NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 2/11/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
sketch from fine comedic actress Aubrey Plaza and sketch/improv from ace troupe Hot Sauce (6:30 pm),
Emmy-winning writer/producer Alan Zweibel (SNL, Curb) interviewed by Carl Arnheiter at Inside Joke (8:00 pm),
funny and inventive songs from terrific comedic singing duo Stuckey & Murray (8:00 pm),
comedy geniuses Kristen Schaal (HBO, Comedy Central), Kurt Braunohler (recent ECNY Award winner),
Mike Birbiglia (Comedy Central, Dave, Conan), and more at Joe Mande's & Noah Garfinkel's Totally J/K (8:15ish pm),
sketches & other fun regarding the Presidential primary season, plus an interview
with gay marriage activist Evan Wolfson, at Lizz Winstead's Shoot the Messenger (8:30 pm),
an entirely improvised musical from magical duo McMurray & Skinner as I Eat Pandas (9:30 pm),
and MTV comedy stars previewing a live show they plan to perform on tour:
Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, and Paul Scheer of Human Giant (11:00 pm).
Kicking off this double-bill is comedic actress & improvisor Aubrey Plaza with a sketch show.
To get a feel for this young performer, check her out playing Liz Cackowski's daughter
on the hilarious YouTube series The Jeannie Tate Show (in an episode co-starring
SNL's Bill Hader) by clicking here; and to see her as a sex-crazed teen in
a parody of MTV's insipid dating show Next!, please click here.
The fun then continues with sharp-witted & lightning-quick sketch/improv group
Hot Sauce: Gil Ozeri, Adam Pally and Ben Schwartz.
(For some video samples of their work, please click here and here.)
These 2006 Cage Match champions will be trying out comedy sketches
and, most likely, tossing in some very funny improvisation.
6:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Alan Zweibel, and interviewer Carl Arnheiter
Inside Joke: SNL's Alan Zweibel
Host Carl Arnheiter (writer for ABC News, The Discovery Channel,
People Magazine, Time Out New York) interviews writer/producer/performer Alan Zweibel,
who's worked on such popular TV shows as NBC's Saturday Night Live,
PBS' Great Performances, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, and It's Gary Shandling's Show
(which he co-created and produced), winning five Emmy Awards along the way.
To learn more about Zweibel's impressive career, please click here.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Stuckey & Murray are a singing duo who write and perform hilarious songs.
The guys have appeared on The Discovery Channel, E!, VH1, Fuse, The College Sports Network; and two comedy music series for NBC Digital Media and Heavy.com. They also create wildly popular comedy videos for YouTube, Funnyordie.com, and their own Web site. And they co-host the weekly NYC live comedy show Slightly Buzzed Thursday nights at Rififi.
If you like music and laughter, you'll probably have great fun at this show.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
Amy Beckerman, Gloria Bigelow, Jackie Monahan, and Leah Dubie
Free gay-themed stand-up comedy show featuring the gals above
as regulars/hosts, plus guests who tonight include
Joselyn Hughes.
8:00 pm at RubyFruit Bar & Grill, 531 Hudson Street (between West 10th & Charles); free
Hosted by quick-witted best buds Noah Garfinkel and
Joe Mande, this year's ECNY Award winner for Best Emerging Comic.
(For dueling birthday videos, please click here and here; and
for other videos, please click here and here.)
Tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests include
the lovely Kristen Schaal (one of the sharpest and most talented comics around;
to read about her recent killer set, please click here);
Kurt Braunohler (frequent comedy partner of Kristen's, and also terrifically talented;
performs in sketches that are hilariously indescribable;
co-star of Web series Penelope, Princess of Pets, for which
Kurt won the 2008 ECNY Award as Best Director),
Mike Birbiglia (razor-sharp stand-up comic who just performed an hour-long Comedy Central special titled What I Should Have Said is Nothing; also performed two Comedy Central Presents
half-hour specials; Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien;
comedy CDs Two Drink Mike and My Secret Public Journal—Live;
for sample stand-up videos, please click here and here), and
Gary Gulman (finalist on Seasons 2 and 3 of Last Comic Standing;
Late Show with David Letterman, Tonight Show with Jay Leno;
comedy CDs/DVDs Conversations with Inanimate Objects and Boyish Man).
