Visiting Chicagoland this week: Robert Hines returns to his hometown. He is appearing tonight at Zanies and Tuesday night at Diversey River Bowl. He will also be at Riddles Comedy Club on July 22 and 23. It’s a good week for hometown returns: Joe Kilgallon is also here … so are Weird Al (this weekend), Gary Owen, Cash Levy, Ellie McElvain and Brett Hiker.
Ticket Alerts!
Kevin Smith is at Zanies in Rosemont on July 6 and Jeff Garlin will be there July 8 and 9.
Do you have tickets for Hari Kondabolu yet? He is releasing his new album, Mainstream American Comic, on July 22 and has two shows at The Hideout on July 30.
Garfunkel & Oates will be at The City Winery on August 31 and Paul Reiser is there on September 2. Details for both here.
Amy Schumer has announced her 2016 tour dates. She’s at the Allstate Arena and UIC Pavilion on November 25 and 26. Her show last week at Madison Square Garden sold out months ago, so this is a great opportunity to get ahead of the crowd.
The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts just announced pre-sales for Kathy Griffin (February 18, 2017) and Maz Jobrani (March 11, 2017). The pre-sale starts July 19 if you’re on the Center’s email list.
Chicagoans in the news: Deon Cole’s Cole Blooded Seminar aired this past weekend on Comedy Central. It’s now available on demand.
Check out July’s Elle magazine. It’s the Women in Comedy issue and you’ll spot some familiar beautiful Chicago faces, including Melissa McCarthy on the cover and inside, Tina Fey, Cameron Esposito, Beth Stelling and Lauren Lapkus. (I think I got all the Chicagoans – let me know if I missed anyone!)
Here is my spotlight through Thursday. Holiday weekend calendar to follow!
Please confirm all details before heading out!
MONDAY, JUNE 27
Sadsacks and Wisecracks at High Hat Club, 1920 W. Irving Park Rd., 8:00 p.m. Free showcase. Tonight is the Super Talent Show Edition. Hosted by Natalie Jose with Abi Sanchez, Jessica Singleton, Geoffrey Asmus, Sarah Sherman and Josh Ballew. Music by Paul Karner.
100 Proof Comedy at Comedy Sportz, 929 W. Belmont, 8:00 p.m. Tonight’s headliner is Tim McLaughlin. Featuring Tamale Rocks with Cameron Gillette, Conor Cawley, Patrick McManus, Kaitlyn Grissom. Hosted by Erin Grotheer.
Best Night Ever at Gman Tavern, 3730 N. Clark, 8:30 p.m. Free stand-up showcase. Tim Barnes (his last Chicago shows!), Ellie McElvain (LA), Brett Hiker (Denver), Stephanie Webber and Reena Calm.
CampPain: A Night of Political Comedy at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8: 30 p.m. Hosted by Tim Slagle. Featuring Caryn Bark, Robert Hines, Brian McDowell, Patrick Tomlinson, Grey Dolan, Jaboukie Young-White, Kevin Naughton and Jeff Lampton. Note Robert Hines’ show tomorrow night at Diversey River Bowl, too!
Five Star Comedy Showcase at Four Star Lounge, 2666 N. Halsted, 8:30 p.m. Hosted by Steve Rinaldi. Headliner: Dave Helem. Featuring David Gavri, Melissa Richelle and David James Spallaris.
Wild Out Mondays at SLR Bar & Grill, 16409 S. Halsted, Harvey, 9:00 p.m. Improv, stand up and music hosted by Just Nesh. Featuring Harold Pierre, Lyssa Laird and T-Ray Sanders.
The Mixer at The Playground Theater, 3209 N. Halsted St., 10:00 p.m. “For anyone interested in improv.” At 10:00 p.m. there’s an improv workshop. At 10:30 everyone breaks into teams for a long form show. You can choose to be in the audience or join everyone on stage.
The Monday Mulligan: A Pre-Launch Stand-Up Spectacular at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 10:00 p.m. A new showcase hosted by the fabulous and brilliant Adam Burke and he’s got a line-up to match. Tonight: Ali Clayton, Sonia Denis, Marty DeRosa, Calvin Evans, Alex Kumin, Abi Sanchez, Rebecca O’Neal and T. Murph.
TUESDAY, JUNE 28 HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY, MEL BROOKS!
Will Power and Damien Power on Chicago’s Comedy Scene Radio, 7:45 a.m. Tony Carr and Steve Touhy interview the Indy racecar driver Will and comedian Damien. Follow the link or download the app to access Chicago comedy 24/7.
Robert L. Hines BBQ Foot Massage Tour at Diversey River Bowl, 2211 W. Diversey, 8:00 p.m. Robert Hines is the Chicago comedian behind Toby Jones’ “Good Ass BBQ and Foot Massage Restaurant,” which has become so iconic that Steph Curry adopted its jingle and dance as his pre-show ritual. Great write-up in this Tribune article.
If I get in trouble for appropriating that video, I’m calling these guys:
Redacted at The Music Box Theatre Lounge, 3733 N. Southport, 8:00 p.m. A comic send-up of Dirty Dancing starring Elise Mayfield from Master Chef season 5.
Afro-Futurism at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 8:00 p.m. The e.t.c. Theater’s acclaimed revue. Hosted by Nightly Show contributor Felonious Munk, and starring Dave Helem, Shantira Jackson, Dewayne Perkins, Sonia Denis, Martin Morrow, and MC Mr. GreenWeedz. With up-to-date satire and new guests each show. Musical direction by Julie Nichols. Directed by Billy Bungeroth. Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Top 10 Tuesdays at The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 8:00 p.m. Ten top comedians – ten dollars. Great line-up tonight, including Tim Barnes, Rebecca O’Neal, Shannon Noll, Tamale Sepp and more comedians TBA.
