Rachel Feinstein, Dave Coulier, Scott Wood, Mark Gregory and Dwayne Kennedy (originally from Chicago!) will be here this week. Beth Stelling will be at Zanies. Her career began with Chicago Underground Comedy. Since moving to L.A., she has appeared on late night with Conan and Jimmy Kimmel, filmed a Comedy Central special and toured internationally. […]
Your Chicago comedy calendar for January 4-10 Read More »
The biggest lesson I learned about Chicago comedy in 2015: get on the Twitter Train (and try saying that fast when you’re explaining it to people). Main reason, you’ll catch a lot of pop-up quickly sold-out shows. Aziz Ansari and Hannibal Buress each tweeted a series of spontaneous Chicago shows in 2015. This Christmas Eve,
Your Chicago comedy calendar for December 28-January 3 Read More »
Happy New Year and thank you to everyone for reading Comedians Defying Gravity in 2015! Lots of ways to see out 2015 and bring in 2016 with comedy. Wishing you a warm and funny NYE and all good things in the year ahead. Please confirm details and ticket availability before heading out and hey, please
Chicago’s New Year’s Eve Comedy Events Read More »
This week is all about hometown Chicago and Christmas coming early. Before the holiday even gets here, there’s Junior Stopka on Monday night at North Bar with “The Twelve Comics of Christmas” and it’s free! No charge to see a dozen of Chicago’s most groundbreaking, award-winning, memorable, funniest comedians. Merry Christmas! Starting Tuesday night, Chicago
Your Chicago comedy calendar for December 21-27 Read More »
“I like you guys. I’m going to tell you something a little personal,” Mike Cronin says towards the end of his album, Hot for Too Long. The statement got a huge, extended laugh. Mike’s set was already personal, a lot personal, and in the best way: in a no-fear, we’re friends, I can tell you
Getting personal with Mike Cronin Read More »
Looking for a perfect holiday gift? How about a faaaabulous showcase? The price is right. Many of Chicago’s showcases are free. Those not free are often only $5 – $10. Sometimes you’ll even find free pizza and in some cases (although not this week), free pancakes. Several people have said to me that budget keeps
Your Chicago comedy calendar for December 14 – 20 Read More »
A familiar face on Comedy Central tomorrow night! Tune in to @midnight at 11 p.m. to see Dan Telfer, formerly of Chicago Underground Comedy (ChUC). He was one of Chicago’s most popular stand-ups before he moved to L.A. a couple of years back. He is recognized around the world for his “Best Dinosaur” viral video
Your Chicago comedy calendar for December 7-December 13 Read More »
My two favorite things are Chicago comedy and books. Combine the two and you’ve got the perfect gift. Here are my front-runner ideas for the Chicago comedy biblioholic in your life. (Add pie, hot chocolate, a comfortable reading light, peace and quiet and you’ll have given them nirvana.) Which books would you add?
Gift guide: best books for the Chicago comedy fan Read More »
It’s the holiday season. (Yay! Ohhhh, shit!) You can find a comedy holiday show to meet every mood incarnation of the season, from traditional Charlie Brown to non-traditional Charlie Brown to Second City’s take on the horror of office parties and every variation in between. Visitors to Chicago this week include Bridget Everett (who changed my
Your Chicago comedy calendar November 30-December 6 Read More »
“Some of you may not know me, but you will not fucking forget me!” When Bridget Everett took the stage like a nuclear explosion in a shoebox at the “Funny or Die Oddball Comedy Festival” in Tinley Park this summer, those were her words, words which would end up some of the truest I’ve ever
Talking with Bridget Everett, who changed my life Read More »
Thanksgiving is no exception to the Chicago rule of great comedy every night of the year. Snow, sleet, ice, insufferable temps, holidays and faux holidays. None stand in the way. Comedy, as always, is a refuge and celebration in its own right. Escape the Thanksgiving table when the conversation turns twitchy. The next day you
Your Chicago comedy calendar November 23-29 Read More »
Another week with THREE comedy festivals: Laughingstock, The Mary Scruggs Works by Women Festival at Second City and Corn Comedy Palooza. Some all-time greats in town this week: Elayne Boosler at the Comedy Shrine! Steve Martin and Martin Short at Rosemont Theater! Also hometown favorite Kyle Kinane! Outstanding list of out-of-towners this week continues with
Your Chicago comedy calendar for November 16-22 Read More »
An adventure in comedy is about to kick off and you’ll have thirteen chances to be a part of it starting Thursday night. That’s when the Second Annual Chicago Open-Mic Festival begins. Over the next three nights, the Festival will sponsor twelve open mics at venues throughout Chicagoland. Comedians are challenged to bring their best
