Ticket alert! Superior Donuts’ Jermaine Fowler will be at Zanies May 3-May 5.
Please confirm all details!
THURSDAY, MARCH 23
Dennis Miller at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan, 8:00 p.m. Dennis Miller won five Emmy and three Writers Guild of America awards for Dennis Miller Live and as a Saturday Night Live cast member was host of Weekend Update.
Ian Bagg at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 7:30 p.m. Ian Bagg has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He was also a semi-finalist on Last Comic Standing. He is known for his crowd work. Good to know if you’re sitting in front.
Lola Balatro at Second City’s Beat Weekend Opening Night, 1616 N. Wells 8:30 p.m. Second City’s first ever music comedy festival opens tonight and continues through the weekend. See the whole line-up here and especially see Lola Balatro! You don’t want your life missing their music.
Dobie Maxwell at Zanies, MB Financial Park, Rosemont, 8:00 p.m. Dobie Maxwell is a nationally touring headliner, radio host and TV guest who is also an iconic Chicago comedian. A guaranteed great night of stand-up. Dobie released his memoirs, Monkey in the Middle, in 2016 and it’s got biker dads, a catastrophic car wreck, bank-robbing gorillas, tangles with the FBI and a remarkable personal story.
Group Improvised Comedy at Comedy Clubhouse, 1462 N. Ashland, 8:00 p.m. Long form improv (20-25 minutes) by three teams of up to 10 improvisers, each based on an audience suggestion. Thursdays through Sundays. Follow link for details, show times and a great explanation of what makes improv an art form like no other.
Barry Rothbart at Zanies 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. Barry Rothbart is at Zanies in Chicago through Friday and in Rosemont on Saturday.
Valid Historia at Under the Gun Theatre, 956 W. Newport, 9:00 p.m. Women in history inspire improv.
Messing with a Friend at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 10:30 p.m. This is a show where the improvisers morph from character to character before your eyes. Believable and magical at the same time. A little bit dangerous, too. Anything can happen. Susan Messing was named “Best Improviser” by the Reader and “Improviser of the Year” at the Chicago Improv Festival. This week’s friend is Julia Weiss.
FRIDAY, MARCH 24
Laugh Near Minimalist Furniture: A Comedy Variety Show at 8 E. Randolph St., 7:00 p.m. Headliner: Cody Melcher. Hosted by Tyler Fowler. Stand-up from: Carly Kane, Meghana Indurti, and Vik Pandya. Improv from I’m A Turtle. Sketch by Jim & Melissa. Musical guest: Luke Null.
Mary Lindsey Presents at The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West, 8:00 p.m. Mary Lindsey, the long-time owner of Jokes and Notes presents Tony Roberts and friends with special guest Anthony Bonazzo. Hosted by Jay Deep.
Marty DeRosa at The Comedy Bar, 500 N. LaSalle, 8:00 p.m. In addition to stand-up comedy, Marty DeRosa hosts the most excellent podcast Wrestling with Depression.
Jimmy Pardo at Zanies, MB Financial Park, Rosemont, 8:00 p.m. In addition to appearing all over television with his own specials and late night appearances, Jimmy Pardo is known for his critically acclaimed podcast, Never Not Funny.
Group Improvised Comedy at Comedy Clubhouse, 1462 N. Ashland, 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Long form improv (20-25 minutes) by three teams of up to 10 improvisers, each based on an audience suggestion. Thursdays through Sundays. Follow link for details, show times and a great explanation of what makes improv an art form like no other.
Ian Bagg at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 8:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Through Sunday.
The Lincoln Lodge at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., 8:00 p.m. The Lincoln Lodge is known for the comedians it helped launch: Cameron Esposito, Hannibal Buress and TJ Miller and more. Always high quality comedy with local and visiting performers. Dedicated to making comedy accessible and affordable.
