Guy Torry, the St. Louis-raised actor and comedian who has spent 34 years in show business, is back in his hometown this weekend for two shows with very different stages. He headlined a sold-out Gallery Laughs performance at the Saint Louis Art Museum on Friday evening, and he is set to host the Kirkwood Teachers of Color's Comedy for a Cause fundraiser on Sunday at Kirkwood High School.
The Friday night museum show capped the second season of Gallery Laughs, a stand-up series that, according to STLPR, had Torry headlining a sold-out crowd at the art museum. The Saint Louis Art Museum's own listing confirmed the event was sold out and promised a DJ and cash bar before the comedy began. Despite performing at countless venues over his career, Torry had never before taken the stage at an art museum.
Torry told the station he feels a particular pull back to St. Louis, saying, “this is the city that influenced me the most.” The St. Louis Magazine has reported that Gallery Laughs returned in 2026 for a second season featuring four free stand-up comedy shows, with Torry's performance serving as the series' finale.
From Def Comedy Jam to Phat Tuesdays
The museum's event page describes Torry as a St. Louis native who moved to Los Angeles and launched his comedy career on national television on Def Comedy Jam. He later created Phat Tuesdays, the showcase at the Comedy Store that ran from 1995 to 2005 and gave a platform to Black comedians who would go on to become some of the biggest names in the business. The station's earlier report noted that Cedric the Entertainer, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart and Chris Tucker all graced the Phat Tuesdays stage during that run.
Torry's film credits include appearances in Don't Be a Menace and Ride, and he joined the station's St. Louis on the Air program to talk through launching Phat Tuesdays in the mid-1990s, his St. Louis upbringing and memories from film sets. He said he wants to remain himself while still respecting whatever venue and audience he's performing for — a balancing act that applies as much to an art museum crowd as it does to a comedy club.
A Scholarship Fundraiser With Family Ties
On Sunday, Torry heads to Kirkwood High School's Keating Theater for Comedy for a Cause, a fundraiser organized by the Kirkwood Teachers of Color. The event listing sets the show for 6 p.m. at the Keating Theater, 801 Essex Avenue in Kirkwood, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m., and notes the show is for audiences 18 and older. Proceeds are earmarked for the KTOC scholarship, which the listing says benefits graduating Kirkwood High School seniors who identify as BIPOC and are pursuing higher education or vocational training.
The Kirkwood School District says KTOC established the scholarship in 2021 for a graduating senior who identifies as Black, Indigenous or a student of color, carries at least a 2.5 GPA and plans to attend an eligible two-year, four-year, vocational or trade program. The district lists the award as a non-renewable $1,000 scholarship.
Torry has a personal connection to Kirkwood beyond the stage: his sister, Roberta McWoods, is a retired teacher and former head track coach for the district. Torry said his family was raised to do charitable work and had benefited from charity themselves growing up, so supporting the fundraiser was a way of paying that forward.
Who's Topping the Bill
Reports on the fundraiser's lineup diverge on one key point. STLPR's report lists Beverly Nelson, who performs as B Phlat, as the headliner, with Tim Convy and Larry Greene performing sets ahead of her. A separate account from the St. Louis American instead describes Torry as both headlining and hosting the show. The dossier does not resolve which billing is accurate, but both outlets agree the evening will also include a surprise special guest along with music from DJ VThom and singer-songwriter Malena Smith.
The Kirkwood date isn't Torry's first local booking promoted by the St. Louis American; the outlet has previously written about him performing at the St. Louis Funny Bone in Westport Plaza. Between a sold-out art museum debut and a hometown scholarship benefit, this weekend marks a rare stretch of Torry sharing stages with the city that, by his own account, shaped him most.
