"Animal Furnace," Chicago-born standup comedian Hannibal Buress' first comedy special, debuts on Comedy Central this Sunday, May 20 at 10pm. According to the press release,
[Buress] brings his celebrated deadpan wit to life's absurdities with stories of his three-cop jaywalking bust in Montreal, a bloodless airport shoot-out, and various late nights with questionable women. In front of a live audience at the Gramercy Theatre in New York, Buress re-imagines hardcore rappers as real estate agents, skewers grown men who can't hold their liquor, and, as an enterprising reporter actually wrote, performs "comedic jokes related to personal stories, current events, the streets, and even food."
An unrated DVD will be released on Tuesday, May 22. The DVD includes a short documentary, "A Week To Kill," which follows Buress around New York and Chicago the week before the show taping.
The Funny Story Show is Chicago's new hybrid stand-up/storytelling showcase and will debut on May 18th at LooseLeaf Lounge . The Funny Story Show is hosted by Caitlin Bergh, a winner of the Moth StorySLAM .
Shows will take place every third Friday of the month at 7:30pm, and feature six comics who have been invited to tell one story each. There are no rules except the story has to be funny.
The show will wrap with the funny story challenge, in which two audience names are pulled from a hat and each person will have 5 minutes to tell a funny story on any topic. The winner (by audience applause) will be invited back for a featured spot the next month.
Scheduled to perform at the debut are comedians Kelsie Huff , Chris Condren (Atomic Comics), Lisa Laureta , Peter-john Byrnes (Mayne Stage), Mollie Merkel (The Andy Kaufman Award) and Andy Fleming (Shine Box Comedy).
Admission is $5 suggested donation and doors are at 7 p.m.
More information here.
Through television, feature films such as First Sunday and Friday After Next and his nationally-syndicated radio show (heard weekday mornings on Chicago's "Power 92"), Rickey Smiley regularly brings on the laughs; this week, the multi-talented comedian is bringing his talents--and the laughs--to Chicago via an entirely different "experience."
Chicago Live!, the live news/radio show produced by the Chicago Tribune in partnership with The Second City, kicks off its spring 2012 season tonight at the UP Comedy Club on North Avenue.
Hosted by veteran Chicago reporter, author and radio/TV personality Rick Kogan, Chicago Live! is a weekly stage and radio show that gathers top news makers and guests from the arts and entertainment and pop culture worlds. The hour-long show features Chicago-centric news interviews as well as comedy sketches from The Second City.
Tonight's episode features guests like Lookingglass Theatre Company artistic director Andrew White, Chicago River Canoe & Kayak founder and director Ryan Chew, Forest Preserve District of Coook County superintendent Arnold Randall with River Trail Nature Center animal handler Ryan DePauw, members of the 2012 Chicago Tribune All-State Academic Team, and musical guests, The Blisters.
Creative Control is a new series produced and hosted by Joe McAdam, of the popular Late Live Show. The show is produced at saki, a Logan Square record store and art space, and is off to what promises to be a strong start with an impressive first lineup.
Musical guests Mannequin Men join local comics Cameron Esposito, Joe Fernandez and Andrew Smerker, with videos and sketches curated by McAdam. There are no boundaries at Creative Control: artists and performers are given the freedom to express themselves however they choose, as long as it's funny.
The great thing about this show is that it's completely free and BYO. Producing a show of this sort in a record store is a new and welcomed change from the usual dive bar or theater. The show takes place the final Friday of every month, beginning this Friday, April 27 with doors at 7pm. This month, audience members will have the chance to win tickets to see Jon Benjamin and Kumail Nanjiani.
My recommendation: go see this show. More information on Facebook.
Judah Friedlander, arguably most popular for his role as Frank on 30 Rock is visiting Chicago this week for his one-night only show at Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave.
People know you as Frank, but a lot of people don't know that you have this stand-up career that is sort of your home base.
So far you are correct on everything.
How often do you perform standup?
Just about every night. Usually when I'm in New York a couple shows a night.
There's a new sketch group on the Chicago scene. Created by veteran Chicago writers, actors, producers and a few new faces, Dark Humor Productions is presenting its first sketch comedy show,Why the Long Facebook? at Stage 773.
The show is anchored on the platform of self-involved virtual interaction. The crew pokes fun at the absurdist online realm in which people share their every waking moment with the world, from the emotional to the mundane. Though punctuated with pithy one-liners about status updates, the show branches out beyond satirical Facebook posts to create a well-rounded production with some clever scenes that not only ridicule the ridiculous, but also reflect the humor in humanity.
The rhythm method as a form of contraceptive may be woefully ineffective, but the improv group of the same name is actually doing quite a bit for reproductive health this month. Rhythm Method, Chicago's premier rock 'n roll improv ensemble, is delighted to announce Chicago Women's Health Center as the charity partner for their April run of shows at the
Playground Theater. Rhythm Method performs with Bella and one additional improv ensemble as part of the Sandbox Improv Showcase on Mondays in April at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available at the box office located inside the theater at 3209 N. Halsted St. in Chicago.
Reservations for Rhythm Method or any Playground show can be made at (773) 871-3793 or www.the-playground.com. All shows are BYOB for audience members age 21 and up.
If you want to hear a cast of gifted singers belt some classic showtunes, you should've gotten a ticket for "Showboat" at the Lyric Opera. If you want to experience a really fun, dysfunctional night of musical comedy, check out "Brunch Punkx" at The Annoyance. There may be the occasional off-key note, but the show is so bizarrely comical and the performers so talented that you don't even mind.
"Brunch Punkx" follows a rag-tag group of aspiring brunch chefs as they struggle to find their calling after their culinary school's brunch program shuts down. The group eventually establishes itself as the newest "it" craze in foodie circles, and word of their culinary prowess reaches a former child star who's locked up for a homicidal rampage, and wants the Brunch Punkx to cater her last meal. The plot is a little convoluted, but the hijinks of the group are so enjoyable to watch that you don't even mind how they got there because they're so fun to watch unfold. The songs are catchy and the lyrics sharp, and musical theatre aficionados will enjoy playing "Guess the Pastiche" with the musical numbers that lovingly pay tribute to other musicals.
WRITE CLUB Overlord Ian Belknap. Photo credit: Nathan Keay
It's a damp night at the Hideout; the sold out audience sits on metal chairs, and latecomers stand wherever there's room. The walls are covered in wood paneling and the occasional trophy fish, and a faint smell of wet dog permeates the room. Onstage, Ian Belknap introduces the audience to WRITE CLUB: Chapter 22: Race War. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's get ready to WRITE CLUB!"
