There’s at least one friend in life to count on to crack a Bud, flop into a chair, and pal around with, sharing stories and laughs all night until you remember you need to be up for work at 6 a.m. John Kurschner is your friend--a performer who invites you into his heart that’s big enough to raise a family, big enough to consistently give to charity, and big enough to share laughs with throughout the night.

      Born and raised in the New Dorp section of Staten Island, John is a staunch example of sweat and hustle. Since 2007, he has barreled his way up and down the East Coast, from clubs to lodges to resorts to firehouses to casinos to festivals and everything in between. John has a Bernie Williams soul with a Don Mattingly work ethic and it all shines through the second his voice hits the mic. 

      Nowadays, John has been seen on Amazon Prime’s competition show “Comics Watching Comics”, where he was the runner-up in the fifth season. He has also appeared internationally on the Jerusalem version of Amazing Race, and locally on the Staten Island Comedy Show and Late Night with Johnny P., not to mention on a long list of club stages including Catch a Rising Star, Stress Factory, Broadway Comedy Club, Stand-Up NY, New York Comedy Club, and at Caesar’s Palace and Tropicana Casino, both in Atlantic City.

      In addition, John has appeared at the Staten Island Comedy Festival, and has served as producer for his monthly show Raveling Thread Comedy, plus “Sitting with Kursh”--a variety show bearing his name and featuring some of his favorite acts. John’s latest project, though, is as the co-producer of the 5th Borough Comedy Festival, a gathering of some of the best comedians and shows curated by John and his co-producers to take place on his homebase of Staten Island, New York.

      John Kurschner is your pal. He’s the guy you hang with by the grill at the backyard BBQ, or the guy you clink a bottle with every time the Giants score a touchdown, or the comedian you see on stage and think, I know this guy.