8:15ish pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Author & gay activist Evan Wolfson, and STM host Lizz Winstead
Lizz Winstead is co-creator and former head writer of the original The Daily Show; former Executive VP of Air America Radio; and a performer on such shows as Comedy Central Presents and HBO's Women of the Night. (She's also a character; e.g., for a memorable anti-apology after canceling her appearance on the live NYC show Drink at Work, please click here.)
Tonight's guest is Evan Wolfson, author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry and founder of Web site Freedom to Marry.
To get a feel for STM, view a fun interview with cartoonist David Rees by clicking here.
Please note this is STM's first show at its new venue (just a few blocks from its previous one).
8:30 pm at The Green Room, 45 Bleecker Street (off Lafayette); tickets are $12.50
Nearest subway stop is Bleecker Street on the #6 (which brings you virtually to the door of the theatre)
and Broadway-Lafayette on the F/V/D/B.
Glennis McMurray and Eliza Skinner are simply geniuses
at taking a suggestion from the audience and creating
an entire musical based around it, using only their imaginations,
immense talent, and the aid of their wonderful improv pianist
Frank Spitznagel. Each of these gals is a powerhouse performer;
what they manage to create together tends to be sheer magic.
You don't have to take my word for it, either;
the duo just won this year's ECNY Award for Best Improv Group.
Don't miss any chance to enjoy these comedic wizards at play.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, and Aziz Ansari are Human Giant
Human Giant: Live Tour Preview!
The brilliant stars of MTV comedy hit Human Giant—
Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, and recently-shaved Aziz Ansari—
will be previewing a show they plan to perform on tour,
as well as showing off clips-in-progress for their
upcoming second season (slated to air in March).
There's no one better at working an audience than these guys;
and their first season was, in my opinion, one of the funniest shows in TV history.
(For details, please click here.)
This is likely to be one of the funniest shows in NYC.
And it's free.
Advance reservations for seats were quickly snapped up; but
if you're okay with standing, go for this...and expect a great time.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 2/12/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
Lang Fisher, Claudia Cogan, and other delightful stand-ups at Carolyn Castiglia's Chicks & Giggles (8:00 pm),
Timmy Williams, member of star sketch troupe The Whitest Kids U' Know, contributing to the
always-fun explorations of comic books with a comedic slant at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),
star John Oliver, the hilarious correspondent for The Daily Show (and a brilliant stand-up),
Bryan Tucker (writer for Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, and Chappelle's Show),
and a slew of other fine comics at John Morrison's The Morrison Motel (8:30 pm),
and a mix of funny musical talent and comedy hosts, including Jon Daly, Teddy Goldstein, Nick Stevens,
and Max Silvestri, at the Valentines Day edition of the fabulous Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm).
Lang Fisher, Carolyn Castiglia, and Claudia Cogan
The wonderful & witty Carolyn Castiglia hosts a lineup of talented female stand-up comics.
Tonight's scheduled guests are:
Lang Fisher (delightful writer and performer of funny videos for The Onion News Network,
Comedy Central, etc.; for a video sample, please click here),
Claudia Cogan (ECNY Award nominee for Best Female Stand-Up;
Logo Network, Sirius OutQ; for stand-up video about Claudia's aspirations to be
a stripper, please click here; for video about her being unemployed, please click here),
Allison Leber (Chicago Underground)
Diana Saez (DC Comedy Fest),
Carla Rhodes, and Mama Spell.
8:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Popular comedian & comic book fan Timmy Williams
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's industry guest is C.B. Cebulski (Loners).
And tonight's funny guest is Timmy Williams, member of popular comedy group
The Whitest Kids U' Know, which currently has a TV show on the Independent Film Channel.
In addition, Timmy is a huge comics fan and writes a sharp comic book blog.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
The Harold is longform improv, pioneered by Del Close.