Tonight's categories are: Black vs. White; Cat vs. Dog; and Gay vs. Straight. In addition to a miniature trophy (The Loving Cup of Deathless Fucking Glory,) the winner of each bout gets a percentage of the admissions donated to the charity of their choice.
The first two competitors are called to the stage: Daniel Shapiro (Cat) vs. Natalie Edwards (Dog). Shapiro hunches over the mic and reads from a prepared text on behalf of cats, using persuasive language like: "A cat's anus has a sweeter and mellower flavor than a dog's, but we all knew that." "A cat would rather play with a bag or a box than with you." And "Cats in resting homes can tell when the next person is going to die, and that's kind of awesome." After his seven minutes are up, Edwards tries to outdo him with her piece on dogs, astounding the audience with little known facts that include: the first patents were held by Lhasa Apsos; and Chihuahuas invented Spanish. Her piece runs long, and she hears the dreaded chime of a bell being struck by a hammer, signaling the end of seven minutes, the maximum amount of time allotted to each competitor. The audience is called upon to choose a winner based on applause, and the winner -- determined by a panel of three judges, is Shapiro, whose winnings go to The Wounded Warrior Project.
After writing an article about local stand-up comedy for a Chicago magazine, Adam Burke started performing himself and is now a fixture at comedy showcases across the Chicago and the Midwest. Born in Australia and raised in Northern Ireland, he is known for his distinct accent and his verbose, clever wordplay on subjects ranging from Mick Jagger to the word "callipygian." In addition, he has opened for comedians such as Jeff Ross, Maria Bamford, Bo Burnham, Brendon Burns, and Jake Johannsen, and co-hosts the popular Cole's Bar comedy open mic on Wednesdays with Cameron Esposito.
Growing up, were you interested in writing or comedy?
Growing up, I was the one - I have two brothers and a sister - but I was the one that everyone thought was going to be a writer...and I think that's just 'cause I was the most pretentious kid. This is an apocryphal tale that I deny of my sister catching me at night with a flashlight just reading the dictionary. So yeah, I think everyone thought I was going to be some sort of writer. I think my mom really wanted me to do something with that. But my brother's a really good writer, too.
The tone in Chicago comedy these days feels like one of change and transition. New theaters like The Laugh Factory and Up are opening, and an interest in high-brow comedy and stand-up seems to be on the rise. I will be the first to admit that I was skeptical when I learned that Second City, legendary for improv and sketch comedy, was opening a club that would feature stand-up, sketch and improv, among other mediums. I was unsure of whether or not UP could cross all of those boundaries in one theater, but I wanted to keep an open mind. While I was hesitant going in, I left the theater feeling optimistic and excited for things to come.
Second City's Improv All Stars was the first show to bring me around.
(L-to-R Kellen Alexander, Cody Dove, Chelsea Devantez, Hans Holsen)
For those who love musical numbers in their intergalactic adventure, Chicago-based improv group Octavarius presents Stars! Wars! The Musical!
Join Luke, Leia and the gang of robots for this one-night-only showing at Mercury Theater on Friday, March 9 at 8pm. After its premier in November, the musical is back by popular demand, telling the story of Star Wars: a New Hope with original song and dance numbers, accompanied by a live band.
Following the musical, attendees will get a bonus improv set from Octavarius, joined by R2D2 who will be playing himself.
Tickets are regularly $10, but discounted admission of $7 will be offered to audience members who dress like their favorite Star Wars character or bring a light saber - like you wouldn't have done that anyway.
The top-ranked troupe will have just come off one of the longest running independent improv shows at ComedySportz where they perform on Sundays at 7pm, with a final show on February 26. To learn more about the group, view videos and listen to their weekly themed podcasts visit their homepage.
TJ Jagodowski and Peter Grosz aren't too proud to beg. The Chicago improvisers and erstwhile Sonic spokesmen have set up Those 2 Guys! to use as a public platform to ask for their Sonic commercial gig back. Sign their petition, like them on Facebook, or do whatever you can to be part of the grassroots movement to get these talented dudes back on the air!
Ben Lerman has been entertaining Chicago audiences for years, and Chicago audiences love him. Lerman graces us with his presence a few times a year and is in town this week for his Valentine's Day show at Mary's Attic, Heart Doctor; An Evening of Music and Comedy. Ben also brings with him local comics Adam Guerino (Queer Comedy at Zanies) and Meredith Kachel (Side-Mullet Nation)
How does it feel to be back in Chicago? Are you from Chicago?
I am from South Bend, Indiana. Still, I have a lot of friends and family in Chicago because when you're from South Bend, Indiana, you want to get the hell out of town, and Chicago is the nearest, likeliest migration point. It's far enough that you don't have to watch a percentage of your schoolmates become meth heads and close enough for minimal drive time on national holidays. Not that there aren't meth heads in Chicago or that I don't want them at my show. If you've got $10, you're welcome at my show. But don't ask to borrow money from other audience members or wash their windshields. That's the rule.
They say the opposite of Love is Hate. But this Valentines Day at the Logan Square Auditorium, the opposite of Love is Hilarity, Charity and possibly Intoxication.
Thanks to the love-filled partnership of the Chicago Reader, 2nd Story, WBEZ and Empty Bottle, Chicago will be graced with the Third Annual Anti-Valentines Day Party on Tuesday 14 February. Chicago comedians Seth and Kellen will be hosting this shindig and will also be the night's official demolisher of ex memorabilia; everything from T-shirts to love letters to saved nail clippings will destroyed. In between the destroying (and healing) 2nd Story will be regaling the audience with the best bad date stories.
Chicago is a breeding ground for viral videos, but rarely do they gain traction as quickly as Holly Laurent's (Second City Mainstage, The Reckoning) "Hunger Games" music video. The video, directed by local filmmaker Steve Delahoyde, is a parody of Lana Del Rey's "Video Games," rewritten from the viewpoint of Katniss, the protagonist of The Hunger Games. The video was just posted yesterday, but already Rolling Stone has picked it up and called it "the perfect pop culture sweet spot." Check out the collision of pop culture phenomena below:
Directed by Joe Avella, local improviser Patrick Raynor's one-man show at the Annoyance Theatre, Come On! We're All Adults!, is a collection of solo pieces (with a couple guest appearances by Nat Topping) mostly featuring characters in absurd situations.
Starting off with a scene of a newscaster launching into increasingly specific tangents about the local community, the show jumps from one character to the next, ranging from a South Dakota man trying to win his love back at the airport, to a substitute dry cleaner manager who can't stop talking about his weight loss.
Local stand-up comedian Sean Flannery (voted the best stand-up in Chicago by the Chicago Reader in 2010) is returning from a comedy-hiatus and bringing his critically acclaimed one-man show (Never Been to Paris) and his new show (Blackout Diaries) to Chicago audiences.
