NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 9/24/12
Arden Myrin is among the stars at tonight's Gravid
Water and at
Big
Band Madonna at 10:00 (which will feature Arden singing...)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Weekly hour-long open mic storytelling show, with audience members chosen from a bucket of names getting to tell tales for 8 minutes each at The PIT downstairs lounge along with host Jake Hart: The Dump
6:00 pm ($5 cover & $5 drink min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4 1/2 minutes per set and 20 comics crammed into 2 hours—at the Greenwich Village Comedy Club (99 MacDougal Street) for John Morrison's Village Motel
[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open mic stand-up show running about 90 minutes at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with host Chris Gaynor: Open Mic Mondays
7:00 pm ($8): A sketch and improv show featuring the "PIT Puppets"—who I'm hoping are puppeteers—performing with tonight's guest Glennis McCarthy at The PIT upstairs theatre: Puppet
7:00 pm ($5): Christine Holt & Mary Guiteras tend bar for a living, then let off steam by performing improv at The PIT downstairs lounge where they unleash the secrets they've heard: Bartenders
[FREE] 7:30 pm: Four improvisers form teams with comics they've never performed with before at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: The Kaleidoscope
7:30 pm ($10; sign-up starts at 7:00 pm): Open mic for stand-ups, storytellers, singers, poets, actors, and more, with 5 minutes per performer and 25 slots available, at One and One Bar's Downstairs Nexus Lounge (76 1st Street, corner of First Avenue) hosted by Nathan P., followed by a raucous afterparty with dancing & drink specials from 10:00 to midnight: Inspired Word's Open Mic Joint
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Broadway & off-Broadway stars mixing it up with such star improvisors as Arden Myrin (MAD TV), Neil Casey (SNL, Death by Roo Roo), Michael Delaney (The Other Guys, The Stepfathers), and Glennis McCarthy (I Eat Pandas) as they crash improv into classic theatre scenes at UCB Chelsea for actor/director Stephen Ruddy's Gravid Water
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10; includes admittance to Ben Lerman's raucous singing show at 10:00, Big Band Madonna): TV & Broadway star Colin Quinn, Christian Finnegan (Conan O'Brien, co-star of TBS' Are We There Yet?; three Comedy Central specials; MSNBC, VH1's Best Week Ever, Chappelle's Show, The Today Show), Jessica Delfino (enjoys singing songs about her vagina, as demonstrated by her CDs Dirty Folk Rock and I Wanna Be Famous; created the hilarious and wildly popular YouTube animated short film I Wanna Be Famous; to get a feel for Jessica's range and talent, please click here), Ben Lerman (nuanced raunchy comedic singer/songwriter; Logo TV's NewNowNext, Sirius Radio's Frank DeCaro Show), musical sketch comedy by Political Subversities, and found footage from Derrick Beckles (Street Carnage), all performing at The Ace Hotel's Liberty Hall (20 West 29th Street) hosted by Victor Varnado (TV, movies, you name it): The Company Picnic
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($9.47 online or $8 at the door): Matt McCarthy (HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and Bored to Death, host of AMC's Action Pack, Comedy Central, hilarious shorts with Pete Holmes for Front Page Films, national TV ads as Verizon FIOS guy, feature film The Other Guys), Janine Brito (Totally Biased), Jay Larson (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), and "a secret guest" performing at Brooklyn's Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) hosted by by Kurt Kurt Braunohler (Comedy Central; creator & host of IFC game show Bunk; co-creator & co-star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets; triple 2011 ECNY Award winner): Hot Tub Variety
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($18): A former roommate & drinking buddy of such comedy giants as David Cross and Marc Maron performed a one-man show at last month's FringeNYC—and it's now enjoying an extended run as part of the FringeNYC Encore Series. Please read my review by clicking here, and Jason Zinoman's New York Times review by clicking here; and then come share an intimate hour with Matt Graham at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club so he can explain life and meaning and why This Too Shall Suck
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Bridey Elliott (David Letterman, Witstream), Dan Wilbur (author of How Not to Read), Katie Compa, and Paul Oddo performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Sharon Spell and featuring the Shrink Dancers: The Big Shrink
[FREE] 8:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Kate Hendricks, Charlie Kasov, Simeon Goodson, Dave Lester, John Early, and Ben Conrad performing at this weekly show at Brooklyn's Bar Matchless back room (557 Manhattan Avenue, near the G subway's Nassau Avenue stop) hosted by Nimesh Patel, Mike Denny, and/or Michael Che: Broken Comedy
8:00 pm ($10): NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at this monthly show at The PIT hosted by twins Todd & Adam Stone: Stone and Stone Show
[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($5): At this Magnet double-bill, first Chris Nester & Ross Taylor are aspiring Country Western musicians who "sneak laughs and toe-tapping-tunes in between serious moral lessons based on suggestions from the audience (sinners welcome!)" as The Oakwood Boys: MoralityProv; and then "strange, mysterious, beautiful, and disgusting, this show will dazzle you with sketch comedy... and magic!" from witchy duo Angela DeManti & Emily Shapiro: The Weird Sisters
[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Ilana Glazer (Broad City), Kevin McCaffrey, Jacquetta Szathmari, Nick Stevens and Erik Levi, plus musical guest Paper Anniversary, performing at Brooklyn's Freddy's Bar (627 Fifth Avenue; take R subway to Prospect Avenue) for this free biweekly show hosted by Brooke Van Poppelen (brilliant stand-up, writer, and storyteller; TLC, trutV; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here) and tonight's guest host Doug Smith: Dive Comedy
