Visitors in town: John Leguizamo, Nurse Blake, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Breuer, John Hodgman, Mo Rocca. Sebastian Maniscalco returns to his hometown.
At Zanies: Pat Tomasulo (Chicago), Tracey MacDonald (Chicago), Kiran Deol (Chicago, Rosemont), Joe Machi (Chicago), Tuesday Ten Showcase (Rosemont), The Steve Dahl Show (Rosemont), The Sensational Six Showcase (Rosemont), Dobie Maxwell (St. Charles).
At Riddles: Hatchett Gang Productions’ Comedy Night with Michael Hatchett, Chad Roy, Rob Mayfield, Hosted by Smacks Da Comedian. Headliner Hondo Lagunas.
At The Improv: Taylor Tomlinson.
Chicago comedians in the news: Last night on Saturday Night Live, Chicagoans Cecily Strong, Chris Redd, Alex Moffat and host Chance the Rapper wore shirts in support of striking Chicago teachers. More here.
Chicago comedians on talk and late night:
Tuesday, October 29: Thomas Middleditch on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jim Gaffigan on A Little Late with Lilly Singh.
Wednesday, October 30: Joel Kim Booster on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Thursday, October 31: Deon Cole on Conan, Kate Flannery (an original member of The Annoyance Theatre) on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Ticket Alert:
November 30: Pete Davidson at The Vic
December 14: Kat Herskovics hosts Jan Slavin, Seth Davis, Michele Krajecki, Hari Rao and Pam Engelhart for this dinner and comedy show at Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove by Mark Klaber Productions. Audiences are raving about Mark Klaber’s shows and they often sell out a month in advance! Reserve your ticket at The Continental, 788 S. Buffalo Grove Rd. or call (847) 459-4095.
January 19: Chris Redd & Friends: Charity Edition at Park West.
January 25: Adam Carolla Was Unprepared for the Holidays (completely improvised) at Park West.
Following is this Halloween week’s Spotlight. Please confirm all details before heading out!
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28
Madeline and Dante Present: The Krypt Keepers at Second City, 8:30 p.m. Short form and Armando.
This One Woman: Outlaw Edition at Hopleaf, 7:30 p.m. Comedians and other performers channel Lisa Nowak. Rebecca Fass, William Paik, Patricia Savieo, Jake Dewar, Scott Duff, and Jo-Elle Munchak. Hosted and produced by Kyna Lenhof and Neil Arsenty.
I’m Sorry Presents: My Baby Loves the Dead at Annoyance Theatre, 8:00 pm. “A Rock ‘n Roll Halloween Jam.”
Josh Fadem at The Hideout, 7:00 p.m. Named a “Comic to Watch” by Variety, Nylon Magazine, Comedy Central, and the New York Comedy Festival, Josh Fadem has too many credits to list, but they include Showtime’s Twin Peaks, Better Call Saul, Key & Peele, American Dad and 30 Rock.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29
Chicago Underground Comedy: Night of the Dead Comedians, at Beat Kitchen, 9:00 p.m. Stephanie Weber hosts Rudy Schultz, Devin Middleton, Alex Collyard, Derry Queen, Ian Erickson, Ruth and Elaine, Caleb Heron.
All This Could Be Yours at The Book Cellar, 7:00 p.m. Jami Attenberg discusses her new book with comedian and author Samantha Irby.
John Leguizamo at Cadillac Palace Theatre, 7:30 p.m. John Legizamo brings Latin History for Morons to Chicago through November 3. Nightly. Follow link for all show times.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30
You Joke Like a Girl at Volumes Bookcafé, 7:30 p.m. All-women open mic followed by all-women stand-up showcase. Produced by Elyse Nylin.
Steve Dahl at Zanies Rosemont, 7:30 p.m. A Steve Dahl costume contest. As Robert Feder reports, “Fans can dress up only as Dahl or one of his co-hosts, Dag Juhlin and Brendan Greeley. (Or as Dahl calls them three stay-at-home podcasters.’)” The evening also includes two live recordings of Steve Dahl’s podcast.
Campfire at iO, 10 p.m. True spooky stories inspire improv. Tonight features stories from paranormal experts, ghost hunters, and historians from Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Tours, Chicago Hauntings Tours and more TBA.
Nurse Blake at Park West, 7:30 p.m. The “Call Light” Tour is comedy about the daily life of nurses.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
The Schrampening: A Spooky Show at iO 10:00 p.m. Presented by iO Harold team State Shramps.
Halloween 2019 Comedy Jam at Beverly Woods Restaurant, 7:00 p.m. Mike Samp hosts Marcus Combs, Comedian Roy, Marlon Mitchell, Comedian Smacks, and Funny @ss Tiera.
The Monster Diaries at Second City, 8:30 p.m. Inspired by Buffy, Twilight, Teen Wolf.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Holy Ghost Bingo: God, Goblins and Games at Royal George Theater, 8:00 p.m. A hilarious Halloween interactive comedy by Vicki Quade. Every weekend through November 10. Highly recommend – review here! Follow link for all show times.
The Interview Show at The Hideout, 6:30 p.m. Mark Bazer hosts Abby McEnany (Star/Co-Creator of Showtime’s upcoming comedy Work in Progress), Lauren Michele Jackson, (Author of White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Fashion and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation), Dan Hooper (Head of the Theoretical Astrophysics Group at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory) and Todd Tue (Director of the documentary When It Breaks). Music by Lawrence Peters.
Jerry Seinfeld at The Chicago Theatre, 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tonight and tomorrow night.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Big Laughs Comedy Showcase at Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. Emmy Award winner Dwayne Kennedy headlines. Featuring Amy Sumpter (the Kates, Last Comic Standing).
World’s Greatest Dad at Second City, 7:30 p.m. “From fertility treatments to a disastrous funeral.” Jimmy Carrane brings his hit show and extraordinary personal story to an encore at Second City. Saturdays in November.
Jerry Seinfeld at The Chicago Theatre, 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Sebastian Maniscalco and Pat McGann at The United Center, 9:00 p.m. The “You Bother Me” Tour.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
John Hodgman at The Field Museum’s James Simpson Theatre, 3:00 p.m. A presentation of the Chicago Humanities Festival.
Mobituaries with Mo Rocca at the Harris Theater, 5:00 p.m. A presentation of the Chicago Humanities Festival.
Jimmy and Johnnie at Second City Judy’s Beat Lounge, 8:00 p.m. The Eighth Anniversary Show. Check out Jimmy’s new blog post What I’ve Learned From John Hildreth.
Jim Breuer at House of Blues, 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The “Live and Let Laugh” Tour.
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