Never Been to Paris is Flannery's one-man show, in which he recounts all of the car accidents that almost cost him his life. Yes, he has been in enough car accidents to warrant an entire show about it. In Blackout Diaries, Sean and his comedy friends tell their best drinking stories to a room full of strangers and then field questions from the crowd. Both shows feature a unique perspective, one that explores the darker, less flattering aspects of life, a refreshing change for many comedy fans.
If anyone could restore dignity and honor to Mary Kay Letourneau's name it's The Mary Kay Letourneau Players, otherwise known as Kate Duffy and Katie Rich. The duo, directed by Irene Marquette, recently opened their sketch show The Mary Kay Letourneau Players Present... at iO, playing Sunday nights at 10:30.
From a pair of prickly old women to a dense architect to a tough-as-nails Russian mail-order bride, Duffy and Rich are skilled at creating and portraying outrageous characters with humanity and nuance. The two start out with familiar characters, then turn them on their ears with hilarious quirks and situations. The hungover Mass-hole who passed out in a sheet cake turns out to be a lawyer who's still dealing with feelings for an ex. The crotchety old wedding guest reveals that she wants to be cremated and "tossed only in fun places." The pair playfully skews the audience's expectations in a series of unpredictable scenes, and director Marquette weaves them together seamlessly.
Both Duffy and Rich are accomplished sketch and improv comedians (Second City, iO), but both women are also talented actresses. The pair can deftly switch from accent to accent, and though some of their characters can be quite broad, their portrayals are always grounded and never over the top. Duffy, in particular, has a vulnerability that makes her characters especially enjoyable to watch.
The Mary Kay Letourneau Players Present... runs Sunday nights at 10:30pm at iO, 3541 N. Clark St., in the Del Close Theatre. Tickets are $5 and available online, over the phone at 773-880-0199, or at the box office.
After a successful first season, Queer Comedy at Zanies will return on Tuesday, January 24 in it's new 7:30 time slot. Season one featured the best queer and straight comedians in the country who have appeared on Comedy Central, BET, TBS Just For Laughs and Last Comic Standing, and season two is off to a strong start as well.
As MTV announces that they'll shoot their new series "Underemployed" in Chicago this spring, let us not forget "Funemployed," the plucky, hilarious local web series that came first. While MTV may try to pass a sub-par facsimile of the show off as its own (MTV hasn't acknowledged any similarities between "Underemployed" and "Funemployed") , "Funemployed" came first and given MTV's programming, we can only assume it'll be the funnier of the two shows. "Funemployed" has all of their episodes up on their website, so start at episode one and watch all the way through.
Ever wonder what would happen if the casts of the Harry Potter and Twilight series battled each other in the style of West Side Story?
Local sketch/improv group Octavarius will magically create that experience right before your very eyes in their aptly named show, Harry Potter vs. Twilight. This wizard's duel of epic (comedic) proportions will take place Sunday, January 22 at 7pm at ComedySportz (929 W. Belmont Ave.). As with their previous weekly themed shows, Harry Potter will feature videos, improv, sketches and music inspired by the twin young adult fantasy juggernauts to create an experience sure to warm up your cold-hearted muggle soul.
Tickets are $10, but if you dress like your favorite character or bring a sign rooting for your favorite team, you will get a special discounted admission price of only $7.
Two local duos, three troupes, and a musical trio rounded out my experience on Day 3 of Chicago SketchFest 2012. So without further ado...
Chicago sketch/improv group Honorary Degree opened their set with a brilliant skewering of improv comedy conventions ("Can we get a suggestion for a Gary Sinise movie?"), before launching into sketches involving a list of weird babysitter demands, pillow factory job hazards, and a hilarious take on film noir.
As it so happens, my experience at Day 2 of Chicago SketchFest 2012 resulted in me seeing two very different musical acts and two sketch acts with completely different formats. All of the acts I'm about to review will be performing again this evening, so let's get right to it.
Armed with a guitar, ukulele, accordion, tambourine, and fake southern accents, New York's Reformed Whores launched into several country/folk/Americana-style songs about the tribulations of love and lust from a woman's perspective, including the follies of drunk dialing, staying on birth control, confronting a boyfriend's porn habits, and a friendly reminder to ladies to remove their tampons every once in a while.
With four acts performing on different stages at any given moment, the opening night of the 11th annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival left me with some difficult decisions to make -- especially after walking in with no idea what I wanted to see. By chance, I happened to pick performances by three active Chicago improv groups/performers, and ended up witnessing three very different interpretations of "sketch comedy."
Our friends The Woodsugars made this video (Staring Ever Mainard, Mike Lebovitz and Ben Johnson) and shared it with us, so we are returning the favor. Happy post-holidays!
Impress These Apes 2011 season winner Jo Scott will be doing a one night only remount of her solo show "Thankful" this Thursday on a double bill with Chemically Imbalanced Comedy's Artistic Director Farrell Walsh's "A Happy Ending." It all goes down this Thursday night at iO, 3541 N. Clark St., at 8pm in the Del Close Theater. Scott's solo show "satires who we love, what we love, and the things we do to them," while "A Happy Ending" is a sketch exploration of darker impulses. Tickets are available over the phone (773.880.0199) or in-person at the box office.
Chicago comedy duo Awkward Spaceship is on the front page of BuzzFeed today with their newest video, "Doctor Who Yo Mama Jokes." They drop jokes about Time Lord technology, Captain Jack Harkness, and even the Face of Boe. If those references mean nothing to you, you can go back and watch Awkward Spaceship's "If Computer Problems Were Real," while you add all of the David Tennant episodes of "Doctor Who" to your Netflix queue.
Candy Lawrence is everywhere: from Chicago Underground Comedy, where she is a regular cast member, to queer showcases across the city: her rubber face is becoming increasingly recognizable among Chicago comedy fans. The best part about Candy Lawrence isn't any of her performances; it's that she doesn't seem to have any idea how good she is.
Last month's Queer Comedy (Contest) at Zanies narrowed ten contestants down to three winners. Joel Kim Booster, who won first place, will return to stage tonight in his Zanies debut. I talked with him recently about the contest, being a queer comic and Louis CK.
Winners from last months Queer Comedy (Contest) at Zanies, L to R, Joel Kim Booster, Caitlin Bergh, Homer Mars, with host Adam Guerino. Photo by Alexandra Moskovich.
Sean Cusick (L) and Dave Urlakis (R) met while both were cast members of the critically acclaimed religious satire, The Best Church of God. Already seasoned veterans of comedy, the two got together and created a two-man show in which they discuss everything from parenthood to death. The show opens this Saturday, November 12th, at Stage 773. Here's what the two had to say about finding time to write, parenthood and comedy.
