Happy 4th! I hate fireworks. I know. Too unpatriotic to admit. But really. The crowds, the scramble for a postage-stamp-sized patch of of itchy grass (and that’s just the parking), the high decibel crackling and booming, the burning debris plummeting towards our upturned faces while we marinate in a haze of spent explosives, Budweiser, bug repellent, hot dogs and sweat. Then there’s the stampeding exodus of bodies made clumsy by the reverb and blinding punctuation of the grand finale. I realize this paragraph is treasonous.
Comedy is where the real fireworks are! Lots of events this weekend. Weird Al, Gary Owen and Cash Levy are here along with Chicago’s stars who are too many to list, but I’ve given it a shot in my spotlight below.
NEWS: In the last few days this has happened in Chicago comedy …
Just this morning – practically just now! – Paul Thomas, Jeff Madden and the men of “Epic Love Song” provided the week’s grand finale for the WGN Morning News show. If you missed it, you’ll want to find the clip. I’ll also post it on the CDG Facebook page. It will make you forget your grim holiday thoughts – I guarantee it.
Did you see IFC’s Maron on Wednesday night? Cameron Esposito reprised her role as Zoe, starring alongside Marc Maron, Andy Kindler and Judd Hirsch. You can watch it on demand or on the IFC app. Cameron is from Western Springs and got her comedy start here at the Lincoln Lodge and Chicago Underground Comedy among others. She also founded the stand-up class Feminine Comique which continues to grow in fame under the leadership of Kelsie Huff.
You will not want to miss Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me! this weekend. Adam Burke (Chicago Reader‘s Best Stand-Up) is one of the panelists and Norman Lear is a guest. The combination is going to be as hot and memorable as any fireworks. Tune in to WBEZ (95.1 FM) Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. or Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
Ticket Alerts! Cook County Social Club is returning to iO on July 28 and 29. As iO says, “this veteran foursome dominated the Chicago improv scene with a brand of bold, high energy improv that consistently blew audiences away during their seven year open run at iO Chicago.” They were named Chicago’s Best Improv Troupe by the Reader in 2010 and “perhaps the funniest long-form ensemble in the country” by Splitsider.com. Tickets available at ioimprov.com.
Gary Gulman will appear at the Illinois Holocaust Museum’s Summer Benefit on August 11. You may have seen him on season 2 of Last Comic Standing where he finished third. I love that show, but with time for only minutes-long sets, it’s hard to fully appreciate what a comedian can do. Gary Gulman is especially brilliant at mining a topic for every comedic diamond. Google his comedy and you’ll definitely want to see him in person. Here is a good place to start. Benefit info here.
The Music Box announced that Ira Glass will appear at five screenings of Mike Birbiglia’s Don’t Think Twice on opening weekend, July 30-31. Tickets here. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Mike Birbiglia will be at the Music Box for a special preview screening on July 14. Earlier this week I saw a post that the show is sold out, but it looks like more tickets are available here.
Please confirm all details below before heading out (I was distracted by the men of Epic Love Song) and happy 4th!
FRIDAY, JULY 1
Drink, Date, Laugh at The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 8:00 p.m. Comedians tell their best and most excruciating relationship stories. Audience members invited to take the stage, too, and compete for prizes. Paul Farahvar, Andrew Sitter and more comedians TBA.
RejecTED at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 7:30 p.m. An audience member suggests a topic and a RejecTED Talk is born.
EbonyEssenceJet: The So What?!? Issue at the Revival, 1160 E. 55th St, 8:00 p.m. Improv and sketch revue from EbonyEssenceJet featuring Ashley Bland, Briane Goodrum, Kimberly Banks, and Salesha (Lele) Mason.
Sean Flannery at The Comedy Bar, 500 N. La Salle, 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. One of comedy’s best storytellers headlines The Comedy Bar tonight through Saturday. Check site for all show times.
Four Year Anniversary of Zanies in Rosemont, MB Financial Park, 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. With four Chicago-based national headliners: Kevin Naughton, Vince Maranto, Jim Flannigan, Pat McGann and Tim Slagle. Friday and Saturday.
Gary Owen at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, 8:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Gary Owen has shows at The Improv through Sunday. Check site for all show times. Gary Owen’s first career was in the Navy where he was part of the Presidential Guard. He also started doing comedy and after a year 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 memorable 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.
Cash Levy at Zanies 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 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.
The Boys: We Make It Worse at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 9:00 p.m. Internationally renowned improv greats improvise together: Susan Messing, Rachael Mason, Craig Uhlir and Ryan Archibald.
Will You Accept This Rose? at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 9:00 p.m. You do NOT have to wait until Monday for your Bachelorette fix because Josh Seiter form Season 11 will be here. This show is a very welcome parody of the most dramatic reality show ever.
Word Play at the Revival, 1160 E. 55th St, 10:00 p.m. Spoken word and stand-up hosted by WGCI’s Leon Rogers.
Funked Up Friday at The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 10:00 p.m. This is a party of a show where audience members will leave happy to have been invited. Tonight’s all star line-up includes your host, A.J. Lubecker, Kristen Toomey, Marty DeRosa and more TBA. Please check out my interview with A.J. here.