Cash Levy at Zanies 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. Shows through Saturday. Check site for details. Cash Levy is co-host with Chicagoan T.J. Miller of the podcast Cashing in with T.J. Miller.
Comedy Secrets at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, 9:00 p.m. Presented by Chicago Underground Comedy. What’s confessed here better stay here. Comedians reveal secrets … if the audience swears to never breathe a word. This month, Andy Fleming and Stephanie Hasz host secrets from: Dan Drees, Stephanie Weber and Ryan Walker. The panel is Tim Barnes and Matt Drufke.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29
You Joke Like a Girl at Volumes Bookcafé 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave., 7:00 p.m. Open mic sign-up at 7:00 p.m. Open mic at 7:30 p.m. Showcase at 8:30 p.m. featuring Krista Atkinson, Marla Depew, Sameena Mustafa and Alexandra Tsarpalas. A new show produced by Elyse Nylin.
Drunk Science at The Comedy Bar, 500 N. LaSalle, 8:00 p.m. The weekly show where Sean Flannery, one of comedy’s best storytellers, explains your mind on alcohol. Bonus: Sean is headlining this week’s Comedy Bar stand-up shows, too. Highly recommend. Check site for all showtimes.
[LAST SHOW] Sides at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., 8:00 p.m. This show is both scripted and improv and is about the impact of life’s momentous events.
Comedians You Should Know: Ricky Gonzalez Album Release Show at Timothy O’Toole’s, 622 N. Fairbanks, 9:00 p.m. Joe Kilgallon hosts Brett Hiker, Danny Kallas, Kristen Toomey, Joey Villagomez, Russell Williamson and Ricky Gonzalez.
TJ & Dave at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 10:30 p.m. Internationally renowned improv greats TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi improvise a one-hour play every Wednesday. Never the same show twice.
THURSDAY, JUNE 30
Laughs on the Lake at Spirit of Chicago Comedy Cruises at Navy Pier, boarding time: 7:00 p.m. Hosted by Dave Helem. Featuring Taneshia Rice and Lem Slaughter.
Gary Owen at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Check site for all show times. Gary Owen’s first career was in the Navy where he was part of the Presidential Guard and also started doing stand-up After a year of comedy, he was named America’s Funniest Serviceman. His film debut was Daddy Daycare and he went on to become one of the stars of Think Like a Man and Think Like a Man, Too. He also appeared in Ride Along, had a recurring role in Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and created the role “Bearcat” in the movie College. You can find his comedy specials on demand. He is white and his wife is black. Much of his comedy is about the things they learn from each other.
BATSU! at Kamehachi, 1531 N. Wells, 8:00 p.m. The hit Japanese-style comedy game show created by Face Off Unlimited comes to Chicago to serve all manner of antics, contests, giant chickens and surprises with your dinner. Repeatedly sold out in New York. Find out why the show is called BATSU! (“punishment”) and experience this singular, electrifying (sometimes literally electrifying) performance.
Kellye Howard Live! At The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 8:00 p.m. Kellye Howard’s comedy has been featured on the OWN Network, Comedy Central, TBS, NBC, FOX and WGN, including NBC’s Last Comic Standing, the OWN Network’s My Life is a Joke and Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious. She is also known for her acclaimed one-woman shows. Tonight she headline’s The Laugh Factory’s “Chicago’s Best Stand Up.”
Return of Surprise Party at Cafe Mustache, 2313 N. Milwaukee Ave., 8:00 p.m. Featuring Steve Gerard, Cleveland Anderson, Derek Smith, and Kristen Toomey.
This Week’s Show at Stanley’s Kitchen and Tap, 1970 N. Lincoln, 8:00 p.m. Headliner: Sean White. Featuring Eli Hamilton, Ray Holleb, Joe McMahon, Michael Meyers (TWS producer). Host: Justin Golak (TWS producer). Sean White is about to embark on a national tour, so now is a great opportunity to see him. His album Dead & Gone was one of the most critically acclaimed of 2015.
Sean Flannery at The Comedy Bar, 500 N. La Salle, 8:00 p.m. One of comedy’s best storytellers headlines at The Comedy Bar tonight through Saturday. Check site for all show times.
A Red Line Runs Through It at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 8:00 p.m. An inside comedic look at Chicago in all its wrong and right, gloom and glory. Shows throughout the week.
Hound Dog Comedy at 240 Lounge, 3948 W. Lawrence, 9:00 p.m. Hosted by Anna Marie Long and Kate Cullan with Patrick O’Hara, Dwight Simmons, Heather Morgan, J.P McAllister, Luc Garneau , Noah Gutierrez
Joe Kilgallon’s Summer Beach Bash at WIP Theater, 6670 N. Northwest Highway, 9:00 p.m. “His in-your-face style and charismatic charm help Joe paint stories drawn heavily from personal experience and his Chicago-Irish roots, making him an instant favorite and the type of comedian everyone wants to share a drink with after the show.”
Messing with a Friend at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 10:30 p.m. Susan Messing has been named “Improviser of the Year” at The Chicago Improv Festival, “Best Improviser” by the Chicago Reader and “The Funniest Woman in Chicago” by Chicago magazine. Tonight’s guest: Jonathan Pitts.
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