Cameron Esposito combines stand-up with special guests and hand-drawn animation to create a world-class quality yet personable storytelling experience. Side-Mullet Nation was commissioned for inclusion in TBS' Just for Laughs Chicago and has played to sold out crowds in Chicago and New York. Garnishing such acclaim as Time Out Chicago "Critic's Pick," Time OutNew York "Critic's Pick," The Onion's AV Club Chicago "Best of the Fest" and Chicago Reader "featured show." The show runs Thursdays through Dec. 15 The Comedy Bar, 157 W. Ontario St. Tickets and more information can be found here.
The women of Teatro Luna* have brought Latina theatre to Chicago's stages for 10 seasons, and as they kick off their eleventh they're even venturing into new territory with the launch of Marimachas! A New Latin Comedy Series. For years Teatro Luna has offered an outlet for local Latina theatre artists, and with this new venture the company hopes to expand their support to the comedy arena.
Teatro Luna Artistic Associate Christina Igaraividez, who is also one of the performers this Friday, describes Marimachas as, "a safe place for the performers. Everyone performing just wants to have a good time with the audience. It isn't a transaction type of environment where the performer tells joke then audience provides laugh. We are sharing, commiserating, hoping, loving, laughing all the way through with you." Marimachas is this Friday at 7:30pm at Calles y Sueños (1900 S. Carpenter). Tickets can be purchased online or at the venue for $20, and the price of admission includes an "Ay, Virgen!" Teatro Luna's signature cocktail.
*Whom the author has worked with before and thinks are the cat's pajamas
Amanda Rountree has been performing, teaching, directing and producing comedy in Chicago since 2007. Her one-woman show, The Good, The Bad and The Monkey, is running this week and next, in a very short but very anticipated re-launch. I recently chatted with her about all things comedy, and monkey. Here is what she had to say.
At the Queer Comedy Contest at Zanies on Tuesday, OutLoud Chicago is on the lookout for queer comedians who are ready and willing for the next stage of their careers. Adam Guerino will host as eight comedians take the stage in hopes of being booked at the next Queer Comedy at Zanies show, and winning a selection of other prizes to boost their careers. At the end of the night, stand-up vet and contest judge Cynthia Levin will headline the show while the votes are tallied. The contest winners are decided based upon audience and judge vote.
The contest will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 9:30pm at Zanies Comedy Club, 1548 N. Wells St. Doors open at 9pm. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door with a two drink minimum.
The Mo Show has been a safe haven for many of Chicago's most eccentric performers of all disciplines for the last two years. Stand up comedian Mo Welch, the show's creator, producer and host, is leaving Chicago this week and taking the show with her. Your last chance to see The Mo Show will be this Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Jimmy of Nazareth, currently running at the Annoyance Theatre, is the true story of performer Jimmy Pennington's (Co-Ed Prison Sluts, Splatter Theater) travel to the brink of permanent institutionalization and (half-way) back. Directed by Irene Marquette (Lights Out Alma, 40 Whacks), the show "follows Pennington from his humble beginnings as an unemployed college graduate living with his fiance in Nazareth, Pennsylvania on an epic journey of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and emergency psych wards -- a darkly funny tale of resurrection after the death of innocence."
Jimmy of Nazareth plays its final performance this Thursday, Oct. 13 at 9:30pm. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased online or by calling the box office at 773.561.HONK. The Annoyance is located at 4830 N. Broadway.
"The hot cow's back!" my friend whispered to me about 30 minutes into Octavarius: Trial of the O'Leary Cow.
It's odd for a man dressed in a cow suit to be called "hot," but the costume worked for improv performer Nick Mikula. A member of comedy troupe Octavarius, Mikula played the title role in the show, staged on October 9--the 140th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire.
Chicago's Deon Cole, part of the Emmy-nominated writing staff at "Conan," is interviewed in a recent clip on "CNN Comedy"; in this funny feature, the comedian tells how he first hooked up with Conan O'Brien, being the staff's only black writer and how O'Brien uses his guitar to let his writers know if their joke and sketch pitches are a hit or a miss.
Elizabeth McQuern producing at Chicago Underground Comedy. Photo Credit: Tripp Watson
When I was given the opportunity to write about women in Chicago comedy, I knew exactly whom I wanted to feature. These five women were my first choice, not because they are better or more deserving than any other women in comedy, but because each of them has had a significant impact, in some way, on my own experience. Some of them are performers, some producers, some teachers, but they are all equally important, to me and to comedy as a whole. This is my homage to them.
Elizabeth McQuern
Elizabeth McQuern was one of the first people I met after moving to Chicago. If not for her, I wouldn't have met most of the people that I did the first year I was here. She co-produces Chicago Underground Comedy, one of the longest running and most popular stand-up showcases in Chicago and freelances as a video editor, among other things. As a producer, writer, photographer and filmmaker, she is one of many unsung heroes of Chicago Comedy.
Dan Telfer is one of the hardest working people in Chicago: he co-produces Chicago Underground Comedy, his comedy album, Fossil Record, went to number one on iTunes in 2010, and he has performed on stage with some of the most respected comedians of this generation. This weekend, Dan is opening for Maria Bamford at the Mayne Stage Theater, and he recently took some time out of his day to chat with me about comedy, superheroes, nerd culture and the A.V. Club.
You opened for Garfunkel & Oates this past weekend and you're opening for Maria Bamford this weekend: how has working with talent like that affected your perspective and performances?
It has made me terrified of @humblebrag on Twitter. I am very grateful. If I ever make a decent living from this it will be because of the generosity of other comedians who have taken me on the road like Maria and comedy bookers like Chris Ritter at the Mayne Stage. But since you ask specifically about Maria, Ricki and Kate, I will say something to that effect. I hate nothing more than when I'm on the road and I have to open for someone who insults my lack of masculinity the entire time. Two weekends of opening for laser-witty comics who don't play shitty status games with me? Yes please. I mean I can say that about Garfunkel & Oates because we just finished our weekend. Maria might betray me this weekend and just beat the shit out of me with a tire iron in the green room for two nights. Probably not. We'll see.
Garfunkel and Oates, who may be best known for the youtube sensation Pregnant Women Are Smug, will be performing their musical comedy at Chicago's Mayne Stage Theater on September 30 and October 1. I recently had the opportunity to spend a few minutes on the phone with Riki Lindholm, or as her fans know her, Garfunkel.
I recently spoke with Robert Buscemi, who is best known for his offbeat standup as well as the many characters that he showcased on the local hit game-show, Don't Spit The Water. Buscemi is returning home to Chicago next Sunday, Oct. 2 for his one-night-only show at The Annoyance Theater. Here is what he had to say about it.