SATURDAY, MARCH 25
The Kates at The Book Cellar, 4736 N. Lincoln Ave., 7:00 p.m. Chicago’s all-women stand-up troupe produced and founded by Kelsie Huff. Tonight: Denise Medina, Sarah Perry, Mary Runkle, Erin Grotheer, Lauren Kreiser, Kathy Pulkrabeck, Ruth Kaufman, Kristin Fenchak and host Lainie Lenertz.
Reite Guey at The Playground Theater, 3209 N. Halsted, 7:00 p.m. Music and comedy celebrating Latin culture and community. In Spanish.
Ian Bagg at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 7:00 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Through Sunday.
Dobie Maxwell at Zanies 1548 N. Wells, 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 11:15 p.m.
Simmer Brown Comedy: The Future is Female at Bughouse Theater, 1910 W. Irving Park Rd. 7:30 p.m. Reception for prepaid ticket holders only at 7:30 p.m. Show at 8:00 p.m. Double Feature: Kelsie Huff (Windy City Live, The Kates) and Rachel McCartney(Laugh Factory, Leaving for New York). Musical Guest: Lil Sharp (Saturday Night Live, FOX). Plus sets from SIMMER BROWN producers: Sameena Mustafa (Chicago Reader 2016 Best of Chicago Comedy, The Onion), Prateek Srivastava (NBC Breakout Comedy Festival, SF Sketchfest) and more TBA.
Jury Doody at The Comedy Clubhouse, 1462 N. Ashland, 7:30 p.m. A Main Stage theatrical and a long form improv piece which “flash[es] forward and backward into the lives of 10 unlikely jurors to see how we are more alike than different. Nine professional comedians play 118 characters in a story packed with wild fantasy, unlikely heroes, and a hint of the 90’s.” Saturday nights.
Fuck Trump: A Collection of Songs to Demonstrate What a Horrible Person Donald Trump Is at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 8:00 p.m. Directed by Mick Napier, the world renowned founder and director of The Annoyance.
Katt Williams at UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine, 8:00 p.m. Katt Williams designs his comedy to lead to conversations and isn’t afraid to bring up the most controversial topics of the day. Interesting fact: before he became a comedian, actor and rapper, he emancipated himself in his teens, moved from Ohio to Florida and supported himself as a door-to-door salesman. When he tried stand-up and realized he had a talent for it, he realized he’d found his purpose.
Group Improvised Comedy at Comedy Clubhouse, 1462 N. Ashland, 10:00 p.m. Long form improv (20-25 minutes) by three teams of up to 10 improvisers, each based on an audience suggestion. Thursdays through Sundays. Follow link for details, show times and a great explanation of what makes improv an art form like no other.
SUNDAY, MARCH 26
Bassem Youssef at University of Chicago’s Max Palevsky Cinema, 1212 E. 59th St., 6:00 p.m. A special presentation of Chicago Ideas Week/Curiosity Series. Bassem Youssef, known as “the Egyptian Jon Stewart” is here for a special screening and discussion of his new film,Tickling Giants, which traces his career from heart surgeon to television star and political satirist, and the challenges he and his writers faced confronting Egypt’s changing political scene. After the screening, there will be a Q and A with Bassem Youssef and Senior Writer and Sports Editor of The Onion, Seena Valli. Chicago Ideas Week will also present a talk by Bassem Youssef on Monday, March 27 at the Athenaeum Theatre: “Laughing Through the Arab Spring with Bassem Youssef.”
Ian Bagg at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for reception for pre-paid ticket holders only. Definitely another reason to get your tickets in advance in addition to the fact that these shows always sell out! Tonight:
Group Improvised Comedy at Comedy Clubhouse, 1462 N. Ashland, 8:00 p.m. Long form improv (20-25 minutes) by three teams of up to 10 improvisers, each based on an audience suggestion. Thursdays through Sundays. Follow link for details, show times and a great explanation of what makes improv an art form like no other.
Hoo Ha Comedy at Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport, 8:00 p.m. Hosted by Meredith Kachel and Deanna Ortiz.
Dobie Maxwell at Zanies 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m.