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015, and also received the Most Outstanding Dojo Award in 2011, and Most Supportive Dojo in the country in 2012. In 2009, he and his wife Chris were selected as the Top Contributors in the Nation to Isshinryu Karate.
Ed currently teaches with his wife, and attends local and national tournaments with his students.
As an Ivy League dropout and community college graduate from Pontiac, MI, Mike brings a pointed look at life, family, and relationships that few others can…or should. From his upbringing in a family with 17 children to discussing his life as a father, Mike’s comedy is jagged wit mixed with a smooth delivery. Mike has worked in some of the finest comedy venues in the country to work with mainstream comedians as Kevin Hart, Hannibal Burress, Jim Norton, Artie Lange, Rickey Smiley, and Natasha Leggero to name a few. Mike was featured on Hulu and Fox Television’s comedy showcase “Laughs” (Season 1) and the Detroit episode of “Kevin Hart Presents: Hart Of The City 2” on Comedy Central (Season 2).
Mike’s first full length comedy CD “The Charm Offensive” available on all digital platforms.