Welcome back to Chicago. How does it feel to be performing on the old stomping grounds?
Great. I love seeing who the cool new stand-up kids are, what the new hot shows are, and seeing some old friends whose talents and experience are paying off. And I love hitting the Annoyance again, which is the coolest comedy venue in America. And hitting Chicago Underground Comedy at The Beat Kitchen is like coming home.
Birth control commercials are the worst. It's bad enough that birth control is a culprit behind hormonal outbursts, weight gain, breast tenderness, and blood clots amongst its users, but to add insult to injury, birth control commercials are often packaged as saccharine sweet, sexist ads that treat women as though they're too delicate to handle a straightforward birth control commercial. But the silver lining of the birth control commercial rain cloud is that it provides plenty of fodder for comedians to tackle.
Some of the talented women at Second City recently put together a hilarious commercial for the Birth Control Ninja, what could very possibly be the next advancement in birth control technology. The prospect of having a tiny ninja in your cervix is actually slightly less unnerving than the prospect of having a birth control-induced stroke!
James Fritz is one of the most sought-after stand-up comics in Chicago; he has performed with comedy greats such as Doug Stanhope, Jamie Kilstein and TJ Miller. He was featured in the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Chicago and his comedy album, Deflated, was rated number one on iTunes. He was recently voted the number one comic in Chicago by The Chicago Reader and on Tuesday, September 27, Fritz is headlining Queer Comedy at Zanies alongside Ever Mainard, Candy Lawrence, Nyle Fisher and Meg O'Rourke.
Comedy Cares is a non-profit fundraising organization founded by Chicago comedian Ever Mainard that utilizes comedy as a source of revenue for programs and individuals in need of assistance. This months event will raise revenue for the Broadway Youth Center and the services that it provides.
The show will take place on September 23 at 8pm at the Lucky Shamrock (2723 North Halsted) and will be hosted by Mainard, who is best known for her podcast Dates with Ever and as a member of Chicago Underground Comedy.
The lineup features the best acts in Chicago and includes: Lisa Laureta (the people under the stairs), Kelsie Huff (the kates, Bruiser, Boulder International Fringe Festival) Bill Cruz (host of Gutter Mouth open mic) Ryan Walker, Gwen Laroka (winner of Last Loca Standing) Adam Burke (host of Coles Open Mic, Chicago Underground Comedy) Caitlin Bergh (Cameron Esposito's Side Mullet Nation), and Jeff Gandy.
Get ready for lots of laughs at this year's Chicago Comedy Film Festival (CCFF), the annual festival that celebrates the art of comedy via feature length and short comedy films.
In addition to being the nation's first Chicago-based film festival totally devoted to comedy, the CCFF also boasts a variety of films starring iO and Second City alumni, as well as notable names including Steppenwolf Ensemble Member and Chicago-area native Gary Cole (Dr. Limptooth) and John Larroquette (Sudden Death!). The festival also includes the screening of Bright Day!, featuring funnymen Bill Maher, Michael Cera and Richard Belzer.
The Chicago Comedy Film Festival runs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14th and 15th at the ShowPlace ICON Theater, 150 W. Roosevelt Rd. And for even more laughs, CCFF features "Laugh Out Local," a bonus hour of shorts followed by Mick Napier's newest feature film Bandicoot!,on Sunday, Oct. 16 at the Annoyance Theater, 4830 N Broadway. All tickets are $8; contact tickets@chicagocomedyfilmfestival.com for all ticket-related questions. For a complete schedule and other information, visit the festival's website.
Brian Posehn, best known for his involvement in The Comedians of Comedy, is performing at the Cubby Bear this Saturday, Sept. 10. I recently had the opportunity to talk with him about comedy, fatherhood, the Insane Clown Posse and pot smoking. Here is what he had to say.
I was just re-listening to your most recent album, Fart and Wiener Jokes, in preparation for our call, and I was literally crying.
Nice. Out of laughter, right?
Definitely laughter, not sadness or regret or anything like that.
Things are looking up for women in comedy. As a society we seem to be over the whole "Are women funny?" debate, and for the most part we've collectively come to the conclusion that indeed they are. Movies and sitcoms written by and starring women are proving to be both critical and commercial successes, and slowly the tides seem to be changing for the better. However, women still have a ways to go. Here in Chicago it's still the norm to see a ten person improv group with only one or two token female members, and a recent Comedy Central "Comics to Watch" showcase didn't include a single woman. Enter Chicago Ladies in Comedy.
Chicago Ladies in Comedy (CLiC) originally took shape as the Chicago Women's Improv Forum and has evolved into an organization that fosters and supports women involved in not only improv, but any type of comedic performance. When discussing the need for an organization like CLiC, founding member Rebecca Grossman shared her own experience, "I was feeling safer in a place of all women because I was used to the way women communicate, so I could learn the skills needed to be onstage with women or men easier and faster and in a stronger way, when it was all women. And I thought if this is working for me, it might work for other women too." Grossman has a background in theatre and sketch/improv, and other members also come from stand-up, burlesque, music, and other genres.
Since its inception, the group has transformed from weekly improv workshops into an organization that offers workshops in a variety of disciplines, a stand-up showcase, networking events, and more. This weekend the organization is hosting a panel discussion titled, fittingly, "Ladies...in Comedy!" The discussion will be moderated by Deanna Moffitt, and the panelists include Tara DeFrancisco, Cameron Esposito, Jet Eveleth, Anne Libera, Rachael Mason, Susan Messing and Katie Rich. They're a venerable "who's who" of beloved and respected Chicago comedy players who have experience that runs the gamut from improv to stand-up to sketch to directing. The forum is open to both and women and men, and is sure to be an insightful event for both novices and veterans of the Chicago comedy scene.
"Ladies...in Comedy!" is this Saturday, September 10 at 3:30 p.m. at Comedy Sportz (929 W. Belmont). Following the forum is an all-women ComedySportz improv show at 6 p.m. To keep up with other CLiC happenings check out their website or follow them on Facebook.
When a Chicago improvisor and former Second City employee went to New York for the Del Close Marathon (an improv comedy festival) and cluelessly shared the story of when he sexually assaulted a female customer, the internet took notice. Today a variety of comedy blogs, women's sites, and freelance writers have picked up on the story and word has spread like wildfire. Internet sleuths have identified the man in question as Eric D. Angell, who is no longer employed at Second City and has moved away from Chicago. Jezebel.com contacted him for comment but have yet to hear back.
Kellen Alexander and Seth Dodson bring the latest in worthless ideas to NEDTalks. Photo credit: Zach Dodson.
