Visitors in town: George Lopez, Natasha Pearl Hansen, Matthew Star, Andrew Schulz, Jon Lovitz, Ed Asner. Many of comedy’s funniest women are here to perform eighty shows over four days at the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival at Stage 773.
At Zanies: Felonious Munk (Chicago), Larry Reeb (Chicago, Rosemont), Chris DiStefano (Chicago, Rosemont), Chris Turner (Chicago), Laura Wright and Steve Burton (Rosemont), Tuesday Ten Showcase (Rosemont), Vince Maranto (Rosemont), Ralphie Roberts (St. Charles), Steve Cochran & Friends (St. Charles).
At Riddles: Kool Bubba Ice.
At The Improv: Michael Yo
Chicago comedians in the news: On Wednesday, August 21, the Daily Show will feature the best of Jaboukie Young White.
Ticket alerts:
September 7: The Momedians of Momedy at Davenport’s Piano Bar.
September 15: Pat McGann Live Special Taping produced by Sebastian Maniscalco at The Vic.
September 28: Amanda Seales at The Chicago Theatre.
November 2: Jerry Seinfeld at The Chicago Theatre.
Following is this week’s Spotlight. Please CONFIRM ALL DETAILS before leaving home!
MONDAY, AUGUST 19
Ladylike at Café Mustache, 8:00 p.m. “A storytelling show where women tell the most disgusting stories they’ve got.” Tonight, Gena Gephart hosts Paula Skaggs, Rachel Joravsky, Jessica Misra, Sam Bam, Jessica Mance. Music by Natalie G Alford.
Rising Laughter Stand-Up Showcase at My Buddy’s, 9:00 p.m. With Eliana La Casa, Dylan Scott, Meg Indurti, Max Shanker and special guests. Hosted by Tommy Schneeman.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20
My Big Fat Greek Wedding at Millenium Park, 6:30 p.m. Part of Chicago’s free summer film series. Filmed in Chicago and Toronto, this 2002 film stars and was written by Second City alum Nia Vardalos. It was the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time and held that title for over a decade.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21
Molly at iO, 10:00 p.m. One night only! Two of improv’s most renowned: Susan Messing and Norm Holly.
Matthew Star’s Dark Matter at Sleeping Village, 8:00 p.m. “If Mike Birbiglia did a show with Carl Sagan that show would be Dark Matter.” Featuring Dan White and Eunji Kim.
Standupenwolf at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 8:00 p.m. Featuring David Perez, Chris Turner, Adrienne Brandyburg, Asia Martin, Cleo Pockalipss, Shannon Noll, Sherman Edwards and Becca Brown. “All-star line-up of local comedians and special guests as diverse as Chicago itself.”
Rising Laughter: Stand Up for Women at Buddy’s, 7:00 p.m. Featuring Erin Grotheer, Rima Parikh, Daniella Ashley Mazzio, Olivia Perry, Whitney Wasson, Tessa Orzech.
Last Call, Chicago at The Comedy Bar, 8:00 p.m. Stand-up about Chicago. Hosted by Sean Flannery and Matty Ryan.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22
8th Annual Chicago Women’s Funny Festival at Stage 773, begins at 8:00 p.m. Hundreds of comedians and comedy fans arrive in Chicago for the country’s biggest celebration of women in comedy! Eighty shows over four days. For the first time ever, the Festival will feature an all-Spanish speaking stand up show, sketch group, and two improv groups. Through Sunday. Follow link for schedule!
The Comedy Nosh at Max & Benny’s, Northbrook, 7:00 p.m. Dinner and a show! Ricky March hosts Sabeen Sadiq, Peter Daniel and headliner Mike Maxwell.
Pre-PAWty and Second City at Lincoln Common, 5:30 p.m. Starting at 5:30, the Fido To Go Dog & Cat Treat Food Truck will provide homemade, gluten and allergen-free canine cookies, doggy ice cream, frozen yogurt, chews, cat treats and more. There will be treats for pet parents, too. At 7:00 p.m., Second City presents a stand-up showcase for pets and their people (13 and over). RSVP to events@lincolncommon.com.
Natasha Pearl Hansen at North Bar, 8:00 p.m. Comedian, actor, writer and Second City Alum.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23
8th Annual Chicago Women’s Funny Festival at Stage 773, begins at 8:00 p.m. Hundreds of comedians and comedy fans arrive in Chicago for the country’s biggest celebration of women in comedy! Eighty shows over four days. For the first time ever, the Festival will feature an all-Spanish speaking stand up show, sketch group, and two improv groups. Through Sunday. Follow link for schedule!
