How the Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest Became Black Comedy’s Summer Stage
It all started on a sunny day in 2009, with Steve Capers chilling at Inkwell Beach on Martha’s Vineyard. He was soaking up the vibes, probably with a cold drink in hand, when his wife, Dorothy, gave him the nudge he didn’t know he needed. “Steve, why don’t you just do it?” she said, talking about his wild idea to throw a comedy festival spotlighting African American comedians.
Steve, ever the dreamer, had doubts. Big-name comics on the Vineyard? That sounded like a budget-busting fantasy. But Dorothy’s push lit a fire under him. With a major boost from HBO, Steve’s vision took shape. By summer 2010, the first-ever Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest (MVCF) was live—and it was a hit.
Through his company, Knock-Knock Comedy Productions, Steve brought in heavy hitters like Damon Williams from The Kings of Comedy Tour, AJ Jamal from In Living Color, and Roz G. from Last Comic Standing. The crowd was loving it, the comics were killing it, and somewhere backstage, Steve was probably grinning like a proud dad. That was just the beginning.
By 2017, Steve had another big idea: BLACK COMEDY MONTH. Every August, MVCF evolved into a month-long celebration of Black comedy, highlighting rising stars, legends, writers, promoters, and everyone in between.
But make no mistake—Steve wasn’t new to this. Back in ’93, he was in L.A. as an exec at BET, promoting shows like Video Soul, Teen Summit, and Rap City. It was behind the scenes at Comic View, hosted by DL Hughley, where he truly caught the comedy bug.
By ’98, he was running Comedy Central’s Chicago office, producing events with names like Jon Stewart, and Lewis Black. When he left Comedy Central in 2003, he didn’t slow down. He started producing comedy shows for corporate clients, HBCUs like North Carolina A&T, and smaller schools like Millikin University. In 2005, he teamed up with Damon Williams again to launch Funny First Saturday, a monthly show that helped revitalize Chicago’s comedy scene.
But the Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest, now in its 14th season, and BLACK COMEDY MONTH? That’s Steve’s heart and soul. He poured everything into creating a space where African American comedians could shine. Ask him about it, and he’ll probably say it was meant to be. Growing up, he watched his aunt, Virginia Capers—a Tony Award-winning actress—slay the role of Lena Younger in Raisin, the musical version of A Raisin in the Sun. That spark of showbiz stuck with him. Now, Steve’s out here making us laugh, honoring Black comedic genius, and showing that with a big idea, some serious hustle, and a whole lot of heart, you can change the game.
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