If anything deserves to be spoofed, it's the TED Talks, the brainy group who, in their mission statement, explain that they are "a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading." Originally formed as a conference bringing people from the Technology, Entertainment, and Design worlds together, (hence the acronym TED), they have been meeting in Silicon Valley and elsewhere since 1984, showcasing smart people who have better ideas than you do.
Still life with Jeff Garlin, tree, and mysterious rodent. Photo credit: Robert Trachtenberg
Jeff Garlin's short-run show: "No Sugar Tonight", which runs at the Steppenwolf (1650 N. Halsted) is like spending an hour and a half hanging out with Garlin at his most relaxed. His routine -- which he claims has no arc, consists of relating various real-life stories, riffing off the audience, and a short Q&A with the audience at the end.
The title of the show comes from Garlin's struggle with diabetes and weight loss; two and a half years ago the comedian cut sugar out of his diet, and it shows -- he's significantly smaller now than he was in earlier episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm", the HBO series for which he is best known.
He drinks water from a ladle in a plastic jack-o-lantern rather than a bottle because, as he puts it: "it adds visual excitement;" the same reason he gave for the ukelele sitting on stage left that never got referred to in any way during his performance. Garlin's humor is self-deprecating and inclusive, but he doesn't hesitate to take the audience into potentially dangerous territory
Chicago's Cell Camp gets dirty in their latest sketch show inspired by late-night Cinemax movies and the Illicit Dream series. Expect raunchy language, nudity, gay sex, regular sex, cartoon violence and the return of Tifty the Cybercrime and Rape Fighting Mouse.
Cell Camp After Dark will take place at 10:30pm at Stage 773: 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets are available via the Stage 773 website and in person at the box office.
Everyone knows who Bobcat Goldthwait is. He's the 'guy from Police Academy, right?'. Yes, he is that guy from Police Academy, but he is also a stand-up comedian. A very funny, endearing, surprisingly underrated stand-up comedian. I had the pleasure of seeing the first of his two sets at Mayne Stage last night, and it was well worth the time and ticket price.
Jim Norton, who is best known for his brutal honesty on stage and self-deprecating style, recently took some time out of his busy Just For Laughs and Anti-Social Network schedules to answer some questions for us, and to reveal his secret love for Lady Gaga.
Octavarius, a Chicago comedy group and headliner for closing night of the Chicago Improv Festival, takes the stage on Sunday, June 19 at 7pm, at The ComedySportz Theatre Chicago (929 W. Belmont Ave.) for opening night of a 35-week run.
Lots of laughter is in store as TBS's Just for Laughs hits town this week; the comedy festival, which boasts a diverse range of comedians, has something in store for everyone, including laughs from the ladies. Here, Chicago native and comedienne Kellye Howard, host of the festival's "5-Star Leading Ladies," talks about women in comedy and what it means to be part of one of the largest comedy festivals around.
How does it feel to be the host of the festival's only all-female lineup?
It is huge! Last year I was a feature on this show, so to come around this year and be selected as a host is amazing. It just shows I've grown a lot in my career which means a lot to me.
Best known for her work with the Wood Sugars and her podcast Dates with Ever, as well as hosting The Starving Artist Project, Ever Mainard is a rising star of Chicago comedy. Her mother, Mary Mainard, has fallen ill and cannot afford the medical care she requires, so Chicago comics, producers, performers and fans have joined forces in an effort to help raise money and lend support.
When I walked into Gorilla Tango Theater to see You're Being Ridiculous, My First Time, I was admittedly skeptical; a show with that premise could go very wrong, very fast. Much to my delight, what unfolded was an endearing, funny, well written and well produced show, worth the $15 ticket price.
Undoubtedly, Chicago has produced some of the best comics around; from many famous Second City alumni to the late Bernie Mac, the Windy City has definitely cemented its place in America's comedy landscape. Perhaps no one knows this better than Comedians You Should Know (CYSK), a six-member comedy collective of some of Chicago's funniest stand-up comics.
Photo courtesy of: Jon Cole.
CYSK debuted at Fizz Chicago in 2008 and after gaining a devoted fan following complete with rave reviews there, the comedy sextet relocated to Timothy O'Toole's in the city's Gold Coast area last year, and performs weekly shows every Wednesday, along with other top talent from the city. Through the weekly show, as well as through videos and tours, CYSK is setting out to "shine a light on the often overlooked, yet immensely talented Chicago stand-up comedy scene," said group member, Danny Kallas.
Despite producing some of the nation's most successful entertainers, at times, according to Kallas, the comedic talent in the city often goes unrecognized. "Comedians You Should Know is out to prove that Chicago stand-up comedy is not only as relevant but of an even higher caliber and quality than that found in New York and LA," he said.
To find out more about Comedians You Should Know's schedule of weekly Wednesday shows, tours and other performances, visit their website.
If you're looking for some good, independently produced theater, Gorilla Tango Theater is a great place to start. Known as the "producers theater", GTT has a constantly-rotating list of shows to choose from every month.
The women of Improvised Jane Austen: Kate Parker, Mel Evans, Colleen Breen, Kyna Lenhof,
Sarah Beckman Mobley, Natalie Tinaglia, Rachel Grandi, Kristen Parise, Annie Rijks, and Steph Jones.
As part of the 14th annual Chicago Improv Festival, Chicago's very own Improvised Jane Austen did their thing last Saturday at The Playground (3209 N. Halsted). All I knew of the troupe was their name, and the fact that they'd be appearing alongside the NYC troupe Hell Buffalo. As an adopted Chicagoan, (I've lived here almost 20 years, which I'm pretty sure gives me Official Native Status), improv comedy is as natural a form of entertainment to me as hot dogs are a form of protein and snow is a form of weather. Still, improv has always been a kind of nursery rhyme gamble: when it's good it's very, very good; and when it's bad, it's horrid. I figured that the chances that IJA would pay off were decent since they'd made it into the CIF lineup; I'm glad I took that gamble.
The ten woman company manages to deftly and hilariously improvise any suggestion from the audience into a 30-45 minute spoof of a Jane Austen novel (the night I saw them the audience suggestion was "beer.") There are so many things that are great about them, here are just a few:
Anyone who has seen live comedy knows one of the biggest hurdles to enjoying a show can be hearing the comic over the inevitable presence of the (hopefully singular) drunk, loud, chatty audience member. If you can't think of who that person was at the last show you went to, it was probably you.
Two of Chicago's most up-and-coming comics shared their thoughts with me recently, in an effort to shed some light on the question that is (and should be) looming in everyones mind: 'How can I be a good audience member?'.
