Jess Ilias Clavelli Comedy Award, Emerson College

The Jess Ilias Clavelli Comedy Award (aka "The Jess") is an award given annually to an individual junior or senior comic performer. Stand-up, improv, sketch—it's all good! For the first time, student comics will have the option of performing live for the first round or submitting a video sample of their work, and a panel of judges will narrow the submissions down to a handful of finalists. Finalists will perform live in person on April 5, 2025 for the award honor and cash prizes during the annual ComEx! comedy festival in the spring with feedback from a panel of judges. Students are welcome to have others perform with them in their video submissions and live at ComEx!, but the prize will only be awarded to a single individual.

The total award purse is $2,000. The top three performers will be given a cash prize ($1,400 for first place, $500 for second, and $100 for third), with the top performer being awarded the Jess Ilias Clavelli Comedy Award.

Spring 2025 Competition Rules & Guidelines

Eligibility

Open to currently enrolled Emerson juniors and seniors.
Must be a Comedic Arts BFA major or a member of a SGA recognized comedy troupe.
Only videos submitted using the form below will be considered.

Format

Stand-up, Improv, Sketch. It's all good!

This award is for an individual comic.
The comic may recruit others to perform with him/her/them in sketch or improv pieces, both in their video submission and live at ComEx.
Routines submitted on video and performed live at ComEx must be original and created, written, and performed by the comic.
Nominees will NOT be judged on production values. This is about comedy.
Finalists will be informed of their selection by March 18, 2025.
Finalists may perform the same routine/sketch/game for their ComEx! performance as they submitted for first round judging, but they are free to create something new.
Finalists must be available to perform live in Boston on the final night of ComEX! on April 5, 2025. There will be a mandatory tech rehearsal earlier that day.
Final performance must be 3-5 minutes in length. Any performances that go over time will be cut off in fairness to other finalists.

Your Submission

To submit for the competition, finalists can either perform live for a panel of judges on March 1, 2025 or submit a video of their work. The Video Submission deadline is March 3, 2025.
The live performance or video length must be 3-5 minutes.

Video Submissions

Upload your video to Panopto, YouTube, or Vimeo and make certain the URL is viewable by others.
Only one video submission per person.
Make certain the voices in your video are clear, but video production quality isn't the point; we want to see your skills as a performer.
Once you complete the Google submission form linked below, click “Send."

Submit your video

Live Performance Submissions

The live performance will take place on March 1, 2025. Live performance applicants must stay for the entirety of the performance to support and be audience members for other participants. Details about timing and location will be announced closer to the date.

If you want to perform live for your first round submission, you must email Erin Schwall at erin_schwall [at] emerson.edu by February 24 to secure a spot.

Submit for Live Audition

Finalist Selections

Finalists will be informed of their selection by March 18, 2025 and have until April 4, 2025 to prepare a 3-5 minute performance for ComEx! 2025.

Jacob Feldman

2018

*Hiatus year

2017

Kaylin Mahoney

2016

Brad Beideman

2015

Talia Heller & Marcos Gonzalez (tie)

2014

Jamie Loftus

2013

Katerina (Kailey) Godoy & Andrew (Andy) Short (tie)

2012

Elenor Monahan & Jeremy Sender (tie)

2010

Julia Mattison

2009

Evan Kaufman

2008

Zach Willis

2007

Dan Perrault

2006

Elisha Yaffe

2005

Jessica Modrall & Drew DeFonzo Marks (tie)

2004

Patrick Baker

2003

Bradley Smith

Questions?

E-mail adam_greenfield [at] emerson.edu (subject: Jess%20Ilias%20Clavelli%20Comedy%20Award%20questions) (adam_greenfield[at]emerson[dot]edu)

Jess Ilias Clavelli was the six-year-old son of Christopher Clavelli (’83). He died suddenly in February of 2003. Even at that young age, Jess displayed a unique gift for storytelling. While other children were creating happy characters, Jess understood how conflict in his stories could help him find the heart of the action and what was humorous about the situation. This award seeks to commemorate and honor Jess and to recognize a student comic who demonstrates the sweet and funny attributes that marked Jess’s short life.

2023 marked the 20th Anniversary of The Jess Award. Past recipients recorded messages of thanks to the Clavelli family as well as encouragement for the competitors.