Visitors in town: Leonard Ouzts and Ben Gleib are at Zanies. Orny Adams is at The Improv. Robert Kelly is at the Laugh Factory. The Capitol Steps and Todd Barry are here. Want to be part of their shows? Read on …
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MONDAY, JANUARY 22
The Mixer at The Playground Theater, 3209 N. Halsted, 10:00 p.m. Improv coaching and an opportunity to go up on stage (if you want to). All levels of experience welcome.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23
Comedy Cocktail at House of Blues’ Foundation Room, 329 N. Dearborn, 6:00 p.m. Produced by James Allen Kamp, creator of the most excellent comedyofchicago.com. DJ Tone-Knee kicks off the evening at 6:00 p.m. Stand-up showcases at 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. RSVP for free admission. Early arrival recommended. Seats go fast! Always a great, diverse line-up of Chicago’s top comedians and surprise drop-ins.
7:30 p.m. Hosted by Anthony Bonazzo. Featuring Marty Derosa and a special guest. Headliner: Erica Clark.
9:00 p.m. Hosted by Jonah Jurkens. Featuring Dwight Simmons and Chelsea Hood. Headliner: Adam Burke
Cure for the Common Comedy at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 8:00 p.m. Tonight and Wednesday night. Brand new and classic material to help you through the Chicago winter.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24
Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O’Toole’s, 622 Fairbanks Court, 9:30 p.m. A nationally renowned stand-up showcase. Ricky Gonzalez hosts Jonah Jurkens, Blake Burkhart, Mike Sheehan, Sean Flannery, Deanna Ortiz, and Erica Clark.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25
The Kates at The Improv, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 7:30 p.m. All-women stand-up show created and produced by Kelsie Huff (also a most excellent guest host on Windy City Live). Always an evening of diverse viewpoints and comedy at its best. Tonight: Just Nesh, Elyse Nylin, Amy Sumpter, Mona Aburmishan, and Janice Rodriguez. Hosted by Kelsie Huff.
Capitol Steps at North Shore Center for Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 7:30 p.m. Through Sunday. Follow link for all show times. The Capitol Steps’ new show is “Orange is the New Barack.” Their motto: “we put the ‘mock’ in democracy.”
Boo Baby Loves You at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 10:00 p.m. From Scranton, home of The Office, Boo Baby is Robert Salazar and Kevin Tellie. Their unique folk rock concert is like a dash of Andy Kaufman if he possessed Bob Dylan. Their first album Orange You Glad debuted to excellent reviews. Boo Baby is here for one night only!
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 Kat Gotsick.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26
Funny Ha Ha at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 6:30 p.m. Readings and performances by Jeremy Owens (You’re Being Ridiculous), Hassan Ali (The Onion), Edward Thomas-Herrera (BoyGirlBoyGirls), Kristen Toomey (Stand-up, Hoo Ha producer), Ashley Ray (storyteller, writer, comedian), Fuzzy Gerdes (“Chicago comedy artifact”), and Steve Delahoyde (filmmaker).
Todd Barry at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. This master of crowd work is here with his 30th Anniversary Crowd Work Tour. “An entire show of riffing and bantering with the audience.” Here’s an idea of how it could go.
Julia Sweeney at Second City, 1616 N. Wells, 9:00 p.m. Tonight and Sunday at 6:00 p.m. The SNL star, author and actor presents her new show “Older and Wider” at Second City through March 18. Follow link for show times. Tickets are selling out in advance! Get yours soon!
Robert Kelly at The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 8:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27
The Capitol Steps Workshop at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 12:00 p.m. Learn how to do political satire in the style of The Capitol Steps. Taught by writer, director and comedian Tim Soszko. Members of the Capitol Steps will stop by for a meet and greet. Participants will have the opportunity to open for the Capitol Steps tonight at their 8:00 p.m. show.
The Kates at The Book Cellar, 4736 N. Lincoln, 7:00 p.m. Two opportunities to see the kates this week- two unique line-ups! Arrive early for seats! Tonight: Eunji Eunji, Erin Grother, Onicia Muller, Portia Turner, Krista Atkinson, and Sonal Aggawal. Hosted by Amy Sumpter.
Story Jam at The Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette, 8:00 p.m. A unique storytelling and musical event. Interview with Story Jam’s creator, producer and host, Stephanie Rogers is here! Meet the line-up here!
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28
Bad Stems at Café Mustache, 2313 N. Milwaukee, 6:00 p.m. “Kristin Lytie and Sonal Aggarwal host an evening of turning tragedy into comedy with some of our favorite comics in Chicago talking about arthritis, brain tumors, broken limbs and so much more.” True stories from Tyler Snodgrass, Kaitlyn Grissom, Dave Metz, Colleen Brennan, Carly Ballerini, Alexandra Tsarpalas, Ashley Ray, and Maggie Tomasek.
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