Bad Indian

Bad Indian is an all-indigenous standup comedy showcase! The Bad Indian Showcase is an acclaimed Native American comedy production created and produced by Joshua Emerson to amplify Indigenous humor and storytelling. The showcase gained national prominence with high-profile credits at major festivals, most notably being featured at the 2024 Netflix Is a Joke Fest and SF Sketchfest. Also staged at venues like Denver’s Bug Theater, the showcase continues to tour nationally as a premier platform for Native comedic talent. Beyond its status as a premier comedy tour, the Bad Indian Showcase serves as a cultural platform bridging the gap between traditional Indigenous storytelling and modern stand-up. Joshua Emerson launched the project to counter the noticeable absence of Native humor in the professional circuit, transforming the showcase into a space where Indigenous comics can tackle heavy themes such as high suicide rates, grief, and identity. Through a lens of healing and beautiful chaos, the show’s success at major venues prove that Native humor is not only resilient but essential to the contemporary American arts landscape. Emerson has expressed his intent to keep the showcase running indefinitely, continuing to tour it across North America to ensure that Native stories are told with the authenticity power they deserve. WITH THE HILARIOUS: JOSHUA EMERSON & KEL COOPS PLUS INCREDIBLE LOCAL COMICS: ANN JOLI & JADRIEN LONG