MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Thornton and Messing at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, 7:00 p.m. An evening of improv with Chicago’s renowned improv star Susan Messing and award-winning actor, director and Second City alum Michael Patrick Thornton (Private Practice). All of the actors’ proceeds go to the ACLU.
Dobie Maxwell and Friends at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. Dobie Maxwell is a nationally touring headliner, author, radio personality, teacher and mentor, who is in the midst of an extraordinary life. Check out his memoirs here. Interview with Dobie here. Tonight also celebrates the birthday of another Chicago great, Bill Gorgo
Camp: A Comedy Show at Village Tap, 2055 W. Roscoe, 8:30 p.m. Free stand-up showcase hosted by CAMP counselor Tessa Orzech and becoming known as one of the best showcases in the city. Featuring Sean Bair Flannery, Adrienne Brandyburg, Dave Losso, Nicky Martin, Mike Bridenstine, Ben Bryant and Camp’s Samantha Berkman.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Breaking Up is Hard to Do Storytelling Tour at Volumes Bookcafé, 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave., 7:00 p.m. Award-winning filmmaker and cartoonist, Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell live-draws storytellers’ break-up stories. Expect both sad and hilarious. Chicagoans scheduled to kiss and tell: J.H. Palmer, Joshua Turk, Tori Szekeres, Megan Pietz, Nancy Kujawinski, Shannon Shreibak and Nils Higdon. Hilary’s new book is Breaking Up is Hard to Do, But You Could’ve Done Better.
Is it Still Funny? at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport, 7:30 p.m. Film critic Mark Caro presents His Girl Friday (1940) and a discussion after the screening.
Winner … of Our Discontent at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 8:00 p.m. The new 105th Mainstage revue. Tickets sell out fast. Check site for additional shows throughout the week.
Chicago Underground Comedy at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, 9:30 p.m. One of Chicago’s most famous and longest running showcases. Known as the original comedy home of Cameron Esposito, TJ Miller, Beth Stelling and Kumail Nanjiani, just to name a few!
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Don’t Kid Yourself: First Crush! at Hungry Brain, 2319 W. Belmont, 7:30 p.m. A free comedy variety show about “the weirdness of childhood.” Hosted by David Freeburg and Geoffrey Asmus. Featuring Reena Calm, Steven King, Bobby Condon, Erin Grotheer, Derek Moulds, The Great Ghouldini and Actual Murderers. $5 suggested donation.
Dwayne Kennedy at Zanies, MB Financial Park, Rosemont, 8:00 p.m. Dwayne Kennedy is a Chicagoan known as a writer and correspondent for Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and is one of the most revered of our generation’s stand-ups. His album Uh Oh, It’s Dwayne Kennedy is here. Wednesday and Thursday night.
Dan Cummins at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. Shows through Saturday. Follow link for details.
Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O’Toole’s, 622 N. Fairbanks Ct., 9:30 p.m. Featuring Mike Bridenstine, Gena Gephart, Felonious Monk, Danny Kallas, Zach Peterson and Kevin Williams.Comedians travel from around the country to record their albums here.
TJ & Dave at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 10:30 p.m. Long form improv by internationally renowned legends TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi who “improvise a one-hour play filled with elaborately imagined characters whose relationships reveal the wildly funny quirks of human nature.” TJ & Dave have inspired both a book (Improvisation at the Speed of Life) and a movie (Trust Us, This is all Made Up).