Visitors in town: Usama Siddiquee. Paul Scheer, Terry O’Quinn, June Diane Raphael and Jason Mantzoukas are here to host How Did This Get Made? Scott Aukerman will present Comedy Bang Bang Live!
At Zanies: Erin Jackson (Chicago, Rosemont), Charlie Berens (Chicago), Josh Wolf (Chicago, Rosemont), Rob Sherwood (St. Charles), Top Ten Showcase (Rosemont) and the Sensational Six Showcase (Rosemont).
At Riddles: Special Chicago farewell shows for Brian Da Wildcat Smith.
At The Improv: Tommy Davidson, Marty DeRosa
Chicago comedians in the news: WGCI’s Leon Rogers will have his own late night talk show beginning September 9 on WFLD-Channel 32. Later With Leon will be co-hosted by Tia Ewing and air Mondays thru Thursdays at 10 p.m. Leon Rogers is also a comedian and popular guest host on Windy City Live. Read more in Robert Feder’s Robservations.
Ticket Alert: Chris Gethard has announced two show at The Hideout on October 14. Tickets will go fast!
Following is this week’s Spotlight. I may have been freaked out that it’s already September, so please CONFIRM ALL DETAILS! Thank you to you for reading the blog and thank you to Chicago’s comedy community for making it possible.
TUESDAY , SEPTEMBER 3
108th Mainstage Revue at Second City, 8:00 p.m. The premiere of this season’s brand new Mainstage Revue! Title is still TBA. “This is the most exciting time to see a show on our stages. The cast is fresh, new material is worked into the show every night, and your laughter in the audience helps shape the final show!” The ensemble: Mary Catherine Curran, Sarah Dell’Amico, Andrew Knox, Asia Martin, Jordan Savusa and Adam Schreck. Tickets are selling out fast! Follow link for show times throughout the week.
United Nations Comedy at The Elbo Room, 8:00 p.m. Featuring Abe Rabinowitz, Elsie Howe, Kenyon Adamcik, Maddie Weiner and from New York, Usama Siddiquee. With producers Sohrab Forouzesh, Brad Kofman, and Prateek Srivastava.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Psychotic Break at Schubas (Upstairs), 8:00 p.m. Chicago’s mental illness and addiction themed variety show. Comedy from Rodescu Hopkins, a story from Cate Brecht and music from Luis Martinez. This free show is hosted by Jenn Sodini and Dan Shapiro.
The Fifth Annual Chicago Musical Improv Festival at iO, 8:00 p.m. Through Sunday. Follow link for all details.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Something Rotten at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire, 7:30 p.m. What if you got a sneak peek into the future’s hit music and you got to write it first? That’s what happens to two brothers in Shakespeare’s time. Will they successfully pen the first hit musical and confirm their place in the pop culture stratosphere? Something Rotten was a hit on Broadway and New York Magazine called it “The Producers + Spamalot + The Book of Mormon. Squared!” Through October 20. Most Wednesdays-Sundays. Follow link for all show times.
Mother Cluckers at Anderson’s Bookshop, La Grange, 8:00 p.m. Truly fabulous lineup: KT Speetzen, Jeanie Doogan, Janice V. Rodriguez, Angelica Julia Davila, Jessica Besser-Rosenberg and Marsden Kelly. After party at Barrel House Social. “Comedy for parents and those who’ve had parents.” Look for KT Speetzen on Windy City Live on Tuesday, September 3!
The Ajumma Show at Steppenwolf, 8:00 p.m. A live podcast recording with comedians Peter Kim and Eunji Kim. They “examine relationships, career, and pop culture through the queer, feminist, lens of an Ajumma—aka a Korean auntie.” Comedian Jessica Hong opens and there’s an interview segment with Mia Park.
The Fifth Annual Chicago Musical Improv Festival at iO, 7:30 p.m. Through Sunday. Follow link for all details.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Christina P at Thalia Hall, 7:00 p.m. The “Ride or Die” Tour. Christina P. is a comedian, writer, TV personality and host of two podcasts.
