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Rising Comedy Star Matt Rife Sets Ambitious 115-Date World Tour

The massive run of dates for the 27-year-old standup is spread out over two years and three continents.

By Dave Brooks

Dave Brooks

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Rising comedian Matt Rife has slated an ambitious 115-date world tour encompassing two years and three continents, it was announced on Monday (June 5).

Jacky Oh, Former ‘Wild ‘N Out’ Star, Dies at 32

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“We haven’t seen anything like this in 20 to 30 years,” says Levin, who was introduced to Rife by his manager, Christina Shams with Avesta Entertainment before signing with CAA in December.

“Every show that we’ve put up so far, we’ve sold out in presale in under 15 minutes,” Levin adds, noting that Rife’s videos on TikTok have more than 1 billion views combined. “It’s been a crazy ride and it couldn’t have happened to a better person.”

While the ProbleMATTic World Tour is spread out over a two-year period, the first 101 shows are packed into an 11-month run, starting with a July 20 date in Bend, Ore. and ending June 6, 2024, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville — a North American sprint that also encompasses four Australia dates in January. That comes out to an average of a Rife comedy show every three days for nearly a year.

Following a three-month break, Rife will embark on the European leg of the tour starting with a Sept. 3 show at SEC Armadillo in Glasgow, U.K. followed by shows in Amsterdam, London, Paris and more before concluding the tour on Friday, Oct. 20 at Santeria Toscana 31 in Milan, Italy.

ProbleMATTic World Tour – 2023 North America Dates:

Thu Jul 20 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater –SOLD OUT

Fri Jul 21 – Salem, OR – Historic Elsinore Theatre –SOLD OUT

Sat Jul 22 – Tacoma, WA – Pantages Theatre–SOLD OUT

Sun Jul 23 — Spokane, WA — Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox

Thu Jul 27 — Norfolk, VA — Chrysler Hall Theatre

Tue Aug 01 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino –SOLD OUT *

Wed Aug 02 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino–SOLD OUT *

Thu Aug 03 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino–SOLD OUT *

Fri Aug 04 – Niagara, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort –SOLD OUT *

Sat Aug 05 – Niagara, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort –SOLD OUT *

Fri Aug 18 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort –SOLD OUT *

Sat Aug 19 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort –SOLD OUT *

Sun Aug 20 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort–SOLD OUT *

Fri Sep 01 – Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino *

Sat Sep 02 – Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino–SOLD OUT *

Fri Sep 08 — Las Vegas, NV — The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Sat Sep 09 — Las Vegas, NV — The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Fri Sep 22 — Washington, DC — DAR Constitution Hall – LIVE TAPING

Sat Sep 23 — Washington, DC — DAR Constitution Hall – LIVE TAPING

Thu Sep 28 — Fresno, CA — William Saroyan Theatre

Sat Sep 30 — San Diego, CA — San Diego Civic Theatre

Sun Oct 01 — Riverside, CA — Fox Performing Arts Center

Wed Oct 04 — Orlando, FL — Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Fri Oct 06 — Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live

Sat Oct 07 — Jacksonville, FL — Moran Theater

Sun Oct 08 — Pensacola, FL — Saenger Theatre

Wed Oct 11 — Columbus, OH — Palace Theatre

Fri Oct 13 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center

Sat Oct 14 — Akron, OH — Akron Civic Theater

Sun Oct 15 — Indianapolis, IN — Murat Theatre at Old National Centre

Wed Oct 18 — St. Louis, MO — Stifel Theatre

Thu Oct 19 — Wichita, KS — Century II Concert Hall

Fri Oct 20 —Tulsa, OK— Tulsa Ballroom at Cox Business Convention Center

Sat Oct 21 — Kansas City, MO — Kansas City Music Hall

Thu Oct 26 — Durham, NC — Durham Performing Arts Center

Sat Oct 28 — Savannah, GA — Johnny Mercer Theatre

Sun Oct 29 — Birmingham, AL — BJCC Concert Hall

Thu Nov 02 — Ames, IA — Stephens Auditorium

Fri Nov 03 — Cedar Rapids, IA — Paramount Theatre

Sat Nov 04 — Omaha, NE — Steelhouse Omaha

Wed Nov 15 — Fort Worth, TX — Will Rogers Auditorium

Thu Nov 16 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

Fri Nov 17 — Sugar Land, TX — Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land

Sat Nov 18 — Austin, TX — ACL Live at The Moody Theater –SOLD OUT

Sun Nov 19 — San Antonio, TX — Majestic Theatre

Fri Nov 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theatre

Wed Nov 29 – Santa Rosa, CA – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Thu Nov 30 — San Jose, CA — San Jose Civic

Fri Dec 01 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live

Sat Dec 02 – Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

Thu Dec 07 — Charleston, SC — North Charleston Performing Arts Center

Sat Dec 09 — Evans, GA — Columbia County Performing Arts Center

Sun Dec 10 — Charlotte, NC — Ovens Auditorium

Sun Dec 31 — Louisville, KY — The Louisville Palace

ProbleMATTic World Tour – 2024 Australian Dates:

Thu Jan 11 — Perth, WA — Perth Concert Hall

Sat Jan 13 — Brisbane, QLD — Fortitude Music Hall

Fri Jan 19 — Sydney, NSW — State Theatre

Sat Jan 20 — Melbourne, VIC — Hamer Hall

ProbleMATTic World Tour – 2024 North American Dates:

Wed Jan 31 — Schenectady, NY — Proctors Theatre

Fri Feb 02 — New York, NY — Radio City Music Hall

Wed Feb 07 — Milwaukee, WI — The Riverside Theater

Thu Feb 08 — Grand Rapids, MI — Devos Hall

Fri Feb 09 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore Detroit

Wed Feb 14 — Bloomington, IN — IU Auditorium

Thu Feb 15 — Knoxville, TN — Knoxville Civic Auditorium

Fri Feb 16 — Memphis, TN — Orpheum Theatre

Sat Feb 17 — New Orleans, LA — Saenger Theatre

Fri Feb 23 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena *

Sat Feb 24 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena *

Wed Feb 28 — Sioux Falls, SD — Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

Thur Feb 29 –- Duluth, MN –- Duluth Entertainent Convention Center

Fri Mar 01 — Minneapolis, MN — State Theatre

Thu Mar 07 — Saskatoon, SK — TCU Place

Fri Mar 08 — Regina, SK — Conexus Arts Centre

Sat Mar 09 — Winnipeg, MB — Burton Cummings Theatre

Wed Mar 13 — Victoria, BC — Royal Theatre

Thu Mar 14 — Vancouver, BC — Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Fri Mar 15 — Edmonton, AB — Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Sun Mar 17 — Calgary, AB — Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons

Thu Mar 21 — Toronto, ON — Massey Hall

Sun Mar 24 — Hamilton, ON — FirstOntario Concert Hall

Thu Mar 28 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino *

Fri Mar 29 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino *

Sat Mar 30 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre

Thu Apr 04 — Salt Lake City, UT — Kingsbury Hall

Fri Apr 05 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre

Fri Apr 12 — Oakland, CA — Paramount Theatre

Thu Apr 18 — Portland, ME — Merrill Auditorium

Fri Apr 19 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Thu Apr 25 — Pittsburgh, PA — Benedum Center

Fri Apr 26 — Philadelphia, PA — The Met

Sun Apr 28 — Richmond, VA — Altria Theater

Thu May 09 — Portland, OR — Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Fri May 10 — Seattle, WA — Paramount Theatre

Thu May 16 — Tucson, AZ — Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

Fri May 17 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre

Thu May 30 — Chicago, IL — The Chicago Theatre

Thu Jun 06 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium

ProbleMATTic World Tour – 2024 European Dates:

Tue Sep 03 — Glasgow, UK — SEC Armadillo

Fri Sep 06 — Birmingham, UK — Utilita Arena Birmingham

Sat Sep 07 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff International Arena

Tue Sep 10 — Newcastle, UK — O2 City Hall Newcastle

Fri Sep 13 — Manchester, UK — O2 Apollo

Tue Sep 17 — London, UK — Eventim Apollo

Fri Sep 20 — Bristol, UK — Bristol Beacon

Sat Sep 28 – Dublin, IE – 3Olympia Theatre

Tue Oct 01 — Paris, FR — Alhambra Paris

Sat Oct 05 – Amsterdam, NL – Royal Theatre Carré

Tue Oct 08 – Berlin, DE – Huxleys Neue Welt

Sun Oct 13 – Stockholm, SE – Nya Cirkus

Sun Oct 20 – Milan, IT – Santeria Toscana 31

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Matt Rife Announces Massive 100+ Date ‘ProbleMATTic World Tour’

WATCH ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO WITH ASHTON KUTCHER  HERE

Tickets available starting tuesday, june 6 with artist presale, general onsale begins friday, june 9 at 10 am local at  mattrifeofficial.com, for approved artist images and hi-res tour art, please download  here ..

Today, wildly popular comedian and actor  Matt Rife  announced his  ProbleMATTic World Tour  hitting cities across North America, Australia, and Europe throughout 2023 and 2024. Produced by Live Nation, the massive tour with more than 100 dates kicks off on Thursday, July 20 in Bend, OR at Hayden Homes Amphitheater with stops across North America in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Austin and more this year before wrapping up 2023 with a New Years Eve show on Sunday, December 31 at The Louisville Palace in Louisville, KY.

The ProbleMATTic World Tour continues next year with a series of Australia dates starting Thursday, January 11, 2024 in Perth, Western Australia at Perth Concert Hall, with stops in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne before embarking on a second North America run that will hit New York, Chicago, Nashville, Toronto, along with many other cities. Rife will then head to Europe in the fall with shows in Amsterdam, London, Paris and more before concluding the tour on Friday, October 20 at Santeria Toscana 31 in Milan, Italy. 

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to live out this life long dream! To tour the world, spreading laughter, with some of my best friends, is something I never thought would be possible. I’m so grateful to get this opportunity, and it’s even more fulfilling knowing that it’s all because of the incredible people who enjoy my comedy,” said Matt Rife. “I’ve been working so hard towards this for 12 years and now I’ve surrounded myself with a team who works just as hard and share the same passion! I still can’t believe it.”

“Matt has quickly become one of the fastest-rising comics, creating incredible global demand for tickets,” says Andy Levitt, VP, Live Nation Comedy Touring. “We’re looking forward to working alongside him and helping him connect to his audiences around the world.”

TICKETS:  Tickets will be available starting with an Artist presale beginning Tuesday, June 6 at 10 AM local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, June 9 at 10 AM local time at  MattRifeOfficial.com .  

In 2021, Rife self-produced and distributed through YouTube his first one-hour comedy special,  “Only Fans” . This past April, the comedian bet on himself again and self-released his highly anticipated second stand-up special,  “Matthew Steven Rife”  on  YouTube . The special was taped in Austin, TX and is dedicated to his biggest role model, his grandfather Steven who had recently passed. Rife will be taping his third stand-up special this fall in Washington, DC at DAR Constitution Hall.   

