NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 4/26/10
Comedy legend Marc Maron (Whiplash) and Tony-nominated actress Allison Pill (Gravid Water)
6:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel
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[FREE] 7:30 pm: Sharp stand-ups Ali Wong, Yannis Pappas, Sheng Wang, Luke Cunningham, Dan Soder, Nore Davis, and Damien Lemon performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Broadway & off-Broadway stars Jennifer Grace (Theatre World Award Winner for Our Town), Lori Myers (Our Town, Mother Courage and Her Children), Tony-nominated Allison Pill (The Miracle Worker, Milk, The Lieutenant of Inishmore), and Andrée Vermeulen (one-woman show French Toast) mixing it up with some of the best improvisors in the world—Scott Adsit, Becky Drysdale, Michael Delaney, Thomas Middleditch, Tami Sagher, and Zach Woods—as they crash improv into classic theatre scenes at actor/director Stephen Ruddy's Gravid Water
8:00 pm ($5): Fine stand-ups Nick Thune, Aidan Bishop, Ritch Duncan, Bradford Scobie, and Laura Sweeney, plus musical guest Chris Dyas, performing in the Lolita Bar at Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends
9:30 pm ($5): Superb sketch troupe Pangea 3000 performing material better than its show's title indicates; plus an all-white musical about fast food that claims to "give new life to the most popular songs of Tupac Shakur. Join us for a romp through all the themes held most dear to Tupac's heart: economic oppression, dreams deferred, and mall food courts," in the double-bill Pangea 3000 Sucks and 2Pac: The Musical
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest stand-up comics in the country—tonight including comedy legend Marc Maron, Ian Edwards, and Joe Mande—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 4/27/10
John Mulaney, hot off his first appearance on SNL's Weekend Update (Punch Up Your Life), and Todd Barry (Sweet)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
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[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): MC Chris (animator, voice artist, writer, and producer for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim) joins super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Robin Cloud, Shawn Hollenbach, Rich Kiamco, and Matt Militello performing at Cellar 58 (58 Second Avenue) alongside delightful host Abbi Crutchfield and comedic rapster Andrew Singer: Positively Awesome
8:00 pm to midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Ragnaröck, Badman, DeCoster, Bastian, and Robber Baron; and at 11:00 pm Decoster "improvises brand-new classic plays by legendary playwrights who don't exist," plus stellar improv troupe The Law Firm: The People's Court—all at Harold Night
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm ($5): John Mulaney (writer/performer for Saturday Night Live; Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, VH1's Best Week Ever; for John's great bit on Weekend Update, please click here), Jesse Popp, Jay Larson, Giulia Rozzi, Ryan Conner, and Michael Terry performing at the Housingworks Bookstore Cafe for a free weekly show hosted by Joe DeRosa (HBO, Comedy Central, Carson Daly, Insomniac Tour): Punch Up Your Life
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Todd Barry (HBO, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, The Sarah Silverman Program, Adult Swim, feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead), Ian Edwards (HBO, Conan O'Brien, SNL), Jay Larson (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, AMC), and "a very special guest co-host" performing at The Slipper Room for the LES weekly show hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Free open mic stand-up show that's seldom much fun for audience members but is a nice opportunity if you want 4-5 minutes to test out your comedy material on stage: Bring It
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 4/28/10
Andrea Rosen and Anthony Atamanuik tell breathtakingly honest & hilarious tales of their crushes at The Night of Our LIves...
...and phenomenal alternative comics Adira Amram, Dave Hill, and more perform at Electric!
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 7:00 pm to midnight: Five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): A blowout gathering of wonderful comics—Dave Hill, Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan, Kurt Braunohler, Becky Yamamoto, and international hula hoop artist Miss Saturn—performing at Fontana's (105 Eldridge Street between Broome and Grand Streets; take the B/D subway to Grand Street) hosted by brilliant comedic singer/songwriter Adira Amram and her musical group The Experience, with Adira thoroughly living up to the title of her new monthly show: Electric!