9:30 pm ($5): Two UCB Chelsea house sketch troupes try out fresh material: HUNK (which includes such stellar talents as Leslie Meisel, Aaron Jackson, and Zhubin Parang), and Bellevue (which I haven't seen yet): Maude Night: HUNK & Bellevue
9:30 pm ($5): The debut of the only open-stage show for entire groups of improvisors and sketch comics, running weekly at UCB East hosted by Austin Rodrigues: Bring Your Own Team: Improv/Sketch Team Jam
[FREE] 9:30 pm: Following a club format, hosts Nore Davis & Andrew Short perform stand-up throughout for a total of 25 minutes, two comics each perform a 15-minute set, and then a seasoned headliner closes out the show with a 20-minute set, all at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue): On the Road
10:00 pm ($8): Diverse forms of puppetry and live music are used to create unique scenes of longform improv by troupe Gameface at The PIT upstairs theatre: Not Quite Human
10:00 pm ($5): Improv is dominated by guys, so this is a rare treat—a dozen female improvisors "for an evening of comedy that will delight men, women, babies, and kittens" at The Magnet hosted by Megan Gray: We Might Just Kiss
[FREE] 10:30 pm: Karaoke at the UCB East Bar for the 9:30 BYOT improvisors and more: Karaoke Night at the Hot Chicks Room
[FREE] 10:30 pm: Improv students are welcomed onto the stage at The PIT downstairs lounge for this weekly open access show hosted by Gary DeNoia & Keith Huang: Base Jam
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who are no longer being announced in advance, but it's virtually always a great lineup—at UCB Chelsea guest-hosted by someone wonderful (while Leo Allen is in LA): Whiplash
[FREE] 11:00 pm: If you're an audience member who loves stand-up, Monday at 11 should be Whiplash! night (see listing above). If you're a comic who couldn't get booked on UCBT's all-star show, though, you can opt to instead practice your skills at this exceptionally supportive stand-up open mic at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted by Jarrid Reed: Fresh
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 9/25/12
Brooke Van Poppelen performs stand-up at The Afterlife; Carmen Lynch debuts her one-woman show Half a Spaniard
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:30 pm: Open mic for comedy of all types (with sign-up starting at 6:00) at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre hosted by Chesley Calloway (co-host of renowned Comedy as a Second Language): The Ches Club
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm-Midnight ($7 for the whole evening): In this 4-hour extravaganza, four of The Magnet's singing improv troupes make up a musical on the spot based on an audience suggestion: Legend and The Montels (at 7:00) and BEEES! and Atticus (at 8:30); followed at 10:15 by a free show that lets audience members join in with musical improv troupe Atticus to make up stories in song: Musical Magnet Mixer
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm: Comic book creators Fernando Ruiz (Archie Comics), Fabio Redivo (Hell Yeah!), and Anthony Marques (The Gutters) joining super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Fontana's (105 Eldridge Street), with giveaways of comics and gift certificates: Comic Book Club
[FREE] 7:00 pm: Typically a star stand-up—no idea who—tries out material at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue): Workout Stand-Up with "Special Guest"
7:00 pm ($8): Rob Shapiro (FX’s Rescue Me) and Sean Lynch (MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch, Comedy Central) create improvised scenes inspired by soundtracks to movies and TV shows, "and random sound effects," at The PIT upstairs theatre: Surfing Soundwaves
7:30 pm-9:00 pm ($5): Long form improv known as The Harold from UCB Chelsea house troupes Spooky Ghost, Good Girl, and Bucky at this first half of Harold Night
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): The lovely and talented gals (and more) of HelloGiggles.com share tales of school days at UCB East, with storytellers including Jena Friedman (wry dark comedy stand-up and rising star; former staff writer for David Letterman, host of Entertaining the Bartender) and Nate Dern (UCBT Artistic Director): HelloGiggles: Back to School
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm (no cover, 1 drink min.): Brooke Van Poppelen (writer for MTV's Epic Fall; trutV, TLC, co-host of Dive Comedy; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here), Barry Rothbart (Jay Leno, Comedy Central, MTV's Punk'd, IFC's Do Whatever), Emily Heller (Comedy Central; staff writer for Rooftop Comedy; for ruminations on pregnancy, please click here), Robert Dean, Nick Turner, Greg Johnson, and more performing on this week's topic Going to the Movies at Sidewalk NYC (94 Avenue A) produced by Chenoa Estrada, Emily Heller, and George Gordon and hosted tonight by Erin Judge (Comedy Central; comedy album So Many Choices; for hilarious short bit on men vs. women, please click here): The Afterlife: Going to the Movies
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10 at the door if you're willing to try for a waiting list; SOLD OUT online): Doctors, biologists, and more tell funny tales at this science-centric monthly show that tonight focuses on Animals at Brooklyn's Union Hall hosted by Ben Lillie & Erin Barker: The Story Collider
8:00 pm ($8): Head writer & director Jen Curran (Harvard Sailing Team, The Baldwins, Jen & Steve) and a dozen other talents perform brand new sketch comedy at The PIT upstairs theatre: Big Business
8:00 pm ($5): Comics Michael Short, Louie Pearlman, Lauren Hunter, and more make up funny commentary about oddball short films—industrials, educationals, etc.—at The PIT downstairs lounge: Down in Front
[FREE] 8:00 pm: This weekly show features "a swarthy selection of fine stand-up comics and mildly entertaining recurring segments" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre, hosted by Jim Tews & Brendan Eyre: Chest Hair
[FREE] 8:30 pm: Typically sharp NYC stand-ups (for an update, please click here) performing at Cake Shop (152 Ludlow Street, between Rivington & Stanton) hosted by Kate Berlant (MTV, CNN, notable hair): Crime & Punishment