PROBLEMATTIC WORLD TOUR – 2023 NORTH AMERICA DATES:

Thu Jul 20 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater  –SOLD OUT 

Fri Jul 21 – Salem, OR – Historic Elsinore Theatre  –SOLD OUT 

Sat Jul 22 – Tacoma, WA – Pantages Theatre –SOLD OUT 

Sun Jul 23 — Spokane, WA — Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox

Thu Jul 27 — Norfolk, VA — Chrysler Hall Theatre

Tue Aug 01 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino  –SOLD OUT *

Wed Aug 02 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino –SOLD OUT *

Thu Aug 03 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino –SOLD OUT *

Fri Aug 04 – Niagara, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort  –SOLD OUT *

Sat Aug 05 – Niagara, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort  –SOLD OUT *

Fri Aug 18 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort  –SOLD OUT *

Sat Aug 19 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort  –SOLD OUT *

Sun Aug 20 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort –SOLD OUT *

Fri Sep 01 –  Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino *

Sat Sep 02 – Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino –SOLD OUT *

Fri Sep 08 — Las Vegas, NV — The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas 

Sat Sep 09 — Las Vegas, NV — The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas 

Fri Sep 22 — Washington, DC — DAR Constitution Hall –  LIVE TAPING

Sat Sep 23 — Washington, DC — DAR Constitution Hall –  LIVE TAPING

Thu Sep 28 — Fresno, CA — William Saroyan Theatre

Sat Sep 30 — San Diego, CA — San Diego Civic Theatre

Sun Oct 01 — Riverside, CA — Fox Performing Arts Center

Wed Oct 04 — Orlando, FL — Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Thu Oct 05 — St. Petersburg, FL — Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater

Fri Oct 06 — Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live

Sat Oct 07 — Jacksonville, FL — Moran Theater

Sun Oct 08 — Pensacola, FL — Saenger Theatre

Wed Oct 11 — Columbus, OH — Palace Theatre

Fri Oct 13 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center

Sat Oct 14 — Akron, OH — Akron Civic Theater

Sun Oct 15 — Indianapolis, IN — Murat Theatre at Old National Centre

Wed Oct 18 — St. Louis, MO — Stifel Theatre

Thu Oct 19 — Wichita, KS — Century II Concert Hall

Fri Oct 20 —Tulsa, OK— Tulsa Ballroom at Cox Business Convention Center

Sat Oct 21 — Kansas City, MO — Kansas City Music Hall

Thu Oct 26 — Durham, NC — Durham Performing Arts Center

Sat Oct 28 — Savannah, GA — Johnny Mercer Theatre

Sun Oct 29 — Birmingham, AL — BJCC Concert Hall

Thu Nov 02 — Ames, IA — Stephens Auditorium

Fri Nov 03 — Cedar Rapids, IA — Paramount Theatre

Sat Nov 04 — Omaha, NE — Steelhouse Omaha

Wed Nov 15 — Fort Worth, TX — Will Rogers Auditorium

Thu Nov 16 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

Fri Nov 17 — Sugar Land, TX — Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land

Sat Nov 18 — Austin, TX — ACL Live at The Moody Theater  –SOLD OUT

Sun Nov 19 — San Antonio, TX — Majestic Theatre

Fri Nov 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theatre

Wed Nov 29 – Santa Rosa, CA – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Thu Nov 30 — San Jose, CA — San Jose Civic

Fri Dec 01 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live

Sat Dec 02 – Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

Thu Dec 07 — Charleston, SC — North Charleston Performing Arts Center

Fri Dec 08 — Columbia, SC — Township Auditorium

Sat Dec 09 — Evans, GA — Columbia County Performing Arts Center

Sun Dec 10 — Charlotte, NC — Ovens Auditorium

Sun Dec 31 — Louisville, KY — The Louisville Palace

PROBLEMATTIC WORLD TOUR – 2024 AUSTRALIA DATES:

Thu Jan 11 —  Perth, WA — Perth Concert Hall        

Sat Jan 13 —  Brisbane, QLD — Fortitude Music Hall 

Fri Jan 19 — Sydney, NSW — State Theatre       

Sat Jan 20 —  Melbourne, VIC — Hamer Hall

PROBLEMATTIC WORLD TOUR – 2024 NORTH AMERICA DATES:

Wed Jan 31 — Schenectady, NY — Proctors Theatre

Fri Feb 02 — New York, NY — Radio City Music Hall

Wed Feb 07 — Milwaukee, WI — The Riverside Theater

Thu Feb 08 — Grand Rapids, MI — Devos Hall

Fri Feb 09 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore Detroit

Wed Feb 14 — Bloomington, IN — IU Auditorium

Thu Feb 15 — Knoxville, TN — Knoxville Civic Auditorium

Fri Feb 16 — Memphis, TN — Orpheum Theatre

Sat Feb 17 — New Orleans, LA — Saenger Theatre

Fri Feb 23 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena *

Sat Feb 24 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena *

Wed Feb 28 — Sioux Falls, SD — Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

Thur Feb 29 –- Duluth, MN –- Duluth Entertainent Convention Center 

Fri Mar 01 — Minneapolis, MN — State Theatre

Thu Mar 07 — Saskatoon, SK — TCU Place

Fri Mar 08 — Regina, SK — Conexus Arts Centre

Sat Mar 09 — Winnipeg, MB — Burton Cummings Theatre

Wed Mar 13 — Victoria, BC — Royal Theatre

Thu Mar 14 — Vancouver, BC — Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Fri Mar 15 — Edmonton, AB —  Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Sun Mar 17 — Calgary, AB — Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons

Wed Mar 20 — London, ON — Centennial Hall

Thu Mar 21 — Toronto, ON — Massey Hall

Sun Mar 24 — Hamilton, ON — FirstOntario Concert Hall

Thu Mar 28 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino *

Fri Mar 29 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino *

Sat Mar 30 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre

Thu Apr 04 — Salt Lake City, UT — Kingsbury Hall

Fri Apr 05 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre

Fri Apr 12 — Oakland, CA — Paramount Theatre

Thu Apr 18 — Portland, ME — Merrill Auditorium

Fri Apr 19 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Thu Apr 25 — Pittsburgh, PA — Benedum Center

Fri Apr 26 — Philadelphia, PA — The Met

Sun Apr 28 — Richmond, VA — Altria Theater

Thu May 09 — Portland, OR — Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Fri May 10 — Seattle, WA  — Paramount Theatre

Thu May 16 — Tucson, AZ — Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

Fri May 17 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre

Thu May 30 — Chicago, IL — The Chicago Theatre

Thu Jun 06 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium

PROBLEMATTIC WORLD TOUR – 2024 EUROPE DATES:

Tue Sep 03 — Glasgow, UK — SEC Armadillo

Fri Sep 06 — Birmingham, UK — Utilita Arena Birmingham

Sat Sep 07 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff International Arena

Tue Sep 10 — Newcastle, UK — O2 City Hall Newcastle

Fri Sep 13 — Manchester, UK — O2 Apollo

Tue Sep 17 — London, UK — Eventim Apollo

Fri Sep 20 — Bristol, UK  — Bristol Beacon

Sat Sep 28 – Dublin, IE – 3Olympia Theatre

Tue Oct 01 — Paris, FR — Alhambra Paris

Sat Oct 05 – Amsterdam, NL – Royal Theatre Carré

Tue Oct 08 – Berlin, DE – Huxleys Neue Welt

Sun Oct 13 – Stockholm, SE – Nya Cirkus

Fri Oct 18 – Madrid, ES – Teatro Pavón

Sun Oct 20 – Milan, IT – Santeria Toscana 31

*Not a Live Nation Date

ABOUT MATT RIFE:

Matt Rife has exploded as one of the fastest growing comedians through his viral content and remarkable engagement on TikTok, where he has amassed over 13 million followers, and more than 2 billion views globally. As one of the most buzzed about comedians in the business, Rife has been selling-out comedy clubs and theaters across the country and is gearing up to embark on his biggest tour to-date with Live Nation, the  Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour,  kicking off on July 20 th .

Rife brings forth his refreshingly genuine presence along with elevated material that is quick witted and vulnerable. From a small town near Columbus Ohio, Matt started performing at the age of fifteen then moved out to Los Angeles two years later where he began his career in Hollywood. 

In addition to stand-up, he made his television debut on MTV’s  Wild ‘N Out  as the youngest cast member in history for four seasons before moving on to other MTV properties, such as hosting the reboot of  TRL  and appearing on  The Challenge . Other credits include  Brooklyn Nine-Nine,   Fresh Off The Boat,  BET’s  North Of The 10 , and   NBC’s comedy competition show  Bring The Funny .

In 2021, Rife self-produced and distributed through YouTube his first one-hour comedy special,  “Only Fans” . This past April, the comedian bet on himself again and self-released his highly anticipated second stand-up special,  “Matthew Steven Rife”  on YouTube. The special was taped in Austin, TX and is dedicated to his biggest role model, his grandfather Steven who had recently passed. He’ll be taping his third stand-up special this fall in Washington, DC. 

Rife is repped by CAA & Christina Shams at Avesta Entertainment

Follow Matt Rife:

Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram   |   YouTube  |  TikTok

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit   www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Team Matt Rife |  [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski |  [email protected]

Maya Sarin |  [email protected]

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• Date & Time June 6 - 9 , 2024 7:00 PM
• On Sale On Sale Now
• Ticket Pricing $71.50 - $121.50

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Ryman Auditorium

Ryman Auditorium, located at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the most celebrated venues in modern music. Built in 1892, the historic 2,362-seat live performance venue is the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry and is revered by artists and music fans for its world-class acoustics. A bucket list moment for both fans and artists alike, her iconic stage has hosted performers from across genres, such as Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Harry Styles, Wu-Tang Clan, Lizzo, and thousands more. While offering a diverse lineup and thriving concert schedule with over 200 shows per year, the venue is also open for daytime tours year-round. Along with best-in-class production technologies and livestream capabilities, the Ryman has been named  Pollstar ’s Theater of the Year for 13 years through 2021.

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Please note that photography, videography, and/or audio recording during Matt Rife's performance on Sunday, April 28, is  strictly prohibited  and will be heavily enforced. Any patrons found taking photos, video, or recording audio during the show will be asked to leave and escorted out of the venue without a refund.

Excessive heckling and shouting will be treated and dealt with in the same manner. 

Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour

Includes dedicated and expedited entry, two premium beverages per person, complimentary pre-show appetizers, exclusive access, and private restrooms. Lexus Lounge access must be added to existing ticket purchases.

For Mature Audiences Ages 21+

Matt Rife has exploded as one of the fastest growing comedians through his viral content and remarkable engagement on TikTok, where he has amassed over 13 million followers, and more than 2 billion views globally. As one of the most buzzed about comedians in the business, Rife has been selling-out comedy clubs and theaters across the country and is gearing up to embark on his biggest tour to-date with Live Nation, the Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour, kicking off on July 20th.

Rife brings forth his refreshingly genuine presence along with elevated material that is quick witted and vulnerable. From a small town near Columbus Ohio, Matt started performing at the age of fifteen then moved out to Los Angeles two years later where he began his career in Hollywood.

In addition to stand-up, he made his television debut on MTV’s Wild 'N Out as the youngest cast member in history for four seasons before moving on to other MTV properties, such as hosting the reboot of TRL and appearing on The Challenge. Other credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fresh Off The Boat, BET’s North Of The 10, and NBC’s comedy competition show Bring The Funny.

In 2021, Rife self-produced and distributed through YouTube his first one-hour comedy special, "Only Fans". This past April, the comedian bet on himself again and self-released his highly anticipated second stand-up special, "Matthew Steven Rife" on YouTube. The special was taped in Austin, TX and is dedicated to his biggest role model, his grandfather Steven who had recently passed. He’ll be taping his third stand-up special this fall in Washington, DC.

Additional Ticket Options

Related Links

• Official Website

Age Restriction

Ages 21 and Up

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Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour

Must be 21 or older to attend. a valid photo id required for entry..

• Date Apr 12 | 2024
• Event Starts 10:00 PM
• Doors Open 1 HOUR PRIOR TO THE SHOW
• Ticket Prices $98.50, $83, $73, $63, $53 Prices Subject to Change
• On Sale On Sale Now

Event Details

Matt Rife has exploded as one of the fastest growing comedians through his viral content and remarkable engagement on TikTok, where he has amassed over 13 million followers, and more than 2 billion views globally. As one of the most buzzed about comedians in the business, Rife has been selling-out comedy clubs and theaters across the country and is gearing up to embark on his biggest tour to-date with Live Nation, the  Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour,  kicking off on July 20 th .

Rife brings forth his refreshingly genuine presence along with elevated material that is quick witted and vulnerable. From a small town near Columbus Ohio, Matt started performing at the age of fifteen then moved out to Los Angeles two years later where he began his career in Hollywood. 