Margaret Hicks is objectively awesome. In the past few years she's gone from working an office job to owning and operating her own tour guide business, and now on top of that she's a published author. As both a font of Chicago knowledge and an improvisor, Hicks was just the person to pen "Chicago Comedy: A Fairly Serious History."
Hicks was leading one of her Second City-themed tours when a rep from History Press was along for a tour and asked if she'd considered writing a book. She took his card, but assumed he wanted a book about Second City and didn't reach out to him. A few months later he contacted her, saying that she could pick something to write about but that he'd wondered why there had never been a history of comedy in Chicago. "I looked into it and saw that there hadn't been anything written about it," said Hicks. Why did Second City and iO (Improv Olympic) happen in Chicago and not New York or someplace else? That was it. I needed to figure out what happened before that." And so she did.
Kelsie Huff may be the hardest working woman in Chicago comedy. Whether she is producing the kates, a rotating cast of all-female comedians, developing comedy-focused outreach programs and workshops for children, or preparing for the opening of her new one-woman show, Bruiser, Huff manages to keep it all together with a smile on her face and the energy of a hummingbird.
Second City's new show, South Side of Heaven, directed by Billy Bungeroth, is a goofy yet unapologetically irreverent pastiche of comic bits with themes ranging from local sports and politics to death and bigotry, all in keeping with Second City's Chicago-centric proclivities. The show is surprisingly dark, and pulls no punches--always returning to the old Buddhist mantra that life is full of misery and pain (so why not make fun of it?). There is plenty here to offend, but the offensive material is executed so damn strangely, we're left furrowing our brows in confusion rather than anger. And I mean that in a good way. It certainly catches you off your feet.
Chicago is known for its DIY culture, and comedy and theater are no exceptions. The options can be overwhelming, and not always a sure-thing, so I have compiled a list of five of my favorite shows that are currently running, in no particular order.
Denzel Washington, Bill Cosby and Chris Rock--all in Chicago this weekend? Not exactly, but if you were to attend one of Reggie Reg's shows, you just might think you were in the presence of these superstars.
Chicago native Reggie Reg is a stand-up comedian and impressionist who has been amazing audiences for years; his impressions of famous folks (his "Denzel Washington" is spot-on) has landed him appearances on several shows, including HBO's "P.Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy" and during "Impressionists Week" on the "Late Show with David Letterman."
See Reggie Reg Friday and Saturday, April 8-9, at Jokes and Notes, 4641 S. King Dr. Show times both nights are 8:30pm and 10:30pm; tickets are $15-$20 and can be purchased at the box office. For more information, call 773-373-3390.
Devin Keast wears many hats- comedian, improvisor, hockey announcer- and now he can add another: talk show host. Sunday nights at the Pub Theater (3220 N. Lincoln, above Fizz Bar and Grill) he'll be hosting "The Latest with Devin Keast." Join him, along with a rich assembly of correspondents, for this Sunday evening comedy hour which tips its cap to everyone from The Smothers Brothers to Dick Cavett in such topical and occasionally controversial fashions. This Sunday's guest is Chicago Police Officer-turned-author Martin Preib. The show is at 8pm, and tickets can be purchased at the door.
Dixie Longate wants to make one thing clear: she's throwing a REAL Tupperware party. It's the gimmick that makes her show, the aptly named Dixie's Tupperware Party, unique, bold...and a little odd. Is it a comedy show where you can buy the props, or a Tupperware party where the host is in drag and loaded with jokes?
It's both.
Part salty satire, part comic infomercial, Tupperware Party started off-Broadway and comes to Chicago as part of a national tour. Tapping into the spirit of party-shows like Tony n' Tina's Wedding, Flanegan's Wake, or Late Nite Catechism, Dixie (an alter ego of performer Kris Andersson) spends the minutes before the show passing mints around and meeting her guests. She can greet them all by name, because everyone is asked to don a nametag immediately after walking into the theater. There are no programs, just Tupperware catalogs, complete with order form. Once the show begins, Dixie wastes no time before showing us her true colors. She demonstrate how her sheet cake caddy can double as a tote for jello shots. We learn the benefits of drinking Jack Daniel's from a sippy cup. And we hear the story of Brownie Wise, the inventor of the Tupperware party -- an uplifting story that contrasts with the raucous, raunchy humor that dominates the show-- returned to each time things start to get a little too silly.
Comedian Rodney Perry, who is also Oscar winner Mo'Nique's co-host and sidekick on BET's "The Mo'Nique Show," returns home for a full weekend of stand-up comedy.
The Chicago native, who has appeared on various stand-up comedy shows including "Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand-Up" and HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," will also appear in Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family, due out next month.
Catch Rodney Perry, along with comedian D.L. "DeMarco" Monroe and host "Baldhead," Friday and Saturday, April 1-2 at Jokes and Notes, 4641 S. King Dr. Show times both nights are 8:30pm and 10:30pm; tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the box office. For more information, call 773-373-3390.
In his debut one-man show, Tim Paul's Retarded, Annoyance Theatre veteran Tim Paul reveals what happens behind the closed doors of a group home. Supplemented by pop-cult video segments to add context, he recounts true (and horrifying) stories from his years working at a group home for adults with developmental disabilities and behavioral disorders, exploring society's all-too-comfortable relationship with the r-word. The result is a challenging piece of theater with its fair share of tongue-in-cheek laughs.
Tim Paul's Retarded opened last Sunday and will run every Sunday at 9:30pm through April 3 at The Annoyance Theatre (4830 N. Broadway). Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at theannoyance.com or by calling the box office at 773-561-4665.
Chicago native Esther Ku is making her mark in the world of stand-up; with appearances on NBC's "Last Comic Standing," television commercials and even as a finalist in Howard Stern's "Hottest/Funniest Chick" contest, this up-and-coming comedienne is entertaining audiences all over the country with her bold style. Here, the former Rogers Park resident discusses women in stand-up, "dirty" comedy and her penchant for performing in front of black audiences.
I read that your comedy career was born after you were fired from a job for laughing too much--was there a "no laughing on the job" policy there?
[Laughs.] I was working for a Chicago-based pen company and they let me go for laughing too much. When the recession was just starting, pens were the first thing to go because everything is on computers, people were using styluses or whatever, and I was there selling pens. I guess it was like, "Okay, the laughing Asian girl has got to go."
Well if ever there were an example of when getting fired works out...
It did. I'm happy now--well, that day I cried--but it all worked out in the end.