Tonight, five improv troupes—
fwand, T.R.U.C.K.S., 1985, Bastian, and Raynard—
each give it a go for 30 minutes, with
short breaks in between, for a total of 3 hours.
Some of the groups are great; some are less so. And this show
is designed more for students of improv than the general public.
But if you're interested, and patient, a mere $5 will buy you
a full evening's education...and periodic solid laughs.
8:00-11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
John Morrison and John Oliver
John Morrison, a wise & razor-sharp comic who produces the NYC weekly
open mic show Ochi's Motel, welcomes exceptional stand-up talents in this monthly showcase:
John Oliver (brilliant stand-up comic; delightful & hilarious news correspondent for
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, co-writer/star of The Department for BBC Radio 4;
currently perfecting material for his first Comedy Central Presents special),
Bryan Tucker (writer for Saturday Night Live; previously written for Comedy Central's
Chappelle's Show and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, as well as Mad TV and
The Chris Rock Show; performed on Comedy Central's Premium Blend;
for a stand-up video sample, please click here);
Liam McEneaney (VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's
Premium Blend, former writer for Standup Nation with Greg Giraldo),
Keith Farnan (Irish comic crossing the pond to try and win over the US;
for a video stand-up sample, please click here),
Lee Camp (Sometimes Funny Hurts DVD; SharkBaby Comedy News Webcast; Spike TV,
E!, Law and Order: SVU; for stand-up video on political hypocrisy, please click here),
and Steve Rosso.
Discount Note: Please mention HyReviews.com at the door for $5 off the $10 cover!
8:30 pm at Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street (between West 4th Street and Bleecker);
$5 per ticket (vs. $10) if you mention HyReviews.com at door, plus $7 food or drink minimum
Seth Herzog and Jon Daly
Hosted by the razor-sharp, dynamic, and hilarious Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).
This is one of the finest comedy shows in NYC.
Tonight's lineup of funny musical talent and comedy hosts includes
Jon Daly (member of superstar improv group Mother; recently wrapped acting in feature comedy films College Road Trip and Stick It Detroit; for samples of Jon's unique work with partner Brett Gelman, please click here and here, and also check out their hip-hop
parody album Fleetwood Cracked),
Teddy Goldstein (highly popular funny singer/songwriter),
Nick Stevens (VH1, ESPN, host of NYC live comedy production The Shark Show), and
Max Silvestri (host of Brooklyn monthly live comedy show I Like Attention).
9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 2/13/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
author Jonathan Ames, cartoonist David Rees, film & TV writer/director David Wain, and Mindy Kaling of
The Office performing from Ben Karlin's new book Things I've Learned From Women Who've Dumped Me (8:00 pm),
the delightful Margaret Champagne, Joselyn Hughes, and Brooke Van Poppelen inviting some of the
coolest gals and guys they know for stand-up comedy fun at their Slumber Party (8:00 pm),
typically stellar stand-up comics at Eugene Mirman's & Bobby Tisdale's Invite Them Up (9:00 pm),
some of the freshest comedy, and finest timing, in NYC from exceptionally quick-witted duo Julie & Jackie (9:30 pm),
and a laid-back free show where virtually anything can happen on a School Night (11:00).
As Sparks Fly Upward: Stories->Improv->Sketch
This comedy troupe tells stories off the top of their heads, then improvises
scenes based on the tales...which may later turn into scripted sketches.
It's a clever way of crafting a sketch show organically, week by week—and you can
watch the whole process, at no charge. The group consists of Kevin Allison,
Chris Caniglia, Scott Eckert, Sarah Nowak, Nate Starkey, and Shelly Stover.
6:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
Things I've Learned From Women Who've Dumped Me
Perfectly timed for Valentines Day Eve is this hour-long comedy show. It's about
"the subject of failed relationships and the shit we endure to make them work even when God himself tells us they won't. Sprung from the book of the same name—an anthology of essays and short humor pieces by men, edited by Ben Karlin (former producer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)—the live show features a blend of read & performed pieces from the book, stand-up comedy, live music, special guests, and other material wrapped around the theme of relationships gone bad."
