In town: Gary Owen, Erin Foley, Megan Mullally and Stephanie Hunt, Dan Savage, and Reformed Whores. W. Kamau Bell and Dave Helem return to their comedy hometown. Then there are too many excellent acts to list at the Sixth Annual Chicago Women’s Funny Festival. Follow link below for details.
In the news: On July 2, Taneshia Rice will appear on Kevin Hart’s The Next Level on Comedy Central. The series begins this Sunday.
Variety announced its “10 Comics to Watch” for 2017 and the list includes three originally Chicago comedians: Rhea Butcher, Liza Treyger and Esther Povitsky. (Liza and Esther both grew up in Skokie.) The list also includes The Carmichael Show‘s wonderful Tiffany Haddish, who will be at Zanies downtown in October.
The Therapy Players, a Chicago-based improv group of psychotherapists, will present the opening keynote at the First Annual “‘Yes And’ Mental Health Conference.” The conference will be in Chicago this September and “brings together practitioners and researchers of mental health who share a desire to study, integrate and advance the impact of improv. More info here.
Ticket alerts:
Jim Gaffigan added another day to the Chicago stop on his new tour. He’ll be at The Chicago Theatre October 12-14.
Chris Rock added more Chicago dates, too, and will be at The Chicago Theatre September 7-10.
Bridget Everett will be at Park West on October 19. Tickets go on sale June 16.
Following is this week’s Spotlight, just a small fraction of all the comedy happening here every night of the week. Please confirm all details before setting out.
THURSDAY, JUNE 15
Sixth Annual Chicago Women’s Funny Festival at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, 8:00 p.m. Featuring Chicago’s great women in comedy with guest acts from all over the country. The line-ups are fantastic every day. Festival passes are available. Through Sunday. Follow link for all show times.
Parlour Car at Bar DeVille, 701 N. Damon, 9:00 p.m. Free, acclaimed stand-up showcase. Named “Best Stand Up Show in Chicago” by Chicago Magazine (2014). Features Chicago comedians and nationally touring comedians stopping in. Produced by Matty Ryan and Stephanie Hasz. Featuring Dave Helem (Comedy Central; Just For Laughs Chicago; in from LA), Matty Ryan (MTV’s Acting Out; NBC’s Chicago Justice), Reformed Whores (IFC; PBS; CBS; in from NYC), Mark Raterman (Comedy Central; HEAVYWEIGHT; in from LA), Chelsea Hood (SXSW; RIOT LA; in from NYC), Em Brown (Laugh Factory; Zanies), Reena Calm ( Laugh Factory; Calmedy Tour) and Joe McMahon (Laugh Factory; Swamp Prince).
Savage Love Live 2017 at The Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, 8:00 p.m. Live taping of Dan Savage’s relationship advice podcast with special guest Kristin Toomey and more TBA. .
Gary Owen at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 7:30 p.m. Through Sunday. Follow link for all show times.
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.
Erin Foley at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m.
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: “Messing With an Ex Husband Joe Canale,” a special benefit for the Franklin Fine Arts Center. Tickets $20.
FRIDAY, JUNE 16
Sixth Annual Chicago Women’s Funny Festival at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, 8:00 pm. Through Sunday. Follow link for all show times.
Don’t Kid Yourself: Story Times at Volumes Bookcafé, 1474 N. Milwaukee Ave., 8:00 p.m. Caitlin Checkeroski and David Freeburg host Ralph LaGuerre, Rebecca Loeser, Derek Moulds, Casey Larwood, and Adam Burke. Comedy about “the weirdness of childhood.”
Save Ferris: the Unofficial Sequel to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 9:00 p.m. Through July 7. Summer moves pretty fast. If you don’t go, you could … well, you know.
W. Kamau Bell at The Park West, 322 W. Armitage, 8:00 p.m. Note: venue changed from The Vic. W. Kamau Bell got his stand-up start in Chicago. He created and stars in one of the best shows on television, CNN’s Emmy-nominated United Shades of America, now in its second season. One of this season’s shows was all about Chicago. He just published 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.
Megan Mullally and Stephanie Hunt at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph, 8:00 p.m. Here as the musical duo Nancy and Beth.
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.
SATURDAY, JUNE 17
Sixth Annual Chicago Women’s Funny Festival at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, 4:30 pm. Through Sunday. Follow link for all show times.
You’re Being Ridiculous at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark, 7:30 p.m. YBR appears at this famed Chicago bookstore’s annual Pride Show. Featuring Brooke Allen, Anna Besmann, Bea Cordelia, Ryan Hamlin, Elliot Hobaugh,Jeremy Owens, C Russell Price, and Rolo Rodriguez.
Chicago’s Comedy Scene Radio at 12 Handles Ale House, 1827 Knapp Dr., Crest Hill, 8:00 p.m. Dinner and comedy. With Joe Kilgallon, Timothy Brochu, Maggie Miller and Tamale Sepp.
Guest List Presents Felonious Munk at 1821 W. Hubbard St, 8:00 p.m. Felonious Munk was a writer and panelist for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore and is a guest host on Windy City Live.
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.
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 18
Pride Fest at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 12:00 p.m. Free event. Happenings throughout the day and night. Follow link to learn more.
[LAST DAY!] Sixth Annual Chicago Women’s Funny Festival at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, 2:00 pm.
The Young Hustle Show: Father’s Day Edition at The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 6:00 p.m. Featuring Clay Hurlbut, St James Jackson, Josh Otusanya, Bill Beteet and more TBA.
Love Always Wins at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 6:00 p.m. LGBTQ+ variety show. Proceeds benefit the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois. Hosted by Second City Touring Company members Emily Fightmaster and Amy Thompson.
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.