GALLERY LAUGHS
Starting in February, the Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) is excited to debut a one of a kind, four-part stand-up comedy series called Gallery Laughs, produced by Mid Coast Media. This series features nationally touring comedians Mia Jackson, Jonathan Kite, Ian Edwards and Kym Whitley, supported by some of St. Louis' favorite local performers. Chris Denman of Mid Coast Media serves as executive producer and host for all four shows.
SLAM admission is always free, but Fridays are taken up a notch with special programming. Gallery Laughs’ upbeat evenings start at 5:00 p.m. with a DJ and special cocktail hour. Comedy follows at 6:30 p.m. Seating is first come first served and space is limited.
Gallery Laughs
Feb 21, 2025 - Mia Jackson feat. Will O’Donnell, hosted by Chris Denman
May 30, 2025 - Jonathan Kite feat. Larry Greene, hosted by Chris Denman
Aug 15, 2025 - Ian Edwards feat. Mychael Anthony, hosted by Chris Denman
Nov 14, 2025 - Kym Whitley feat. Frank Lyles, hosted by Chris Denman
The laughs will be accompanied by custom art designed by St. Louis’s own Cbabi Bayoc. Special portraits inspired by the headlining comedians will be displayed at each show, with a select number of prints available for lucky attendees to take home.
"The Art Bridges Foundation's Access for All Grant encourages the Museum to explore new opportunities and take creative risks,” said Jessica Kennedy, Educator, Adult Learning at SLAM. “Hosting Gallery Laughs is a first for us! We’re thrilled to offer this unique experience as part of our Access for All Free Fridays."
From February to November 2025, Gallery Laughs will feature the talents of:
Mia Jackson (performing Feb 21) started her stand-up career in Atlanta. Now living in New York, Jackson performs regularly around the city when not on the road. In 2022, she opened for Amy Schumer’s national comedy tour. Jackson has written for Life & Beth (Hulu) and I Love Us (BET+). She has two half hour Comedy Central specials, and her stand up has been featured on This Week at The Comedy Cellar. Follow her on Instagram at @miacomedy.
Jonathan Kite (performing May 30) may be best known for his starring role as the lovable Ukrainian cook “Oleg” in CBS’ long-running, award-winning comedy series 2 Broke Girls. Kite can currently be seen opposite Jamie Foxx in the Netflix comedy series Dad Stop Embarrassing Me and the Netflix feature The Curse of Bridge Hollow. As a stand-up comedian, Kite has performed nationwide and internationally to sold-out audiences. He is an expert impressionist, boasting over 250 celebrity and character impressions that include Donald Trump, Vince Vaughn, Tom Hanks and Anthony Bordaine, as well as every accent that you can name. Follow him on Instagram at @jonathankite.
Ian Edwards (performing August 15) is a stand-up comedian, writer, producer, actor, and podcaster. His first one-hour stand-up special, IanTalk: Ideas Not Worth Spreading, was produced by Bill Burr and debuted on Comedy Central. Edwards has appeared numerous times on Comedy Central’s @Midnight , TBS’ Conan, Comedy Central’s The New Negroes and some of the top podcasts in the world, including WTF with Marc Maron and The Joe Rogan Experience. Follow him on Instagram at @ianedwardscomic.
Kym Whitley (performing November 14) is an actress, comedian and podcaster who has appeared in more than 130 movies and tv shows, including The Upshaws, Act Your Age, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Soul Man, Master of None, Next Friday and You People, as well as voiced characters on Black Dynamite and the animated feature film Rango. Whitley starred in the Oprah Winfrey Network docu-series, Raising Whitley. She is also the co-host of the 2x NAACP award-winning Two Funny Mamas podcast, alongside Sherri Shepherd. Follow her on Instagram at @kymwhitley.
For more information on Gallery Laughs, visit