[FREE] 9:00 pm: Pat Dixon (Comedy Central Presents, FOX, VH1, E!, host of Nearly Naked Lady Comedy Hour), Kevin Barnett (MTV's #FAIL, Sleepwalk with Me), Greg Johnson, Sam Morrill, Zach Sims, and more performing stand-up at this weekly show at Brooklyn's The Alligator Lounge (600 Metropolitan Avenue) hosted by Sean Donnelly, Robert Dean, Steve O'Brien, and/or Kevin McCaffrey: Comedy at Alligator Lounge
9:15 pm-Midnight ($5): Long form improv known as The Harold from UCB Chelsea house troupes Graceland, The Regulars, and Sandino—plus advanced improv students mash up forms LaRonde and Montage by starting with a series of unlikely pairings and then ending "somewhere deep inside a pile of hilarious character" for a hybrid form called LaRONTAGE—at this second half (continued from 7:30 pm) of Harold Night
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($8): The wonderful Carmen Lynch (Last Comic Standing finalist, Comedy Central) tries out a one-woman show at The PIT upstairs theatre; and Ryan Dietz tries out a one-man show, both as part of the wonderful Jen Nails' Do It Yourself class: Carmen Lynch: Half a Spaniard and Ryan Dietz: The Box Turtle Incident
9:30 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at The PIT downstairs lounge with host Chris Grace: Cold Soda Comedy
[FREE] 9:30 pm: Stand-up and sketch at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre, typically hosted by sketch troupes Savage Animal and/or Jerk Practice: Savage Animal
[$] 10:00 pm ($15 & 2-drink min.): Jay Larson, Nick Griffin, Leslie Jones, Mike Recine, and more performing stand-up at the Gotham Comedy Club: ComedyJuice
[FREE] 11:00 pm: A breathtaking 40 comics are given 2 minutes each in this rapid-fire open mic stand-up show at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted with wit and energy by Jay Welch: Bring It
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up at UCB East hosted by Boris Khaykin, John Trowbridge, and/or Katie East: Tuesday Night Open Mic
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 9/26/12
Brad Lawrence debuts a one-man stortyelling show
at Coney Island: Childhood;
A Guide to Weapons and Tactics;
Liz Miele performs stand-up at
Gandhi, Is That You?
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $13 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:00 pm to midnight: Six free hours of improvisation at The PIT upstairs: Super Free Wednesday
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up providing four minutes per comic, with "15 people chosen randomly through e-mail, and five walk-ins; and a guaranteed spot to anyone who performs in character as a famous explorer" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre: Comedic Exploration Club of Long Island City, West
6:30 pm ($5): Two shows I know nothing about—The Knuckleboys and The Last Double Date—audition for a spot on the schedule of the prestigious UCB Chelsea stage. At $2.50 per show, it's hard to go wrong with Spank
7:00 pm-12:30 am ($7 for the entire evening): Magnet house troupes Dr. Champagne, Bloomer, Flower Girl, Brick, Horses, Featherweight, Nintendo, and The Wrath performing improv, followed by a free audience interactive show with Nintendo at 11:30 pm: The Magnet's Megawatt
[FREE] 7:00 pm: Typically a star stand-up—no idea who—tries out material at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue): Workout Stand-Up with "Special Guest"
7:30 pm ($5): Expanding the UCB longform improv showcased on Harold Night is this weekly show at UCB East which tonight features troupes Cookers Cleaning and Long Soccer Oink: Lloyd Night
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): A delightful dark musical about the rich consuming the poor—literally. Witty songs from Brian Glidewell, Marcy Jarreau, and Kevin Carter, a uniformly strong cast (Megan Maes, Aaron Jackson, Michael Martin, Katie Schorr, Dan Hodapp, Brian Glidewell, and Stephanie Streisand), and sharp direction from Christopher Gladysz and Lauren Conlin Adams make this 30-minute surreal parody of Newsies a winner as a UCBT comedy, and recommended. That said, right now the story is paper-thin and the characters cardboard. While the latter is turned into an asset (e.g., a leg-injured character is hilariously named "Cripply"), I'm hoping the creators consider making all the elements deeper and more nuanced, and expanding the production to a 90-minute legit theatre length. Meanwhile, enjoy this remarkably compact version that delivers a quick, sharp punch to the gut you're likely to remember: Newsadoozies: A Man-Eating Musical...
...and in the other half of this UCB Chelsea double-bill, a sketch show about one of the sadder aspects of the human condition: Lonely People
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Storyteller Brad Lawrence (Moth GrandSlam Champion, FringeNYC, co-host of The Standard Issues) debuts a one-man show at Brooklyn's Coney Istand's Sideshows by the Seashore (1208 Surf Avenue) in which he "relives the horrors of his growing up so you can laugh at his pain:" Childhood; A Guide to Weapons and Tactics
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups do sets "and then have a discussion about what’s going on in the world and the mysteries of life" at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue), hosted by Chris Laker: The Show
[FREE] 8:30 pm: Typically terrific NYC comics (not announced) performing at this free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) typically hosted by Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman, and/or Max Silvestri: Big Terrific
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): A weekly wild experiment in dark comedy, blending sketch and improv, from brilliant and innovative Anthony Atamanuik (Death by Roo Roo, 30 Rock, Conan O'Brien, Huffington Post, The Nights of Our Lives) at UCB East with tonight's guests Nimesh Patel (co-host of Broken Comedy) and Josh Rabinowitz, plus producer Andy Rocco: The Tony Show
[FREE] 9:00 pm: Liz Miele (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central), Ryan Conner (writer for SNL’s Weekend Update), Amanda Baramki, Joe Harrington, and Brian Jian performing stand-up at this free weekly comedy show at Lucky Jack's Bar (129 Orchard Street) produced by Kyle Fincham, Lance Weiss, and Brendon Fitzgibbons: Gandhi, Is That You?
