About

Roast Battle Chicago is the city’s
premier insult comedy show.

You can see us every first and third Thursday at Zanies Chicago, and monthly at Zanies Rosemont.

Follow our socials

see more on patreon

Full Shows, Extra Battles, and Behind the Scenes

A circular sign with a black background, a white shape in the center resembling a bean or kidney, and a red border.

Meet the Team

  • Close-up of smiling man with brown hair and beard, wearing a tan jacket, against a red and orange gradient background.

    Chris Grieco

    Founder / Host

  • A woman with brown hair, glasses, and a bright smile, posing against a red and orange gradient background.

    Courtney Peterson

    Showrunner

  • Close-up of a young woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing glasses, smiling, against a red and orange textured background.

    Rebecca Jaffe

    Community Manager

  • A man with glasses, beard, and short brown hair smiling in front of a red and orange gradient background.

    Jameson Cox

    Editing and Social Media

  • Close-up of a young man with light brown hair, blue eyes, and a beard, looking directly at the camera with a slight smile, against a red and orange gradient background.

    Justin Smith

    Videography

  • Smiling woman with long brown hair against a red and orange gradient background.

    Britt Mora

    Graphic Design

Want to battle?

Sign Up Here

History of the Show

  • April 15, 2021
    Chris Grieco and Matt Banwart create “Sticks & Stones Roast Battle”. It debuts at The Lincoln Lodge as one of the venue’s first shows after opening its doors post-pandemic.

    July 17, 2021
    The show’s first YouTube video is posted.

    May 5th, 2021
    The show’s first TikTok is posted.

    September 9, 2021
    A clip of the show goes viral for the first time.

  • March 2022
    The Grand Finals of the 2022 Tournament was between Grace Leishman and Evelyn Troutman.

    Grace Leishman wins the 2022 Championship.

  • June 1, 2022
    Sticks & Stones joins the Roast Battle League. The show is renamed to Roast Battle Chicago.

    September 15, 2022
    The Roast Master General, Jeff Ross, judges Roast Battle Chicago in one of the most electric shows of all time. This marks the first of many celebrity drop-ins.

    October 5, 2023
    After over 2 years, Roast Battle Chicago does its last regular show at the Lincoln Lodge. 100% of ticket sales were donated back to the venue.

  • March 2023
    The Grand Finals of the 2023 Tournament was between Tito and Brandon Kieffer.

    Tito wins the 2023 Championship.

  • November 2, 2023

    Roast Battle Chicago starts its permanent residency at Zanies Old Town with the 312 Comedy Festival.

  • March 2024
    The Grand Finals of the 2024 Tournament was between Max Sorich and Fujiko

    Max Sorich wins the 2024 Championship.

  • March 2025
    The Grand Finals of the Spring 2025 Tournament was between Matt Sullivan and Tory Ward.

    Matt Sullivan wins the Spring Championship.

    October 2025
    Due to the high volume of submission each year for the Tournament, RBC creates a second competition in the Fall at Zanies Rosemont. The Grand Finals was between Mike Bergeron and Geoff Dow.

    Mike Bergeron wins the Fall Championship.

    November 2025
    RBC celebrates 2 years at Zanies Chicago with the 312 Festival.