Oops, All Ukuleles!
A quirky variety show that puts everyone’s favorite four-stringed mini instrument front and center.
- July 9th, at Theater Off Jackson with: Handsy, The Pocket Strings, AJ, Theresa Flores, BottemLez Fries, N@ppy By Natur3, Dorine DeLuscious, and Sizzle The Clown.
Sex Ed: a variety show about things you wish you learned in school
Through comedy, music, and burlesque we explore all the topics we wish we’d learned during sex ed. From consent to safe sex, from more variety in bodies and abilities and sexuality to self-love. This show has it all–or at least more than what you learned in school!
- May 28, at Seattle Open Arts Space with: Billie Manton, Gretta Gimp, Strawberry Dykerí, The Pleazure Principals, Quantum Tease PhD, ACTin’ Up, and Maggie
- August 25, 2023, at Jewelbox Theater (RendezVous) with: Tambre Massman, Addie Sison, Ryan Cuddihy, Valerie Benti, Scandal from Bohemia, Tout d’Lou, Ash Midnight, Miss Lola California, Superclit, and Squidly.
Bi Bi Bi
A comedy showcase featuring Seattle’s funniest bi performers and maybe future boy’s band, I haven’t asked them yet!
- September 25, 2025, at Charlie’s Queer Books with: Javann Jones, The Pocket Strings, Marie Elizabeth, Theresa Flores, Zahnae Aquino, and Liz Klein
- September 4, 2025, at Charlie’s Queer Books with: Emma Schmuckler, Lucy Tollefson, Molina Molina, Ryan Cuddihy, and musical guest Pocket Strings (Valerie Benti and Jackie Calipristi)
- October 18, 2024, at Charlie’s Queer Books with: Keeks, Bernice Larson, Javann Jones, Jeanina Rivera, Lindsey Anderson, and Brant the Goose
- March 29, 2024, at Charlie’s Queer Books with: Valerie Benti, Gretta Gimp, Sneaky Boo, Megan KD, Ian Crowly, and Theresa Flores.
- June 22, 2023, at Vermillion with: AJ Norris, Zanae Aquino , Jonathan Logerstedt, Tambre Massman, and Theresa Flores; with musical interlude by Valerie Benti.
Geeky Open Mic
November 2019 – May 2024 at Distant Worlds Coffeehouse
(and virtual during the COVID-19 shutdowns)
a gaggle of geeks: a Geeky Comedy Showcase
- April 4th, 2026, at NorWesCon with: Bernice Larson, Cool Nerd Mark, Jenna Nobs, Theresa Flores, Marcus Van Valen, and Valerie Benti
- Bards and Jesters and (Drag) Queens, Oh My! – A Nerdy Variety Show at NorWesCon on April 5, 2026 with: Sailor St. Claire, Theresa Flores, Min Lin, Cordelia Specifically, Blanca Dorado, ACTin’ Up, and the Pocket Strings
- November 2025 at GeekGirlCon with: Dan Hurwitz, Min Lin, JoJo Blacco, Theresa Flores, and the Pocket Strings
- August 14, 2025, at WorldCon with: Stevie Rae, Javann Jones, Theresa Flores, Cassandra McDonnell, Kyle Bob, and Valerie Benti
- April 19, 2025, at NorWesCon with: Theresa Flores, Marie Elizabeth, Chris Talbott, Kyle Bob, Javann Jones, and Valerie Benti.
- November 2024 at GeekGirlCon with: Polite Kitty, Silas Lindenstein, Stevie Rae, Marie Elizabeth, Theresa Flores, and Valerie Benti
- August 24, 2024, at Vermillion with: Naomi Fitter, Juno Men, Bert Walpack, Sarah Hagen, and Valerie Benti.
- April 17, 2024, at Comedy/Bar with: Ann Elise, With Comedy by Tambre Massman, Dallas Chang, JoJo Blacco, Marie Elizabeth Loeb, Silas Lindenstein, Amielle and Valerie Benti.
- November 2023 at GeekGirlCon (As “Real Nerds of Comedy”) with: Valerie Benti, Theresa Flores, Rohini, Jenna Knobs and Sally Jordan
- July 15, 2023, at Distant Worlds with: Novae Simper, Naomi Fitter, Kyle Bob, Javann Jones, Lindsey Anderson, and Valerie Benti.
- March 23, 2023, at Vermillion with: Jenna Nobs, Rohini, Silas Lindenstein, Paul Curry, Lucy Tollefson, and Valerie Benti.
- “GEEK OUT!” November 16, 2019 at Big Time Brewery with: Kyle Marian, Valerie Bentivegna, Valentina Ferro, Tara Christian, Winlar, and Andy Iwancio.
Medical Horrors
5 storytellers share their personal experience with medicine and health.
- November 8, 2024, at Mudlark Oddities with: Polite Kitty, Theresa Flores, Dewa Dorja, Jade Esteban Estrada, and human.