8:00 pm ($5): "A new one-hour rant about everything evil" from terrific stand-up Jamie Kilstein: No War, No God, No Nickelback
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30: Superb NYC storytellers Andy Christie and Peter Aguero, stand-ups Dan Hirshon and Jacqueline Kabat, and musical guests Dana Lishs & Colin Dempsey and The Bridgets Fitzgerald, all performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: John Mulaney (writer/performer for Saturday Night Live; Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, VH1's Best Week Ever; for John's great bit on this past Saturday's Weekend Update, please click here), Joe Mande (Comedy Central, VH1; co-host of Totally J/K; author of new book Look at This F*cking Hipster), Canadian comic Sabrina Jalees, and Jay Larson—performing at this free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) hosted by Gabe Liedman and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): One of the finest comedic storytelling shows in the country, in which brilliant writer/performers—who tonight are Anthony Atamanuik, Andrea Rosen, John Flynn, MIchael Hogen, and wonderful host David Martin—tell tales that are brutally honest and utterly hilarious, with tonight's can't-be-missed theme "Crushes:" The Nights of Our Lives
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 4/29/10
Comedy giants Marc Maron and Janeane Garofalo perform a live taping at Comix of Marc's podcast WTF
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
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7:30 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors directed by James Eason "take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces," and veteran improvisors play with "elements of monoscene, deconstruction, and La Ronde," in the double-bill The Deconstruction and Sleepover
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm ($36.66 online if you use code VIPAPRIL, plus 2-item minimum): Two comedy legends, Marc Maron and Janeane Garofalo, taping an episode of Marc's podcast live on stage at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Marc Maron's WTF with Janeane Garofalo
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Amy Heidt's one-woman show was one of the very best productions at this past August's FringeNYC Festival (for my review, please click here)—if you didn't catch it then, don't miss this wonderful opportunity to see Amy demonstrate her brilliance as both actress and writer; plus real-life married couple James Eason & Jessica Allen, who are both superb veteran improvisors, stretching themselves with a scripted sketch show directed by Rachel Hamilton, in the double-bill Amy Heidt: Dominate Yourself! and D-Bags, A-Holes & Lovers
8:00 pm ($8): Elizabeth Blue performing a new one-woman show: Am I Blue
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Comedy giant Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, star of The King of Miami, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Salon, The Dave Hill Explosion) spends an hour telling charming and hilarious tales of his musical tour overseas at Dave Hill: Big in Japan
[$] 10:00 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): A battle of improv titans tonight when Reuben Williams competes with The Stepfathers for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 4/30/10
Comedy legends Marc Maron and Janeane Garofalo headline tonight and Saturday at the Comix Comedy Club
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
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[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($10): Delightful sketch comedy & musical duo Tim Ellis and Matthew Park returning to the PIT stage, with tonight's guests Sandra Bauleo (MTV pilot The John Roberts Show; YouTube star as country singer Sandy Belle), The Chris & Paul Show (very fun sketch duo), and Phil Yanos (of the band Dangaru, on guitar): Of the Moment
7:00 pm ($10): An NYC improv troupe, headed by Duncan Murdoch, making up scenes following not only an audience suggestion but the riffs of an instrumental jazz quartet: FACE
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($36.66 online if you use code VIPAPRIL, plus 2-item minimum): Two comedy legends, Janeane Garofalo and Marc Maron, headline tonight and Saturday at a not-to-be-missed event at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Marc Maron and Janeane Garofalo
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): A spectacular and unforgettable demonstration of the artful power of mime when combined with a wickedly sharp modern sensibility, executed with great wit and style. Street performers have given mime a bad rep; but if you think about it, what mime does is boil a situation down to its essential elements, and then express those elements in a manner that's instantly and universally understood. That's really what art is all about; and that's also what Billy the Mime does, often brilliantly. (For my review of his FringeNYC show in 2006, please click here.): Billy the Mime
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): A groundbreaking and surreal improv/sketch troupe performing with new guests each Friday and making a valid complaint: Centralia: We Were Supposed To Have Flying Cars By Now
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers
10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical
11:00 pm ($5): Sketch comedy troupes HammerkatzNYU vs. Inside Joke Films compete for audience laughs and votes in Backyard Brawl
[FREE] 12:20ish am: Your opportunity to perform on the UCBT stage with improv veterans, hosted by stellar troupe The Law Firm: Jammin' with Ralph
[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 5/1/10
Tonight's the last chance to catch comedy superstars Marc Maron and Janeane Garofalo headline at the Comix Comedy Club...
