Nationally experienced comedian Will C. headlines a night of laughter, military camaraderie, and community at Cosmos Court. Plus, This Is Topeka has tickets to give away to local veterans!
TOPEKA, Kan. — They say laughter is the best medicine. And for a group of military veterans who have traded their uniforms for microphones, that saying carries a little extra meaning.
On Friday, November 13, Top City Comedy is bringing The Veterans of Comedy to downtown Topeka for a special Veterans Week performance at Cosmos Court, featuring headliner Will C., along with comedians Tio Pepe and Kurt Frizzell.
The show follows two important dates on the military calendar: the Marine Corps birthday on November 10 and Veterans Day on November 11.
But this isn’t just another comedy show with a patriotic theme.
It’s part of a larger mission to bring veterans together, bridge the gap between military and civilian life, and remind those who have served that sometimes the best way to get through life’s difficulties is to find something worth laughing about.
And in the spirit of Veterans Week, This Is Topeka is joining the celebration by giving away a limited number of tickets to help local veterans enjoy the show.
Meet Will C.: A Veteran With a Microphone and a Mission
Headlining the evening is Will C., a comedian and actor whose entertainment career includes film and television credits listed on IMDb.
Will C. has built a career entertaining audiences, but his work with Veterans of Comedy brings another dimension to the stage.
He is a co-founder of Veterans of Comedy, an organization established in 2014 alongside fellow veteran and comedian Erik Knowles.
What began as an effort to connect military veterans through stand-up comedy has grown into a nationwide network of performers who share something beyond their ability to make audiences laugh: firsthand experience with military service.
The organization reports that nearly 30 veteran comedians have joined its ranks, representing all six branches of the U.S. military.
Its performers have entertained audiences throughout the United States and around the world, using humor and personal storytelling to connect with service members, veterans, and civilians.
And now that mission is coming to Topeka.
No Laugh Left Behind
The Veterans of Comedy operates under a motto that says almost everything you need to know about its purpose:
“No laugh left behind.”
It’s a playful adaptation of a familiar military sentiment, but the organization’s work carries a serious message.
Transitioning from military service into civilian life isn’t always easy. Veterans can face challenges involving employment, relationships, identity, and the loss of the camaraderie that comes with serving alongside others.
Veterans of Comedy believes laughter can help build connections across that divide.
In 2016, the organization partnered with the Kansas City-based Veteran Community Project, helping raise money and awareness for its tiny-home community serving veterans.
In December 2025, Will C. transitioned Veterans of Comedy into a nonprofit foundation, expanding its charitable mission.
The organization’s performers understand military culture because they have lived it.
And if there’s one thing veterans understand, it’s that humor can make even the most difficult situations a little easier to navigate.
Learn more about the organization at VeteransOfComedy.org.
Three Comedians, One Downtown Stage
Joining Will C. on November 13 are Tio Pepe and Kurt Frizzell, rounding out the three-comedian Veterans Week lineup.
The performance will take place at Cosmos Court, located at 909 S. Kansas Avenue, where TopCity Comedy has been building a regular home for stand-up entertainment in the capital city.
For years, TopCity Comedy has helped bring touring performers and emerging comedians to Topeka audiences.
Its Friday Night Funnies series has become a regular downtown entertainment option, offering audiences the opportunity to experience live stand-up without traveling to Kansas City or another larger market.
This Veterans Week performance adds something different to that tradition: a lineup connected to an organization whose mission extends beyond entertainment.
A Different Way to Celebrate Veterans Day
Veterans Day celebrations often involve ceremonies, speeches, flags, and moments of reflection.
And rightly so.
But there’s something appealing about celebrating the people who served by inviting them to spend an evening laughing.
Military life has its own peculiar brand of humor. Anyone who has spent time around veterans knows that the stories can be outrageous, the jokes occasionally inappropriate, and the friendships unlike almost anything found outside the service.
Sometimes those stories are funny because of what happened.
Sometimes they’re funny because everyone involved somehow survived the experience.
And sometimes laughter is simply a way of reconnecting with people who understand.
That is part of what makes the Veterans of Comedy mission so compelling.
The organization isn’t asking audiences to forget the difficult parts of military service.
It’s creating an opportunity to share something positive alongside them.
Help Us Get Veterans to the Show!
Are you a veteran? Do you have a veteran in your life? Let’s get you to this show!
At This Is Topeka, we believe honoring our veterans should be about more than a ceremony or a thank-you once a year.
Sometimes it’s about sharing a laugh, making a memory, and reminding someone who served that their community hasn’t forgotten them.
That’s why This Is Topeka has tickets to give away for the Veterans of Comedy show on November 13!
If you’re a veteran, or you have a veteran friend or family member who could use a great night out, we want to help get them into the audience.
Reach out to This Is Topeka to ask about our complimentary tickets. We have a limited number available, so don’t wait!
And if you’re able to purchase tickets, here’s another idea:
Buy two. One for yourself and one for a veteran.
Maybe it’s your dad, your mom, your spouse, your neighbor, or an old military buddy you haven’t seen in years.
Maybe it’s someone who doesn’t get out much anymore.
Maybe it’s someone who could really use a reason to smile.
Invite them out. Buy them a ticket. Share a few laughs.
And if you’re a veteran yourself, don’t wait for somebody else to invite you. Grab a ticket, call up an old friend, and come enjoy a night with people who understand that sometimes the funniest stories are the ones you could never tell your commanding officer.
Our veterans have given a lot to this country.
Let’s give them a Friday night worth remembering.
Everything You Need to Know
Event: The Veterans of Comedy — Veterans Week Show
Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
Location: Cosmos Court, 909 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka, Kansas
Headliner: Will C.
Also appearing: Tio Pepe and Kurt Frizzell
Doors open: 7 p.m.
Showtime: 8 p.m.
Tickets: $15 in advance or $20 at the door
Tickets and information: TopCityComedy.com
Veterans of Comedy Foundation: VeteransOfComedy.org
This Is Topeka ticket giveaway: Contact [email protected] directly to inquire about complimentary tickets for veterans, while supplies last. Let Me Know How I Can Help!!
This Is Topeka’s Take
We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of supporting veterans, especially around Veterans Day.
Sometimes that support looks like volunteering, donating, or advocating for better services.
And sometimes it looks like buying a ticket, filling a seat, and spending an evening laughing with people who have worn the uniform.
TopCity Comedy deserves credit for bringing this particular show to Topeka.
It’s another example of how a local entertainment organization can bring something meaningful to our community while giving people a genuinely enjoyable Friday night.
And we want to do our small part to make sure some of those seats are filled by the men and women who have served.
So here’s our challenge to Topeka:
If you know a veteran, invite them. If you can afford an extra ticket, buy one for them. And if you or a veteran you love could use a night out, reach out to us about our ticket giveaway.
Whether you’re a veteran, a military family member, or simply someone who appreciates good stand-up comedy, November 13 looks like a great excuse to head downtown.
After all, the Veterans of Comedy have a motto to uphold.
No laugh left behind.
And this Veterans Week, let’s make sure no veteran gets left behind, either.
