Alingon Mitra/Photo courtesy of The Gersh Agency
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CHICAGO COMEDIANS IN THE NEWS:
Second City announced the cast and crew of its upcoming e.tc. 47th Revue. Touring Company director Jeff Griggs will direct his first resident stage revue. The cast includes returning e.t.c. members Terrence Carey, Claudia Martinez, and Jordan Savusa. Joining them are Meghan Babbe, Leila Gorstein, and Tim Metzler. Tilliski Ramey returns as e.t.c. musical director. Abby Beggs continues as stage manager. Luis Cortes will join as Assistant Director. The producing team includes Ed Wells (CEO) Elizabeth Howard (VP of Production), Jen Ellison (Artistic Director, Chicago), Jeremy Smith (Managing Producer) and Thomas J. Troup II (Producer, Resident Stages). As is traditional, the Revue’s early audiences “will have the exciting and unique experience of watching and participating in the process of creating sketches, songs, and even the title” of the production. Stay tuned for dates, but we do know that the Revue will play on Thursdays at 8pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm and 10pm, and Sundays at 7pm in the e.t.c. Theater, located at 230 W North Ave, 2nd Floor of Piper’s Alley, Chicago. Tickets, starting at $39, are available at The Second City Box Office (230 W. North Ave, 1st Floor, Piper’s Alley), by phone at 312-337-3992 and online at www.secondcity.com.
If you follow CDG, you know that the e.t.c. was originally the PTC, created in the early 1980’s for the Practical Theatre Company which included Paul Barrosse, Victoria Zielinski, Gary Kroger, Brad Hall and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The PTC remains a vibrant iconic local headquarters for comedy starring Paul, Victoria, Dana Olsen and Steve Rashid. The PTC is now in residence at Studio5 in Evanston.
BY THE WAY, signing up for comedy club emails is one of the best things comedy fans can do. Last Thursday morning, Riddles sent out an email announcing an appearance by Deon Cole that evening. If you get Zanies’ emails, a few weeks ago you’d have been in the know about a Hannibal Buress pop-up. You’ll also get discounts, coupons and early opportunities to secure tickets before they sell out. Speaking of early notice …
ADVANCE TICKET ALERTS
August 16: Yohay Sponder at Laugh Factory
August 20: Yohay Sponder at Red Room Comedy Club
September 15-17: Brandi Denise at The Comedy Bar
September 16: The Therapy Players at Bughouse Theater
September 22-23: Jay Mohr at The Comedy Bar
September 28-30: Dave Attell at The Improv
October 11: Judge John Hodgman at Park West
November 4: The Therapy Players at Cornservatory
November 20-21: Kyle Kinane at Thalia Hall
December 1-2: Amir K at The Comedy Bar
December 2: The Therapy Players at The Bit Theater, Aurora
For even more, here is the 2023 Megalist.
THIS WEEK AT:
Zanies Chicago: Binchtopia, Evan Williams, Ralph Barbosa, Jimmy Dore
Zanies Rosemont: Evan Williams, Mike Toomey, Jimmy Dore, Ralph Barbosa
Riddles: Henry Coleman, Rome Anthony, B. Cole, Marcus Shakes, Chevy Debbie, Joy Gamby, Jay Gee
The Improv: Arnez J
AND a spotlight on these ten shows… Please confirm all details before leaving home!
MONDAY, AUGUST 7
Lisa Beasley’s Unpolitical Woman Comedy Show at Laugh Factory, 8:00 p.m. Lisa Beasley was named “Best Mayor Impersonation” by The Chicago Reader and toured nationally with Second City. She is also known for her performances in South Side, Chicago Med and The Blackening. She is now in residence at Laugh Factory after her debut sold-out season. Her Unpolitical Women Comedy Show features Chicago’s best standups, impersonators, and Lisa Beasley herself.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 8
Chicago Underground Comedy at Beat Kitchen, 9:00 p.m. A major hub of the Chicago alt comedy scene. There’s a new – and only – book on this topic that should be on your radar – Mike Bridenstine’s The Perfect Amount of Wrong, now available for pre-order (release date is September 25, 2023).
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9
Flex at The Annoyance, 8:30 p.m. “FLEX is an all BIPOC Improv Team comprised of some of the best performers in Chicago.”
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
Femme Forward at iO, 9:30 p.m. A comedy showcase that “elevates and empowers female, nonbinary, trans, and gender nonconforming artists from all over the city.”
FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
Blackout Diaries at Lincoln Lodge, 10:00 p.m. One of the most fun shows in Chicago hosted by one of comedy’s best ever storytellers, Sean Flannery. Comedians and “regular” folks tell their better-than-fiction drinking stories. The audience is encouraged to ask questions. For a sample before Friday, definitely grab Sean’s book Places I Can’t Return To.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
The Therapy Players at The Skokie Theatre, 8:00 p.m. Literally what the doctor ordered. Chicago’s only award-winning all-therapist improv troupe.
Earthquake, Donnell Rawlings, Luenell at Country Club Hills Ampitheater, 7:00 p.m. Three legendary stand-ups. Also, did you know that Luenell has a fashion collab that is as vibrant as she is!
Alingon Mitra at The Den Theatre, 7:15 p.m., 9:30 p.m. Alingon Mitra was a semi-finalist on Last Comic Standing and appeared on Conan and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He was a writer for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and a New Face of Comedy at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13
Erica Nicole Clark at The Comedy Bar, 8:00 p.m. Mr. T’s daughter is a star in her own right. She is an iO alum, storyteller, and Moth GrandSLAM champion who has performed at TBS Just For Laughs, The Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, Zanies and many more.
Chicago’s Best Standup at Laugh Factory, 7:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. More standup stars: Joe Fernandez, Kellye Howard, Claire Sundbye and more TBA.