- September 21, 2024, at Mudlark Oddities with: Polite Kitty, Liz Thompson, Megan KD, Chris Talbott, and Tambre Massman.
- May 10, 2024, at Mudlark Oddities with: Valerie Benti, JA Fields, Emmett Montgomery, Emma Schmuckler, and Lindsey Anderson.
- February 9, 2024, at Mudlark Oddities with: Polite Kitty, Nesil Izil, Laura Lyons, Ryan Cuddihy, and Lady Catbird.
- September 29, 2023, at Mudlark Oddities with: Polite Kitty, Forest Ember, Valerie Benti, Stevie Rae, and Shayne Larango.
- May 5, 2023, at Mudlark Oddities, with: Andrea Entz, Valerie Benti, Polite Kitty, Shana Pennington-Baird, and Andy Iwancio
SillyCon Vally – A Tech-themed Variety Show
Working in tech can feel like living in a sitcom. So let’s just embrace that! Invest in your favorite start-up idea and join join comics and musicians poking some fun at tech!
- July 11, 2025, at Vermillion with: Lindsey Anderson, Naomi Fitter, Benny Jensen, Ian Crowley, Chris Talbott, Theresa Flores, and Jackie Calipristi
- July 17, 2024, at Vermillion with: Rohini, Bernice Larson, Torria Pace, Lindsey Anderson, Laura Lyons, and Valerie Benti.
- December 15, 2023, at Vermillion with: Valerie Benti, Bernice Larson, Srishti Sharma, Zahnae Aquino, Ishtaq Qureshi, and Jackie Calapristi.
- June 22, 2022, at Vermillion with: Javann Jones, Rohini, Juno Men, Swastik, Valerie Benti, and Jackie Calapristi.
GeekGirlCon Panels and Workshops
| Year | Title | Panelists | Description |
| 2023 | The Science of the Post-Apocalypse | With Sarah Sutton (moderator), Ginny Katz, Ashli Blow, Lauren Ré, and KeliAnne Hara-Hubbard | Post-apocalyptic stories and science fiction have always spoken to the imagination. But what would the world and society really look like after an apocalypse? We have 3 million years of apocalypses and natural disasters to tell us how nature recovers after destruction, and how communities reform. Experts from the fields of mycology, public health, and dystopian writers get together to tell us their theories on what could really happen to us… after an apocalypse. |
| 2023 | The Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence | With Jeanna Wheeler (Moderator), Jenn Huff, Gracie Ermi, Ada Zhang, and Joan Palimter Bajorek | We’ve all been talking about it: artificial intelligence taking over our work, our lives, and the world. ChatGPT can write your next movie script, and DALL.E create your next piece of art. Despite our tendency to give AI systems agency, are these systems really “intelligent”? And what does “intelligent” even mean? Experts from the fields of computer science, linguistics, and anthropology explore the past, present, and future of these new technologies. |
| 2023 | Make ’em Laugh – Geeky Comedy Workshop | Facilitated by Valerie Benti and Theresa Flores | In this workshop, you will explore stand-up comedy as a tool to tell personal stories about being in the geek space, whether you work in science or tech, are an avid sci-fi enthusiast, or can go on an endless rant about your favorite fandom. You will learn how to brainstorm ideas, deliver jokes, have a stage presence, overcome fear, talk through a microphone, and communicate in an engaging and personal way. |
| 2022 | Make’em Laugh – Geeky Comedy Workshop | Facilitated by Valerie Benti and Theresa Flores | Nerdy is the new cool. In this workshop, you will explore stand-up comedy as a tool to tell personal stories about being in the geek space, whether you work in science or tech, are an avid sci-fi enthusiast, or can go on an endless rant about your favorite fandom. |
Virtual Make ’em Laugh
Workshop your own three-minute standup set with comedian Valerie Bentivegna (that’s me!) and friends. Laugh and learn along with some hilarious geeky comedians. There is an interactive portion, so we recommend having a pencil and paper ready for this workshop!
With clips and tips from Tiara Moore (@curly_scientist), Theresa Flores (@tburger343), Abner Senires (@abnersenires), Umi Om (@umi_om), Rosemarie Keenan (@romyk) and Jackie Calapristi (@JackieJackie121).
Rewatch the full GeekGirlCONline program
Rewatch the Geeky Comedy Workshop:
#SciTalk Workshops and Events
- 2026: Laugh, Learn, and Shimmy: Science Communication with a Tease
- 2025: Connecting Over Science: How To Create Community With Special Events (Virtual); Short talk by Lexa Graham and Valerie Bentivegna.
- 2024:
- Science Punch Up: Finding Humor In Your Science; Facilitated by Lexa Graham and Valerie Bentivegna.
- Chiasm Cabaret – a science themed variety show
- 2023: Make ’em Laugh: Science Comedy Workshop; Facilitated by Theresa Flores and Valerie Bentivegna.
Virtual Shows
- July 31, 2021: Too Cool For Magic School
- May 23, 2021: GEEK OUT – The Stimulus Show