...and 30 Rock writer Tami Sagher and comedy genius Ed Herbstman return as hot new improv duo The Sagher Sisters
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
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[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($10): A musical about "a pious Pope framed for a crime he didn't commit...betrayal, Holy War, foot-stompin' musical numbers" and everything else it takes "to entertain the Hell right out of you" in Pope: The Musical
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisor Christina Gausas and friends she originally made in Chicago—which include writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors, all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball
7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NYC stand-ups Mike Drucker, Giulia Rozzi, Brent Sullivan, Chris Thayer, Kevin Barnett, and Justin Silver performing in Ochi's Lounge at Lil' Seany Boy
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($36.66 online if you use code VIPMAY, plus 2-item minimum): Two comedy legends, Janeane Garofalo and Marc Maron, headline tonight at a not-to-be-missed event at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Marc Maron and Janeane Garofalo
8:00 pm ($10): In this unique monthly show, stand-up comics perform in the buff. A reviewer from The Boston Globe observed, "The dynamic of nude comedian and clothed audience added an extra dimension to self-deprecating material." For a New York Magazine review, please click here; or simply come see for yourself at The Naked Comedy Showcase
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—and the Cage Match Champion for two years in a row!—genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): "Second City veteran and 30 Rock writer Tami Sagher teams up with her twin sister Margot" (actually, comedy genius Ed Herbstman) as not-to-be-missed improv duo The Sagher Sisters
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:30 pm ($15 both online and at the door using discount code PISANO, otherwise $20): A Chicago-based troupe that's wowed audiences around the world with their skill at creating a completely improvised hour-long musical. The plot and characters, the musical accompaniment; even the song lyrics and the "choreography" are made up on the spot, with no pre-planned structure. Come see why BWC won a FringeNYC Award last August for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event at the magical Baby Wants Candy
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King: Reuben Williams
10:30 pm ($5): Vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike
11:00 pm ($5): Daily Show producer Jimmy Donn, Black20.com performers Jessie Cantrell &, Sarah Walker, Mike & Ted O'Gorman and Pat Driscoll perform sketch comedy designed to make you "laugh, be slightly offended, laugh again, cough once or twice, recall a repressed memory, and drink :" The Dan Ryan
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Andy Rocco's extravaganza of sketch comedy, music, dancing, free t-shirts, and special guests—who tonight include Tom Schiller (SNL), Joshua Suzanne (Rags A Gogo Vintage Shop), and The Coolest Person in NYC Contest: The Hipster Show
[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 5/2/10
A gala beauty contest crammed with talent, including Michael Musto, Mel & El, and John Cameron Mitchell: The Miss Fag Hag Pageant
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($19.26 online if you use code VIPMAY, plus 2-item minimum): "A celebration of the unsung heroes of the gay community," this annual beauty contest features 10 women competing in five categories: Evening Wear, Talent, Presenting Your Gay in Swimsuit, Gay Trivia, and Online Video Challenge, with judges John Cameron Mitchell, Michael Musto, Caroline Rhea, and Robert Verdi, plus a slew of other talent—including Kate McKinnon, Hedda Lettuce, and hosts Mel & El—all partying at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: The Second Annual Miss Fag Hag Pageant
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): A blowout gathering of top talent: Pete Holmes (one of the very best stand-ups in the country; Comedy Central Presents, The Daily Show, John Oliver's NY Stand-Up, VH1's Best Week Ever, The New Yorker, host of hit shows Punch Up Your Life and Gutbucket), Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, star of The King of Miami, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Salon, The Dave Hill Explosion), and the wonderful Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, Conan O'Brien, HBO's Funny or Die, host of top NYC comedy show Whiplash) performing at Brooklyn's Union Hall hosted by comedy giant Eugene Mirman: Tearing the Veil of Maya
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Lightning-fast & thoroughly hilarious Pete Holmes (one of the very best stand-ups in the country; Comedy Central Presents, The Daily Show, John Oliver's NY Stand-Up, VH1's Best Week Ever, The New Yorker, host of hit shows Punch Up Your Life and Gutbucket), Giulia Rozzi, David Angelo, Dan Wilbur, and David Cope performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up
[FREE] 9:00 pm: Unannounced stand-ups performing at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan) who may or may not be hosted by the wonderful Hannibal Buress: Comedy Night
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Murderfist, Cary Prusa, and Sean Crespo performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar at Vince Averill's & Jesse Popp's free weekly show Beauty Bar Comedy
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5; this may sell out, so buy tickets in advance online): The only live run-through for Kurt Braunohler's new TV pilot: "Performers, writers, and producers from your favorite TV shows and improv groups compete in the most ridiculous game show of all time! Who will dominate when it comes to insulting owls and melting sticks of butter? You have to show up to see!" How can you resist? With Kurt Braunohler (master sketch comic), Eliza Skinner (Conan O'Brien, Baby Wants Candy, The BEATdown), Jeremy Beiler (Onion News Network), Gabe Gronli (Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report), Ethan T. Berlin (Comedy Central, MTV), and Patrick Grant: Pointless
[$] 10:00 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining at Carolines: Paul Mooney
Copyright © 2010 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
