Inaugural event on Sept. 5 will celebrate comedy, culture, and community
By James Sloan, Rogue Valley Times
A star-studded lineup of comedians will promote community, culture and bring plenty of chuckles to the Holly Theatre for BASE Southern Oregon’s inaugural Comedy Jam.
The list of stand-up comedians includes Emmy-nominated comic Ron G. who was also a finalist in NBC’s “Last Comic Standing;” Bay Area comedian Shenise; Las Vegas’ Drew Thomas, as seen on “The Late Late Show;” and host Carl Lee, a local comedy legend who’s performed across the country with comics Ron White, John Pinette and Bill Bellamy.
DJ Gemineye, the official DJ for the Oregon Ducks football and men’s basketball teams, will be spinning the tunes to get the crowd ready for a night of laughter.
“It’s going to be electrifying and something really special and culturally rich,” said Vance Beach, founder of BASE (Black Alliance & Social Empowerment). “When I think of comedy, it’s powerful and brings people together across backgrounds and across generations, and it allows us to celebrate our shared humanity and that’s important for something like this … I think doing something like this — especially at this time in the world — laughter brings that resistance and renewal.”
The BASE Comedy Jam is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at the historic Holly Theatre, 226 W. Sixth St. in Medford. Doors open for the show at 8 p.m. and tickets range from $23 to $70, with VIP ticket-holders able to enter at 7 p.m. for pre-show meet and greets.
“It comes with amazing premium food from Sid’s Gourmet Smoke N’ Grill with drinks and wine and a private room,” Beach said of the VIP experience.
To purchase tickets, visit hollytheatre.ticketspice.com/base-comedy-jam.
“This is Southern Oregon’s chance to experience some nationally-recognized comedians and a local, historic venue with the Holly Theatre,” Beach said.
Some of the comedians’ acts are “R rated” and not suitable for children.
Funds raised from the BASE Comedy Jam will benefit the nonprofit’s numerous youth development programs, community events and more.
“We want to make sure people know we’re truly about advancing community; … we just got back last week from taking the youth on a college tour with seventh graders up to high schoolers and showing the opportunities and experiences and benefits possible to them,” Beach said. “We really look forward to getting the school year started and getting (BASE programs) started right away, but also being there for our community and families.” The idea to put on the Comedy Jam came from the organization’s yearly gala and was spearheaded by BASE’s Kim McKandes.
“We had our gala event which was unlike any other event with entertainment, a dance group and a comedian, and that was Carl Lee,” Beach said. BASE received “nothing but great feedback and they loved the comedy part and it was amazing for folks … we thought ‘you know what, let’s hone in on areas that give people that feeling of joy and togetherness and connection.”
The first-ever BASE Comedy Jam was born, and organizers are hoping to make it a recurring tradition if the event ends up being a success.
“We want the community to come out and laugh with us and celebrate with us and want people to leave feeling inspired and knowing they’re part of something bigger,” Beach said. “If they believe in joy, unity and progress, this is the event for them.”
BASE has multiple events on the horizon, such as taking part in the Greater Medford Multicultural Fair on Sept. 27, the annual Kwanzaa celebration in December, Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 19, 2026, Black History Month in February and more.
For more information on the Comedy Jam, visit baseoregon.org/event/base-comedy-jam. To learn more about BASE Southern Oregon, see baseoregon.org.
Reach reporter James Sloan at [email protected]. This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.