Big Little Eyes at Steppenwolf, 8:00 p.m. Stir Friday Night’s new revue. “Stir Friday Night is a 24-year-old Asian-American comedy group. Some of our alumni include Danny Pudi from Community, Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead, and Mary Sohn from A.P. Bio. We are also a nonprofit theater company. Our mission is to challenge the perception of Asian Americans through comedy.” Friday and Saturday night.
The Fifth Annual Chicago Musical Improv Festival at iO, 8:00 p.m. Through Sunday. Follow link for all details. Tonight includes The Musical Armando with special guest Terry O’Quinn (Lost (2004), Primal Fear (1996), Patriot (2015) and The X Files (1998))
Deluxe Editions at Sleeping Village, 7:00 p.m. Free stand-up show. AJ Marroquin hosts Steve Gerard, Sonal Aggarwal, Wyatt Fair, Adrienne Stout, Olivia Corkery Perry.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Late Late Breakfast at The Hideout, 2:00 p.m. Megan Stalter and Meredith Kachel host this fast-paced stand-up show known for its big energy and big challenges. While comedians perform, anything can happen. Some possibilities: pie fights, laser tag, polygraph tests. “Expect anything and everything out of the ordinary, all of it held together by solid, hilarious standup comedy.” Late Late Breakfast is produced by Liz Maupin and runs quarterly at The Hideout in Chicago, The Silverlake Lounge in Los Angeles, and The Creek & The Cave in New York City.
The Momedians of Momedy at Davenport’s, 8:00 p.m. Doors open for seating at 7:30 p.m. Early arrival recommended. Kat Herskovic hosts Denise Medina, Colleen Brennan, Lia Berman, Michelle Krajecki and Patti Vasquez. “The M.O.M. joke about the perils of life, pregnancy, relationships, parenthood and more…because we said so. Inspired by the need for diverse female voices in stand-up comedy, Chicago area comedians Kat Herskovic, Colleen Brennan and Denise Medina decided to create a show that offers audiences a wide range of comedic perspectives from all ages and stages of motherhood.” One of comedy’s best lineups!
Big Little Eyes at Steppenwolf, 8:00 p.m. Stir Friday Night’s new revue.
The Fifth Annual Chicago Musical Improv Festival at iO, 6:30 p.m. Through Sunday. Follow link for all details.
How Did This Get Made? Live! At The Chicago Theatre, 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The 2019 Webby Award-winner for best comedy podcast and voted the best comedy podcast by L.A. Weekly. The 7:30 p.m. show features the movie The Adventures of Pinocchio, and the 10 p.m. show features Space Jam.
Patrick Lives On Annual Variety Show and Fundraiser at The Chop Shop, 7:45 p.m. Doors open at 5:45 for VIP ticket holders. The evening’s entertainment includes singing, dancing, stand-up, improv, music, food, drinks, a live auction and the chance to hang out with stars of Chicago Med, Chicago PD and Chicago Fire. The evening benefits Patrick Lives On’s “mission to keep at-risk teens safe and engaged with scholarships for after-school programs and camps.”
The Blackout Diaries at The Newport Theater, 10:00 p.m. “Standup comedians, plus ‘regular’ people (cops, firefighters, teachers, etc) tell true incredible drinking stories. Then you, the audience, can dive even deeper by asking questions to the performers.” Created and hosted by Sean Flannery who was named Chicago’s “Best Drunk” by the Chicago Reader. More accurately, he is one of today’s best comedic storytellers.
Make Me Laugh Win My Money at the Crowd Theater, 11:59 p.m. Performers try to make Tom Simmons laugh. If they do, he personally gives them 20 bucks.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Improv with Dogs at The Annoyance, 7:30 p.m. “Come see talented actors improvise with dogs as their scene partners. And even better – the dogs are all adoptable. So come, laugh, and maybe get yourself a dog. We’re partnering with Chicago Canine Rescue and half of the ticket price goes directly to helping their organization. So come hang out, watch improv, and pet dogs!”
The Fifth Annual Chicago Musical Improv Festival at iO, 6:00 p.m. Last day! Follow link for all details.
Comedy Bang Bang Live! at Chicago Theatre, 7:00 p.m. Starring Scott Aukerman and special guests.
To Make a Long Story Short at Laugh Factory, 9:00 p.m. A comedy story-telling show with Kellye Howard, Toby McMullen and more TBA.
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