In Town: Curtis Konner, Steve Byrne, Al Jackson and James Hodge. Deon Cole and Emily Galati return to their comedy hometown.
Plus two comedy festivals this week …
TruTV, The Onion, A.V. Club and Clickhole Present the 4th Annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival with Patton Oswalt (taping his Netflix special), Aparna Nancherla, Christopher Guest, Ian Abramson, Mike Judge, Nathan Fielder, Eugene Mirman, Jon Glaser, podcasts Guys We F*cked and Bitch Sesh, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Jena Friedman, Rebecca O’Neal, Bobcat Goldthwait, Caitlin Gill, Clickhole Live, and Adam Conover (Adam Ruins Everything). Wednesday through Sunday. In conjunction with the festival, The Onion is also offering invitations to the Rise Up: Comedy for Change Conference. All tickets and information here.
The Story Arc Sketch Comedy Festival is this weekend (beginning Thursday) and next weekend. Featuring five world premieres. Tickets and more information here.
Note: Lena Dunham has canceled her Chicago appearance with Lenny: America IRL for medical reasons. Tickets will be refunded.
Classes: Dave Schwenson’s summer stand-up workshop begins this Saturday at The Improv in Schaumburg. Meets for three Saturdays and concludes with a perfomance on the famed Improv stage. The class is limited to ten people. Dave’s was the Talent Coordinator for the television show A&E’s An Evening At The Improv and for The Improv Comedy Clubs in New York City and Hollywood, and also managed The Cleveland Improv. Information here.
Following is just a fraction of the great comedy happening in Chicago every night of the week. Please confirm all details before setting out!
TUESDAY, MAY 30
Deon Cole One-Man Show at The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. One night only to see this Chicagoan who is breaking records by appearing as a regular in five television shows this year: Black-ish, College-ish, Conan (where he is also a writer), Angie Tribeca and Face Value.
Comedy Secrets at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, 9:00 p.m. This is the Chicago Underground Comedy show where comedians share secrets and the audience swears that it all stays at Beat Kitchen. 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.
Emily Galati at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:00 p.m. Emily Galati returns to her comedy hometown. At Zanies downtown through Sunday. Follow link for all show times.
Winner … of Our Discontent at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 8:00 p.m. The 105th Mainstage revue. Tickets sell out fast. Check site for additional shows throughout the week.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 31
The 4th Annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival at venues around the city. Through Sunday.
You Joke Like a Girl at Volumes Bookcafe, 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave., 7:00 p.m. All-women’s stand-up showcase and open mic created and hosted by Elyse Nylin. Open mic sign-up at 7. Open mic at 7:15. Showcase at 8:45, featuring Denise Medina, Sarah Perry, Kate Streit and Janice V. Rodriguez.
The Blind Bet Comedy Show at The Pony Inn, 1638 W. Belmont, 9:00 p.m. Stand-up showcase. Always a great line-up. Sign up for emails and you may win free tickets.
Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O’Toole’s, 622 N. Fairbanks Ct., 9:30 p.m. Joe Kilgallon hosts Mike Cronin, Marty DeRosa, Sam Evans, Ricky Gonzalez, Erin Grotheer and Deanna Ortiz. This showcase has been so successful that it’s branched out to NY and LA and hosts album recordings for comedians from around the country.
THURSDAY, JUNE 1
The Kates on Broadway at The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 8:00 p.m. Always a guaranteed excellent show of diverse, original and hilarious viewpoints from this all-women comedy showcase created and produced by Kelsie Huff. Tonight: Kristen Lundberg, Krista Atkinson, Mona Aburmishan, Tocarra Mallard, Susie An, Alex Seligsohn, Eunji Kim and host Amy Sumpter
The 4th Annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival at venues around the city. Through Sunday.
Story Arc Sketch Comedy Festival at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, 8:00 p.m. Five sketch comedy revues make their world premiere here this weekend and next. All begin with the prompt: “How can sketch comedy tell a new kind of story?” Through Saturday. Next weekend, too.
Law of the Land at Second City’s Blackout Cabaret, 230 W. North Ave., 8:30 p.m. Know your rights and the law, including the right to laugh at the law. Go laugh while it’s still legal!
Curtis Konner at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, 8:00 p.m. The Canadian comedian and Vine star brings his Hot Jokes tour to Chicago.
Steve Byrne at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 7:30 p.m. Follow link for all show times. Through Saturday.
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.
Messing with a Friend at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 10:30 pm. 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 Second City’s Rachael Mason.
FRIDAY, JUNE 2
The 4th Annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival at venues around the city. Through Sunday.
Ambassadors of Comedy at Adobe Gila’s, 1500 N Clybourn 2nd Floor (Halsted St), 9:00 p.m. The debut of this new open mic and showcase. Headliner: Chicago favorite, the always ingenious and hilarious Adam Burke. Hosted by Max Hensgen.
Al Jackson at The Comedy Bar, 500 N. LaSalle, 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Al Jackson went from middle school teacher in Miami to comedian in Los Angeles where his TV credits became too many to list here. Follow link for all show times. Through Sunday.
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.
Black Box Comedy presents James Hodge at WIP Theater, 6670 N. Northwest Highway, 10:00 p.m. James Hodge’s videos have gone viral (with 8 million views). He was one of the stars of the Funny or Die Oddball Comedy Festival and regularly tours with Dave Chappelle. Tonight and Saturday.
SATURDAY, JUNE 3
Late Late Breakfast 4-Year Blowout at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 3:00 p.m. Big party, greatest hits, pancakes, cake, comedy.
You’re Being Ridiculous at Uncommon Ground, 1401 W. Devon, 7:30 p.m. A very, very funny, moving, electric, eclectic, memorable evening of storytelling. Tonight: Sarah Bunger, Dara Davis, Michael Downey, Gwynn Fulcher, Risa McDonell, Amy Miller and Jeremy Owens.
The 4th Annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival at venues around the city. Through Sunday. Schedule here.
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. Now extended through July!
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, JUNE 4
Improv Nerd at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 5:30 p.m. Jimmy Carrane is a guru of improv and honesty. Today he interviews Alan and Claire Linic who are both writers and comedians and authors of the book Our Perfect Marriage.
The 4th Annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival at venues around the city. Last day!
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.
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