Brian Atkinson laughs and cooks with Chef Jenna Arcidiacono on the LaughFest Cooking and Comedy show at Gilda’s Club, Sunday, March 15.
Brian Atkinson
The Nicest Voice in Comedy. Brian Atkinson is a comedian who played a serial killer on TV while doing voices for PBS Kids. This guy-next-door with a radio voice talks about his career in broadcasting, voiceover, and being adopted twice, with twisted observations of everyday life. Brian is an award-winning comedian: Best of The Bash 2022-2023, World Series of Comedy 2023 and 2025 Wildcard 1st Place Winner and 2023-2025 Top 40 Comic. Brian is so funny, you might not notice he’s working clean.
Chef Jenna
Chef Jenna Arcidiacono, owner of Amore Trattoria Italiana, has been a recurring chef for the event since 2021, working with comedians such as Nardos Osterhart and Adam Degi. Jenna Arcidiacono’s first job at age 14 was slinging chili dogs and root beer floats at Cook’s Drive-In in Kentwood, Michigan. Slowly, she began realizing that cooking was more than just a way to pay for her stirrup pants, music cassettes and perms. She soon moved to East Lansing where she received her BFA at MSU while working in restaurants near campus. Wanting to live in a big city after graduation, she moved to San Francisco where she fell in love with the city and a handsome Italian who was visiting from Milan. After living in Italy for 3 years and spending time in the kitchen with her new mother in law, her passion for Italian Casalinga cuisine grew stronger. Jenna worked for small businesses, corporations and also tried few of her own small entrepreneurial ideas. She finally realized it was time to take the leap and open Amore Trattoria Italiana in 2010. Her dream was to bring back the mom & pop feel by using locally sourced products and meeting her guests in the dining room much like dinner at home. Maurizio & Jenna are proud to continue winning food service awards during their 10 years of business. If you see a sparkly pink suv on the streets with a “Food Hug“ license plate, that’s her!
Laugh Fest Cooking and Comedy
The “Cooking and Comedy” event is a unique offering where a local celebrity chef teams up with a comedian to provide a blend of culinary demonstration and comedic entertainment. The experience allows attendees to learn cooking techniques. Cooking and Comedy is part of the larger LaughFest, which is a major fundraiser for Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, an organization providing free cancer and grief support.
LaughFest
Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, has quickly earned a reputation for being one of the nation’s marquee events for both participants and artists. This major Midwest festival is based in Grand Rapids and includes events throughout West Michigan. LaughFest has provided the community with opportunities to see up and coming headliners before they made it big such as Nate Bargatze, Amy Schumer, Tiffany Haddish and more! Created by Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and launched in March 2011 to celebrate laughter for the health of it, the festival features stand-up, improv, showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff.
The next Gilda’s LaughFest is scheduled to run from March 11–15, 2026.
Gilda’s Club helps ensure that no one has to navigate cancer or grief on their own. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is a vibrant free emotional health support community of children, adults, families and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving a death due to any cause.
Doors at 2pm
Show at 3pm
Gilda’s Club
1806 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504
Brian Atkinson – Comedian
Brian Atkinson makes jokes, but only the finest artisan, hand-crafted, farm-to-table-saw jokes.
Brian Atkinson has hosted, featured, and headlined at clubs, corporate events, churches, and fundraisers across the country. He’s opened for notable “Bobs” like Bob Nelson, Bob Smiley, and Robert (Bob) G. Lee, and performed at Dr. Grins at the B.O.B. Brian has also opened for Jeff Jena, Kira Soltanovich, Michael Palascak, Adam Minnick, Happy Cole, Leslie Norris Townsend, Tommy Ryman, Chris Young, Andy Beningo, and Dave Williamson.
Brian’s appearances include Bonkerz, Comedy Cabaret, Crackers, Dr. Grins, Funny Stop, Gutty’s, Krackpots, L.A. Comedy Club Las Vegas, Laugh Factory, Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, One Night Stan’s, Punchlines, Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, Gilda’s Laugh Fest, the Maumee, Mary, and Joseph Comedy Festival, and the World Series of Comedy.
Brian’s sharp and smart comedic style has been a hit at clubs, contests, corporate events, churches, fundraisers, and festivals across the country. Born and raised in Chicagoland, Brian calls Grand Rapids, MI home. You can find him on all the socials @BrianAcomedian.
Bookings
Booking a comedy show with Brian is easy. If you have access to a social hall, church, or country club, Brian will work with you to set up your event and guide you to give your audience the best possible experience. Whether it’s a solo show or a showcase with multiple comedians, Brian Atkinson can produce a comedy show that you’ll love and brag about later.