What began as a grassroots comedy experiment in Kingston has grown into one of the Hudson Valley’s most reliable incubators for new stand-up talent. On June 24, the Squalid Gold Comedy Showcase brings its blend of emerging comics and local oddballs to Bard SummerScape’s Spiegeltent. The showcase is the brainchild of comedian Lauren Kincheloe, who founded Squalid Gold Comedy School in 2021 and has become a central figure in the region’s burgeoning comedy scene.
Known for fostering first-time performers alongside more seasoned comics, Squalid Gold has helped build a distinctly Hudson Valley comedy community—one that favors personal storytelling, eccentric observations, and a healthy appreciation for life’s absurdities. Expect an evening of sharp jokes, unpredictable perspectives, and plenty of local flavor beneath the Spiegeltent’s striped canvas.