In addition to stand-up, he made his television debut on MTV’s  Wild 'N Out  as the youngest cast member in history for four seasons before moving on to other MTV properties, such as hosting the reboot of  TRL  and appearing on  The Challenge . Other credits include  Brooklyn Nine-Nine,   Fresh Off The Boat,  BET’s  North Of The 10 , and   NBC’s comedy competition show  Bring The Funny .

In 2021, Rife self-produced and distributed through YouTube his first one-hour comedy special,  "Only Fans" . This past April, the comedian bet on himself again and self-released his highly anticipated second stand-up special,  "Matthew Steven Rife"  on YouTube. The special was taped in Austin, TX and is dedicated to his biggest role model, his grandfather Steven who had recently passed. He’ll be taping his third stand-up special this fall in Washington, DC. 

Related Links

• mattrifeofficial.com
• Matt Rife Facebook
• Matt Rife Instagram
• Matt Rife YouTube
• Matt Rife Tour Announcement

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Please refer to our  PLAN YOUR VISIT  page for additional information.

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Freelance casting assistants seek union representation from teamsters, comedian matt rife sets his first world tour with live nation; ashton kutcher grants a wish in promo.

By Denise Petski

Denise Petski

Senior Managing Editor

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EXCLUSIVE: Rising comedian, actor and TikTok sensation Matt Rife is set to launch his first world tour. Rife’s ProbleMATTic World Tour , produced by Live Nation , will hit cities across North America, Australia and Europe throughout 2023 and 2024.

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Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, who are big fans of Rife, helped him get the word out about his world tour in a promo, which you can watch below. In it Kutcher plays a genie who grants Rife his wish, which just happens to be a world tour. Kunis makes a (very) brief appearance after Rife first tells Kutcher his wish would be a date with Kunis, which Kutcher immediately shoots down.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to live out this life long dream! To tour the world, spreading laughter, with some of my best friends, is something I never thought would be possible. I’m so grateful to get this opportunity, and it’s even more fulfilling knowing that it’s all because of the incredible people who enjoy my comedy ,” said Rife. “I’ve been working so hard towards this for 12 years and now I’ve surrounded myself with a team who works just as hard and share the same passion! I still can’t believe it.”

“Matt has quickly become one of the fastest-rising comics, creating incredible global demand for tickets,” says Andy Levitt, VP, Live Nation Comedy Touring. “We’re looking forward to working alongside him and helping him connect to his audiences around the world.”

Rife made his TV debut on MTV’s  Wild ‘N Out  and hosted the network’s  TRL  reboot. His acting work has included appearances on shows like  Fresh Off the Boat  and  Brooklyn Nine-Nine.  In 2019, he was a contestant on NBC’s comedy competition show,  Bring the Funny. Rife truly became known after posting some of his stand-up material on TikTok, amassing over 13 million followers and more than 2 billion views globally, to date. He also 3.6 million followers on Instagram.

Tickets for the ProbleMATTic World Tour will be available starting with an Artist presale beginning Tuesday, June 6 at 10 a.m. local time worldwide. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, June 9, at MattRifeOfficial.com . 

Rife is repped by CAA & Christina Shams at Avesta Entertainment.

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• Event Description

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Mon, may 20, 2024.

Matt Rife has exploded to become one of the biggest comedians in the world through his top performing Netflix special and his remarkable engagement on social media where he has amassed over 18 million followers, and more than 2 billion views globally. As one of the most buzzed about comedians in the business, Rife has been selling-out theaters and arenas around the globe and is currently on his biggest tour to-date with Live Nation, the  Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour.

Tickets:  $50

• All seats are General Admission.
• All shows are 18+
• Seats are only guaranteed until showtime.
• Seats are assigned on a first come first serve basis as people arrive.
• Groups must arrive together in order to sit together.
• For the best chance of being seated together arrive early and arrive all together. 
• While we do everything we can to seat groups together, we can not guarantee that groups will be seated together.

Matt Rife has exploded to become one of the biggest comedians in the world through his top performing Netflix special and his remarkable engagement on social media where he has amassed over 18 million followers, and more than 2 billion views globally. As one of the most buzzed about comedians in the business, Rife has been selling-out theaters and arenas around the globe and is currently on his biggest tour to-date with Live Nation, the Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour.

Rife recently sold out 4 shows at The Dolby Theater in Hollywood, where the Academy Awards are also held. His current tour sold over 600,000 tickets in under 48 hours, to become one of the largest comedy tours in over 20 years. He joined Taylor Swift as the only other live act to break Ticketmaster’s website due to demand.

Rife brings forth his refreshingly genuine presence along with elevated material that is quick witted and vulnerable. From a small town near Columbus Ohio, Matt started performing at the age of fifteen then moved out to Los Angeles two years later where he began his career in Hollywood.

In 2021, Rife self-produced and distributed through YouTube his first one-hour comedy special, "Only Fans" . In April 2023, the comedian bet on himself again and self-released his second stand-up special, "Matthew Steven Rife" on YouTube. The special was taped in Austin, TX and is dedicated to his biggest role model, his grandfather Steven who had recently passed. Only a couple months later, Rife decided to release a crowd work special, Walking Red Flag on YouTube, which has amassed over 10 million views.

On November 15th, 2023, the comedian released his highly anticipated third stand-up special, Matt Rife: Natural Selection on Netflix, which garnered outstanding numbers including over 10.3 million views in its first two weeks and earning a Top 10 ranking in 42 countries including #1 in US, Canada, and South Africa.

In addition to stand-up, he made his television debut on MTV’s Wild 'N Out as the youngest cast member in history for four seasons before moving on to other MTV properties, such as hosting the reboot of TRL and appearing on The Challenge . Other credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fresh Off The Boat, BET’s North Of The 10 , and NBC’s comedy competition show Bring The Funny .

The Source For All Things Pop Culture

Comedian MATT RIFE Announces Dates For ‘ProbleMATTic World Tour’

Wildly popular comedian and actor Matt Rife announced his ProbleMATTic World Tour hitting cities across North America, Australia, and Europe throughout 2023 and 2024. Produced by Live Nation, the massive tour with more than 100 dates kicks off on Thursday, July 20 in Bend, OR at Hayden Homes Amphitheater with stops across North America in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Austin and more this year before wrapping up 2023 with a New Years Eve show on Sunday, December 31 at The Louisville Palace in Louisville, KY.

The ProbleMATTic World Tour continues next year with a series of Australia dates starting Thursday, January 11, 2024 in Perth, Western Australia at Perth Concert Hall, with stops in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne before embarking on a second North America run that will hit New York, Chicago, Nashville, Toronto, along with many other cities. Rife will then head to Europe in the fall with shows in Amsterdam, London, Paris and more before concluding the tour on Friday, October 20 at Santeria Toscana 31 in Milan, Italy.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to live out this life long dream! To tour the world, spreading laughter, with some of my best friends, is something I never thought would be possible. I’m so grateful to get this opportunity, and it’s even more fulfilling knowing that it’s all because of the incredible people who enjoy my comedy,” said Matt Rife. “I’ve been working so hard towards this for 12 years and now I’ve surrounded myself with a team who works just as hard and share the same passion! I still can’t believe it.”

“Matt has quickly become one of the fastest-rising comics, creating incredible global demand for tickets,” says Andy Levitt, VP, Live Nation Comedy Touring. “We’re looking forward to working alongside him and helping him connect to his audiences around the world.”

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with an Artist presale beginning Tuesday, June 6 at 10 AM local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, June 9 at 10 AM local time at MattRifeOfficial.com .

In 2021, Rife self-produced and distributed through YouTube his first one-hour comedy special, “Only Fans” . This past April, the comedian bet on himself again and self-released his highly anticipated second stand-up special, “Matthew Steven Rife” on YouTube . The special was taped in Austin, TX and is dedicated to his biggest role model, his grandfather Steven who had recently passed. Rife will be taping his third stand-up special this fall in Washington, DC at DAR Constitution Hall.    

PROBLEMATTIC WORLD TOUR – 2023 NORTH AMERICA DATES:

Thu Jul 20 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater –SOLD OUT

Fri Jul 21 – Salem, OR – Historic Elsinore Theatre –SOLD OUT

Sat Jul 22 – Tacoma, WA – Pantages Theatre –SOLD OUT

Sun Jul 23 — Spokane, WA — Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox

Thu Jul 27 — Norfolk, VA — Chrysler Hall Theatre

Tue Aug 01 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino –SOLD OUT *

Wed Aug 02 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino –SOLD OUT *

Thu Aug 03 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino –SOLD OUT *

Fri Aug 04 – Niagara, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort –SOLD OUT *

Sat Aug 05 – Niagara, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort –SOLD OUT *

Fri Aug 18 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort –SOLD OUT *

Sat Aug 19 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort –SOLD OUT *

Sun Aug 20 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort –SOLD OUT *

Fri Sep 01 –  Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino *

Sat Sep 02 – Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino –SOLD OUT *

Fri Sep 08 — Las Vegas, NV — The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Sat Sep 09 — Las Vegas, NV — The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Fri Sep 22 — Washington, DC — DAR Constitution Hall –  LIVE TAPING

Sat Sep 23 — Washington, DC — DAR Constitution Hall – LIVE TAPING

Thu Sep 28 — Fresno, CA — William Saroyan Theatre

Sat Sep 30 — San Diego, CA — San Diego Civic Theatre

Sun Oct 01 — Riverside, CA — Fox Performing Arts Center

Wed Oct 04 — Orlando, FL — Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Thu Oct 05 — St. Petersburg, FL — Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater

Fri Oct 06 — Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live

Sat Oct 07 — Jacksonville, FL — Moran Theater

Sun Oct 08 — Pensacola, FL — Saenger Theatre

Wed Oct 11 — Columbus, OH — Palace Theatre

Fri Oct 13 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center

Sat Oct 14 — Akron, OH — Akron Civic Theater

Sun Oct 15 — Indianapolis, IN — Murat Theatre at Old National Centre

Wed Oct 18 — St. Louis, MO — Stifel Theatre

Thu Oct 19 — Wichita, KS — Century II Concert Hall

Fri Oct 20 —Tulsa, OK— Tulsa Ballroom at Cox Business Convention Center

Sat Oct 21 — Kansas City, MO — Kansas City Music Hall

Thu Oct 26 — Durham, NC — Durham Performing Arts Center

Sat Oct 28 — Savannah, GA — Johnny Mercer Theatre

Sun Oct 29 — Birmingham, AL — BJCC Concert Hall

Thu Nov 02 — Ames, IA — Stephens Auditorium

Fri Nov 03 — Cedar Rapids, IA — Paramount Theatre

Sat Nov 04 — Omaha, NE — Steelhouse Omaha

Wed Nov 15 — Fort Worth, TX — Will Rogers Auditorium

Thu Nov 16 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

Fri Nov 17 — Sugar Land, TX — Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land

Sat Nov 18 — Austin, TX — ACL Live at The Moody Theater –SOLD OUT

Sun Nov 19 — San Antonio, TX — Majestic Theatre

Fri Nov 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theatre

Wed Nov 29 – Santa Rosa, CA – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Thu Nov 30 — San Jose, CA — San Jose Civic

Fri Dec 01 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live

Sat Dec 02 – Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

Thu Dec 07 — Charleston, SC — North Charleston Performing Arts Center

Fri Dec 08 — Columbia, SC — Township Auditorium

Sat Dec 09 — Evans, GA — Columbia County Performing Arts Center

Sun Dec 10 — Charlotte, NC — Ovens Auditorium

Sun Dec 31 — Louisville, KY — The Louisville Palace

PROBLEMATTIC WORLD TOUR – 2024 AUSTRALIA DATES:

Thu Jan 11 —  Perth, WA — Perth Concert Hall

Sat Jan 13 —  Brisbane, QLD — Fortitude Music Hall

Fri Jan 19 — Sydney, NSW — State Theatre

Sat Jan 20 —  Melbourne, VIC — Hamer Hall

PROBLEMATTIC WORLD TOUR – 2024 NORTH AMERICA DATES:

Wed Jan 31 — Schenectady, NY — Proctors Theatre

Fri Feb 02 — New York, NY — Radio City Music Hall

Wed Feb 07 — Milwaukee, WI — The Riverside Theater

Thu Feb 08 — Grand Rapids, MI — Devos Hall

Fri Feb 09 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore Detroit

Wed Feb 14 — Bloomington, IN — IU Auditorium

Thu Feb 15 — Knoxville, TN — Knoxville Civic Auditorium

Fri Feb 16 — Memphis, TN — Orpheum Theatre

Sat Feb 17 — New Orleans, LA — Saenger Theatre

Fri Feb 23 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena *

Sat Feb 24 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena *

Wed Feb 28 — Sioux Falls, SD — Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

Thur Feb 29 –- Duluth, MN –- Duluth Entertainent Convention Center

Fri Mar 01 — Minneapolis, MN — State Theatre

Thu Mar 07 — Saskatoon, SK — TCU Place

Fri Mar 08 — Regina, SK — Conexus Arts Centre

Sat Mar 09 — Winnipeg, MB — Burton Cummings Theatre

Wed Mar 13 — Victoria, BC — Royal Theatre

Thu Mar 14 — Vancouver, BC — Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Fri Mar 15 — Edmonton, AB —  Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Sun Mar 17 — Calgary, AB — Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons

Wed Mar 20 — London, ON — Centennial Hall

Thu Mar 21 — Toronto, ON — Massey Hall

Sun Mar 24 — Hamilton, ON — FirstOntario Concert Hall

Thu Mar 28 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino *

Fri Mar 29 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino *

Sat Mar 30 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre

Thu Apr 04 — Salt Lake City, UT — Kingsbury Hall

Fri Apr 05 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre

Fri Apr 12 — Oakland, CA — Paramount Theatre

Thu Apr 18 — Portland, ME — Merrill Auditorium

Fri Apr 19 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Thu Apr 25 — Pittsburgh, PA — Benedum Center

Fri Apr 26 — Philadelphia, PA — The Met

Sun Apr 28 — Richmond, VA — Altria Theater

Thu May 09 — Portland, OR — Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Fri May 10 — Seattle, WA  — Paramount Theatre

Thu May 16 — Tucson, AZ — Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

Fri May 17 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre

Thu May 30 — Chicago, IL — The Chicago Theatre

Thu Jun 06 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium

PROBLEMATTIC WORLD TOUR – 2024 EUROPE DATES:

Tue Sep 03 — Glasgow, UK — SEC Armadillo

Fri Sep 06 — Birmingham, UK — Utilita Arena Birmingham

Sat Sep 07 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff International Arena

Tue Sep 10 — Newcastle, UK — O2 City Hall Newcastle

Fri Sep 13 — Manchester, UK — O2 Apollo

Tue Sep 17 — London, UK — Eventim Apollo

Fri Sep 20 — Bristol, UK  — Bristol Beacon

Sat Sep 28 – Dublin, IE – 3Olympia Theatre

Tue Oct 01 — Paris, FR — Alhambra Paris

Sat Oct 05 – Amsterdam, NL – Royal Theatre Carré

Tue Oct 08 – Berlin, DE – Huxleys Neue Welt

Sun Oct 13 – Stockholm, SE – Nya Cirkus

Fri Oct 18 – Madrid, ES – Teatro Pavón

Sun Oct 20 – Milan, IT – Santeria Toscana 31

*Not a Live Nation Date

  ABOUT MATT RIFE:

Matt Rife has exploded as one of the fastest growing comedians through his viral content and remarkable engagement on TikTok, where he has amassed over 13 million followers, and more than 2 billion views globally. As one of the most buzzed about comedians in the business, Rife has been selling-out comedy clubs and theaters across the country and is gearing up to embark on his biggest tour to-date with Live Nation, the Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour, kicking off on July 20 th .

Rife brings forth his refreshingly genuine presence along with elevated material that is quick witted and vulnerable. From a small town near Columbus Ohio, Matt started performing at the age of fifteen then moved out to Los Angeles two years later where he began his career in Hollywood.

In addition to stand-up, he made his television debut on MTV’s Wild ‘N Out as the youngest cast member in history for four seasons before moving on to other MTV properties, such as hosting the reboot of TRL and appearing on The Challenge . Other credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fresh Off The Boat, BET’s North Of The 10 , andNBC’s comedy competition show Bring The Funny .

In 2021, Rife self-produced and distributed through YouTube his first one-hour comedy special, “Only Fans” . This past April, the comedian bet on himself again and self-released his highly anticipated second stand-up special, “Matthew Steven Rife” on YouTube. The special was taped in Austin, TX and is dedicated to his biggest role model, his grandfather Steven who had recently passed. He’ll be taping his third stand-up special this fall in Washington, DC.

Rife is repped by CAA & Christina Shams at Avesta Entertainment

Follow Matt Rife: Website ?| ?Facebook ?| ?Twitter ?| ?Instagram ?| ?YouTube | TikTok

Jason Price founded the mighty Icon Vs. Icon more than a decade ago. Along the way, he’s assembled an amazing group of like-minded individuals to spread the word on some of the most unique people and projects on the pop culture landscape.

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Benedum center, april 26 – 27, philadelphia, pa, richmond, va, altria theater,  may 2 – 4, las vegas, nv, the cosmopolitan of las vegas, los angeles, ca, the hollywood bowl, portland, or, arlene schnitzer concert hall, may 10 – 11, seattle, wa, paramount theatre, nate jackson’s comedy club, phoenix, az, arizona financial theatre, linda ronstadt music hall, may 17 – 19, greensboro, nc, comedy zone, may 21 – 23, charlotte, nc, lincoln, ca, the venue at thunder valley casino, the venue at thunder valley casino  , bloomington, in, iu auditorium, may 30 – june 2, chicago, il, chicago theatre, june 6 – 9, nashville, tn, ryman auditorium, memphis, tn, orpheum theatre – 7pm, orpheum theatre – 10pm, knoxville, tn, knoxville civic auditorium – 7pm, knoxville civic auditorium – 10pm, huntsville, al, orion amphitheater, new orleans, la, saenger theatre – 7pm, saenger theatre – 10pm, morrison, co, red rocks amphitheatre, hayden homes amphitheater, honolulu, hi, neal s. blaisdell arena, july 18 – 21, niagara, on, fallsview casino resort, july 25 – 28, atlantic city, nj, ocean casino resort, thackerville, ok, winstar casino resort, anchorage, ak, alaska airlines center, september 3 – 4, glasgow, uk, sec armadillo, september 6, birmingham, uk, utilita arena birmingham, september 7, cardiff, uk, cardiff international arena, september 10 – 11, newcastle, uk, o2 city hall newcastle, september 13, manchester, uk, september 17 – 18, eventim apollo, september 20 – 21, bristol, uk, bristol beacon, september 28, 3olympia theatre, alhambra paris, amsterdam, nl, royal theatre carré, huxleys neue welt, stockholm, se, teatro pavón, santeria toscana 31, abu dhabi, uae, etihad arena  , november 22, oxon hill, md, mgm national harbor, november 23.

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Comedian Matt Rife is no stranger to controversy.

The 27-year-old, who’s known for crossing the line with his edgy material and no-holds-barred crowd work, will bring his singular brand of line-crossing comedy to venues all over the globe as part of his recently-announced ‘ProbleMATTic World Tour.’

Along the way, the “Bring The Funny” alum will stop into Syracuse, NY’s Funny Bone from June 30 through July 2, Waterloo, NY’s The Vine at Del Lago Resort and Casino on Aug. 1-3, Atlantic City, NJ’s Ovation Hall at Ocean Resort and Casino from Aug. 18-20 and Albany, NY’s Funny Bone from Dec. 18-20.

In 2024, the “Wild N’ Out” cast member will headline at Schenectady, NY’s Proctors Theatre on Jan. 31, New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on Feb. 2 and Syracuse, NY’s Landmark Theatre on March 30.

Rife can’t wait to hit the road either.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to live out this life long dream,” he shared in a statement. “To tour the world, spreading laughter, with some of my best friends, is something I never thought would be possible.”

And if you need tickets to see the TikTok icon deliver the LOLs live ASAP, we’re here to help make that happen.

Although inventory isn’t available on Ticketmaster until Friday, June 9, fans who want to ensure they have tickets ahead of time can purchase on sites like Vivid Seats before tickets are officially on sale.

Vivid Seats is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.

They have a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and will be delivered before the event.

Matt Rife 2023-24 tour schedule

At the time of publication, Rife has 144 gigs in the U.S. and Canada lined up from now up until June 2024.

He’s really leaving no stone unturned this year and next —  Rife is likely coming to a venue near you in the near future.

So, if you want to see if the funnyman is headed to your town, you can find his complete 2023-24 calendar including all tour dates, venues, show start times and links to buy tickets here .

Matt Rife upcoming projects

Rife, who counts Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis as fans — as evidenced by his goofy, 2.5-minute tour announcement video — has quite a few irons in the fire.

Here are all of Rife’s TV and movie roles on the horizon courtesy of IMDb .

“Don’t Suck” stars Rife as an up-and-coming young comic with an unexpected past who hits the road with a veteran comedian who’s using the tour as a last chance at stardom. Stand up veterans Jamie Kennedy, Russell Peters, Carrot Top, Jimmy ‘JJ’ Walker and Jimmy Shubert round out the cast.

“The Private Eye” tells the story of Mort Madison (Rife), a private eye whose life is spiraling downward, when a beguiling, slightly familiar woman hires him for his most unusual case. Familiar faces in the cast include Eric Roberts and Erik Griffin.

“Trapped Inn” is a sci-fi thriller about an American cycling team trapped in a historic lodge during training camp high in remote European mountains. After team members mysteriously perish, two rival teammates clash as they fight for survival and try to find out what’s killing everyone on the team.

“Candy Flip” has no story to speak of at the moment; the film’s IMDb says the “plot (is being) kept under wrap.” Cole Carter, Danielle Loving and Jessica Belkin star.

“Karma’s a B—-“ follows Charley Stevens (Isabella Blake-Thomas) as she moves to her her recently deceased mother’s hometown. Upon arrival, she is plagued with strange nightmares that tease a horrific event, hinting at why her mother left town. Rife and Blake-Thomas are joined by Tony Todd in the ensemble.

Comedians on the road in 2023

Many household name acts are taking their punchlines to venues near and far this year.

Below, you’ll find just five of our favorite iconic performers you won’t want to miss live these next few months.

•  Bert Kreischer

•  Bill Burr

•  Theo Von

•  Kevin Hart

•  Gabriel Iglesias

Who else is hitting the stage this year? Check out our list of the 51 biggest comedians on tour in 2023 here to find out.

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About Matt Rife

• Birthplace: Columbus, OH
• Born: September 10, 1995
• Official Tickets: Ticketmaster.com/matt-rife-tickets
• Official Website: mattrifeofficial.com

Who is Matt Rife?

Matt Rife is an American comedian and actor. He gained recognition for his appearance on the MTV series “Wild ‘N Out” and has also appeared on shows like “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “The Comedy Lineup.” Rife has a growing fan base and is known for his comedic talent and energetic performances.

With his quick wit and bold personality, Matt Rife has quickly become one of the most sought-after comedians in the industry. Known for his hilarious stand-up routines and comedic timing, Rife has made a name for himself in the entertainment world. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the life and career of Matt Rife. From his early beginnings to his current success, we’ll explore his achievements, his style of comedy, and his personal life. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn all about the hilarious and talented Matt Rife!

Rising to the Top in Comedy

Matt Rife has accomplished a lot in his relatively short career. He first gained national attention when he appeared on the MTV series Wild ‘N Out. He quickly became a fan favorite. Since then, he has gone on to host his own podcast, Matt Rife Radio, and has performed stand-up all over the country. In 2019, Rife was named one of Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch”. This cemented his status as a rising star in the industry. He has also worked alongside well-known comedians such as Kevin Hart and Dane Cook, further establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with.

