Visitors in town: Amy Schumer, Bonnie McFarlane.
At Zanies: Larry Reeb (Chicago), Pat McGann (Rosemont).
At The Improv: Jim Flannigan and Tommy Davidson.
At Riddles: Damon Williams Comedy Jam presents Shaun Jones.
Ticket alerts:
December 27: Messing With a Friend with Susan Messing at The Annoyance.
January 10-20: Chicago SketchFest line-up has been revealed and tickets are on sale!
January 19: Michelle Wolf at Thalia Hall. Early show is sold out. Tickets still available for late show.
March 1: Rhea Butcher at Thalia Hall.
June 1: Randy Rainbow at Thalia Hall.
Following is this week’s Spotlight. Please confirm all details before leaving home!
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17
Erik and Jessie and Everyone You Know: Annual Holiday Party at Steppenwolf, 1650 N. Halsted, 8:00 p.m. “It’s a little Sonny and Cher and a little Fozzie the Bear.”
Manic Music Mondays at Frances’, 307 E. 75th St., 8:00 p.m. Comedy and music hosted by Just Nesh. Tonight includes special out of town guests.
A Very Ladylike Christmas 3 at Cafe Mustache, 2313 N. Milwaukee Ave., 8:00 p.m. Beautiful gross stories from Malic White, Erin Grotheer, Elise Fernandez, Soli Santos, Gina DeLuca, Correy Boyd-Bell. Hosted by Allison Dunne. Proceeds from tonight’s show benefit Sarah’s Circle.
Dynasty at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 10:00 p.m. Dynasty is an acclaimed all-minority improv group. Their weekly variety show includes stand-up, sketch, improv, and an improv jam where audience members can participate. Tonight features Liz’s Lemons and Ted Isla.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18
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. Doc Love hosts Tucker Millett, Matt Gill, Joey Villagomez
9:00 p.m. Correy Boyd-Bell hosts David Carter, Greg Kennedy, Mickey Housley
[LAST SHOW!] Ratas de Dos Patas at Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 7:30 p.m. A comedy variety show with improv, sketch, stand up, and music. Headliners “Las Ratas” are four Latinas who perform bilingual sketch and improv. Which Spanish words do you want to learn? A poll will be conducted at the beginning of the show to decide which Spanish words and phrases become part of the evening’s comedy.
How’d We Get Here? at Second City’s 1959 Kitchen & Bar, 230 W. North Ave., 9:30 p.m. “A storytelling show revolving around past shenanigans of some of the best young comedians in Chicago.” Tucker Brookshire and Blair Bomber host Gena Gephart, Brandon Kieffer, Lael O’Shaughnessy.
Chicago Underground Comedy at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, 9:30 p.m. One of Chicago’s best known stand-up showcases. Tonight Joe Kwaczala runs his upcoming Comedy Central Half-Hour. Featuring Molly Kearney, Jerry Tran, Matty Ryan, Nicky Martin. Stephan Hoover makes his ChUC debut.
The video that made digg.com fall in love with Joe Kwaczala.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19
Feminine Comique Graduation Showcases at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Feminine Comique was founded by Cameron Esposito who passed the baton to the wonderful award-winning comedian Kelsie Huff (Windy City Live, The Jam). Graduation showcases are a great way to enjoy original material by Chicago’s newest stand-up talent.
Whitney Chitwood Album Recording at Paper Machete at The Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway, 6:30 p.m. One show only! Whitney Chitwood’s comedy has been featured at MoveOn.Org, The Paper Machete, OUT Chicago on WCPT, Altercation Comedy Festival, The Laugh Factory and on the podcasts Put Your Hands Together and on Pep Talks with Eddie Pepitone who says, “Whitney Chitwood is one of my favorite comics everyone should know.”
Amy Schumer at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., 8:00 p.m. Amy Schumer is known for being uncompromisingly honest about everything and most recently, about her pregnancy. If tickets are sold out, check vividseats.com. I’ve had good luck there. Tonight and tomorrow night.
Flayaway Premiere Party at Cole’s Bar, 2338 N. Milwukee, 8:00 p.m. A special screening of Sarah Squirm’s new Adult Swim infomercial. Stay for Cole’s famously warm and fun open mic which may go into the early morning hours.
Donation Drive Auction Show at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 10:00 p.m. All proceeds go to organizations including Deborah’s Place, the Chicago House Translife Center, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and more. For information on how to donate money or goods, please email kevin@ioimprov.com.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20
Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks at @North Bar, 1637 W. North Ave., 8:30 p.m. Scouts from TruTV’s Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks will be in the audience to see this line-up of Chicago’s top stand-up talent. Correy Boyd-Bell hosts Abi Sanchez (Just for Laughs), Ben Noble (Carolines on Broadway), Marilee (The Second City), Rachel Fab Monroe, Sohrab Foroozesh (StandUp NBC), Eli Hamilton (Laugh Factory, The Comedy Bar), Meechie Hall (Jokes and Notes, Laugh Factory), Kristen Toomey (Just for Laughs), Lyssa Laird (Laff Tracks). There’s another fabulous line-up tomorrow night.