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): One of the finest comedic storytelling shows in the country, in which brilliant writer/performers —who tonight are Adam Wade, Michelle Markowitz, Halle Kiefer, Jon Gabrus, and host Dave Martin—tell tales that are brutally honest and utterly hilarious at UCB Chelsea, with tonight's theme School: The Nights of Our Lives
[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): The instructors of UCB's classes include some of the finest improvisors in the country. In this new weekly show a bunch of them get on stage at UCB East, along with hosts Betsy Stover and Ari Voukydis: Hot for Teacher: The UCB Faculty Show
[FREE] 10:00 pm: NYC stand-ups perform along with side-show attractions such as jugglers, contortionists, and fire eaters at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue) for this unusual carny experience: Abigoliah's Bizarre Bazaar
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: The wonderful Sasheer Zamata (Doppelganger) hosts as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. (Tonight's scheduled performers include Brandon Gulya and "Goofy Bitches;" for the complete lineup, please click here.) Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a weekly show at UCB Chelsea makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up running until 1:00 am, with time divided evenly between performers (up to five minutes), at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue) with host Rob Stern: Bucket 'O Buckets
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Your opportunity to perform on the stage of UCB East with improv veterans, hosted by UCBT Harold Night house troupe Grandma's Ashes: The Improv Jam
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 9/27/12
World-class storyteller Eileen Kelly tells
hilarious tales and co-hosts with John Flynn at Oh,
Hey Guys;
rising star nerd stand-up Mike Lawrence headlines
at Carolines...
...and don't miss NYC's funniest noir
comedy, where
the cast has a great time even backstage: Death
Wears Stilettos
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 6:00 pm: Eileen Kelly (one of the finest storytellers in the country; also a superb stand-up; NBC’s Today Show, Showtime, staff comic for Lifetime; for video samples please click here and here, and for my review of her FringeNYC show please click here) is tonight's guest at this weekly open mic storytelling show, with each performer given a whopping eight minutes to captivate & impress, at UCB East hosted by John Flynn: Oh, Hey Guys!
6:00 pm ($5): Three shows I know nothing about—The Murder of Miko Feeling, UCB Sports, and Standards & Practices—audition for a spot on the schedule of the prestigious UCB Chelsea stage. At $1.66 per show, it's hard to go wrong with Spank
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Veteran musical improvisors at The PIT mix with novices on-stage at Pitch
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up with comics' names drawn from a bucket and each chosen one receiving three minutes at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Corby Haas
[TOP PICK] 6:30 pm ($5): Two TV mashup parodies—Bob Fosse Presents: Law & Order SVU: The Musical! and America's Next Great Person—audition for a spot on the schedule of the prestigious UCB Chelsea stage: Spank
[FREE] 7:00 pm: Typically a star stand-up—no idea who—tries out material at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue): Workout Stand-Up with "Special Guest"
7:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT downstairs lounge: Hot Diner and THEM
[FREE] 7:00 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members (signing in at 6:00) can join in with improv troupe Hello Laser to make up scenes on the spot: Magnet Mixer
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): A musical show at UCB East describing itself as "Female-fronted folky-pop band. Hyper-articulate, nerdy, post-modern sort of musical comedy. Folk singalongs and catchy pop jams are merely the metaphorical table holding up the buffet of wordplay, sarcastic wit, and rapid-fire pop culture references:" Summer & Eve: Folky-Pop Musical Comedy
[$] 7:30 pm ($27.25 plus 2 drink min.): A stand-up who's performed on Comedy Central, VH1, USA, and Oxygen headlining for one night only at the Carolines Comedy Club: Karen Bergreen
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Kurt Andersen (Spy Magazine, WNYC's Studio 360), J. Robin Baitz (co-creator of Brothers & Sisters, Tony nominated playwright), and more describing what it's like to have a dreamy job at UCB Chelsea to host Catie Lazarus, with musical accompaniment by Chris Sullivan (a.k.a., Shockwave; amazing human boombox; The Daily Show, The Electric Company, Freestyle Love Supreme, co-host of The BEATdown) and Arthur Lewis & The New Guys: Employee of the Month
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Stephen Said performs music to inspire made-up scenes by superb improvisors from The Story Pirates, iO, Second City, UCB, etc.—plus Starlee Kine (NPR's This American Life) performing a monologue—at The PIT upstairs theatre: Beauty Love Truth
8:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT downstairs lounge: The East Side Orphan Riot and Harvey
8:00 pm-MIdnight ($7 for the entire evening): The Magnet house troupes The Boss, Hello Laser, Chet Watkins, and Junior Varsity performing improv for two hours, followed at 10:00 pm by Neil McNamara directing Deep Dish (long-form improv interspersed with character monologues), and then at 11:00 improv competition Inspirado (like UCBT's Cage Match, but with a game-like challenge component) featuring Eaglefox vs. Listen Kid: The Magnet's Night Out
[FREE] 8:00 pm: "A stand-up comedy showcase and baking competition—come to eat or come to compete" at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Cody Hess & Jessica Gross: Cookies!