Tonight's edition is hosted by Jonathan Ames (author of such novels as Wake Up Sir!
and the essay "I Love You More Than You Know"), and includes guests
David Rees (witty cartoonist of such strips as My New Filing Technique is Unstoppable
and Get Your War On; for a sample of the latter, please click here,
and for a sample interview video of Rees, please click here),
David Wain (writer/director whose work includes the feature films Little Big Men, The Ten,
and Wet Hot American Summer, and Comedy Central's TV series Stella),
Mindy Kaling (The Office),
and music by Fountains of Wayne.
7:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Comedy show playing on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, hosted by
delightful trio Margaret Champagne, Joselyn Hughes, and Brooke Van Poppelen.
According to the official description, "it's the sort of variety show that happens when
three girls are delirious from staying up all night boozing and slap-happy from crank-calling!"
How can you resist?
Tonight's guests are
Mike Dobbins (A Stand-Upish Set of Koo Koo),
Alli Leber (Spitfire!),
Kumail Nanjiani (Chicago Underground Comedy, Unpronounceable),
Jordan Carlos (The Colbert Report, Live at Gotham),
Sean Donnelly (Comix, Ochi's Motel, Don't Touch Me There), and
Uber Luber (The Knitting Factory).
8:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Hosted by comedy greats Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale (above).
The lineup—which is usually stellar—tends to be posted late afternoon
on the day of the show. To check whether the Web page
has been updated yet, please click here.
9:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Julie Klausner and Jackie Clarke are writer/performers
creating some of the freshest & most hilarious material in NYC—
please check out their recent short films by clicking here.
Tonight's guests are Gawker.com writers Mike Albo and Tionna Smalls.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Kurt Braunohler, Pat Shay, and Kimmy Gatewood
The Faculty and The Baldwins and Sid Viscous
Some of the PIT's instructors—who include such talents as Ali Farahnakian,
Kurt Braunohler, Ptolemy Slocum, Jen Nails, Pat Shay, Matt Donnelly, Kevin Scott,
Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood—perform improv for around 30 minutes.
And opening for them will be house improv troupes The Baldwins and Sid Viscous.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
Host Justin Purnell provides a mix of guests who perform stand-up, improv, music,
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.
Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises,
that this free show makes possible.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 2/14/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
a spectacular Valentine's Day celebration of rejection and mortification, featuring
dozens of the funniest comics and most talented comedic musicians in NYC,
at Jon Friedman's The Rejection Show's Valentine's Day Heartbreak Haven (8:00 pm),
one of the most charming & entertaining groups in NYC, fresh off a sold-out three-city tour and winning
the ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act, and now aiming at Broadway: The Apple Sisters (8:00 pm),
and an unlikely matchmaker that's resulted in actually marriages, and even a baby: The PIT Dating Game (9:30 pm).
Stuckey & Murray, an audience member, and Leibya Rogers
The Rejection Show's Valentine's Day Heartbreak Haven
It's almost worth being lonely and unloved to catch this spectacular show.
Two superb comedy extravaganzas, The Rejection Show and Mortified,
join forces to present an evening of best breakup, heartbreak, and
love-related performances from previous productions.
In addition, there'll be love song karaoke, live music, free drinks, and partying.
The stellar comics on stage tonight include:
Jon Friedman (host)
Leibya Rogers (hilarious ultra-feminist played by Mindy Raf)
Stuckey & Murray (wonderful singer/songwriter duo)
The Defibulators (fabulous comedic rockabilly band )
Greg Johnson
Sara Schaefer
Baron Vaughn
Matt Goldich
Claudia Cogan
Katina Corrao
Adam Wade
Annabelle Gurwitch
Adrianne Frost
Michelle Collins
Mandy Stadtmiller
Meital Dohan
Gabriel Delahaye
Brandy Barber
Kaet Perna
Anne Altman
...and more!