George Lopez at The Chicago Theatre, 7:00 p.m. Michael Alexander has a great personal George Lopez story here!
Dave Sinker: Almost 61 Years in the Making at The Comedy Shrine, Aurora, 8:00 p.m. Get to know the man behind the marquee and what it takes to run a famous comedy club. Dave Sinker, who is also an Emmy award-winning television writer, opened the Comedy Shrine in 2005. The evening’s proceeds will go to the club’s upcoming expansion.
Andrew Schulz at Thalia Hall, 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Early show is sold out.
Summer Heat at The Playground, 10:00 p.m. Comedian Prateek Srivastava (NBC Break Out Festival, WGNTV, NPR) delivers a showstopping extended stand up performance as part of Playground Theater’s Summer Concert series “Heat Wave at The Playground.” Two nights Friday August 23rd and Saturday August 24th! RSVP @ prateekcomedy@gmail.com Also featuring performances from James Fisher Jr., Rima Parikh, Sohrab Forouzesh, Sofia Javed, Jayson Acevedo, Mona Aburmishan and Patrick Newson.
Downtown Underground Comedy Night at The Underground Gallery, Rockford, 8:00 p.m. Great lineup! Marcos Lara hosts Seth Davis, John Petlicki, Jose Montero, Jane Kleven and Mo B.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24
8th Annual Chicago Women’s Funny Festival at Stage 773, begins at 7:00 p.m. Hundreds of comedians and comedy fans arrive in Chicago for the country’s biggest celebration of women in comedy! Eighty shows over four days. For the first time ever, the Festival will feature an all-Spanish speaking stand up show, sketch group, and two improv groups. Through Sunday. Follow link for schedule!
Yael Gavish is one of the comedians at CWFF on Saturday night:
A Man and his Prostate at Center Theater, Naperville , 7:00 p.m. Starring Ed Asner, award-winning television icon and star of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Lou Grant. He is the only actor to win an Emmy for the same role in a comedy and a drama (five Emmys as Lou Grant). This one-man show was written by Emmy award-winning writer Ed. Weinberger (Mary Tyler Moore, Taxi, The Cosby Show).
Jon Lovitz at The Arcada Theater, St. Charles, 8:00 p.m. Jon Lovitz created iconic characters during his five years on Saturday Night Live and is also known for his film roles: Big, A League of Their Own, The Wedding Singer, High School High, Small Time Crooks, Rat Race, The Producers, Eight Crazy Nights, The Benchwarmers, and Grown Ups 2, to name a few.
Dave Sinker: Almost 61 Years in the Making at The Comedy Shrine, Aurora, 8:00 p.m. Get to know the man behind the marquee and what it takes to run a famous comedy club. Dave Sinker opened the Comedy Shrine in 2005. The evening’s proceeds will go to the club’s upcoming expansion.
Summer Heat at The Playground, 10:00 p.m. Comedian Prateek Srivastava (NBC Break Out Festival, WGNTV, NPR) delivers a showstopping extended stand up performance as part of Playground Theater’s Summer Concert series “Heat Wave at The Playground.” RSVP @ prateekcomedy@gmail.com Also featuring performances from James Fisher Jr., Rima Parikh, Sohrab Forouzesh, Sofia Javed, Jayson Acevedo, Mona Aburmishan and Patrick Newson.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25
[LAST DAY!] 8th Annual Chicago Women’s Funny Festival at Stage 773, begins at 2:00 p.m. Hundreds of comedians and comedy fans arrive in Chicago for the country’s biggest celebration of women in comedy! Eighty shows over four days. For the first time ever, the Festival will feature an all-Spanish speaking stand up show, sketch group, and two improv groups. Follow link for schedule!
Two of Sunday’s outstanding performers:
Science Riot at The Den Theatre, 7:30 p.m. “A live show in which local STEM professionals are thrown on stage to perform after completing a crash course in standup comedy! The end result is a hybrid between science and comedy that is both entertaining and educational.
Everyone’s a Lawyer at The Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, 7:00 p.m. Chicago’s hit comedy game show created and hosted by comedian and attorney Paul Farahvar. Paul was named one of the “Top 40 Up and Coming Comedians in America in 2017” and one of “Top 40 under 40” lawyers in Chicago, so you can expect a great night of comedy and legal drama as comedians take the stage to present the funniest arguments in real life cases.
Uncensored Sunday at The Laugh Factory, 9:00 p.m. Taneshia Rice hosts some of her favorite East Coast comics along with Chicago favorites.
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