CU Boulder Students Shape Climate Comedy at NYC Climate Week | Newswise
CU Boulder students helped shape a climate-themed comedy show to be featured at NYC Climate Week 2025 and performed by professional comedians.
Working as a writers’ group, students have collaborated with comedians from “The Daily Show,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and Comedy Central to turn climate science into sharp, funny material.
PHOTO (attached) / VIDEO: Download video from 2025 Stand Up for Climate Live Show at the Boulder Theater.
Newswise — Sept. 10, 2025 – University of Colorado Boulder students are helping bring humor to inspire climate action at NYC Climate Week 2025, where the university’s research and their creative input will fuel a live comedy showcase performed by professional comedians.
The students have collaborated as a writers’ group, working with famous comedians from “The Daily Show,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and Comedy Central, to provide climate science insights and develop climate-themed material for the comedic performance. This ongoing collaboration aims to engage and educate audiences on the importance of climate action through humor and creativity.
Titled “The Heat of the Moment,” the performance will take place on Sept. 20, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Caveat Comedy Club in New York City as part of Climate Week. The annual event – in conjunction with the UN General Assembly – brings together leaders, activists, and artists to address the pressing issue of climate change.
The show was produced by CU Boulder Theater professor Beth Osnes-Steodefalke – who will also perform at the event – and Environmental Studies professor Max Boykoff, who was recently named the inaugural faculty executive director of the newly launched Buckley Center for Sustainability Education.
”CU Boulder is deeply committed to connecting its students with professionals as part of their educational experience,” said Boykoff. “The students in the creative climate communications class have worked collaboratively with the comedians and it’s exciting to see their work inspire others to take action on climate change.”
In addition to the climate week event, CU Boulder students work with professional comedians, Osnes-Steodefalke and Boykoff to showcase their work annually on Earth Day at the “Stand Up for Climate Live Show” at the Boulder Theater.
For more information and to schedule an interview, please email cunews@colorado.edu.
Student performers in front of Boulder Theater on Earth Day 2024. Photo by Ben Hale/PrettyGoodPics.
Actor and CU Boulder theater professor, Beth Osnes-Steodefalke, kicks off the annual “Stand Up for Climate Live Show” at the Boulder Theater with actor and CU alumni Ben Stasny and professor Max Boykoff. Photo by Ben Hale/PrettyGoodPics.
The University of Colorado Boulder is Colorado’s leading public research university, transforming lives since 1876. As the state’s flagship university and one of only 38 U.S. public research institutions in the Association of American Universities (AAU), CU Boulder has proudly served Coloradans since the state’s founding. Home to five Nobel Laureates since 1989 and the only university to send space instruments to every planet in the solar system, CU Boulder provides a strong return on investment by aligning efforts to achieve research and creative excellence, global sustainability impact and the success of all students, faculty and staff. Learn more at colorado.edu/about.
###