Comics Santiago Angel and Rebecca Kaplan Headline at The Set Closet
NYC-based alt up-and-comers ascend to comedy genius
Friday, May 8
With rapid-fire quips and cutting observations, Santiago Angel will be in Erie for one night only, with back-to-back headlining shows at the Set Closet. Hailing from New York City, Angel released his hour-long comedy special, These Jokes Ruined My Life in March of 2025.
Within, he touches on topics like growing up in Texas with Columbian parents, doing psychedelics, navigating gender identity, and secretly watching carpet cleaning videos.
A regular performer at clubs like the New York Comedy Club, St. Marks Comedy Club, and the Eastville Comedy Club, Angel has been a guest at the New York Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Fest, and Boston Comedy Fest. He's opened for alt comic heroes like Reggie Watts, Kyle Kinane, Carmen Lynch, and more. He can be followed on Instagram @santiagoisdead.
7 and 9 p.m. // The Set Closet, 426 State St. (second floor of Ascend Erie) // $15 advance, $20 day-of-show // For tickets and more information, visit tickets.eriereader.com
Saturday, May 30
With her deadpan delivery, Rebecca Kaplan's smart sarcasm has been getting her noticed. With 24 shows listed in May 2026 alone, Kaplan is touring all around New York and the eastern U.S., with a Saturday stop right here in Erie at the Set Closet. She's been featured on NPR, SiriusXM, with appearances on the New York Comedy Festival, Rubber City Comedy Festival, and the Boston Comedy Festival – and even appeared on Late Night with David Letterman when she was 5 years old.
Co-host of the Bad Fan Fic podcast, Kaplan is a prolific freelance writer in addition to her comedy career. Kaplan's unique insights skewer modern sex and dating, addressing how things like autism, feminism, and veganism get awkwardly misinterpreted. With an acerbic style all her own, Kaplan brings an understated yet hilarious energy to every set. She can be followed on Instagram @RebeccaTKaplan. – Nick Warren
7:30 p.m. // The Set Closet, 426 State St. (second floor of Ascend Erie) // $20 // For tickets and more information, visit tickets.eriereader.com