From Wild ‘N Out to Stand-Up

Born on September 10, 1995, in Columbus, Ohio, Matt knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue a career in comedy. He started performing stand-up when he was just 15 years old and quickly gained a following in his hometown. After moving to Los Angeles to further his career, Rife began performing at open mic nights and comedy clubs around the city. It wasn’t long before he caught the attention of casting directors and landed his first big break on Wild ‘N Out.

Quick Wit and Relatable Humor

Matt Rife’s style of comedy is characterized by his quick wit and relatable humor. He often incorporates personal anecdotes into his routines, drawing on his own experiences to connect with audiences. Rife is also known for his ability to improvise, which he showcases in his podcast and live performances. His style of comedy is often described as refreshing and unique, blending traditional stand-up with modern storytelling techniques.

Beyond the Laughter: Getting Personal with Mental Health and Hobbies

While Matt Rife is known for his comedic talent, he has also been open about his struggles with mental health. In a 2021 interview with People, Rife spoke candidly about his battle with depression and anxiety, and how it has affected his career. He also credits therapy and self-care practices for helping him manage his mental health. Outside of comedy, Rife is an avid sports fan and often shares his love of basketball and football on social media.

In conclusion, Matt Rife is a rising star in the world of comedy. With his unique style of humor and relatable storytelling, he has already accomplished a great deal in his career. As he continues to grow and evolve as a comedian, there’s no doubt that he will continue to captivate audiences with his wit, charm, and undeniable talent.

Matt Rife Current Event Schedule:

See All Matt Rife Events

Comedian Matt Rife announces massive 115-date world tour

(Gray News) – Breakout comedian Matt Rife announced a massive 115-date tour Monday, with some cities already seeing sold-out shows.

The American leg of the ProbleMATTic World Tour is set to start July 20 in Bend, Oregon, and run through June 6, 2024 in Nashville. During that time, Rife will make several stops for shows in Australia.

Following a three-month break, 27-year-old Rife will head out on the European leg of the tour, starting Sept. 3, 2024 in Glasgow, U.K. and ending Oct. 20, 2024 in Milan, Italy.

The Ohio native rose to prominence on social media, where he has 14.3 million followers on TikTok and 985,000 YouTube subscribers .

Prior to his social media fame, he was part of the cast in MTV’s “Wild ‘N Out” and has several film credits.

Presale tickets for the ProbleMATTic World Tour are available now. Public on-sale begins Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

Tickets are available on Rife’s website here .

Check out the full list of dates below. “Sold out” shows are as of Wednesday afternoon.

ProbleMATTic World Tour – 2023 North America Dates:

Thu Jul 20 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater – SOLD OUT

Fri Jul 21 – Salem, OR – Historic Elsinore Theatre – SOLD OUT

Sat Jul 22 – Tacoma, WA – Pantages Theatre – SOLD OUT

Sun Jul 23 — Spokane, WA — Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox

Thu Jul 27 — Norfolk, VA — Chrysler Hall Theatre

Tue Aug 01 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino – SOLD OUT

Wed Aug 02 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino – SOLD OUT

Thu Aug 03 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino – SOLD OUT

Fri Aug 04 – Niagara, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort – SOLD OUT

Sat Aug 05 – Niagara, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort – SOLD OUT

Fri Aug 18 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort – SOLD OUT

Sat Aug 19 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort – SOLD OUT

Sun Aug 20 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort – SOLD OUT

Fri Sep 01 – Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino

Sat Sep 02 – Indio, CA – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino – SOLD OUT

Fri Sep 08 — Las Vegas, NV — The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Sat Sep 09 — Las Vegas, NV — The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Fri Sep 22 — Washington, DC — DAR Constitution Hall – LIVE TAPING

Sat Sep 23 — Washington, DC — DAR Constitution Hall – LIVE TAPING

Thu Sep 28 — Fresno, CA — William Saroyan Theatre

Sat Sep 30 — San Diego, CA — San Diego Civic Theatre

Sun Oct 01 — Riverside, CA — Fox Performing Arts Center

Wed Oct 04 — Orlando, FL — Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Thu Oct 05 — St. Petersburg, FL — Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater

Fri Oct 06 — Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live

Sat Oct 07 — Jacksonville, FL — Moran Theater

Sun Oct 08 — Pensacola, FL — Saenger Theatre

Wed Oct 11 — Columbus, OH — Palace Theatre

Fri Oct 13 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center

Sat Oct 14 — Akron, OH — Akron Civic Theater

Sun Oct 15 — Indianapolis, IN — Murat Theatre at Old National Centre

Wed Oct 18 — St. Louis, MO — Stifel Theatre

Thu Oct 19 — Wichita, KS — Century II Concert Hall

Fri Oct 20 —Tulsa, OK— Tulsa Ballroom at Cox Business Convention Center

Sat Oct 21 — Kansas City, MO — Kansas City Music Hall

Thu Oct 26 — Durham, NC — Durham Performing Arts Center

Sat Oct 28 — Savannah, GA — Johnny Mercer Theatre

Sun Oct 29 — Birmingham, AL — BJCC Concert Hall

Thu Nov 02 — Ames, IA — Stephens Auditorium

Fri Nov 03 — Cedar Rapids, IA — Paramount Theatre

Sat Nov 04 — Omaha, NE — Steelhouse Omaha

Wed Nov 15 — Fort Worth, TX — Will Rogers Auditorium

Thu Nov 16 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

Fri Nov 17 — Sugar Land, TX — Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land

Sat Nov 18 — Austin, TX — ACL Live at The Moody Theater – SOLD OUT

Sun Nov 19 — San Antonio, TX — Majestic Theatre

Fri Nov 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theatre

Wed Nov 29 – Santa Rosa, CA – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

Thu Nov 30 — San Jose, CA — San Jose Civic

Fri Dec 01 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live

Sat Dec 02 – Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

Thu Dec 07 — Charleston, SC — North Charleston Performing Arts Center

Fri Dec 08 — Columbia, SC — Township Auditorium

Sat Dec 09 — Evans, GA — Columbia County Performing Arts Center

Sun Dec 10 — Charlotte, NC — Ovens Auditorium

Sun Dec 31 — Louisville, KY — The Louisville Palace

ProbleMATTic World Tour – 2024 Australian Dates:

Thu Jan 11 — Perth, WA — Perth Concert Hall

Sat Jan 13 — Brisbane, QLD — Fortitude Music Hall

Fri Jan 19 — Sydney, NSW — State Theatre

Sat Jan 20 — Melbourne, VIC — Hamer Hall

ProbleMATTic World Tour – 2024 North American Dates:

Wed Jan 31 — Schenectady, NY — Proctors Theatre

Fri Feb 02 — New York, NY — Radio City Music Hall

Wed Feb 07 — Milwaukee, WI — The Riverside Theater

Thu Feb 08 — Grand Rapids, MI — Devos Hall

Fri Feb 09 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore Detroit

Wed Feb 14 — Bloomington, IN — IU Auditorium

Thu Feb 15 — Knoxville, TN — Knoxville Civic Auditorium

Fri Feb 16 — Memphis, TN — Orpheum Theatre

Sat Feb 17 — New Orleans, LA — Saenger Theatre

Fri Feb 23 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena

Sat Feb 24 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena

Wed Feb 28 — Sioux Falls, SD — Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

Thur Feb 29 –- Duluth, MN –- Duluth Entertainent Convention Center

Fri Mar 01 — Minneapolis, MN — State Theatre

Thu Mar 07 — Saskatoon, SK — TCU Place

Fri Mar 08 — Regina, SK — Conexus Arts Centre

Sat Mar 09 — Winnipeg, MB — Burton Cummings Theatre

Wed Mar 13 — Victoria, BC — Royal Theatre

Thu Mar 14 — Vancouver, BC — Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Fri Mar 15 — Edmonton, AB — Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Sun Mar 17 — Calgary, AB — Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons

Wed Mar 20 — London, ON — Centennial Hall

Thu Mar 21 — Toronto, ON — Massey Hall

Sun Mar 24 — Hamilton, ON — FirstOntario Concert Hall

Thu Mar 28 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino

Fri Mar 29 – Waterloo, NY – del Lago Resort & Casino

Sat Mar 30 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre

Thu Apr 04 — Salt Lake City, UT — Kingsbury Hall

Fri Apr 05 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre

Fri Apr 12 — Oakland, CA — Paramount Theatre

Thu Apr 18 — Portland, ME — Merrill Auditorium

Fri Apr 19 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Thu Apr 25 — Pittsburgh, PA — Benedum Center

Fri Apr 26 — Philadelphia, PA — The Met

Sun Apr 28 — Richmond, VA — Altria Theater

Thu May 09 — Portland, OR — Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Fri May 10 — Seattle, WA — Paramount Theatre

Thu May 16 — Tucson, AZ — Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

Fri May 17 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre

Thu May 30 — Chicago, IL — The Chicago Theatre

Thu Jun 06 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium

ProbleMATTic World Tour – 2024 European Dates:

Tue Sep 03 — Glasgow, UK — SEC Armadillo

Fri Sep 06 — Birmingham, UK — Utilita Arena Birmingham

Sat Sep 07 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff International Arena

Tue Sep 10 — Newcastle, UK — O2 City Hall Newcastle

Fri Sep 13 — Manchester, UK — O2 Apollo

Tue Sep 17 — London, UK — Eventim Apollo

Fri Sep 20 — Bristol, UK — Bristol Beacon

Sat Sep 28 – Dublin, IE – 3Olympia Theatre

Tue Oct 01 — Paris, FR — Alhambra Paris

Sat Oct 05 – Amsterdam, NL – Royal Theatre Carré

Tue Oct 08 – Berlin, DE – Huxleys Neue Welt

Sun Oct 13 – Stockholm, SE – Nya Cirkus

Fri Oct 18 – Madrid, ES – Teatro Pavón

Sun Oct 20 – Milan, IT – Santeria Toscana 31

Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Who is Matt Rife? 7 facts to know about comedian before he takes over Florida on upcoming tour

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Popular TikTok personality, comedian, and actor Matt Rife is headed to Florida this October for his upcoming stand-up comedy show.

Rife took to social media on Monday to announce his 'ProbleMATTic World Tour,' set to hit over 100 locations throughout North America, Australia, and Europe. In a video, the Ohio native joins forces with actor Ashton Kutcher to set the tone for his massive fanbase, saying this is the "tour of my dreams."

Four cities in Florida have been named as stops for the comedian's long-awaited tour — Pensacola, Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Jacksonville.

Rife heads for hometown: Central Ohio native Matt Rife to bring comedy world tour to Palace Theatre on Oct. 11

Watch other comedians: Transgender comedian Suzy Izzard clarifies name, pronouns: 'No one can really get it wrong'

Need to brush up on Rife's lore before you attend his world tour? Here are seven fun facts about the popular comedian to get you started:

1. Rife has amassed over 13 million followers and more than 2 billion views globally

Over the past year, the 27-year-old has blown up on social media for his viral comedy clips. He currently has over 3 million followers on Instagram and 10 million followers on TikTok .

Due to his rapid growth in the comedy scene, officials predict his upcoming tour will see high demand.

“Matt has quickly become one of the fastest-rising comics, creating incredible global demand for tickets,” vice president of Live Nation Comedy Touring Andy Levitt said in a press release. “We’re looking forward to working alongside him and helping him connect to his audiences around the world.”

2. He is known for his crowd work and lightning-fast banter with fans

Whether or not you think you've heard of Rife, there's a solid chance you scrolled through one of his videos online. The comedian has garnered billions of views for his quick-witted, sometimes crude banter with crowds at his shows, asking questions about attendees' own lives or responding to their own queries about him.

In one video, Rife goes into a light-hearted back-and-forth with an intoxicated woman as she is heckling him, jokingly calling her 'Wednesday Adams.' In another viral interaction, he asked a woman who’d dealt with suicidal ideation not to put him “in her note," first making sure she was comfortable proceeding on the topic before making jokes.

3. Matt Rife got his start on MTV's Wild 'N Out

Matt made his television debut when he became the youngest cast member in history on MTV's “Wild N Out," which was hosted by Nick Cannon.

