This is an early edition of next week’s Spotlight to let you know about a one-time-only event with Jeannie Gaffigan next Tuesday. Get tickets before they sell out! Details below.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Level 6 Conservatory shows at Second City, 8:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m. An opportunity to see Second City’s up-and-comers. America’s Next Top Model Citizen at 8:00 p.m., The 2nd Law Of Thermodynamics And The Check, Please at 9:00 p.m., Recommended For You: Strong Female Leads at 10:00 p.m.
Kristen Toomey at Zanies/Chicago, 8:00 p.m. Funny, honest, fearless and unforgettable. Great Rebellious interview by Laurie Fanelli here.
Chicago’s Best Stand-Up at The Laugh Factory, 8:00 p.m. Featuring Sarah Sherman, Correy Boyd-Bell, Geoffrey Asmus, Jonah Jurkens, Anthony Bonazzo and more TBA.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Jeannie Gaffigan at Columbia Yacht Club, 7:00 p.m. Jeannie Gaffigan and her husband Jim are one of the world’s great comedy writing teams and an extraordinary example of a loving life partnership. Tonight Jeannie is in Chicago to talk about her new memoir When Life Gives You Pears: The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People. The book is “about the pear-sized brain tumor she had removed, the toll it took on her enormous family, and the priceless lessons she learned along the way.” The official release date is October 1, but you’ll be among the first to read it because a book is included with your ticket! Tonight’s proceeds benefit the Lurie Children’s Pediatric Brain Tumor Program. Interview with Jeannie coming soon! (I’m in the middle of reading When Life Gives You Pears and even only halfway through, it’s one of the funniest, most insightful and encouraging reads of my life.)
Unstandard Comedy Show at The Standard Club, 7:00 p.m. The first in a new series at the Standard Club. Funnier By the Lake’s Larry Bloom hosts Sonal Aggarwal, Sabeen Sadiq and headliner Kevin H. Kellam.
Steven Haas at Zanies/Chicago, 8:00 p.m. Steven Haas is a stand-up comedian, award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, and author who performs at colleges around the country. He has opened for Tom Wilson, Roy Wood Jr., and Emo Philips.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Something Rotten at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire, 1:00 p.m., 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!” Read Rick and Brenda McCain’s review in Let’s Play here. Through October 20. Most Wednesdays-Sundays. Follow link for all show times.
Nothing’s Wrong Time at The Annoyance Theatre, 8:00 p.m. “It’s our historic and record-setting 3rd edition of NOTHING’S WRONG TIME. Beloved producer and absolutely normal person Alosha Robinson has moved to Los Angeles (he said something about making a bigtime splash in Hollyweird but we weren’t listening.) We’ve replaced him with two new influencer producers who appeal to a fresh young demographic (#nice). Watch as some of the trippiest comedians in the USA light up The Annoyance Theatre main stage with improv, characters, and musical comedy as well as performances by producers Andy Rowell, Robel Arega, Lily Reed, Bridey Hicks, and Elsie How.” $6 online. $12 at the door.
Last Call, Chicago at The Comedy Bar, 8:00 p.m. A stand-up show about the city of Chicago hosted by one of its greatest comic storytellers, Sean Flannery.
Journey to the Center of Attention at The Annoyance, 9:30 p.m. A sketch show about the Chicago comedy scene as seen through the eyes of a comedy scientist.
Patti Vasquez at Zanies/Chicago, 8:00 p.m. Patti Vasquez is a Chicagoan, acclaimed hilarious internationally touring headliner, radio and television commentator, award-winning advocate, and a candidate for the state senate.
Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O’Toole’s, 9:30 p.m. Jonah Jurkens hosts Toby McMullen, Marty DeRosa, Chastity Washington, Chris Condren, Joe Kilgallon, Sarah Sherman.
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