BREAKING NEWS: iO will re-open this fall! Sign up for updates. iO’s inaugural online classes begin this month. Details here.
CHICAGO COMMEDIANS IN THE NEWS
Tim Barnes’ new animated series Maurice on Mars is now airing on Comedy Central’s YouTube channel. Tim is Maurice. Dwayne Kennedy and Sean White also voice characters. Plus, Tim recorded a new It’s All True, his excellent, ingenious podcast.
Sean Flannery’s much anticipated memoir Places I Can’t Return To is almost here! Sean is one of comedy’s great storytellers. Zach Freeman has a preview in New City.
Joel Chasnoff is the co-author of Essential Tennis. Famous coaches and players are already calling the bestseller a “must-have” and a literal game changer. The book debuted at #1 on Amazon’s list of tennis books and the print, audible and ebook now hold three spots of the top ten.
Bashir Salahuddin was a guest on The Tonight Show where he talked about his role in Top Gun: Maverick.
Second City alum Cathryn Michon and husband W. Bruce Cameron have penned three of the ten best dog movies of all time according to wideopenpets.com.
TICKET ALERTS:
June 23: My Best Friend is Black Pride Show at Lincoln Lodge
June 29-30: Christie Wallace & Heather McKinney’s Sinisterhood at Zanies Chicago.
July 1-August 7: Vicki Quade’s Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grade Nun? at Greenhouse Theater Center
July 29-30: Daphnique Springs at The Den Theatre
August 23: W. Kamau Bell at Dominican University in River Forest. Sponsored by The Book Table.
November 4: David Sedaris at The Raue Center in Crystal Lake.
THIS WEEK:
Zanies Chicago: Super 6 Showcase, Wednesday After Work, Akaash Singh, Chris Barnes, After Hours with Calvin Evans, Gwen La Roka
Zanies Rosemont: New Material Night, Akaash Singh, Chris Barnes
Riddles: B Cole, Harold Pierre, Skillz Hudson and a special Father’s Day Show with Brian DaWilcat Smith, Robert Kane, Oscar P from Memphis, Terry Dorsey, Tiny Thickums
The Improv: Rick Gutierrez
Plus here are just thirteen of the many unique Chicago comedy happenings over the next week. I also have a 2022 mega-list with even more.
TUESDAY, JUNE 14
David Duchovny at Harold Washington Library, 6:00 p.m. In conversation with Peter Sagal. They will be discussing David Duchovny’s new novella The Reservoir. Book signing follows. Also livestreaming. Follow link for all details.
Drew Michael Works on a New Thing in Front of You at Lincoln Lodge, 7:30 p.m. “Drew will experiment not only with content but with form. Come be a part of the process with him as he tries to find his best work yet.” Through June 30.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15
The Best of the Second City Chicago Style at Second City, 8:00 p.m. The famed theater’s best sketch comedy and songs about Chicago.
Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O’Toole’s, 8:00 p.m. Chelsea Hood hosts Adam Cayton-Holland, Marty DeRosa, Calvin Evans, Kristin Lytie, Liza Treyger and more TBA.
Super Human at The Annoyance, 9:30 p.m. “Synonymous with bold, hilarious, fearless and fun comedy. Described as a “splash zone of women,” Super Human prides itself on the team’s diverse personalities and playing styles, with an unmistakable focus on creating inclusive learning and performance space.”
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
Adam Cayton-Holland at the Newport Theater, 8:00 p.m. Adam Cayton-Holland is a nationally touring headliner, TV series creator and bestselling author. With host Sonal Aggarwal and opener Adam Burke of NPR’s Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!
The Infinite Wrench Gets Prideful at The Neo-Futurist Theater, 8:00 p.m. “30 queer plays in 60 straight minutes.” Follow link for all show times.
The Thursday Show at Logan Square Improv, 8:30 p.m. This free weekly show features improv, standup, and sketch.
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
My Best Friend is Black: A Live Comedy Series at Green Line Performing Arts Center, 8:00 p.m. “”Arts + Public Life is excited to welcome My Best Friend is Black live comedy variety show back to the Green Line Performing Arts Center, as a 2022-23 APL Performance Resident. My Best Friend is Black focuses on providing a platform for Black performers. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to come out and laugh! Join us this month for our special FREE Juneteenth show. They’ll be stand up, sketches, and games all headlined by Calvin Evans (Conan, Comedy Central).”
SATURDAY, JUNE 18
Jay Weingarten & Friends at The Hideout, 6:30 p.m. With Stephanie Walters, SHOWYOUSUCK, Chris Fanelli, and Dan White Jay Weingarten is a comedian based in L.A. and the co-creator of Dayworld on Adult Swim.
Ali Clayton at The Comedy Bar, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Follow link for all show times!
SUNDAY, JUNE 19
Blithe Spirit at The Skokie Theatre, 2:00 p.m. Starring one of Chicago’s best comedians, Jan Slavin!
Queer Eye: The Musical Parody at Second City, 7:00 p.m. A favorite self-improvement show with a fresh Second City spin.