Work in Progress at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 10:30 p.m. The Chicago Tribune said Abby McEnany “straddles the line between no-nonsense and profoundly weird” which sounds to me the way the world should be, but isn’t. This one-woman show is about being unafraid to say you’ve still got a lot to figure out. Really hoping to make it to this before it closes on July 29. Until then, it’s every Friday except for July 15.
Fool Me Twice, Déjà Vu at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 11:00 p.m. The 104th Main Stage Revue. The Chicago Tribune’s Chris Jones called it “exceptionally funny” and “Second City like you’ve never seen it before.” Tonight’s early show already sold out. Check site for additional shows throughout the weekend.
A Red Line Runs Through It at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 11:00 p.m. The e.t.c. Theater’s acclaimed Chicago-centric revue. Tonight’s early show already sold out. Check site for additional shows throughout the weekend.
SATURDAY, JULY 2
Some Like It Hot at The Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, 11:30 a.m. This 1959 multi-award winning film starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis is one of Billy Wilder’s best and is #1 on the American Film Institute’s list of 100 best American comedies of all time. All that and the opening scene takes place in Chicago.
Gary Owen at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, 7:00 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Through Sunday. Check site for all show times.
EbonyEssenceJet: The So What?!? Issue at the Revival, 1160 E. 55th St, 8:00 p.m. Improv and sketch revue from EbonyEssenceJet featuring Ashley Bland, Briane Goodrum, Kimberly Banks, and Salesha (Lele) Mason.
Cash Levy at Zanies 1548 N. Wells, 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 11:15 p.m.
Four Year Anniversary of Zanies in Rosemont, MB Financial Park, 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. With four Chicago-based national headliners: Kevin Naughton, Vince Maranto, Jim Flannigan, Pat McGann and Tim Slagle. Friday and Saturday.
Sean Flannery at The Comedy Bar, 500 N. La Salle, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. One of comedy’s best storytellers.
Weird Al at River Edge Park, 360 N. Broadway St., Aurora, 8:00 p.m. Weird Al’s “Mandatory World Tour” stops in Aurora tonight and in Indiana on Sunday (see below). Tickets may be purchased for tonight’s show online, by calling (630) 896-6666 or in-person at the Paramount Theatre box office at 23 E. Galena Blvd in Aurora.
I’ve been dying to post my favorite Weird Al video, “Smells Like Nirvana” so here it is. Kurt Cobain was a big fan and said Weird Al’s interest was proof Nirvana had arrived. Weird Al and Nirvana filmed their videos on the same stage and even with some of the same actors, including the janitor. But you’ll only find Dick Van Patten in one.
Spin did a great interview with Weird Al about the making of “Smells Like Nirvana” here.
Contrast and compare. Or for a bigger blast, queue them up and play them together …
The Blackout Diaries at The High Hat Club, 1920 W. Irving Park Rd. 8:00 p.m. Unbelievable yet real drinking stories. Also features an audience Q&A.
Word Play at the Revival, 1160 E. 55th St, 10:00 p.m. Spoken word and stand-up hosted by WGCI’s Leon Rogers.
We Still Like You at a secret backyard location, 10:00 p.m. Shameful stories, then the validation by all present … “We still like you!” (Why can’t people do that in real life?) Message the WSLY folks for location details.
SUNDAY, JULY 3
Sunday Blood Mary Sunday at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 10:30 a.m. Brunch and comedy.
Improv Nerd at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 5:30 p.m. Jimmy Carrane interviews and improvises with Micah Philbrook of the tim&micah project. Micah Philbrook is also a Second City Training Center faculty member and a founder of pH Productions. These shows are memorable and beloved by improv students and fans. It’s an emotionally honest, authentic, unique behind-the-scenes look at the secrets of improvisers.
Apples to Improv at Under the Gun Theatre, 956 W. Newport, 6:00 p.m. An interactive comedy show for all ages based on the game Apples to Apples Junior.
Jimmy and Johnnie at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 7:00 p.m. Improv with Jimmy Carrane and John Hildreth.
Annoyance Film Night at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., 7:00 p.m. Ten short films by Chicago filmmakers.
Gary Owen at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, 7:00 p.m. Last show!
Weird Al at Star Plaza Theatre, 8001 Delaware Place, Merrillville, IN, 7:00 p.m.
The Community College Rejects at Under the Gun Theatre, 956 W. Newport, 7:30 p.m. An evening of improv.
Loose Cannons Presents: Day Time Flipping at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., 8:00 p.m. Like flipping channels, the show surfs between the stage and the audience. Directed by Meaghan Strickland.
MONDAY, JULY 4
Improv All Stars at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 8:00 p.m. An all star cast directed by the legendary improv all star Mick Napier. Cast: Ryan Archibald, Brooke Breit, Brendan Dowling, Jo Feldman, Peter Kim, Kelsey Kinney, Alan Linic, Julie Marchiano, Rachael Mason, Abby McEnany, Rachel Miller, Adam Peacock, Asher Perlman, Dana Quercioli, Nick Rees, John Sabine, Adam Schreck and Kevin Sciretta.
100 Proof Comedy at Comedy Sportz Theater, 929 W. Belmont, 8:00 p.m. Headliner: Mike Maxwell. Featuring the entire 100 Proof cast!
Best of the Second City at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 8:00 p.m. and 10:05 p.m. The Second City Touring Company presents the best sketches from its fifty-two year history.