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Sara Schaefer (inventive, luminous comic; co-star of MTV's The Nikki and Sara Show; Emmy-nominated staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; VH1's Best Week Ever; co-host of hit podcast You Had to Be There), Brooke Van Poppelen (writer for MTV's Epic Fall; trutV, TLC, co-host of Dive Comedy; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here), Streeter Seidell (Editor-in-Chief of College Humor; Jimmy Kimmel, MTV), Anna Drezen, and Max Silvestri performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Adam Conover: Fresh Out
[$] [DISCOUNTED] 9:00 pm (FREE TICKETS if you reserve in advance by calling (212) 260-2445 and mention HyReviews.com, but there's still a 2-drink min. per person): Mike Britt (Comedy Central), Andrew Schulz (MTV), and more performing at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00ish pm: Terrific NYC stand-ups (the lineup is typically announced around 3:00 pm; for an update, please click here) performing on this free weekly show at the Kabin Bar and Lounge hosted by Chesley Calloway and comedy genius Sean Patton: Comedy as a Second Language
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Bridget O’Neill (Moth StorySlam Champion, Soundtrack series), Steve Zimmer (Moth GrandSlam and StorySlam Champion), Michele Carlo (author of Fish Out Of Agua), and David Balutanski performing at The PIT upstairs theatre to share tales on tonight's theme Late Blooming at one of the finest storytelling shows in the country: Risk!
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): At UCB Chelsea, one of the very best sketch shows of 2012. It's a noir mini-play written & directed with immense wit by Michael Trapp (Stone Cold Fox), who with this script demonstrates he's a rising star with a surefire career in the biz. And beyond the pages, Michael's put together an all-star cast, including John Murray (simultaneously gripping and hilarious as a hardboiled detective with an absurdly short attention span), Brandon Scott Jones (who delivers an unforgettable scene with John that's worth the trip all by itself), and D'Arcy Carden (who abandons her usual laid-back persona here to be smoking hot). These are all total pros who are virtually assured careers in TV and film. Catch them while they're honing their craft and waiting to be noticed in one of the most consistently fun shows in NYC: Death Wears Stilettos...
...and in the other half of this double-bill, a show for
which I had high hopes since some of my fondest childhood memories are
of
Krypto
and his Space Canine Patrol Agents (S.C.P.A.). But this ain't that. Instead,
it's a deliberately dumb version of Saturday morning cartoon shows that demonstrates
little respect, affection, or wit towards its source material. The most notable
elements are Neil Casey, who is hilarious as an evil alien insect-man; Rob
Lathan as Neil's lackey; and Sue Galloway as the gal even dog creatures want
to make out with. This could have been so much more, especially with the brilliant
Craig Rowin as co-writer; but instead it's
Dog Fleet
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:30 pm: Politically incorrect stand-ups Chris DiStefano, Danny Jolles, and Mike Cannon compete in this unique show for which each comic performs a set and then has to provide biting commentary on a popular online video. The audience then votes on who was the most savagely funny and has won the right to return the following month. It all happens at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Mike Feeney: On the Offensive
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Improvisors make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge, produced by Dan Hodapp & Micah Sherman: The Scene
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm (call 212.757.4100 and use promo code COB10 for discount on cover; plus 2 drink min.): A nerd persona but razor-sharp mind has made this stand-up a rapidly rising star whose performances include Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, and Comedy Central's John Oliver's NY Stand-Up—and now, for one night only, headlining at the Carolines Comedy Club (with an opener by Erin Lennox): MIke Lawrence
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Judah Friedlander (one of the quickest minds in comedy; 30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of How to Beat Up Anybody), Matt Koff (Onion News Network, WitStream, 9 Am Meeting), Andy Rocco (host of Underground Americana, producer of The Tony Show), and Mikey Roohan (Howard Stern) performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by "weirdo" Mike Bocchetti : Being Normal Sucks
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): In the tightest vote I've ever seen from Cage Match, improv challenger What I Did for Love defeated super-group Good Dad by one ballet: 74-73. Tonight the new champion will try to hold onto its crown against The Shucks as it competes for audience laughs and votes at UCB Chelsea for the raucous Cage Match
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 9/28/12
Tom Shillue opens and Todd Barry headlines tonight through Sunday at Carolines
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open mic show on a lottery system (sign-ups happen at 5:45-6:00 pm) at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Erin Lennox and Eli Sairs: The Orphanage
7:00 pm ($5): Superb improvisor Pay Shay and friends make up scenes at The PIT downstairs lounge: The Vanderbilts
7:00 pm ($5): Improv at The Magnet that flows from moment to moment, with no sweeps or tag outs—"each exit starts a new scene, while performers use devices ranging from monologues to in-scene questions to break into characters and relationships quicker and deeper:" Scoresby; plus in the other half of this double-bill, improv troupe Orange Augustus
[FREE] 7:00 pm: Typically a star stand-up—no idea who—tries out material at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue): Stand-Up Workout with "Special Guest"
[FREE] 7:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up, with 3 minutes per comic (unless not many folks show up, in which case there'll be more time), with names drawn out of a bucket at UCB East in the bar area ("Hot Chicks Room") hosted by Nate Dern and Paul Oddo: The Friday Night Hot Chicks Mic
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): At this UCB East improv double-bill, first ace all-gal troupe Doppelganger makes up scenes based around audience tattoos in Doppelganger Gets Inked; and then Sandino—which includes Don Fanelli, Brandon Gulya, and Kate Riley—interviews an audience member about some puzzle and then acts out scenes providing an unexpected answer: Sandino: Unsolved Mysteries
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Stone Cold Fox is the only sketch troupe (vs. improv troupe) to ever be honored with an ongoing spot on the prestigious UCB Chelsea weekend schedule. It’s earned this slot because its cast is one of the finest in comedy, with each performer strong enough for potential stardom. As for its writers, they sizzle when at their best; but when I saw this new show a few months ago, it was a work in progress. Regardless of the current state of the script, you're virtually guaranteed a good time from the all-star cast—Fran Gillespie, John Murray, Brandon Scott Jones, Molly Lloyd, D'Arcy Carden, and Johnathan Fernandez. (The scary faces Molly Lloyd makes are worth the trip all by themselves...) Directed by ace improvisor Ryan Karels: Stone Cold Fox: You Probably Think This Show Is About You
