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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13
Got Her Back at MCL Chicago Comedy Theater, 3110 N. Sheffield Ave., 7:30 p.m. A celebration of Chicago’s women in comedy. The evening showcases stand up, music, improv, sketch, storytelling and more. A portion of tonight’s proceeds benefit Black Butterfly Chicago, a mentoring program for girls from the city’s South Side. Produced and hosted by Cat McDonnell and Tiffani Swalley.
In Stitches: Galentine’s Day Fundraiser at Public House Theatre, 3914 N. Clark St., 8:00 p.m. Headliners: Susan Messing and Rachael Mason. Stand-up by Erin Field and Kaitlyn Grissom. Improv by Garbage. Proceeds benefit Humor for Hope, a Chicago non-profit which uses improv-based therapy to help children deal with trauma and illness and to assist medical professionals with team-building and patient care.
Dwayne Kennedy at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday Dwayne Kennedy is known as a television writer and actor, including as a writer and correspondent for Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. If you don’t know him already, go see why he is one of the most revered stand-up comedians of our generation. His album Uh Oh, It’s Dwayne Kennedy is here. Interview here.
Best Night Ever at Gman Tavern, 3740 N. Clark, 8:30 p.m. Free stand-up showcase featuring Dave Losso, Mike O’Keefe, Matt Monroe (Portland), Liz Ziner, Cleveland Anderson, Allison Dunne and Dale McPeek.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14-Valentine’s Day
Ethan and Lydia’s Love Explosion at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 6:00 p.m. Promising some kinda fireworks, that’s all I know.
Festival of Laughs at UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine, 7:00 p.m. With Bruce Bruce, Mike Epps, Tony Rock, Felipe Esparza and Leon Rogers.
Valentine’s Day Love and Laughter at The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West 7:00 p.m. An evening of comedy and music. Dinner package available (seating at 5:30 p.m.). With Michel’le, Just Nesh, Da Wild Cat, BLT and Gemini Porter.
#DATEME at Second City, 1616 N. Wells., 7:00 p.m. A comedian conducts a social experiment on an online dating site. How wild did it get? True story.
Comedy Cocktail at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Presented by comedyofchicago.com.
7:00 p.m. Marvin Phipps, Chris Trani, Doc Love and Kristen Lundberg
9:00 p.m.Jonah Jurkens, Kristen Ryan, Mo Partowie and Erica Nicole Clark
This Much is True at Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, 3905 N. Lincoln, 7:30 p.m. Free monthly storytelling event. Tonight features one of my favorite Chicago storytellers, Beth Horner with Brittany Alston, Jeff Baltes, Jill Howe, Karen O’Donnell and Megan Wells. “The heartbreaking, the hilarious, and everything in between.”
When Harry Met Sally at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport, 7:30 p.m. Interesting facts: Rob Reiner based this movie on his friendship with Nora Ephron. Originally, he wrote the ending with the couple walking away from each other. But then he met his wife and changed his mind. I learned this and a lot of other cool things about the great Rob Reiner in this A.V. Club interview.
The Valentine’s Variety Hour at The Comedy Bar, 500 N. LaSalle, 8:00 p.m. Comedy and music hosted by Sammy Tramp & Darling Violet.
Michael Palascak at Zanies, MB Financial Park, Rosemont, 8:00 p.m. Also Feb. 16-18 at Zanies in St. Charles. Michael Palascak was a finalist on Last Comic Standing and has been featured on The Late Show, Conan, and The Tonight Show and has his own special on Comedy Central.
Cupid Has a Heart On at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, 8:00 p.m. Chicago’s longest running musical comedy. Includes champagne toast.
Snack Attack presents St. Valentine’s Day Massacre at Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave., 8:00 p.m. Hosted by Prateek Srivastava. Featuring Jamie Carbone, James Fisher, Matt Monroe (Denver) and Jono Zalay (New York). Also: chocolate-covered pretzels and peanut M&Ms.
Dwayne Kennedy at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m.
My Funny Valentine at The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. A Valentine-themed evening.
8:00 p.m. Russ Williamson, Paul Farahvar, Sammy Arechar, Shannon Noll, Rebecca O’Neal and more TBA.
10:00 p.m. Russ Williamson, Felonious Munk, Reena Calm, Matt Chiaramonte, T Murph, Timmy Brochu and more TBA.
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.
It’s Complicated at Laugh Our Loud Theater, 3851 N. Lincoln Ave., 8:30 p.m. “A Valentine’s Day show for people who aren’t in a relationship or just don’t buy into the hype.”
Candy Hearts at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. Light-hearted improv for Valentine’s Day featuring Erin Olson, Elizabel Riggs, Steven Dionne, Abby Duke and Peter Riggs.
Get Up, Stand Up at The Public House Theatre, 3914 N. Halsted, 9:30 p.m. Featuring Jan Slavin and Hobert Thompson. Free show.
Moonstruck at The Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee, 10:30 p.m. Academy Awards for Cher, Olympia Dukakis, and screenwriter John Patrick Shanley. Interesting facts: Cher used Sonny Bono’s Italian family as a reference point for her role as Loretta Castorini. Michael Patrick Shanley’s writing style for this film was inspired by a conversation he overheard on the train. More little known Moonstruck facts here.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Mom Genes presents Get Down, Disco Momma at Cafe Mustache, 2313 N. MIlwaukee Ave., 8:00 p.m. Headliner: Dina Nina Martinez. Featuring Hope Rehak, Elyse Nylin and Tom Wisdom, and an original character from Shannon Noll. Interview with Hope here.
Rob Sherwood at Zanies, MB Financial Park, Rosemont, 8:00 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Follow link for all show times.
I Love You, But I Don’t Like You at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 8:30 p.m. Chelsea Norment, Meredith Johnston and Lilliana Winkworth wrote and star in this show about mothers. “A chaotic meditation on growing up different from a mothers’ expectations. This show is also a desperate (and comedic) attempt to not repeat their mothers’ mistakes.”
Laughs in the Lounge at Rogers Park Social, 6920 N. Glenwood Ave., 9:00 p.m. Featuring Anthony Bonazzo, Ron Ervin, Anna Lucero, Alex Seligsohn, Sarah Vulpio. Hosted by Marla Depew.
Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O’Toole’s, 622 N. Fairbanks Ct., 9:30 p.m. Blake Burkhart hosts Marty DeRosa, Matt Drufke, Ricky Gonzalez, Kelsie Huff, Doc Love and Sam Norton.
Having it All at iO, 1501 N. Kinsbury, 10:30 p.m. “Stories and improv about being female.”
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).