The premise of the show has Cannon and a revolving A-list celebrity leading two teams of improv comedians each week as they compete against each other. Still running today, it currently has 19 seasons and sees millions of viewers.

Rife was a recurring cast member from seasons seven to nine.

4. He got into a controversy with Zendaya

While a recurring cast member of Wild N Out, Rife gained his first controversy when he tried to shoot his shot with actress Zendaya while she appeared on the show.

During a game to try to make the celebrity guest laugh and spit out water, Rife ended up grabbing her face and saying "Spit that water out, so I can get your number please."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Matt Rife (@mattrife)

Fellow cast members rushed to Zendaya's side to defend her, letting Rife know he crossed the line. The clip later went viral for the actress rejecting him on television.

Rife addressed the incident in TikTok later, saying it was just the show and the pair were good now.

5. He has appeared in multiple sitcoms and movies

Beyond Wild N Out, Rife's credits include shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Burb Patrol, and Fresh Off the Boat. He also appeared in movies, like Just Swipe and North of the 10.

6. He has self-produced his own comedy specials

He has self-produced his own comedy specials, including Only Fans (2021) and Matthew Steven Rife (2023).

7. He previously dated English actress Kate Beckinsale

The comedian was briefly linked to Beckinsale back in 2017, the pair being spotted on a couple of PDA-filled dates. Their last outing was in 2018 at Dave Chapelle‘s show in Los Angeles before allegedly calling it quits.

Matt Rife tour is coming to Florida, how to get tickets:

Rife will be heading to these Florida cities:

Orlando - Oct. 4

St. Petersburg - Oct. 5

Jacksonville - Oct. 7

Pensacola - Oct. 8

ARTIST PRESALE goes Live TODAY at 10am local time. Use code: MATTIX pic.twitter.com/qRbG5v0aNk — Matt Rife (@mattrife) June 6, 2023

Pre-sale tickets will be available starting Tuesday, June 6 a.m. through Ticketmaster , before the general sale opens Friday, June 9 at 10 a.m.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Matt Rife world tour. What know about him, getting Florida tickets

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Making Them Laugh, and Swoon

A year ago, Matt Rife was just another struggling road comedian. Then he blew up on TikTok.

Buoyed by his online success, Mr. Rife sold 600,000 tickets for his upcoming tour in 48 hours. Credit... Courtney Asztalos and Michael W. Hicks for The New York Times

Supported by

By Steven Kurutz

Reporting from Syracuse, N.Y.

• Published July 8, 2023 Updated July 11, 2023

The one-nighters were starting to blur together.

After 11 years in comedy clubs, Matt Rife was selling around 70 tickets per show, sometimes clearing as little as $150 a night.

He wasn’t a big enough name last summer to earn an invitation to the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, an annual showcase for established comics and promising up-and-comers alike. But he decided to go anyway.

During that trip, Mr. Rife underwent a surprise transformation from middling road comic to star, a change he described last week over a cheeseburger lunch in Syracuse, N.Y.

“Last July, I was in Montreal for a festival I was not invited to,” he said. “I had to fly myself out, put myself up for no pay. I was sitting there at dinner with my friend and my manager. I’m about to post this video of crowd work . I was watching it, and I was like, This is so stupid. Why am I even doing this?”

The video in question showed him onstage in Phoenix, Ariz., going back and forth with a female audience member who said she had broken up with her boyfriend because, as she put it, “he didn’t do anything” when he came home from his job. During the exchange, Mr. Rife learned that the woman’s ex was an emergency room worker.

“Oh, I’m sorry — you broke up with a hero ?” he said, to roars of laughter.

Despite his reservations, Mr. Rife posted the two-and-a-half-minute video on TikTok, which he had joined a few months earlier. He titled the clip “ The Lazy Hero .”

“That video did 20 million views in two or three days,” he said. “It became this massive chain reaction and an explosion of an audience. From then on, every video I posted went viral.”

Over the next few months, Mr. Rife, 27, racked up 15.6 million TikTok followers . The online success allowed him to leap ahead of his fellow club comics, making him a significant draw.

When he announced his “ProbleMATTic World Tour” last month, he sold out 260 dates in North America, Europe and Australia in 48 hours. The flurry of sales — 600,000 tickets in all, each ranging between about $50 to $95, according to Live Nation — crashed the Ticketmaster website. Some resale tickets cost more than $500.

Although Mr. Rife has developed an easy stage manner, thanks to the countless hours he has spent at the mic, his popularity may have as much to do with his cheekbones as his comedic chops. Tall and strikingly handsome, with blue eyes, a chiseled jawline and full lips, Mr. Rife is something rare in the comedy world: a heartthrob.

He has played his looks to his advantage. A black-and-white glossy photograph on his website shows him shirtless and tattooed in a bad-boy pose. His hair is always artfully tousled like that of a boy band member. He wears rolled-up T-shirts onstage that show off his toned biceps.

His fans tend to be young and female. They shout out to him, ply him with gifts and regularly proposition him . His club dates are often raucous events, more “Magic Mike” than Comedy Central Presents.

He titled his first YouTube special “Only Fans,” he has said, because people were searching “Matt Rife Only Fans” on the internet, to see if he had an account on the adult-themed website. The click bait worked: The show garnered more than 8.5 million views.

Mr. Rife’s material, heavy on sex and relationships, and his viral TikToks, which focus on his interactions with people in the crowd, seem to encourage audience participation and add to the fevered atmosphere of his shows.

At the restaurant in Syracuse, he was approached for photos by two male employees — Bobby Adkins, a cook, and Tom Steber, the restaurant manager — which he took as a sign that his fan base was expanding.

“You’re one of my favorite comedians,” Mr. Adkins told him.

“I appreciate you, man,” Mr. Rife said. He stood, shook the man’s hand and complimented his Air Jordans, saying, “I like the J’s.”

He had been in Syracuse two days but he had not visited the Erie Canal Museum, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo or any other local attraction. An insomniac, he usually goes to bed at dawn. If he’s not sleeping late, he’s up early attending video meetings with his management team.

To keep up with demand, he has been doing as many as 10 performances a weekend. In Syracuse last week, he did six shows over three days at the Funny Bone comedy club — all sold out — in addition to joining two friends who host a paranormal podcast, “ Haunted Homies ,” for a packed live show at the same venue.

“This time last year, I couldn’t sell out one show in a town,” Mr. Rife said. “It’s still so new and exciting that I’m, like, ‘OK, you need to do everything .’”

As show time neared, Mr. Rife rode in a drizzling rain through a desolate part of Syracuse, passing large tracts of undeveloped land. At the wheel of the car was Brandon Manzonelli, 33, a former professional soccer player turned male model who for six years was Mr. Rife’s roommate in Los Angeles and is now his road manager.

Mr. Rife was wearing white Nike high-tops, gray jeans and a T-shirt with a sexually suggestive graphic that referred to cunnilingus — his stage outfit, it turned out. He had to stop by his hotel room, he said, to grab a different top that he planned to wear for the second show that night.

Back in the car, on the way to the Funny Bone, Mr. Rife reflected on a recent career highlight. He was invited to perform at a comedy show put on by Dave Chappelle in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He also hung out with Mr. Chappelle.

“We just smoked and talked for, like, four hours,” Mr. Rife said. “And he gave me 30 years’ worth of advice.”

What did Mr. Chappelle tell him?

“He emphasized the importance of staying true to yourself and to not adhere to industry or network standards,” Mr. Rife said. “Even today, fighting cancel culture with every show he does, I just admire him for that so much.”

Onstage, Mr. Rife spins jokes from topics like autistic children , pedophilia and people in wheelchairs, alternating between being sweet and devilish. After he talked crudely about women’s bodies during a February appearance on the “Stiff Socks” podcast , he drew heavy criticism on social media. So far he has not faced a controversy that has affected his career or made him rethink his approach.

“You’re mad at somebody that’s just trying to make you laugh?” Mr. Rife said. “That’s such an insane concept to me.”

By the time Mr. Rife ducked into the green room of the Funny Bone, the 300-seat venue was full and buzzing with energy. “You go to places like this and there’s really nothing else for them to do,” he said, explaining his fondness for smaller markets. “They’re so nice and they’re so there for the show.”

The night before, after Mr. Rife’s performance, a man presented him with a bag heaping with penis-shaped candies and other gag gifts typically exchanged at a bachelorette party. The X-rated edibles now sat on the floor in the green room.

“And that’s what we didn’t eat,” Mr. Rife deadpanned.

He said he received such gifts at practically every show these days, perhaps because he once did a bit about giving his grandfather a sex toy for Christmas.

Mr. Rife said his sex appeal, like his career surge, is relatively new. He described himself as a late bloomer and, indeed, photos from a few years ago show a gangly-looking youth whose strong jaw, high cheekbones and Jagger-esque lips had yet to coalesce into a pleasing whole.

“I was so ugly for so long,” Mr. Rife said on his “Only Fans” special. As a result, he continued, “I spent the first 22 years of my life building a personality. For what? You think I need to be funny now ?”

Backstage, Mr. Rife was surrounded by his small entourage. In addition to Mr. Manzonelli, there was Kyle Varney, his videographer; Alex Cureau , a comic who has been serving as his opening act; and John Campanelli, a veteran standup who was hosting the Funny Bone shows. Sitting beside him on a leather couch was Garrett Abdo , a comedy club owner from Atlanta who signed Mr. Rife to a management contract when he was still in high school.

Mr. Cureau, 31, said his fortunes had risen along with those of his friend. “Last year, I was sleeping on the floor of Matt’s hotel room,” he said. “Cut to last week, we’re in the corner suite.”

‘Syracuse, What’s Up?’

Mr. Rife, who is from North Lewisburg, Ohio, saw his first comedy show in the mid-2000s, when his grandmother won tickets in a radio station contest to see Dane Cook at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

“He was so full of energy, and he created such an amazing show,” Mr. Rife said of Mr. Cook , one of the first comics to find a significant fan base through the internet.

Soon after that, he started doing open mics. He was 15.

Mr. Abdo discovered him when he got into a funny exchange on Twitter with the comedian D. L. Hughley. He invited him to perform at a club he ran in Atlanta. Impressed by his raw talent and drive, Mr. Abdo brought Mr. Rife back for a comedy festival and put the teenager up in his house for the summer.

“I Mr. Miyagi’d him,” said Mr. Abdo, referring to the teacher in “The Karate Kid” and explaining that he used to make Mr. Rife perform to an empty room while he jangled keys in his ear, preparing him for boisterous clubs.

“He threw tennis balls at me, too,” Mr. Rife said.

(Mr. Rife has since signed with a bigger talent agency but he and his former manager remain close.)

Mr. Rife missed his junior and senior proms — he was on the road, doing gigs. Then came a decade of grinding. The high points included his stints as a co-host of MTV’s short-lived “TRL” reboot and as a cast member of the sketch show “Wild ’N Out .” He also made an appearance on an episode of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and saw his name in People magazine when he was romantically linked to the actress Kate Beckinsale .

“There are all these young comics now who think they’re going to do what he did with TikTok,” Mr. Campanelli said backstage. “You’re not 12 years in. You’re not Matt Rife.”

In a moment Mr. Rife was called to the stage.

“Syracuse, what’s up?” he said to whoops and screams.

During his hourlong set, Mr. Rife did bits about masturbating in the shower and getting caught watching porn by his stepfather. He made a school shooting joke to groans (“ Now the show has started,” he said) and riffed on how, despite his online fame, he hates social media.

“It’s garbage, dude,” he said. “I’m canceled three times a week, bro.”

After the show, audience members who had paid $150 for a photo with the star began lining up near the stage as Mr. Rife relaxed in the green room. As recently as April, he said, he would stay after his shows to mingle with anyone who wanted to meet him. But the lines got so long — “I was there for an hour and half,” he said — that he put a cap on the number of fans.

It’s possible that his fans will rarely see him perform in a place as intimate as the Funny Bone in the years to come. On this night, about 30 people were gathered when he finally emerged. Amanda Alfred, 25, was halfway down the line.

“This is my first comedy show,” she said, adding, “It’s surreal being here. God, I’m nervous.”