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($31.25 tonight and Saturday, or $16.50 on Sunday using code TODDB, plus 2-drink minimum): One of the finest stand-ups in the biz—with appearances on HBO, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, The Sarah Silverman Program, Adult Swim, and feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead—headlining tonight through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club, and with openers including star storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents, 2011 ECNY Award for Best Storyteller): Todd Barry
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Joe Zimmerman (Rooftop Comedy), Dave Stone (Adult Swim’s Squidbillies), Andy Sanford (TBS), and TJ Young "deliver an original brand of humor that's deeply rooted in stand-up and lightly blended with avant-garde elements of music, sketch and improv." This bearded quartet's credits include the album Cardio Mix from Comedy Central Records. Tonight they're joined by NYC stand-ups performing at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre: The Beards of Comedy & Friends
8:00 pm ($5): Freestyle rapping long-form improv troupe North Coast clobbered some of the best improv groups in NYC this year at UCBT's Cage Match. Tonight come see it perform without the pressure of competition at The PIT downstairs lounge, and also catch an improv group that includes Keisha Zollar (Doppelganger): North Coast and Nobody's Token
[FREE] 8:00 pm: An open mic show that's first come, first serve (sign-ups start at 7:30 pm), with each comic getting five minutes on stage at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue): Mic and Cheese
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A winner of Last Comic Standing who's also performed on Comedy Central, Showtime, and E! headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Iliza Shlesinger
8:30 pm ($10): Theatrical sketch comedy at The Magnet written & performed by Anne Fidler, Tyler Foltz, Paul Travisano, Mikael Walter, and Kevin Young: Citizen Models
[MEGA-TOP PICK] [$] 9:00 pm ($18): One of the funniest comedies—and finest comedic ensembles—to grace New York, and what ended up as the very best show of this year's FringeNYC Festival, has its next-to-last performance tonight via the Encore Series at the Soho Playhouse's upstairs theatre. Please read my review by clicking here, and then take advantage of this wonderful second chance to see 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from comedy geniuses Chris Gethard and Shannon O'Neill, plus stellar comics Silvija Ozols, Zach Woods, Michael Delaney, Will Hines, and Connor Ratliff, performing at UCB Chelsea—the all-star members of The Stepfathers
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Sharp improvisors at UCB East—Amber Petty, Ashley Ward, Morgan Phillips, Michael Kayne, and Winston Noel—making up a musical on the spot: Diamond Lion
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 9:00 pm & 11:00 pm (FREE TICKETS if you reserve in advance by calling (212) 260-2445 and mention HyReviews.com, but there's still a 2-drink min. per person): star Judy Gold, Mike Britt (Comedy Central), Andrew Schulz (MTV), and more performing at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club
9:30 pm ($10): A PIT improv troupe making up a musical on the spot after a friendly greeting: Hello
10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors at The Magnet using an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Dave Waite, who's moving to LA, is bid adieu by NYC stand-ups Pat Dixon, Reid Faylor, Tim Dimond, Anthony Devito, Greg Stone, Andrew Short, Luke Younger, and Mark Chalifoux—who will "tell him what a big dummy he is" and plan to "buy Dave so much beer that he misses his flight! Alright! "— at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Dave Waite's Boom Boom Room
10:00 pm ($5): Oscar Montoya (host of deliciously bad cinema) and Jen Tullock (Second City) wrote & perform a duo sketch show about "a night at gay rehab for renewal, self-discovery, and occasional break dancing" at The PIT downstairs lounge: Pray It Away with Oscar & Jen
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Fran Gillespie, Jon Gabrus, Sue Galloway, Matt Fisher, Craig Rowin, Nate Lang, and other superb improvisors at UCB Chelsea making up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute: The Law Firm: Law & Disorder
10:30 pm ($5): NYC comics (not announced) performing at UCB East hosted by Emily Axford, D'Arcy Carden, Alden Ford, Brandon Scott Jones, and/or Justin Tyler: Gentrify
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Sasheer Zamata (highly charming, innovative rising star; host of UCBT's School Night, member of red-hot improv troupe Doppelganger and sketch troupe The Prom), Glennis McCarthy (ace improvisor), and Jon Savoy performing at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by terrific sketch duo Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting (Leah Rudick and Katie Hartman) : Daddy's Basement: A Comedy Variety Freakshow
[TOP PICK] 11:30 pm ($5): Before this Magnet show, audience members may anonymously submit written confessions, secrets, rants, advice and opinions which will be used onstage by the improvisors—who include such talents as Laura Grey (stellar old-time radio style theatrical podcast Horrorgasm, top Maude sketch troupe Gramp's, sketch/improv duo Klepper & Grey): The Friday Night Sh*w
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Sasheer Zamata (highly charming, innovative rising star; host of UCBT's School Night, member of red-hot improv troupe Doppelganger and sketch troupe The Prom), Nate Dern (UCBT Artistic Director, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, The Onion), Will Hines (ace improv troupe The Stepfathers, treasured UCBT comedy instructor & director), and more performing a variety of comedy acts at UCB East hosted by sketch duo Matt Dennie & Josh Sharp: Cool Shit / Weird Shit
[FREE] Midnight: NYC stand-ups at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, with host Andy Haynes promising "a rowdy late night comedy melee with beers being thrown, jokes being told, partial nudity, audience participation...there's no telling what might happen:" Midnight Run
[FREE] Midnight: This show might not be much fun for audience members, but it's an amazing opportunity if you want to perform sketch for free and with almost zero hurdles on the prestigious UCB Chelsea stage. Plus it's hosted by members of Maude troupe Fambly, typically including such wonderful talents as Nicole Byer and Veronica Osorio: Liquid Courage
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 9/29/12
Todd Barry headlines at Carolines; zombies rock badly at Midnight at Montoya's....
