MONDAY, APRIL 10
The Riff at Gallery Cabaret, 2020 N. Oakley, 7:00 p.m. A unique open mic hosted by the kates. Comedians get a last-minute topic and deliver a surprise four-minute riff.
Martha Kelly at @North Bar, 1637 W. North Ave., 8:00 p.m. From the hit FX series Baskets. Martha Kelly is here tonight and tomorrow night.
Ralphie Roberts at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. Ralphie Roberts is at the downtown Zanies all week as part of the club’s “Spotlight on Chicago” series. He grew up on Chicago’s West Side and his comedy is based on his life story.
Manic Mondays at SLR Bar & Grill, 16409 Halsted, Harvey, 8:00 p.m. Live music and comedy hosted by Taneshia Rice and Marilee.
TUESDAY, APRIL 11
Alec Baldwin presented by Chicago Ideas at The Athenaeum, 2936 N. Southport, 6:00 p.m. Alec Baldwin is known for his work on screens big and small, including 30 Rock and most recently, Saturday Night Live for his hilarious, uncanny impressions of our surreal president. Tonight, he is going to talk about his new memoir, Nevertheless, and share who he is behind the scenes, triumphs, battles, and all.
Chicago Underground Comedy at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, 9:30 p.m. Chicago Underground Comedy is one of comedy’s most groundbreaking showcases where Cameron Esposito, Beth Stelling, TJ Miller, Dan Telfer, Kumail Nanjiani, just to name a few, got their start. Produced by Meredith Kachel.
ONLY TWO SHOWS LEFT! Pure & Weary’s Roaring in Our 20s at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 9:30 p.m. Pure & Weary’s show was a smash hit at Chicago Sketch Fest and Second City and has now been picked up at The Annoyance for a 6-week run through April 18th. This show takes place during the 1920s and celebrates flappers, comedians and other non-conventional women and the things we all have in common. “Come watch as Pure & Weary Charleston through the ups and downs of their 20s.”
Interview: “Pure & Weary’s Roaring in Our 20s is the Show we Need Today” here.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12
Don’t Kid Yourself at Hungry Brain, 2319 W Belmont Ave., 7:30 p.m. Monthly comedy variety show “embracing the weirdness of childhood.” This month’s theme: “hustle and grind.” Featuring stand-up by Caitlin Checkeroski, Shannon Noll and more TBA. “Audience members can take a stroll down memory lane and share their own childhood memories.”
W. Kamau Bell at The Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Dr., 8:00 p.m. Live performance of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour. Also featuring host Linda Holmes, panelists Stephen Thompson and Glen Weldon, and VIP guests, Sam Sanders and W. Kamau Bell who is known for the most excellent television series, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and United Shades of America, which begins its second season on CNN on April 30. He is originally a Chicagoan and got his comedy start here. He will be at The Vic Theatre on June 16. His memoir, The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6′ 4″, African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama’s Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian will be released on May 2.
The Showcase at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 8:00 p.m. Charna Halpern, iO’s owner and Artistic Director, hosts a series of 5 minute solo showcases.
Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O’Toole’s, 622 N. Fairbanks Ct., 9:30 p.m. Marty DeRosa hosts Geoffrey Asmus, Reena Calm, Mike O’Keefe, Rebecca O’Neal, Mike Sheehan and Martin Morrow.