When it was her turn for a photo, she told Mr. Rife that she’s been a fan since his time on “Wild ’N Out.” He laughed, saying, “Whoa, don’t age me like that.”

They turned to face the photographer. Just before the picture was snapped, Ms. Alfred put her arm around Mr. Rife’s waist and held him there, if only for a moment.

Steven Kurutz joined The Times in 2011 and wrote for the City and Home sections before joining Style. He was previously a reporter at The Wall Street Journal and Details. More about Steven Kurutz

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• August 17, 2023

Matt Rife talks new world tour, 'ProbleMATTic'

Comedian Matt Rife talks about life on the road and the dating qualities he finds "ProbleMATTic."

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Celeste Barber at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Phoenix

Celeste Barber, the Australian Queen of Comedy, will bring her Backup Dancer Tour to the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off with a performance at the Netflix Is a Joke Comedy Festival on May 2 in Los Angeles, making stops in New York, Atlanta, Toronto and more before wrapping in Chicago on June 21.

This is Barber’s third international tour and second U.S. tour. In a press release, she said she’s “excited to tell some jokes, relive some awkward memories and high kick my way across the stage.” Her last tour culminated in the filming of a Netflix special at the Sydney Opera House.

Phil Rosenthal at Mesa Arts Center

Phil Rosenthal, the creator, writer and producer of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and Netflix’s "Somebody Feed Phil," brings his comedy tour, An Evening with Phil Rosenthal, to Mesa Arts Center on Saturday, June 8, 2024.

Produced by Live Nation, the 25-city tour kicks off on Thursday, April 11, in Albany, New York, with stops in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles, where Rosenthal’s performance at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel is part of the 2024 Netflix Is A Joke Festival.

Season 7 of “Somebody Feed Phil” will hit Netflix on Friday, March 1.

Tickets are on sale now at livenation.com .

Andrew Schulz at Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix

Stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster Andrew Schulz will bring The Life Tour to Arizona Financial Theatre on Saturday, April 20, 2024.  

The Life Tour sold out two hometown shows at Madison Square Garden and Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

Tickets are available now at Ticketmaster.com .

The Life Tour is a journey through the complicated mind of Schulz, as he explores the realms of current events, politics and the beautiful chaos of creating life. It promised to be an evening of irreverent humor and astute insights that only Schulz can deliver.

Bill Burr at Arizona Financial Theatre in downtown Phoenix

Comedian, actor, filmmaker and podcaster Bill Burr will bring his 2024 North American tour, Bill Burr Live, to Arizona Financial Theatre on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

In 2017,  Rolling Stone  ranked Burr at No. 17 on a list of the 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time," praising the wicked wizardry of an approach that begins with outrageous premises.

Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com .

Bill Maher at Arizona Financial Theatre in downtown Phoenix

Comedian Bill Maher will bring the WTF? Tour to Arizona Financial Theatre on Saturday, May 4, 2024. 

Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com.

For more than 25 years, Maher has pushed the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television, first on “Politically Incorrect” (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002) and for the last 20 years on HBO’s “Real Time,” earning 41 Emmy nominations. 

Most recently, Bill launched a podcast, “Club Random with Bill Maher,” recorded at the bar on Maher's property in Los Angeles, where he hosts hour-long, one-on-one interviews with a wide range of eclectic guests, from William Shatner to Quentin Tarantino and Killer Mike. Within a week of launching, the podcast hit #1 on Apple Podcasts.

Sebastian Maniscalco at Footprint Center in Phoenix

Comedian, actor and podcast host Sebastian Maniscalco will bring his 47-city It Ain’t Right Tour, his biggest tour to date, to Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.

In a press release, Maniscalco said, "Hop on the It Ain't Right Tour, where I'll roast today's absurdities – nonexistent manners, wallet-wincing prices and the social media circus. Join me in laughing at the wrongs in this shameless world!"

Tickets are on sale now at SebastianLive.com .

Nate Jackson at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix

Nate Jackson will bring the Super Funny World Tour to the Celebrity Theatre on Friday, May 31, 2024.

Tickets are on sale now at CelebrityTheatre.com . Learn more at natejacksoncomedy.com .

Steve Trevino at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix

Steve Treviño brings his Good Life Tour to the Celebrity Theatre on Sunday, April 21, 2024.

Billed as “America’s Favorite Husband,” Treviño claims that he can “speak wife fluently,” never calls “the guys” for help on a home project and knows better than to “make his own decisions,” since decision-making is a privilege reserved solely for his wife, Renae.

Treviño is among the country’s fastest-rising comics, viewed more than 223 million times, selling out shows coast-to-coast, amassing over 2 million social media followers and headlining specials for Amazon, Netflix, Showtime and more.

Tickets are on sale now at CelebrityTheatre.com .

Hasan Minhaj at Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix

Hasan Minhaj is promising a brand new show when his 2024 Off With His Head Tour comes to Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix on Friday, May 31.

The tour kicks off Friday, Jan. 12, at the Chicago Theatre, with stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Nashville, New York, Atlanta and more before wrapping on Saturday, June 1, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Minhaj rose to fame through his work on "The Daily Show," where he served as a senior correspondent from 2014 to 2018.

He left "The Daily Show" in 2018 to host the Netflix series "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj," for which he won an Emmy Award, a Peabody Award and two Webby Awards.

Tickets are on sale now at hasanminhaj.com .

Matt Rife brings ProbleMATTic World Tour To Arizona Financial Theatre

Comedian and actor Matt Rife brings his ProbleMATTic World Tour to Arizona Financial Theatre in downtown Phoenix on Friday, May 17, 2024.

Rife has exploded as one of the fastest growing comedians through his viral content and engagement on TikTok, where he has amassed more than13 million followers and more than 2 billion views globally.

Rife has been selling out comedy clubs and theaters across the country and is gearing up to embark on his biggest tour to date.

In a press release, Rife said, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to live out this life long dream! To tour the world, spreading laughter, with some of my best friends, is something I never thought would be possible. I’m so grateful to get this opportunity, and it’s even more fulfilling knowing that it’s all because of the incredible people who enjoy my comedy.”

Tickets are on sale now at MattRifeOfficial.com .

Taylor Swift Eras Tour: 5 magic moments at State Farm Stadium that Arizonans saw first

Reach the reporter at  [email protected]  or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter  @EdMasley .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Top stand-up comedians coming to Phoenix: Kevin Hart, Matt Rife, Bill Burr, Tom Segura

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Can 400 Comedians Convince You to Keep Netflix?

For a few years now, Netflix has marketed its stand-up comedy programming with the cheeky slogan “Netflix is a Joke,” attaching the words to everything from social media handles and billboards to a massive comedy festival it debuted two years ago. The ironic humor of the phrase, of course, is that there is absolutely nothing funny about the platform’s towering role in the world of stand-up comedy. While TikTok and YouTube have helped launch more than a few careers by now, Netflix is where the most successful comedians go when they quickly want to reach a global audience — and get paid accordingly.

The size and scale of the streamer’s stand-up business will be on display in a major way starting next week with the return of the aforementioned Netflix is a Joke Festival, a 12-day (and night) marathon of more than 500 shows spread across nearly three dozen Los Angeles venues that will spotlight multiple generations of comics, from Gen X legends (Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Katt Williams) and modern superstars (John Mulaney, Ali Wong) to more recent breakouts (Matt Rife, Fortune Feimster) and a slew of younger stars most non-comedy nerds would need to Google before identifying.

As with the 2022 fest, almost all of these events will be accessible only to folks who are in LA and have a ticket. But unlike two years ago, Netflix will be giving its nearly 300 million global subscribers the opportunity to watch a trio of the biggest shows on the schedule live as they happen: A Katt Williams concert ; a celeb-packed roast of Tom Brady ; and a six-night sketch/variety series called John Mulaney Presents Everybody’s in L.A. in which Mulaney is expected to interact with dozens of the biggest names performing at the festival (or who are just in town for the week). While Netflix taped a few events from the 2022 fest for later streaming (and will do so again this year), the streamer hadn’t yet gotten into the live TV business back then. Now it’s jumping in with both feet, planning one live event over each of eight consecutive nights.

Overseeing this huge undertaking: Robbie Praw, the exec who’s responsible for running Netflix’s broader stand-up comedy business and who has also played a huge role in shaping the streamer’s success in the space since joining the platform eight years ago this spring. While the festival itself is a complicated patchwork quilt of programming (once again: 500-plus shows), adding in more than a week of live broadcasts on a platform which barely a year ago buckled under the burden of a Love Is Blind reunion special is surely supersizing the stress levels for Praw and his team. And yet when Vulture caught up with the Montreal native by phone earlier this week, he was decidedly calm and reasonably confident the sequel to the Netflix is a Joke Festival will be more The Empire Strikes Back than Staying Alive. During our roughly 45-minute conversation, Praw explained the decision to lean into livestreams as well as the broader goals of the festival. He also talked about how stand-up on Netflix has (and hasn’t) changed over the past decade); why the streamer is still writing big checks to certain comics; and how a new generation of comics raised on social media — like Matt Rife — are changing the business.

So one of the big differences between this edition of the Netflix is a Joke Festival is that you’ll be streaming live from the event on eight of its 12 nights. Why did you decide to embrace live in such a big way?  We had our first live show just a year ago last March 4th, which was with Chris Rock. That was such an exhilarating thing, because when you’re sitting in a room watching stand-up comedy, part of the joy is, “Hey, what’s going to happen? What is this person going to say?” Experiencing that live I think really plusses up the entire experience and really works well for the genre.

For sure. But if I could play devil’s advocate for a moment, there are some trade-offs for the home audience, too, aren’t there? The presentation might not be as polished, or there could be technical snafus which throw off a performer’s pacing. And given that most viewing will take place down the road on-demand, the argument against live is that you maybe hurt the long-tail of the project when it’s not edited and polished.  Yeah, but I think what we’re trying to replicate is the feeling of sitting in that room. And just to be clear, we launch a great amount of stand-up all year in the way that you just described. This is another way to experience comedy, which is more similar to the way that it’s experienced in comedy clubs and theaters and arenas every night around the world. It doesn’t negate the other ways that people like watching stand-up comedy.

And the upside for you as a platform is that “live” also serves as a great promotional and marketing hook for the project. Of course. We saw this with Chris Rock: The conversation is happening with a critical mass of people at the same time. It’s a nice way to kick off a show which is going to be staying on Netflix for a long time.

The three projects you’re doing live this year all feel very distinct: A sketch comedy series, a big stand-up special, and a roast. Did you do that purposely so you could better understand what kind of comedy event works best in a live format – to sort of maximize what you learn about different audiences?  I think it’s more about three ways to entertain members. The thing that we’ve learned most about stand-up over the 10 years we’ve been doing specials now is how different people’s tastes are. I think it’s something that in music we seem to understand a little bit more — that reggae is different from hip-hop or classical or whatever. And I think that this is a little bit of recognition that different folks like different stand-up specials. Certainly some folks will love all three of these things and some folks will find one of these three things to be their favorite thing. So I mean, sure, we will have some learnings. But this is really about how the tastes of our audiences are varied.

The first live event is Mulaney’s series, which will start on Friday, May 3, and then return for five more nights the following Monday. Why kick off that way?  This show that we’re doing with Mulaney really represents a lot of the heart and soul of the festival itself. I mean, it’s called Everybody’s in L.A. because everyone’s here for the festival. So we thought it made a lot of sense to have John kick off the festival. For people in L.A., you can’t miss that this festival is happening. We’re in so many venues and there’s so much publicity for it in Los Angeles. But to our comedy-loving members around the world, we thought starting off with John just made a lot of sense.

You haven’t given out too many details about what the show will be. Can you give me a better idea of what audiences will see when they watch, including how long each episode will be?  Most of that should come from John and not me because he’s really been over every inch of this show. His fingerprints are all over it. But I think the episodes will be somewhere between 40 and 60 minutes, something like that. It’s really about exploring L.A. in a week when the funniest people are here. He truly has amassed a treasure trove of the biggest comedy stars in the world. There’s sketches, there’s really fun in-studio moments, but I am going to leave it to John to define his show a little bit more.