Criticallyacclaimed comedy troupe Octavarius is premiering a new show series titled "Octavarius: Battle for the Belt," tomorrow night (March 13) at 7pm at Stage 773. Additional performances will take place on March 20 & 27. Colt Cabana, former WWE and current Ring of Honor superstar, is a special guest of the series, making an in-person appearance on night two (the 20th) and video appearances on night one and three. "The Ego" Robert Anthony, CZW Heavyweight Champion, will make a surprise appearance on the final night of the series (the 27th). The stage will be transformed into a wrestling ring, complete with ropes, turnbuckles and a Jumbotron. Tickets are $15 per show, or $25 for a ringside pass to all three nights. Audience members are encouraged to make a sign cheering or jeering their favorite Octavarius superstars, and receive tickets at a discounted rate of $12. For more information, visit Octavarius.com.
Local comedian Mo Welch debuts her "one woman show", Weird Girl, at the Lincoln Lodge tonight. For the show she combines her trademark characters from "The Mo Show" with her real life upbringing. Welch also adds her original short films, making the show both multi-media and interactive. Although "The Mo Show" is nascent, it has already received a good amount of press, with appearances by some of Chicago's top comedians. Welch's Weird Girl: One Human Show promises the same wacky abandon.
Weird Girl debuts at 9pm tonight at The Lincoln Lodge, and runs again tomorrow (March 4)-- same place, same time. Tickets are $10. More information can be found at mowelch.com. Buy tickets ahead of time at thelincolnlodge.com.
Flannery is both a warm and hilarious storyteller; the show spins what seem like tall tales but in fact are real-life experiences of the baffling number of ways Flannery has nearly killed himself (or friends, or siblings), as well as other just plain dumb things one does when drunk and lives to tell about (don't we all have a Taco Bell parking lot story?). The show also features the only acceptable use of a Power Point presentation.
I sat down to my laptop last week to ask Sean a few questions about the show and comedy in general.
Tonight at the Playground Theater (3209 N. Halsted), the players in Geek Show will take the stage at 10pm for the second-to-last Friday of their run. Geek Show is Justin Howard, Jeff Murdock, Tim Reardon and Jo Scott, showcasing their comedic chops in a fast and funny sketch revue. According to the group, Geek Show "simply chases and bites the heads off of the various idiocies in our modern lives." Before they bite the heads off of idocy, improv group Boyish will open the night. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.
Starting February 8 and continuing through February 28, Chicago will be home to a new comedy open mic. Lincoln Lodge has joined forces with Gorilla Tango Theatre for "Open Mic Tuesdays," which will welcome stand-up comedians, sketch, and musical comedy. Members of The Lincoln Lodge are set to host.
The show is a welcome addition to a surprisingly sparse Chicago open mic scene. Should it prove successful, the event might be extended beyond February.
"Open Mic Tuesdays" will be held Tuesdays at 8pm, February 8 - 28, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Entrance is free.
Chicago is a comedy Mecca, so it can be difficult to decipher what shows, out of the vast sea of options, are deserving of your precious time and money. Allow me to make it a little easier for you: go see Batterymouth.
The duo's new show, Batterymouth: It Burns, opened last night and is running every Friday until February 18. Inspired by a single suggestion, partners Zack Whittington (also of sketch group Long Pork) and Dave Urlakis (of ComedySportz, Best Church of God) proceed to create a long-form improv riff, a single scene demonstrating the nuances of a relationship between two people. The beauty part is that as the audience learns about these two newly-minted characters on the stage, Whittington and Urlakis are learning about them for the first time too. Great improv requires a lot of attention to detail on the part of the performers, and these two don't seem to miss a beat. The result will vary drastically from week to week, but is sure to be fascinating and beautiful every time. Oh, and funny, too.
If you've seen Batterymouth before, you may remember them as a trio. But when member Mark Walkley left to pursue a graduate degree, Whittington and Urlakis retooled their format. Their hard work has clearly paid off; It Burns is a testament to the men's emotional and physical mastery of their comedic art form.
Batterymouth: It Burns is directed by E.J. Scott. It runs Fridays at 7:30 p.m. through February 18 at Second City's deMatt Theater, Piper's Alley, 1616 N. Wells. Tickets are $12 and can be ordered by calling (312) 337-3992 or by visiting secondcity.com, and are available at the deMaat Theatre's box office.
"It would be pretty cool if mermaids were real, because I could stop fucking all these manatees."
-Kevin Hogan
Schubas
3159 N. Southport
773-525-2508
First Sundays of the month, 8pm sign-up, 9:30 show
"You're not funny," says the skinny, lisping frat spud. He breaks into my birth control joke. This guy is not a comedian. Normally, open-mic comedians love "civilians," real audience members who show up just to watch. Civilians are few, and they're a better litmus test for material, for many complex reasons, than fellow comedians.
But this drunken asswipe has been antagonizing us all night. I first noticed him downstairs, after I signed up and during the long wait before showtime. His voice carried as he shouted at his friends about "bitches." Now, he's breaking into everyone's set and refusing to leave or shut up.
And after he breaks into mine, everyone else finally wants blood. Another group of civilians lays into him about his striped shirt and wallet chain. He offers a fist bump, as though it's all good and we're all buddies. His fist bump is declined. Another comedian tells him to go choke himself. It is now the heckler versus everyone else in the room. I've lost the room's attention. My set is totaled.
The last days of Sketchfest are dwindling down and it's now or never if you want to catch any of the remaining groups at the Festival. Clever sketch groups are in abundance at Sketchfest, but a surefire pick is Sunday's Nose Complaint show. Nose Complaint consists of two best friends, Dave Caro and Nicholas Schaefer, directed and choreographed by David Montgomery, in a show that dives right into the fun and exciting world that revolves around their friendship. A departure from standard sketch comedy fare, Nose Complaint features a grand finale that would be fitting for even a Vegas stage.
Nose Complaint is playing Sunday, January 16th at 4 p.m. in the North Theater at Stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont). Tickets can be purchased online or over the phone at 773.327.5252 for $12.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Anime Central (ACen), the Midwest's largest anime convention, does not so much arrive as it does engulf. Tim Rolph takes you inside with 24,000+ niche hobby fans of all ages, heights, weights, costumes, handicaps and weapons. Read this feature »
"Animal Furnace," Chicago-born standup comedian Hannibal Buress' first comedy special, debuts on Comedy Central this Sunday, May 20 at 10pm. According to the press release,
The Funny Story Show is Chicago's new hybrid stand-up/storytelling showcase and will debut on May 18th at 
Creative Control is a new series produced and hosted by Joe McAdam, of the popular 
Judah Friedlander, arguably most popular for his role as Frank on 30 Rock is visiting Chicago this week for his one-night only show at 
Ben Lerman has been entertaining Chicago audiences for years, and Chicago audiences love him. Lerman graces us with his presence a few times a year and is in town this week for his Valentine's Day show at 
Dan Telfer is one of the hardest working people in Chicago: he co-produces 
I recently spoke with 
