Chaunté Wayans is at The Den Theatre this weekend.
CHICAGO COMEDIANS IN THE NEWS
Mike Bridenstine’s spectacular new book The Perfect Amount of Wrong: The Rise of Alt Comedy on Chicago’s North Side is now available for pre-order (release date: September 25).
Special Labor Day Announcement: Jamie Campbell is releasing his hit show Big Dad Energy to a national audience. The online streaming premiere begins at Labor Day’s earliest moment: midnight on September 4 HERE. In Big Dad Energy, Jamie reveals why he’s proud – like a proud father – of the younger generation and how to make women happy. There’s also pop culture nostalgia “and humor-filled soul-searching that will resonate with Gen-Xers and Millennials. Jamie also details what it’s like to get married as you approach middle-age and realize you’re going to let the clock run out on the possibility of parenthood.” It’s a hilarious and poignant multi-award-winning show about fatherhood from a guy who isn’t a father. Long anticipated by a nationwide audience, Big Dad Energy is perfect for holiday viewing.
Speaking of Jamie, his film Sneakerhead is the “Script to Screen” top winner at the Dallas International Film Festival’s 2023 Screenwriting Competition.
Quinta Brunson was named Comedy Person of the Year at Montreal’s ComedyPRO, part of the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival. ComedyPRO also recognized Rainn Wilson with a Comedy Impact Award. Then, a select panel which included Kyle Kinane and Joel Kim Booster, performed a live table read of Airplane. More details at 800PoundGorilla.
Summer sightings on Celebrity Family Feud: Chris Redd (vs. Fortune Feimster) and Lauren Lapkus (vs. June Diane Raphael).
Several (originally from) Chicago comedians brought their original productions to the Edinburgh Fringe including Sarah Albritton, Cara Connors, October Brian’s John O’Neill, Jackson Viccora, Michael Salles Holtzman, and Katherine Coates, and Sheila’s Sister and Her Musical Cousins (Dana and Edmund O’Brien).
ADVANCE TICKET ALERTS
September 18: Tyler Fowler’s My Mom Said I Can’t Go Tour at Zanies Chicago
September 23: Pat & Amy Tomasulo’s Laugh Your Face Off Benefit for Facial Pain Research Foundation at Park West. Almost sold out! Only 50 tickets left!
September 28: Lil Rel Howery at The Vic
October 28: Maria Bamford & Aparna Nancherla in conversation at the Chicago Humanities Festival
November 2: Craig Ferguson at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie
November 3-4: Ziwe at The Den Theatre
November 8: Patton Oswalt at City Winery
And there’s a 2023 Megalist with literally hundreds of Chicago Comedy Ticket Alerts Here
THIS WEEK AT:
Zanies Chicago: Nate Jackson, Super 6 Showcase, David Lucas, Ian Lara, Calvin Evans, and “I Forgot – The Show”
Zanies Rosemont: New Material Night hosted by Tyler Fowler and featuring Pat Tomasulo, Jim Flannigan, Zako Ryan, Jeanie Doogan, Vince Carone, Sofia Javed, Avril Granato, and Brian Hicks. And Special Event: Orly K.G.’s Bad Momz of Comedy with Avril Granato, Janice Rodriguez, Lindsay Porter, Laura Hugg. Also this week: David Lucas, Challenge Mania Live.
Riddles: Alan Ford and Will Hill. B. Cole and Friends with Damon Williams, Tony Sculfield, Daran Howard, Jesnaira Baez, Kevin Williams, Tara Terry. And Chicago Greek with Chastity Washington, Aaron Foster, Janelle Banks, Krystal Joy, Zach Boog.
The Improv: Chris Estrada
PLUS these 10 shows…. please always confirm all details before leaving home!
MONDAY, AUGUST 28
Stand Ups, Sit Down at Laugh Factory, 8:00 p.m. Paul Farahvar and Greg Kennedy host a night of standup and interviews with comedians Mo Good, Calvin Evans, Jonah Jurkens, Steven Haas.
Monday Night Improv at The Annoyance, 9: 30 p.m. The Annoyance House Ensemble.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29
Messing Workshop: Fix It or Make It Worse at The Annoyance, 6:00 p.m. With internationally acclaimed improviser Susan Messing.
Craig Ferguson at Rialto Square, Joliet, 8:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30
Schtick at Schubas, 8:00 p.m. Seth Payne hosts Cecilia Gonzalez, Sara Holcomb, Garlic Huynh, Quinn James, Cassidy Kulhanek, Lyssa Laird, Dr. Jackie Linn, Georgia Moore, Christi Turner. Chicago’s up-and-coming and veteran standups.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31
Bad Momz of Comedy at Zanies Rosemont, 7:00 p.m. Special event! Orly K.G. hosts Avril Granato, Janice Rodriguez, Lindsay Porter, Laura Hugg.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Dobie Maxwell at Timber Pointe, Poplar Grove, 5:00 p.m. With host Jimmy McHugh. Featuring James Wesley Jackson and headliner Dobie Maxwell. Happy hour, dinner & comedy.
Working On It at Lincoln Lodge, 9:30 p.m. An inside look at what Chicago comedians are working on.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Chaunté Wayans at The Den Theatre, 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. From one of the great comedy dynasties, but also very much herself. “Chaunté blows away audiences with a unique ability to invite them into her unconventional life while being very relatable. Her comedy often revolves around her experiences as a lesbian and how it’s helped her see both sides of a relationship, whether masculine or feminine…When she is not touring or filming, Chaunté likes to spend time volunteering by feeding the homeless, performing stand up at women’s shelters, and giving speeches on bullying at high schools.”
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
We Got Jokes at Second City, 8:30 p.m. Ty Riggs, Aaron Chase and Larra the Comedian. “A Black produced quality comedy show.”