In town: MEAT podcast hosts Josh Simpson and Jake Jabbour, Justin Hires, Bruce Bruce, Kyle Ayers, and the authors of Liberal Redneck Manifesto, Trae Crowder, Drew Morgan and Corey Ryan Forrester.
In the news:
The Open Mic series, created by Kelsie Huff and Daryl Moon has been accepted into the Best Shorts Competition, a worldwide showcase for excellence in film making. You can see The Open Mic here.
This morning, the Wall Street Journal asked seven experts, “If you could just read one book this summer, what would it be?” We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby was one of the answers.
Kumail Nanjiani’s long-awaited feature film, The Big Sick, written with his wife Emily Gordon, opens on June 23. The film is based on the early days of their real-life relationship in Chicago. Another Big Sick actor who got her comedy start here: SNL‘s Aidy Bryant at the Columbia College comedy studies program, iO and Second City.
TJ Miller’s newest stand-up special is on HBO: Meticulously Ridiculous.
Bassem Youssef visited Chicago in March. He is known as “the Egyptian Jon Stewart,” but had to leave Egypt with his life on the line in 2013. He, his writers and producers risked their lives to keep their show Al Bernameg on the air as long as they could. The documentary Tickling Giants is about their experience and is now available on demand.
Ticket alerts!
At Thalia Hall: Artie Lange on July 1, Kyle Mooney on July 12, Ron Funches on August 11, Doug Loves Movies on August 23.
John Mulaney added a second show at The Chicago Theatre next February after the first show sold out. Check here.
Following is this week’s spotlight.
MONDAY, JUNE 19
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.
The MEAT Improv Live Train Tour at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 7:00 p.m. Hosts Josh Simpson and Jake Jabbour are traveling from LA to NY for the Del Close Marathon, stopping in nine cities along the way. In MEAT, comedians relay true, “meaty” stories and perform long-form improv based accordingly. Tonight: stories from Charna Halpern and improv by Peter Gwinn (Colbert Report).
The MEAT will be at the Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave. at 9:30 p.m.
Female Funnies at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. Hosted by WGN Radio’s Patti Vasquez (Pretty Late with Patty Vasquez).
TUESDAY, JUNE 20
Top Ten Tuesdays at The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
7:30: Rebecca O’Neal (WCIU’s Chicago One Night Stand-Up, Cole’s Open Mic), hosts ten of Chicago’s top comedians. Tonight: Tim Cox, Joe Kilgallon, Danny Maupin, Miles Hendrix, Deanna Ortiz and more TBA.
9:30 p.m. Featuring Reena Calm, AJ Lubecker and more TBA.
The Mother Cluckers at Anderson’s Bookshop, 26 S. LaGrange Rd., 8:00 p.m. Tonight’s Mother Cluckers are: KT Speetzen, Joyce Hagen-McIntosh, Catherine Dee, Barbara Legan, Colleen Brennan & Christine Hauri. Comedy about parenthood.
The Summer Solstice Variety Hour at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 8:00 p.m. Katie Rich and Holly Laurent host this evening of “Chicago’s finest stand up, sketch, storytelling, live music and improv.”
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.
Rising Star Showcase at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. Featuring ten to twelve of Chicago’s rising stand-up stars.
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.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21
Snubfest at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:00 p.m. Snubfest 2017 is sponsored by Zanies and Under the Gun Theater. Featuring comedians who were (questionably) rejected this past year from other festivals. Snubfest alum include Cameron Esposito, T.J. Miller, Lauren Lapkus and Vanessa Bayer. Judges decide winner and who gets time on local and national stages. Tonight: stand-up. Storytelling and sketch follows later this week. (See below.)
Snubfest at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 8:00 p.m.
Laughs in the Lounge at Rogers Park Social, 6920 N. Glenwood, 9:00 p.m. Featuring Tim Cox, Lauren Hooberman, Cody Melcher, Soli Santos and Ruby Western. Hosted by Marla Depew. Free show. Donations accepted.
Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O’Toole’s, 622 N. Fairbanks Ct., 9:30 p.m. Joe Kilgallon hosts Reena Calm, Marty DeRosa, Dan Perlman, Lane Pieschel, Tyler Snodgrass and Taneshia Rice.
THURSDAY, JUNE 22
Rat Pack Comedy at The Holiday Club, 4000 Sheridan Rd., 8:00 p.m. Headliner: Kelsie Huff (Open Mic, The Kates, Windy City Live). Featuring: Chris Higgins, Jane Harrison, Chris Trani and James Fischer. Hosted by Terence Hartnett.
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.
Justin Hires at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 8:30 p.m. Comedian, television and film actor Justin Hires will be at Zanies downtown and in Rosemont this week. Follow link for all show times.
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 Mike Gifford.
FRIDAY, JUNE 23
AJ’s Chicago Goodbye at The Playground Theater, 3209 N. Halsted, 8:00 p.m. Chicago is losing AJ to LA, but we’ll be hearing his name and seeing his work, no doubt! Tonight he says goodbye to Chicago with a cool fundraiser which benefits two causes with the same dollars. AJ kindly told me about it here. If you can’t make it to the show, but would like to donate, you can here.
Funny Ha Ha at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 6:30 p.m. Funny Ha Ha was founded thirteen years ago by authors John Green and Claire Zulkey and features “Chicago’s funniest, smartest writers and storytellers who don’t quite fit the mold of typical standup, improv or sketch comedy.” Proceeds go to SitStayRead, where kids discover the joy of books by reading to canine companions, the best listeners of all.
Tonight: Steve Gadlin (Shark Tank, the “Cat-Drawing Guy”), Erica Reid (Drunk Monkeys), Ines Bellina (XX, Will Travel), Kelsie Huff (the kates, Windy City Live), Nestor “The Boss” Gomez (18-time Moth Slam winner) , Scott Whitehair (This Much is True), and Steve Delahoyde (filmmaker). Hosted by Claire Zulkey.
Snubfest at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Storytelling at 7:30 p.m. Sketch at 9:00 p.m.
Laughs That Keep You Jung at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, 8:00 p.m. Award-winning group of psychotherapists by day, improv/sketch showcase by night. Groundbreakers in the connection between mental health and comedy.
WellRed Comedy Tour at Thalia Hall, 1607 S. Allport, 8:00 p.m. Trae Crowder, Drew Morgan and Corey Ryan Forrester are touring the country to celebrate their best-seller, Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Draggin Dixie Outta the Dark.
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.
Bruce Bruce at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 8:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Through Sunday. Follow link for all show times. Before Bruce Bruce made it big as a nationally touring headliner with multiple television appearances, he was a chef known for his barbeque and a salesman for Frito-Lay (where he also did comedy for his colleagues). He is originally from Atlanta.
Lola Balatro at CIC Theater, 1420 W. Irving Park Rd., 10:30 p.m. Lola Balatro with Pimprov.
SATURDAY, JUNE 24
The Revival Hour at The Revival, 1160 E 55th St., 7:30 p.m. A diverse evening of sketch, improv, solo performance and music “from artists from across Chicago’s South Side and beyond.” Tonight is produced by Cody Spellman (Second City, Writer’s Theatre, Jackalope) and features Aaron Branch, Max Thomas, Colette Gregory, Allison Reese and Trevor Kravits.
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.
Snubfest at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 9:00 p.m. Best of the fest.
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 25
Kyle Ayers’ Boast Rattle at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, 7:00 p.m. Not your typical Roast, this is a battle of the compliments. Featuring Meredith Kachel, Marty DeRosa, Sarah Shockey, Alex Kumin, Matty Ryan, and Dan Sheehan.
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.