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10
Photo on left: Rebekka Johnson, Kimmy Gatewood, and Sarah Lowe
Photo on right: Sarah Lowe, Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood
The Apple Sisters: Right to Bare Charms
The delicious Apple Sisters—Kimmy Gatewood, Rebekka Johnson, and Sarah Lowe, with Tom Thomsen on keyboard—have sung, danced, and naughtily joked their ways into New York City's heart. This homage to 1940s girl groups like The Andrew Sisters has been one of the great successes of 2007, having done nine original shows, sold-out performances at comedy festivals around the country, and recently winning the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act. The gals will now be working to develop their show into a musical aimed at Broadway.
From the official description: "The Apple Sisters are Candy, Cora, and Seedy. Their mother, Ms. Reddy Apple, was a vaudeville star and she passed down the legacy to her three girls! The trio present their live show, broadcast on WXYZ AM Radio, straight to the troops in Germany, and present the show on stage at the Peoples Improv Theater in their first and favorite home, the Big Apple! Be a chum and always use Doramad Toothpaste, now with Thorium!"
To get a feel for the production, please click here & here & here & here.
The show consistently sells out, so it's recommended you buy an advance ticket
online ($9.19, including service charge) by clicking here.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; tickets are $8 at the door
The official description:
"This Valentine's Day dump the cliche cards, stale chocolates, and those ridiculous stuffed animals that make noises when you smack them, and head out to The PIT for the annual Valentine's Day PIT Dating Game. Three hot New York singles will ask outrageous questions to determine which of our hilarious PITizens will be their Valentine. The winners get a date and the losers get prizes that are way too inappropriate to mention here!
Past PIT Dating Game winners have gone on to get married, and one couple
has even had a baby. What will we come up with this year? Only time will tell...
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $10
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 2/15/08
TV Tip: Set your VCR or TiVo to Comedy Central tonight for the debut of
Comedy Central Presents 30-minute specials from star stand-up comics
Bonnie McFarlane (10:00 pm) and Rich Vos (10:30 pm).
They're followed by an encore presentation of the wonderful Mike Birbiglia's
new hour-long special What I Should Have Said is Nothing (11:00 pm).
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
a post-Valentine's Day celebration featuring razor-sharp & hilariously raunchy singer/songwriter Jessica Delfino,
Penthouse Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, and much more at Sara Benincasa's Family Hour (7:00 pm),
the delightful Amber Petty, Jessie Schupack, and Tricia McAlpin of comedy troupe Penny, and a
problematic but memorable celebrity-based sketch show, in White Orphans and Jen & Angie (8:00 pm),
typically stellar stand-up comics at one of the funniest productions in NYC—and winner of
the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Variety Show—The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show (8:30 pm),
some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers (9:30 pm),
singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical (10:00 pm),
and one of my all-time favorite improv troupes, the brilliant and daring members of Death by Roo Roo (11:00 pm).
Pembroke & Lu is a likeable singing duo. To get a feel for them, please check out
a video song about gay marriage by clicking please click here, and
a video song about being scared of the homeless by clicking click here.
Their show's official description:
"The government is out of control. Apparently, now there's one in every country. Pembroke and Lu have been fighting this terrible force for decades through song and verse... and then a chorus, bridge, and another verse. Tonight they invite you to take a break from the oppression of today as Pembroke and Lu strum the guitar of freedom and blow the flute of oppression."
Indeed. And their freedom fighting guest tonight is ventriloquist Carla Rhodes.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $8
Happy children with "Aunt" Sara Benincasa...
...and guests Jessica Delfino—and her friend who wants to be famous—and Kambri Crews
A stand-up comedy show in which everyone tells jokes and/or stories related to
their family. Hosted by comic/actress Sara Benincasa (MTV's Choose or Lose Campaign;
host of Tub Talk with Sara B. on Nerve.com; for video sample, please click here).
