Chicago comedians in the news: Gwen La Roka is a finalist in HBO’s Latino Standup Comedy Competition. Finalists are competing for a spot on the upcoming Entre Nos special. More about Gwen’s comedy at gwenlaroka.com.
Ticket alerts:
November 18: Dale McPeek album recording at Lincoln Lodge.
November 26: Soli Santos hosts Michelle Krajecki and Bob Jay at The Continental Restaurant, Buffalo Grove. A Mark Klaber Production. Call The Continental to reserve your spot: (847) 459-4095.
December 5: Correy Bell at Zanies Chicago.
January 19-23: Tomorrow Never Knows Festival with comedy at The Hideout.
April 14-16: Chad Daniels at The Improv.
May 13-14: Jeff Garlin at Zanies Rosemont.
Following is this weekend’s spotlight, just a small sample of all the original comedy happening in Chicago. List of “101+ comedy ticket alerts” here-constantly updated. Please confirm all details. Thank you for dropping in!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Pat Tomasulo at Zanies Chicago, 8:00 p.m. Through Saturday. Follow link for all show times.
My Best Friend is Black at Lincoln Lodge, 9:00 p.m. A live comedy variety show highlighting and celebrating Black performers. Produced by : Rho Hudson, Mike Atcherson, Chloe Mikala, Marcus Banks, and Justin Walker.
Bar Goa Comedy Night at Bar Goa, 10:30 p.m. Headliner: Calvin Evans (Comedy Central). Featuring: Vik Pandya (NBC Breakout Festival), Tyler Fowler (Zanies), Sonal Aggarwal (Laugh Factory). Bar Goa “transports Chicagoans year-round to India’s sunny southwest coast, a region known for electronic music, beautiful beaches and where Portuguese influences meet Indian flavors.”
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Therapy Players at Illinois Psychological Assoc. AND ONLINE, 6:15 p.m. Chicago’s award-winning all-therapist improv group is in demand wherever people need to laugh and feel better … so, everywhere!
Fresh Off the Plane at Red Room Comedy Club, 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Donald McNair is an American living in Bulgaria. Julia Tony Stoyanova is a Bulgarian living in America. They are here “to compare their couple of years of trauma and tell you all about it …” With Tito, Saku Yanagawa, Manny Acosta and Khaleel.
Bert Kreischer at The Auditorium Theater, 7:00 p.m. The Berty Boy Tour.
Adam Burke at CG’s Comedy Club, Bolingbrook, 8:00 p.m. Adam Burke is an internationally touring headliner and a frequent panelist on Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!
Erica Rhodes at The Comedy Shrine, Aurora, 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Erica released her debut stand-up special La Vie en Rhodes last spring, filmed in The Rose Bowl parking lot to an audience in cars. She is also the voice of Dotty on Netflix’ animated series A Tale Dark and Grimm. Her debut comedy album Sad Lemon, which was named one of the best comedy albums of the year by NPR’s Bullseye with Jesse Thorn. Read more about Erica in the Boston Globe here and L.A. Times here.
I’m Not A Comedian, I’m Lenny Bruce at The Mercury Theater, 8:00 p.m. Starring Ronnie Marmo. Directed by Joe Mantegna. Through January 2. Follow link for all show times.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Prateek Srivastava at The Detour Comedy Night, Loves Park, 8:00 p.m. Michael Palmenderi hosts guest feature Emily Schaefer, main feature Evan Hull and headliner Prateek Srivastava (#1 Album Nick & Shelia’s Kid on iTunes and Amazon, Standup NBC Finalist, NBC Universal Breakout Festival, NPR, Zanies, and many more). Free show.
Tom Dreesen in Still Standing: My Life From Streets and Saloons to the Stage and Sinatra at CD & ME, Frankfort, 8:00 p.m. With over 500 national television appearances, including hosting the Late Show with David Letterman, Chicago’s Tom Dreesen is legendary for his comedy and uplifting energy. He was an opening act for Smokey Robinson, Tony Orlando, Gladys Knight, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr.and Frank Sinatra’s opening act for thirteen years. His memoir is Still Standing: My Journey from Streets and Saloons to the Stage, and Sinatra.
Adam Burke at CG’s Comedy Club, Bolingbrook, 8:00 p.m. Adam Burke is an internationally touring headliner and a frequent panelist on Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!
Erica Rhodes at The Comedy Shrine, Aurora, 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
The Legend Series Presents SAND at The Annoyance, 8:00 p.m. SAND is the legendary improv team Thomas Kelly, Scott Nelson, and Mike Brunlieb.
Andrew Schulz at The Chicago Theatre, 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Try Not To Laugh at Bughouse Theater, 10:30 p.m. A game of wits with new performers each week. Produced by The Playground Theater.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14
The Boricuas of Comedy Fundraiser at Joe’s On Weed, 7:00 p.m. All proceeds provide small business scholarships to women and youth in Puerto Rico. With WGN’s Ana Belaval, Jesnaira Baez and Anthony Fuentes.
Nate Bargatze at Peoria Civic Center, 7:00 p.m. Nate Bargatze was recently featured on CBS and in The Atlantic. If Peoria is far, Nate Bargatze will be at the Chicago Theatre on January 15.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Ladies of Laughter at Zanies Chicago, 8:00 p.m. Patti Vasquez hosts Lyssa Laird, Laura Hugg, Katie Meiners, Maggie DePalo, Jesnaira Baez, Mary Kate Beck, Christina Lundin.
Jackie Kashian ONLINE, 8:00 p.m. Live online album launch party for It’s a Kashian Staycation. With special guests: Maria Bamford, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Guy Branum and an audience Q&A. It looks like if you sign up, the watch window is through Nov. 17.