...and two of the finest storytellers in the country, Adam Wade & Ophira Eisenberg, make you laugh at fundraiser F**K Cancer
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 4:00 pm: An unusually early weekly open mic stand-up show ("starts late enough to sleep off that hangover but ends just in time to begin a new one") at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue) hosted by Jhoel Walkowski & Evan Davis: The Amateur Hour
6:00 pm ($5): Improv troupes CHAOS, Eaglefox, and Sad at The Magnet kicking off your Saturday evening: The Rundown
[TOP PICK] 7:00 ($5): Mike Lawrence (nerd persona but razor-sharp mind has made this stand-up a rapidly rising star; Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central's John Oliver's NY Stand-Up) and Matt McCarthy (HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and Bored to Death, host of AMC's Action Pack, Comedy Central, hilarious shorts with Pete Holmes for Front Page Films, national TV ads as Verizon FIOS guy, feature film The Other Guys, host of Marking Out) performing comedy club-length sets at UCB East hosted by Adam Newman (Comedy Central, College Humor): Big Long Sets
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Some of the greatest storytellers in NYC—Adam Wade, Ophira Eisenberg, and John Flynn—plus stand-ups Matt Koff and Emmy Blotnick, performing at The Magnet for this fundraiser hosted by Dave Warth & Kelly Buttermore: F**K Cancer: A Benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
7:30 pm ($10): Talented improvisors at UCB Chelsea interview an audience member about where he or she grew up and then "turn that town's tourist attractions, landmarks, hangouts, local celebrities, urban legends, and more into a hilarious show made up on the spot:" The Curfew: Not From Around Here
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($31.25 tonight, or $16.50 on Sunday using code TODDB, plus 2-drink minimum): One of the finest stand-ups in the biz—with appearances on HBO, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, The Sarah Silverman Program, Adult Swim, and feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead—headlining tonight through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club, and with openers including star storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents, 2011 ECNY Award for Best Storyteller): Todd Barry
[$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A winner of Last Comic Standing who's also performed on Comedy Central, Showtime, and E! headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Iliza Shlesinger
8:00 pm ($10): Two of the most respected PIT improv troupes performing on this weekly double-bill—and occasionally with comedy giants Kristen Schaal and/or Kurt Braunohler participating—at the upstairs theatre: Big Black Car and The Baldwins
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC comics performing at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City for this talk & stand-up show hosted by Sarah Tollemache: Last Night
8:30 pm ($10): Gary Vider (hilarious writer & deadpan stand-up; for sample jokes, please click here), Scott Moran (producer of weekly documentary Web series Modern Comedian), Jordan Carlos (The Colbert Report, MTV, VH1), Jacqueline Novak, Yannis Pappas, and Brooks Wheelan performing stand-up at UCB East produced by Kara Klenk and guest-hosed tonight by Eliot Glazer: If You Build It
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—with honors including being Cage Match Champion for three years in a row, and winning the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Improv Group—UCB Chelsea's genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 9:00 pm & 11:00 pm (FREE TICKETS if you reserve in advance by calling (212) 260-2445 and mention HyReviews.com, but there's still a 2-drink min. per person): star Judy Gold, Mike Britt (Comedy Central), Andrew Schulz (MTV), and more performing at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups tell jokes and perform comedy as original characters—with tonight's guests including Sasheer Zamata and Jeffrey Joseph—at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue) hosted by Shakir Standley: Out of Character
9:00 pm ($7): Magnet improvisors team up with poets at Kiss*Punch*Poem
9:00 pm ($5): A young all-guy improv troupe making stuff up at The PIT downstairs lounge: Gentlemen Party
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, fast-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience interaction and audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer
[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): "Using an original form based on the film Crimes and Misdemeanors, improvisors explore love, death, misery, and occasional happiness in New York" at The PIT downstairs lounge: The Woody Allen
[FREE] 10:00 pm: Stand-ups Kevin Sanchoo, Timmy Knapp, Anthony Zenhauser, Oni Perez, Dave Kinney, and Eric DaSilva performing at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: The Vinny Brusco Show
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Improv troupe Grandma's Ashes—which includes stellar talents Ryan Karels, Morgan Grace Jarrett, Brandon Scott Jones, and more—promises to "take your stories of the tragic and depraved and scatter them into laughter" at this newest UCB Chelsea show to be honored with a weekend time slot: Grandma's Ashes Gets Dark
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): UCBT improv troupe Airwolf—which includes such talents as John Frusciante, Molly Lloyd, Tim Martin, and Emily Axford, and has so far crushed 10 improv groups in a row at Cage Match, entirely owns the UCB East stage tonight at Airwolf: Let's Go Back to Your Place
10:30 pm ($7): For one night only, special guest George Basil joins Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney performing at The Magnet as comedy duo Trike
11:00 pm ($8): All-gal improv from Jennifer Bild, Christine DeNoon, Julianne Dunn, and Brandy Mitchell, plus guest stand-up and sketch gal comics, performing at The PIT upstairs theatre: Goldie and the Hawns: Boneless! A Night of Women in Comedy
11:00 pm ($8): A young all-guy improv troupe making stuff up at The PIT downstairs lounge: Gentlemen Party
[TOP PICK] [FREE] Midnight: This free show at The PIT upstairs theatre does a great job of describing itself: "Bad movies. We can’t stop watching them. Is it because the plot is so enjoyably paper-thin? Or maybe the acting is so deliciously cheesy? Whatever the reason may be, Oscar Montoya (Local 154, Aquarius) is inviting you to his house to watch all of his favorite so-bad-they’re-awesome movies." Joining him are Andy Rocco, Jake Hart, and BJ Thorne dissecting tonight's film that "features a heavy metal band, the living dead, and Hitler:" Midnight Movie at Montoya’s Presents: Hard Rock Zombies
[FREE] Midnight: Stand-up from Zach Broussard, and sketch from Mike & Roni, at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Kingmaker Sketch
Midnight ($5): Keisha Zollar (Doppelganger) and Poupak Sepehri (runs UCB's Difference Blog) host a variety show at UCB East that's a mix of forms, with tonight's performers Keisha (character sketch), Michael Martin (musical stand-up), ManiPedi (sketch), Loco Motives (improv), and Andres Quintero (music): The Soul Glo Project
[FREE] Midnight: A weekly chance for you to shine at The Magnet, as students and veteran improvisors share the stage to form "rare and wonderful one-night-only teams," with sign-up starting at 11:30 pm: Magnet Mixer
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 9/30/12
Radio theatre and comedy artfully mix at Melanie Hoopes' & Ed Herbstman's Laurie Stanton's Sound Diet...