Tonight Sara has put together a post-Valentine's Day show featuring
some wonderfully sexy and raunchy comedic guests:
Jessica Delfino (brilliantly funny and stunning writer/singer; enjoys singing songs
about her vagina, as demonstrated by her acclaimed CD Dirty Folk Rock;
created the hilarious and wildly popular YouTube animated short film I Wanna Be Famous;
toured the country with the wonderful Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players;
was a big hit at the Edinburgh Festival this summer; has a cool MySpace page, and
an even cooler blog; to get a feel for Jessica's amazing range and talent, please click here);
Rachel Kramer Bussel (Senior Editor at Penthouse Variations, Contributing Editor
to Penthouse Magazine, anthology editor of 20 sex-related books,
former writer of the Lusty Lady sex column for the Village Voice,
and author of the upcoming Bantam novel Everything But...),
Kambri Crews (luminous storyteller & actress, and stellar publicist & producer;
for Kambri's correspondence with her deaf dad, who's in a Texas prison for trying
to stab his wife to death, please visit Web site LoveDaddy.org;
for a video of Kambri reading her jailed dad's wedding toast, please click here),
Dion Flynn (VH1's Best Week Ever, FOX's 40 Whacks, LOGO's The Big Gay Sketch Show),
Billy Reno (SNL's Weekend Update, Carolines; host of NYC live comedy show The Billy Club;
for video samples, please click here and here),
Matt Ruby (host of NYC live comedy show Flying Carpet),
Jeff Ragsdale (The Howard Stern Show), and
David Baker (UK comic and storyteller).
7:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Amber Petty, Jessie Schupack & Tricia McAlpin in White Orphans, and Christina Casa & Sara Chase in Jen & Angie
Penny: White Orphans and Jen & Angie
Two all-gal sketch shows for a mere eight bucks.
Sketch/improv group Penny consists of the adorable & very funny comedy trio
Amber Petty, Trisha McAlpin, and Jessie Schupack. In tonight's show, the gals
promise to "guide you through their wonderful world of art, music, and laughter.
You'll laugh till you cry, cry till you laugh, and be moved enough that you too
will want a white orphan for your very own." Directed by Susannah Beckett.
Jen & Angie imagines what would happen if Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie
were stranded together on a desert island. It's a cute idea that's gotten the show some press.
But frankly, considering how fascinating and complex the real-life celebrities are,
this parody is disappointing—the script is way too shallow, all too often
making easy and obvious choices.
That said, there's pleasure to be had in the dopiness of Christina Casa's portrayal
of Jolie as a husky-voiced android who speaks in short declarative sentences,
never uses contractions, and always calls her rival by her full name
(e.g., "Have some condor, Jennifer Aniston. It is good for you, Jennifer Aniston.").
If Casa and her writing partner Laura Buchholz keep this character, but otherwise
rethink the show from scratch to make it deeper and wiser,
they might end up with something that goes beyond being an actress showcase.
Nonetheless, Casa's absurd version of Jolie provides memorably silly fun.
The show co-stars Sara Chase as Aniston, and is directed by Susanah Becket.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Larry Murphy & Greg Johnson
The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show
Hosted by Greg Johnson (sharp, quick-witted stand-up comic)
and Larry Murphy (brilliant voiceover actor who performs all the
key characters on Adult Swim's Assy McGee; other TV series include
Home Movies, O'Grady, Cheapseats, Computer Lab, Puppets N Such;
for an animated VO reel, please click here).
Tonight's lineup hasn't been announced yet, but it's usually stellar.
To check for a last-minute update, please click here.
8:30 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
"They're all street, all the time." Ms. Jackson is five funny women—pictured left to right,
Jessica Allen, Bayne Gibby, Stephanie Kasen, Caitlin Miller, and Tara Copeland
—who won the 2004 ECNY Award for Best Improv Group.
The other half of this double-bill is Surf n' Turf, consisting of
Improv performers Bob Acevedo, Dave Furfero, and Ernie Privetera:
"Three men with no fear of intimacy or injury...who create
spontaneous theater that is physical, intense, moving, and occasionally funny."
As the official description indicates, Surf 'n Turf's style's not laugh-a-minute,
so isn't for every taste; to get a feel for it, please click here.
8:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Dave Rubin and Allen Warnock
Gay-themed comedy hosted by Dave Rubin and Allen Warnock.
Tonight's scheduled guests include Mike Singer (Veteran of the Mic).