Lincoln Lodge’s Annual Feztacular at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 8:00 p.m. “The Lincoln Lodge is ho ho hosting four nights of the biggest, wildest holiday variety show you’ve ever seen. The show will be featuring our very own cast members alongside jolly music, glittery dance numbers, Chicago’s finest comedians, and even a few surprise guests!” Tonight: Deanna Ortiz, Megan Stalter, Molly Kearney, Chris Higgins.
Amy Schumer at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., 8:00 p.m. If tickets are sold out, check vividseats.com. I’ve had good luck there.
TJ & Dave at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 8:00 p.m. After a long hiatus, the world-renowned improv duo is back! TJ & Dave have inspired a book (Improvisation at the Speed of Light) and a movie (Trust Us This is All Made Up). Onscreen, you can also see TJ in The Studio B Series and Dave in AMC’s Lodge 49. Buy tickets in advance! Selling out fast!
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21
Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks at @North Bar, 1637 W. North Ave., 9:00 p.m. Scouts from TruTV’s Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks will be in the audience. Dave Helem (truTV, Rel) hosts Em Brown (truTV, Just for Laughs), Chelsea Hood (SXSW, Riot L.A. Comedy Festival), Taneshia Rice (HBO, Comedy Central), Dale McPeek (Laugh Factory, Not Your Father’s Comedy Show), Russell Williamson (Windy City Live, Laugh Factory), Pat Tomasulo (WGN Morning News, Man of the People, Laugh Factory), Erica Nicole Clark (Comedy Central), Mike Sampson (Who’s Got Jokes), Joey Villagomez (HBO). Musical guest: Natalie G Alford. Soundtrack by Chris Ill.
Funny Ha-Ha: The Reason for the Season at The Hideout, 1354 N. Wabansia, 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Claire Zulkey. Proceeds benefit Sit Stay Read. Featuring Freelance writer, comic and storyteller Ashley Ray, Hoodoise host and Brujos creator Ricardo Gamboa, Second City ensemble member Maya Haughton, Heauxs founder and editor Adrienne Gunn, Writer and performer JW Basilo, Windy City Rollers founder Elizabeth Gomez, filmmaker Steve Delahoyde.
Life’s A Bitch at Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 7:00 p.m. “Real life situations turned into outrageous sketches. Sometimes you just can’t write this stuff. Real situations. Ridiculous sketch. Relatable scenarios.” Fridays through January 11.
Lincoln Lodge’s Annual Feztacular at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 8:00 p.m. “The Lincoln Lodge is ho ho hosting four nights of the biggest, wildest holiday variety show you’ve ever seen. The show will be featuring our very own cast members alongside jolly music, glittery dance numbers, Chicago’s finest comedians, and even a few surprise guests!” Tonight: Stephanie Weber, Dan Drees, Jessica Hong, Jarrell Scott-Barnes.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22
The Office Trivia & Pop Up Bar at Replay Lincoln Park, 2833 N. Sheffield, 3:00 p.m. Play solo or bring a team.
Lincoln Lodge’s Annual Feztacular at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 8:00 p.m. “The Lincoln Lodge is ho ho hosting four nights of the biggest, wildest holiday variety show you’ve ever seen. The show will be featuring our very own cast members alongside jolly music, glittery dance numbers, Chicago’s finest comedians, and even a few surprise guests!” Tonight: Kyle Scanlan, Alex Dragicevich, Olivia Perry, Gena Gephart.
Bonnie McFarlane at @North Bar, 1637 W. North Ave., 8:00 p.m. In addition to being a comedian, Bonnie McFarlane is an author (You’re Better Than Me published by Anthony Bourdain), a filmmaker (Women Aren’t Funny) and a podcaster (My Wife Hates Me with husband Rich Vos).
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23
Lincoln Lodge’s Annual Feztacular at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport, 8:00 p.m “The Lincoln Lodge is ho ho hosting four nights of the biggest, wildest holiday variety show you’ve ever seen. The show will be featuring our very own cast members alongside jolly music, glittery dance numbers, Chicago’s finest comedians, and even a few surprise guests!” Tonight: Ricky Gonzalez, Tommy Mack, Marty DeRosa and Colt Cabana.
Matt Damon Improv at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 9:30 p.m. Matt Damon Improv is women of color with an original take on how comedy can connect people and get us listening. “Each weekly show promises to be ‘Intersectional AF’ and provide a safe platform for women of color to share performances that confront the current racial tension and social issues within the world around us.”