...and tonight's the last chance to enjoy the best show of this year's FringeNYC: 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 4:00 pm: An unusually early walk-in open mic stand-up show at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Face-Plant Comedy Showcase
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($7): A wonderful event that happens only once every few months at The Magnet, this show mixes the style of live radio with the depth of classic theatre and the energy of stage comedy to create something unique and unforgettable. It's written and produced by Melanie Hoopes, and stars Melanie, her genius improvisor/actor husband Ed Herbstman, and top Broadway & off-Broadway actors. Tonight's theme is Fall in the Family. Be sure to reserve tickets because this is likely to sell out: Laurie Stanton's Sound Diet
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBwest's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000
7:30 pm ($5): Improv troupes not affiliated with any comedy school compete at UCB East for audience laughs and votes—and the privilege to go on to perform at the primary Cage Match show at UCB Chelsea—in this show hosted by the delightful Amey Goerlich & Ryan Karels (Krompf): Indie Cage Match
[FREE] 7:30 pm: Sketch, improv, and more at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City from comedy troupe Froduce
[MEGA-TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($18): Tonight's the last chance to see one of the funniest comedies—and finest comedic ensembles—to grace New York, and what ended up as the very best show of this year's FringeNYC Festival, playing at the Soho Playhouse's upstairs theatre. Please read my review by clicking here, and then take advantage of this final opportunity to see 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($16.50 using code TODDB, plus 2-drink minimum): One of the finest stand-ups in the biz—with appearances on HBO, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, The Sarah Silverman Program, Adult Swim, and feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead—headlining tonight through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club, and with openers including star storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents, 2011 ECNY Award for Best Storyteller): Todd Barry
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Jimmy Fallon writer Casey Jost performs sketch, and also hosts superb comics Brian McCann (long-time staff writer for Conan O'Brien), Brian Quinn (co-star of TruTV's Impractical Jokers), and delightful musical group Supercute!, all performing at The PIT upstairs theatre: Fooling Around with Casey Jost
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): One of my favorite people, Julie Sharbutt—who's performed with some of the greatest improvisors alive at UCBT's Gravid Water—goes for improv gold herself with comedy partner Cathleen Carr (Birds, The Scene, Dos Experimentos) as they "hope to establish themselves as the leading voices in contemporary South Boston crime noir improv comedy. Watch them, along with special guests Joe Schiappa and Chris Roberti, unspool a suspenseful, heavily-accented mystery thrilla" at The PIT downstairs lounge: Mystic Improv
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan (amazing human boombox; The Daily Show, The Electric Company, Freestyle Love Supreme, co-host of The BEATdown), Justy Dodge (co-host of Too Much Information on comicalradio.com; "I was kind of a tomboy growing up. Like, I had Barbies, but only because my Ninja Turtles needed bitches;" for dark bio video, please click here), Seaton Smith (Opie & Anthony Virus Tour), Brooks Whelan, Jason Burke, and Mark Chalifoux performing at RG's free weekly show at the Three of Cups lounge (83 First Avenue at 5th Street): Sunday Night Stand-Up
[FREE] 9:00 pm: Dan St. Germain (quick-witted & enormously likeable rising star; Jimmy Fallon, The Electric Company, MTV, VH1), Becky Yamamoto (rave reviews from The New York Times and The New Yorker; former beard-wearing member of band Stickerbook), Nick Turner (Jimmy Fallon)and Zach Sims performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar for this free weekly show hosted by Adam Sokol, Brad Austin, and/or Nate Fridson: Comedy at the Beauty Bar
9:00 pm ($5): Improv veterans Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, and Phillip Jackson hosting & performing in a show at UCB East with guest improvisors: Improv Nerds
9:30 pm ($5): Magnet sketch comedy teams Risky Bottom and Jacktown try out new material at this show with the on-the-nose title Magnet Sketch Teams
9:30 pm ($8): Sharp improvisors Nate Starkey and Chris Grace make suff up at The PIT upstairs theatre as duo Starkey & Grace
[FREE] 9:30 pm: Open-mic stand-up, with four minutes per comic, at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Molly Austin & Mike Brown: Vicious Cycle
[FREE] 10:00 pm: Ophira Eisenberg (brilliant storyteller with notable bangs; Comedy Central, VH1, Showtime, host of NPR's trivia/puzzle show Ask Me Another), Adam Lehman, and Naomi Ekperigin performing at this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour
10:00 pm ($5): Improv veterans Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, and Phillip Jackson hosting & performing in a show at UCB East with improvisors taken from the audience...and who may include you: Improv Nerds Jam
Copyright © 2012 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
