L to R: Damon Williams, Jeremiah "JJ" Williamson, and DJ Dolla Bill

Get ready to laugh, New Orleans. Comedy veterans whose credits include HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, BET’s ComicView, Showtime at the Apollo, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and some of the country’s biggest comedy stages are coming to Xavier University of Louisiana for Homecoming 2026.

The Green Book Comedy Tour, presented by the Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Festival, makes its New Orleans debut at Xavier on Thursday, November 5, 2026, bringing an evening of stand-up, music, and entertainment to the University’s Administration Auditorium. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m. The event is open to the public.

Veteran comedians Damon Williams and Jeremiah “JJ” Williamson take the stage. Williams’ career has included BET’s ComicView, the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show and the Kings of Comedy Tour, along with performances on stages across the country. Williamson has appeared on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, BET’s ComicView and Showtime at the Apollo and has toured with Cedric the Entertainer. DJ Dolla Bill will keep the party going throughout the evening, bringing the music, energy and good vibes between the laughs.

The tour’s New Orleans debut is also a homecoming for its founder. Entertainment industry veteran and Xavier alumnus Steve Capers ’91 founded the Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Festival in 2010. What began as a summer comedy showcase has grown into a platform for Black comedic talent, featuring performers including Williams, Mark Curry, Sherri Shepherd and D.L. Hughley.

The festival’s touring production, the Green Book Comedy Tour, takes its name from the historic Negro Motorist Green Book, the travel guide that helped Black Americans identify safe places to eat, stay, and gather while traveling during segregation. The tour draws upon that history while bringing together comedy, music, culture and community in cities across the country.

Now, Capers is bringing the experience back to the place where his own journey began.

The Green Book Comedy Tour is part of Xavier’s Homecoming 2026 celebration, but you don’t have to be a Xavier alumnus to join the fun. Comedy fans from across New Orleans and beyond are invited to grab their friends, make it a night out, and come ready to laugh.

Tickets are $50. A portion of every ticket sold will benefit the Xavier University Annual Fund, supporting student scholarships and other University priorities.

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Green Book Comedy Tour — New Orleans

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Doors Open: 7:30 p.m.

Showtime: 8 p.m.

Xavier University of Louisiana Administration Auditorium

Tickets: $50

Purchase Green Book Comedy Tour Tickets here.