I enjoyed the trailer John made for the special, though I’m still not sure I’m sold on his shaggy long-hair look. I disagree! I mean, as somebody who is starting to get bald, I actually have hair envy. I don’t agree with your notes.

Whatever makes him happy is fine. So in addition to the three live events, you’ve said you will also be recording a few other events for later streaming, most notably the Ali Wong special. But that’s still just a fraction of the hundreds of events you’re doing. Is there more you haven’t announced?  I think we’ve pretty much announced at this point everything that we’re taping. We’re taping Ali Wong. We’re taping Deon Cole. We’re taping another program of up-and-coming comedians that we’ll be putting on the Netflix Is A Joke YouTube. But I think it’s pretty similar to last time. I mean fundamentally this is about celebrating comedy. That is our north star here.

I get that there’s a price involved when you decide to put an event from the festival on the platform — both the production costs and then the licensing fees you have to pay the artists. But it still seems like there’s a lot of great stuff taking place which would find a big audience on Netflix, like David Letterman’s interview series. Have you considered a middle ground like we’ve seen with some music festivals on YouTube and Hulu, where events are streamed live but don’t live forever on the service?   Obviously our priority outside of the festival is always to bring the best shows, the best comedians, the best movies to our members, and whenever there’s an opportunity to do that, of course we will. But I think the differentiator between this and the Coachellas and other music festivals is, stand-up comedians can’t burn their material. They truly need to film and launch their specials at a time when they are done touring that material. If I watched No Doubt at Coachella, I could go see them in concert two weeks later and that would be fine. It doesn’t work for comedy in the same way because you would know all the material. Our goal here is to put the art of stand up on a pedestal and have our artists put their stuff out to the world when it makes sense for them.

What about making money from the festival – is that also a goal at this point? Do you need to put butts in seats and sell out as many events as possible?   Well, we certainly want butts in seats because we want our comedians performing in front of great crowds of their fans — and that’s happening. But yeah, that’s not our goal. We’re highlighting the fact that Netflix is a great place for comedy.

So the expectation is not that this turns into another profit center for Netflix, the way the company is doing with its in-person experiences for shows such as Bridgerton and Stranger Things ? That’s not our goal right now.

Speaking of money, the famed Just for Laughs comedy festival canceled its event this year and filed for bankruptcy. You’re an alum of JFL, so I have to ask whether you think the success of Netflix is a Joke might have had a negative impact on it, or if it raises the pressure on you to fill the gap left by its departure.   First of all, I think Just For Laughs will be back. It’s such an important festival and so unbelievably important for emerging comedians. But no, I wouldn’t say that. I don’t really correlate what we’re doing here versus what has happened there. I think that events like this are very important. There was just a great festival in Austin last week and there’s the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and some other very important festivals around the world, and we just hope that they all stay healthy. And quite frankly, I think we’re kind of blown away that this thing has grown so quickly in such a short period of time. We’re going to have over 500 shows. We’re at the Hollywood Bowl, in the Forum, and Crypto Arena. We’re doing a [5,000 person event] at the Rose Bowl, and we’re at the Troubadour and the Comedy Store. We take the responsibility of having this footprint seriously, but we’re seeing festivals flourish all around the world.

Netflix’s stand-up business has also grown very quickly over the last decade. Early on, the company was a disruptor that made waves by offering huge paychecks to top comics in exchange for having ownership of the shows for your library. More recently, it feels like there are less headlines about huge checks and more buzz that you’re quietly licensing shows for shorter windows. So I’m wondering how the business model and the market for stand-up has changed since you guys got into the business.  I don’t think it has evolved that much to be honest with you. You’re correct: We have licensed some things. But generally it’s pretty similar to when I started. When we started doing these things 10 years ago, it was a moment where stand-up was really valued at Netflix, but the marketplace outside of here was really quiet. And as we go into 2024, I think we’re seeing so many signals from the marketplace that there’s a lot more interest in stand-up comedy. And I’m not just talking about the other networks. I’m talking about comedians flourishing on TikTok or YouTube or in some cases their own podcast. So there’s an ecosystem for stand-up comedy that didn’t exist 10 years ago and it’s a much bigger business now than it’s ever been.

I’ve said this before, but 20 years ago when I started my career, there was maybe one act that could do an arena every two years. It was like an Andrew Dice Clay or maybe a Blue Collar or Kings of Comedy tour. And if you look at this festival, I think there are 15 shows at that level in just 12 days. The comedy world is completely different now, and that’s a good thing. It’s a signal that we made the right bet when we started to invest heavily in the space.

I know you said you’ve always done some licensing, but is there more of it going on now? Is the model changing? There’s been a little more of that. I think there’s been some awareness that some artists like shooting their specials and owning it. So there has been an emerging licensing deal template that we do now that we weren’t doing a few years ago. But in terms of our volume, it’s been fairly steady. Obviously this year because of the festival, we’re doing a ton of stand-up. But I don’t think that there is a big shift. I think maybe there’s an awareness that there are different deals to be done to appeal to different artists. And our goal is to just figure out how we get the best things on Netflix and not have an entrenched view on how every deal needs to get done. We just want the best comedians to be available for our members in a pretty competitive landscape.

Would you say you’re writing fewer seven- and eight-figure checks than you did a few years ago?   No. I think it goes up and down, but I wouldn’t say that. I think it’s pretty similar. In terms of the output, it’s similar. I think what you’re referring to is, there was a moment where we did a lot of deals at that level. But those comedians came out over a three- or four-year span. It’s not like they came out all at the same time. The reality is we’re still doing a lot of large deals for comedians, and the reason why is because those comedians are attracting big audiences and it’s quite frankly a joy to see that we’re at a point where so many comedians can command what they’re commanding because their audiences make the economics of that make sense.

And some of those big numbers seem to come out of nowhere. Were you surprised by how well Matt Rife’s special did last year?  I can’t speak to the specifics of each individual deal in that way. But if you look at the profile of Matt Rife – there are very few comedians that are young. He has come into this marketplace and is speaking to an audience that most other comedians aren’t speaking to. Well, Matt Rife is speaking to a lot of people who are younger. He’s just sold out this massive tour. He’s going to be the youngest comedian ever to sell out the Hollywood Bowl; I think he’s maybe the youngest to even play the Bowl. So it’s very cool to watch the next generation of comedians kind of pop up right in front of our eyes.

Two other examples: Andrew Schulz and Shane Gillis. We did a special with Shane last year, took a flier on it — and he’s going to sell out the Crypto Arena, the Forum, and the Greek. And again, he appeals to different tastes and different audiences. That’s really what it’s about for us. And that’s why I think Matt has found his — I don’t know if I should say niche, because it’s such a big fan base, but the folks that he speaks to, some of the other comedians we have on Netflix may not.

How are you looking to spotlight and build up those newer acts? Is the festival designed to do that?   We’ve had a steady stream of multi-comic specials. I’m in my office right now, and I’m looking at the first multi-comic special that we did in 2017, which is called The Standups . There were six comedians, but the first person was Nate Bargatze. Nate Bargatze just filmed a comedy special in an 18,000 theater in the round and sold out two nights of it, and we were filming that. And the same night, we were filming a Fortune Feimster special, and she was one of the six people on The Standups . The next person was Deon Cole, and we’re shooting a special with him during the festival. Then we had Nikki Glaser on that show, who — spoiler alert — is going to be doing our roast of Tom Brady , as well as Beth Stelling, who we just launched a special with about six months ago.

So we’ve been using these multi-comic shows as a way of elevating voices. We’re also now doing it sometimes with these licensed deals. We see somebody film something and we just look at it and say, “Hey, we have a real opportunity for this person to explode on Netflix with us.” But all these multi-comic shows that we’ve done, if you look at the lineups, you see talent that has then stayed with us. A few years ago we did a show called The Comedy Lineup . One of the stars of that show was Michelle Buteau, who we now have a series with. Another star was Taylor Tomlinson, who’s now one of our biggest acts. So I think we’ve been doing that fairly consistently.

You have so many different kinds of comedians on Netflix, but some of them have generated blowback from audiences because of the content of their work. Dave Chappelle is the most notable example, of course. The company’s top leadership has made it clear in the last couple of years that it’s not going to pull shows which generate a lot of negative response. And you talked about this with Vulture two years ago . I’m curious how you see things today, headed into a series of live events where the risks of a backlash to a joke are not insignificant.  I respect the fact that certainly some folks won’t respond to certain things. But at the end of the day, we want to give people options. And part of that is, some people’s favorite thing to do on a Saturday night may be to watch a Dave Chapelle special. For some people, it may be Taylor Tomlinson or Mae Martin or Sarah Silverman or John Mulaney or Chris Rock. And we don’t want to block those choices for our members. We want to give them the option. Our members have the ability of clicking on something; they have the ability to shut off something. You could buy a ticket, or you don’t need to buy a ticket. If we’re doing our jobs well — especially in an art form that’s often on the bleeding edge of big discussions of things that are going on in culture — I think it is very important that we give our members that choice. But we certainly understand if then not everything is for everybody.

Tell me more about what you know about Netflix’s stand-up audience today versus five years ago. You have a lot more data than you used to. Has anything changed about who watches what in the stand-up space? Have tastes evolved over the last few years?   Something that we’re seeing more and more is the cultivation of fandoms by individual artists. That happens sometimes outside of Netflix. Your neighbor may not know who this person is, but they’re selling out the arena in your town that night. The shift is less about the art of stand-up per se, but more about how individual comedians have so many roots to speak to their audience and cultivate it and grow it. I think that’s what I’ve been seeing. In terms of the art of standup, it’s pretty similar to what it’s always been. And I would say there’s more standups. So in that way it’s not similar. If you go to any comedy club or any open mic in this country, you’re on a waiting list to get on that stage. So there’s certainly more of that.

But I think the big change — and we’re part of this flywheel — is how people speak directly to audiences. Oftentimes now they’re coming to Netflix with diehard fans that are so excited that they get to watch their favorite person on Netflix, which [otherwise] could be a very expensive night out between tickets and babysitters and parking and all that stuff. We think it’s a pretty good proposition that you get to see that person on Netflix. So I think the fandom of it is what has changed fundamentally in the last 10 years.

So are we in a new kind of golden age for stand-up, similar to the late ‘70s and early 1980s? Do you see stand-up at Netflix as connected to other areas of programming on the platform? Is part of your mission to find talent that could do other projects for other divisions? Yeah. I think what we really are excited about is the flywheel of talent: You start working with Michelle Buteau and then she has her series, or Ali Wong goes from her special to her movie to obviously Beef and then wins every award. We’re really interested in taking the talent that we work with and for folks to see them across Netflix. And we’re doing more and more of that. But it’s very, very collaborative. Remember, comedians often used to do stand-up as a way to get [cast in TV] shows. That dynamic has changed now that stand-up comedians are so successful on the road. So we’re trying to really listen to our comedians on what other projects that they want to do and trying our best to be a home for them.

Yeah. I think what we really are excited about is the flywheel of talent: You start working with Michelle Buteau and then she has her series, or Ali Wong goes from her special to her movie to obviously Beef and then wins every award. We’re really interested in taking the talent that we work with and for folks to see them across Netflix. And we’re doing more and more of that. But it’s very, very collaborative. Remember, comedians often used to do stand-up as a way to get [cast in TV] shows. That dynamic has changed now that stand-up comedians are so successful on the road. So we’re trying to really listen to our comedians on what other projects that they want to do and trying our best to be a home for them.

One area where you could seemingly develop new talent is through a sketch comedy show, sort of like the one Mr. Mulaney is doing next week. It wouldn’t necessarily have to be live from New York, but you get what I’m saying here — SNL . Is that sort of show something you think could be doable on Netflix?  You’re talking about one of the most iconic shows of all time. I think anyone would love to be doing something like that. We have no immediate plans, but I think we’d obviously be open to a show like that, especially now that we’re doing more and more in the live space.

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