HISTORY

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy™ was created in 1993 by accident by San Francisco comedian Lisa Geduldig, who went to perform in South Hadley, Massachusetts at what she thought was going to be a comedy club. Peking Garden Club turned out to be a Chinese Restaurant. After telling Jewish jokes at a Chinese restaurant, a conversation between Lisa and her old summer camp friend, Tobi Sovak, led to the creation of Kung Pao Kosher Comedy.

Now celebrating its 31st year (and taking place in-person AND virtually), Kung Pao started out as a community service for all Jews who have ever been stuck on Christmas with nothing to do but hide under the covers, contemplate midnight Mass, or visit a Chinese restaurant… The audience began as 99% Jewish and has expanded to include Chinese-Jewish couples, interfaith ones, singles, families, gays, straights, undecideds, those who are far from home, and just generally people who like smart comedy mixed with Chinese food. Henny Youngman performed his last show, at 91, on the Kung Pao stage in 1997. Shelley Berman has headlined, as has David Brenner. Click here for a list of our past comedians.

Lisa Geduldig also produces other comedy events, and in 2005, 2008 and 2019, Lisa was proud to bring CHARO to The Herbst Theatre in San Francisco!