GALLERY LAUGHS (S2)
Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) is set to kick off season two of Gallery Laughs later this month. After a popular 2025 debut season, the one of a kind, four-part stand-up comedy series, produced by Chris Denman and Mid Coast Media, is returning for another year. The 2026 series features nationally touring comedians Chris Redd, Jessimae Peluso, Dulcé Sloan and Guy Torry, supported by some of St. Louis' favorite local performers. Denman serves as 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 DJ Scooter Brown and a special cocktail hour. Comedy follows at 6:30 p.m. Free tickets will be available in person at the Museum starting at 10:00 a.m. on the day of the performance. Tickets will be available at the welcome desk in Taylor Hall.
Gallery Laughs
Jan 16, 2026 - Chris Redd feat. Rafe Williams and Larry Greene, hosted by Chris Denman
May 15, 2026 - Jessimae Peluso feat. JC Sibala and Angela Smith, hosted by Chris Denman
Aug 21, 2026 - Dulcé Sloan feat. Chris Cyr and Precious J. Dorsey, hosted by Chris Denman
Nov 6, 2026 - Guy Torry, 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.
""Thanks to the Art Bridges Foundation's Access for All Grant, the Museum is able to explore more programming opportunities to reach new audiences,” said Jessica Kennedy, Educator, Adult Learning at SLAM. “Gallery Laughs' debut 2025 season was such a huge success, drawing crowds of comedy fans through our doors to enjoy art before and after the laughter. We’re thrilled to bring this unique experience back for a second year as part of our Access for All Free Fridays."
Chris Redd (performing Jan 16) is a #stlmade stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and rapper. Redd, born in St. Louis, spent five seasons on Saturday Night Live. Additional projects include the Starz drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan, the Peacock series Bust Down, the NBC sitcom Kenan, and films like Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and Scare Me. Redd filmed his latest stand-up comedy special, Why Am I Like This? (HBO Max, 2022) right here in his hometown. Follow him on Instagram at @chrisreddis.
Jessimae Peluso (performing May 15) is a stand-up comedian, writer, performer, TV and podcast host whose work blends raw comedy with emotional depth. She’s known for her breakout role on MTV’s Girl Code and hosting Netflix’s Tattoo Redo and Surviving Paradise. Peluso has performed worldwide with the USO and made multiple appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience, Chelsea Lately, Comedy Central’s @Midnight, David Spade’s Lights Out, and more. Her new podcast, Dying Laughing with Jessimae, debuted with her favorite person ever, John Stamos as the first guest. The show explores grief and loss - with just enough inappropriate jokes to make you feel okay about crying. Follow her on Instagram at @jessimaepeluso.
Dulcé Sloan (performing August 21) is a comedian and Emmy award-winning actress. On TV, she’s best known as a correspondent and guest host on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, as well as voicing Honeybee Shaw on Fox’s animated series The Great North. Sloan is a recurring panelist on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me and hosted the CW’s The Great American Joke Off. When her Comedy Central Presents stand-up special premiered, the New York Times included the half hour in their “Best Comedy of 2019” roundup. Sloan currently co-hosts a weekly podcast called Chasing K-Dramas that dissects popular Korean dramas episode by episode. Follow her on Instagram at @dulcesloan.
Guy Torry (performing November 6) is a #stlmade actor, comedian, radio personality and filmmaker. Torry grew up in St. Louis and attended Southeast Missouri State University. He’s starred in films such as "American History X," "LIFE" and "The Animal." He's appeared on stand-up shows including "Def Comedy Jam", "Comic View,” "Snoop Dogg's Fcn Around Comedy Special” and “Comedy Central’s Premium Blend.” Torry is also the creator and executive producer of the hit docu-series "Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy" streaming on Amazon Prime. Follow him on Instagram at @guytorry.
The 2025 debut season of Gallery Laughs featured comedians Mia Jackson, Jonathan Kite, Ian Edwards and Kym Whitley (part of Flyover Comedy Festival weekend).