Michael Blaustein is at The Den this week
CHICAGO COMEDIANS IN THE NEWS
Orly K.G. and Colleen Brennan appeared on Fox32 News to talk about the Bad Irish Momz of Comedy St. Patrick’s Day Show on March 9 at Chief O’Neill’s TICKETS HERE.
This world urgently needs a full length comedy special on a major streaming platform from Taneshia (“Just Nēsh “) Rice. You can help make it happen HERE. Follow Just Nesh on Instagram. Just Nesh has appeared on HBO, All Def Comedy, Showtime, Comedy Central, and TruTV. Details on upcoming Chicago shows below, INCLUDING the SPECIAL’s live taping on March 24 at The Improv.
Cara Connors’ Straight for Pay premieres Tuesday, March 12 on AppleTV and you can pre-save it HERE. Cara’s album was taped at The Hideout and named one of the best specials of 2023 by Paste Magazine. I was lucky enough to be there and will definitely be watching again. Cara was kind enough to speak with me just before the taping HERE.
Esther Povitsky stars in the new indie film Drugstore June executive produced by Bill Burr and opening in theaters nationwide this week, including the Showplace in Crystal Lake. Also starring Matt Walsh. From IMDB: “After the pharmacy in her small town is robbed, a girl who still lives at home with her parents takes matters into her own hands to solve the crime, while at the same time trying to get over her ex-boyfriend and become more of an adult.” Esther Povitsky is a guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon this Friday, March 1.
David Cross appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live this Tuesday. His newest special Worst Daddy in the World premieres on 800 Pound Gorilla’s YouTube channel on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. CT. He filmed the special at The Metro in Chicago in July 2023. Also currently streaming on Veeps.
Chicagoans on CBS’s After Midnight this week: W. Kamau Bell on Thursday night. Pete Holmes on Friday night.
Vanessa Bayer’s I Love That For You, which also starred Molly Shannon and Jenifer Lewis, aired only one season on Showtime before it was canceled-one of the most outrageous and criminal cancellations in television history. There were rumors that the second season was already written. That rumor appears to be confirmed. Next Monday, lucky ticketholders will hear a sold-out live cast Season 2 reading at L.A’s Dynasty Typewriter. Hopefully, the rest of us will get to hear – and see – it one day, too!! Vanessa starred as Joanna Gold, who lands her dream job as a home shopping network host. Her career soars, but it’s dependent on her maintaining a web of lies about her childhood cancer experience. This one-of-a-kind, smart, moving, elegant, hilarious sitcom was inspired by Vanessa’s battle with childhood leukemia and fascination with home shopping TV and the things and friends that sustain us in impossible times. Season 1 can be viewed on Amazon Prime. All proceeds from the Dynasty Typewriter event will benefit the MPTF Community Care Fund.
ADVANCE TICKET ALERTS
March 13: Just Nesh Speed Dating Comedy Jam for singles & couples at The Promontory
March 14: Nora Dunn‘s live reading of her new play Skokie Swift at Lincoln Lodge
March 16: Bob Jay, Michelle Krajecki & Joe Nuccio at Lucky Laughs at Continental Restaurant, Buffalo Grove. A Mark Klaber Production.
March 20-21: Zarna Garg at Park West
March 24: Just Nesh Special Taping at The Improv
April 4-6: Tammy Pescatelli at The Improv
April 12: Moshe Kasher at The Den Theatre
April 25-27: Natasha Leggero at The Improv
May 2-4: Pat Tomasulo at Zanies Rosemont
***************************************
FOLLOWING ARE just 14 of all the original only-in-Chicago comedy shows this week. Hundreds more shows and ticket alerts HERE. Please confirm all details before leaving home.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Paul Farahvar’s Stand Ups, Sit Down at Laugh Factory, 8:00 p.m. With Zako Ryan, Sarah Perry, Nick Cobb and a special guest. Don’t you want to meet the comedians you see on stage and get to know them? I always do, and at this show you can. Paul sits down with each performer after every set for an exclusive, personal interview. Special offer for readers of Comedians Defying Gravity: FREE TICKETS when you email Paul at pfarahvar@gmail.com
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27
Ten Dollar Comedy at Second City, 8:30 p.m. Every kind of comedy for $10. With Carly Olson, Ed Flynn, Eric Muller, Erin Goldsmith, Jonny Nelson, Peter Corey, & Deanna Ortiz (recently named best Chicago standup of 2023 by the Chicago Reader).
Tuesday Good Show at Gallery Cabaret, 7:00 p.m. Free. Brian Lirot, Aaron McDavis, Allie Sroka, Women of a Certain Age.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Orly K.G. hosts New Material Night at Zanies Rosemont, 7:30 p.m. With Pat Tomasulo, Lele Mason, Sako Yanagawa, Scott Darling, Brooks Sullivan, Marvin Phipps, Anthony Bonazzo plus surprise special guests.
Harold Night at iO, 7:30 p.m. Featuring Whimsy Lohan, named Best Sketch/Improv Group of 2023 by the Chicago Reader.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29
Mo Good hosts Ladies Night at Riddles, Alsip, 7:00 p.m. With Tony Sculfield, Diane Corder, Chevy Debbie.
Andy Richter at Tivoli Theater, Downers Grove, 7:30 p.m. Comedy for Cancer Benefit. Steve Cochran hosts this “Comedic Conversation with Andy Richter.” Also featuring standup from Mike Toomey, Ana Belaval and Jim Flannigan with emcee Andrea Darlas.
FRIDAY, MARCH 1
Orly K.G.’s Bad Momz of Comedy at Beverly Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. Special performance at the 2nd Annual Bold Voices Bold Women Un-Gala.
Danish Maqbool at Lincoln Lodge, 7:00 p.m. This New York-based comedian appeared in the hit Hulu series Ramy and has opened for Hasan Minhaj, Ramy Youssef and Mo Amer. Tonight he presents his new hour The Self-Evident Tour with special guests.
Michael Blaustein at The Den Theatre, 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. This internationally touring headliner is at The Den tonight and tomorrow night. His podcast Stiff Socks is ranked among the best on iTunes and Spotify.
Dulcé Sloan at Zanies Chicago, 7:00 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. This Daily Show correspondent and author (Hello, Friends) regularly appears on lists of the top comedians you should know (Rolling Stone, Variety, Timeout LA). She is at Zanies through Sunday. Follow link for all showtimes.
Windy City Comedy Festival at Arie Crown Theater, 8:00 p.m. Sommore, Lavell Crawford, Special K, Don “DC” Curry, Teddy Carpenter.
SATURDAY, MARCH 2
Jared Freid at The Vic, 7:30 and 10:00 p.m. The Family Business Tour. This nationally touring headliner and hit podcast host “has a remarkable insight into how millennial relationships (or even situationships) begin and end” and has been called a “Dear Abby for dudes.” His album Always A Momma Bear premiered at #1 on the iTunes charts.
SUNDAY, MARCH 3
Special Event: Roast of the Oscars at Laugh Factory, 7:00 p.m. Andy Fleming, Grace Bahler, Marz Timms, Shawn Banks, Beckett Kenny, Jessica Mance