Patrons gathered at Crozet Pizza at Buddhist Biker Bar Tuesday evening for “Step Comedy Jam,” an event that gave student comedians a platform to perform their material. Hosting over 20 comedians with prepared stand-up routines or musical acts — in addition to improv groups Amuse Bouche and The Whethermen — “Step Comedy Jam” cultivated a lively evening filled with stand-up, music, improvisation and, most importantly, laughter.
Step Comedy Jams began in 2023, started by Class of 2025 alumna Mary Walton Petersen — also known as the founder of clothing and comedy brand Stepmom LLC. However, upon her graduation, she decided to pass the torch to Scapegoat Underground — the comedic duo of third-year College and Commerce student Kieran Warner and third-year College student Jack Yasenchok — to carry on the legacy of “Step Comedy Jam.” Petersen said that she is proud to see the legacy left by Stepmom since its founding as a clothing brand in 2022 and how the series of comedy events has evolved since her graduation last year.
“When I first got to U.Va., I always felt like there was this culture of exclusion,” Petersen said. “The first Step Comedy Jam was held off my porch on Wertland [Street] … Now, we get to put on this great show long after I’ve graduated. And it just means a lot to get to see people get so excited to do stand-up for the first time and feel empowered by speaking their truth on stage.”
Warner and Yasenchok founded Scapegoat Underground last spring, performing a sketch together at a previous “Step Comedy Jam” in fall 2025. Additionally, both Warner and Yasenchok are members of the longform improv comedy group Amuse Bouche. Since taking over the Step Comedy name from Petersen in fall 2025, Scapegoat Underground has now coordinated two of the events at Crozet Pizza, as well as a blind speed dating event with Flash at U.Va. and a comedy open-mic night at Mudhouse Specialty Coffee Roasters on the Downtown Mall. Warner spoke about the impact that open, accessible events like Tuesday’s have on the local arts and comedy scenes.
“I feel like the Charlottesville arts scene has really just been picking up more and more, which is so great to see,” Warner said. “It’s a great experience just connecting with community members in that way, to [feel] more than just part of the U.Va. community but the Charlottesville community through comedy.”
Petersen herself opened the event with a blend of stand-up comedy, spoken word poetry and rap lyrics in a tight yet chaotic initial set. Petersen spoke about her secret crush on the Geico lizard, as well as one-liners and strings of lyrics performed as “the white EMINeM.” Petersen’s comfortability onstage, coupled with her hysterical delivery and ability to engage with the audience, kicked off the show with an infectious energy.
Throughout the night, many comics drew upon personal stories from their past or from their hometowns as inspiration for jokes. Third-year College student Julia Shuttleworth received raucous laughter from the audience for an absurd story about a middle school trip to the dollar store. Second-year College student Hannah Swird reflected on her experiences of growing up in Baltimore, and the unintentionally comedic moments she finds looking back at that time.
Fourth-year College student Ivy Cobbs attended the show and particularly enjoyed the individuality expressed by the comedians through their personal performances.
“I think it’s always funny when people draw on a part of their identity and kind of play with that,” Cobbs said. “I think everyone did a great job, and I really admire people’s confidence to go up on stage.”
The show brought together comedians from across the University community, united by a love of laughter. Clay Dickerson, fourth-year College student and Student Council president, brought an engaging wit and charm to the stage in a stand-up routine. In a particularly electric performance, fourth-year College students Maxwell Mitchell and Tara Sury performed a comedic song about working up the nerve to streak the Lawn which provoked many in attendance to clap along.
Each of the comics who performed Tuesday approached the stage with a distinct tone, delivery and material that maintained a quick, refreshing pace throughout the entire event. For some, such as third-year College student Bella Fazio, their experience at “Step Comedy Jam” was their first time performing in front of a live crowd, allowing comics to showcase their talent and creativity in front of a sizable live audience. For others, such as Jack Ireland, fourth-year College student and member of the improv troupe the Whethermen, this was only the most recent installation in a long career of live performances.
Second-year College student Natalie Cook closed out the event with a series of impressions based on both real people and characters she invented. From uncanny impersonations of President Donald Trump and actress Jennifer Coolidge, to original riffs on sorority girls and a character whom Cook calls the “Greenwich mom” — named after the housewives of her hometown of Greenwich, Connecticut — Cook sent the crowd home laughing. Her expressive, expertly crafted impressions were a perfect final note on which to end the night of comedy.
Through the creation of a forum for student comedians to enter the local comedy scene, the comedians’ friends are encouraged to attend shows such as these, supporting both the people close to them and the local comedy scene in the process. Third-year Architecture student Levi Green primarily attended the show to support his friend’s set, but ended up finding something to enjoy in each of the performances.
“My favorite part has really just been how dynamic all the sets have been,” Green said. “There’s a lot more musical comedy than I thought there was going to be … That’s another thing I’m loving about it. All my friends get to go up there and be funny.”
Now having cemented themselves as an integral part of the University comedy scene, Scapegoat Underground provides an open, welcoming foray into live performances for comics and musicians of any experience level or any comedic style. Yasenchok said that these events are perfect outlets for creative and funny people in the community to try their hand at comedy, and that he is happy to provide that possibility to so many students.
“I love how you can see the smiles forming on the comedian’s face when they tell a joke that’s really going to land, and then you can see it come to fruition within the audience,” Yasenchok said. “It’s really an amazing feeling being able to give these people a space in which to express themselves and to perform comedy.”
Petersen now performs stand-up comedy full-time and remains the CEO of Stepmom LLC, hosting Step Comedy Jams beyond Charlottesville in cities such as Richmond and Vienna. Information about her shows and performances are available on her website and her Instagram.
Warner and Yasenchok say they will continue to host comedy shows in Charlottesville in the future as a part of Scapegoat Underground. More information about the duo and dates for future events can be found on their Instagram.
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