8:30 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Bobby Moynihan, Zach Woods, Christina Gausas, Michael Delaney, and Chris Gethard
Some of the smartest & finest improv comics in NYC—Michael Delaney, Christina Gausas,
Chris Gethard, Will Hines, Bobby Moynihan, Shannon O'Neill, Silvija Ozols,
and Zach Woods—make up a series of scenes from a one-word audience suggestion.
With art and grace, these star talents will make you laugh—a lot.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Veteran improvisor John O'Donnell is accompanied
by a rotating cast that might include such superb talents as
Tara Copeland, Scott Glover, Alex Marino, Louis Kornfeld,
Jessica Allen, Robin Rothman, and Megan Gray
—and with Frank Spitznagel on piano—
turn an interview with an audience member
into a musical they make up on the spot.
10:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $7
Stacy Mayer, Laura Dillman, and Jeremiah Murphy
Manhattan Comedy Collective: Post-Valentine's Day Show
If you'd like to experience a gentler, more relaxed, but still quite smart type of improv, visit the Manhattan Comedy Collective run by the wonderful Stacy Mayer (who's quick as lightning, but much funnier). Almost every Friday features Character Dogville, in which performers dress up as odd characters and spontaneously interact with each other.
In addition, tonight features a post-Valentine's Day dating game from
the hilariously quirky Jeremiah Murphy as "Professor Damrosch."
10:00 pm at the Sage Theatre, 711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd floor (between 47th and 48th Streets);
get $5 off the $15 tickets (i.e., pay only $10) by mentioning the Character Dogville blog.
Death by Roo Roo: Your F*cked Up Family
Arguably the gutsiest improv troupe in NYC, the brilliant comics of Death by Roo Roo—Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, Jackie Clarke, Brett Gelman, John Gemberling, and Curtis Gwinn—interview an audience member about family and then act out his or her life story
via improvised scenes. Sometimes scary, and usually hilarious.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
The ultimate in audience participation: any group can submit a sketch and perform it!
If all you want is to be entertained, this show probably isn't a good choice.
But if you'd like to act on the UCBT stage, and/or have your sketch writing judged by an exceptionally savvy audience, this is a golden opportunity.
Sign-up begins at 10:30 pm and runs till 11:45 pm; sketches will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's wise to arrive early. For a complete list of the rules, please click here.
Midnight at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 2/16/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
the perfect comedy show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set
and over 25 performers crammed into 2¼ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:00 pm),
clever, inventive sketch comedy from Chocolate Cake City (7:00),
star improvisation from writers & performers at 30 Rock, The Colbert Report,
and The Daily show who joyously declare Let's Have a Ball (7:30 pm),
Second City veterans, Magnet instructors, UCBT stars, and occasional celebs
at the Magnet's signature improv show, The Tiny Spectacular (7:30 pm),
a wonderful sketch show revolving around physical comedy from ace troupe Drop Six (8:00 pm),
RG Daniels and a small army of other fine stand-up comics performing their best material
for a show that's being recorded for their promotional reels and is entirely free: I Need a Tape (8:00 pm),
improv comedy mixed with audience-supplied music at the rockin' Mother: The Soundtrack (9:00 pm),
improvised TV shows about audience members via world-class troupe Reuben Williams (10:30 pm),
and genius sketch & storytelling comics Kurt Braunohler, Larry Murphy, and Elna Baker
at a show hosted by world-class sketch troupe Olde English: Very Fresh (Midnight).
Lottery-style open mic for stand-up comics trying out material,
with 4½ minutes per performer...in return for a $5 contribution to the weekly prize kitty.
(In addition, Ochi's 1-item food or drink minimum applies to everyone.)
A breathtaking 25+ comics perform in this 2¼ hour show; host
John Morrison (above) has described it as "comedy on crack."
If you're seeking consistent laughs, this might not be the best way to kick off
your evening. But if you're patient and adventurous, it's a potentially wild ride.
And if you're a performer looking for some stage time, it's a nice opportunity.
To be entered into the weekly random drawing for the show's performers,
please email host John Morrison (above) at ochismotel[at]gmail.com.
6:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Chocolate Cake City began as a sketch troupe from Boston's Emerson College in 2003. It's since expanded to a second troupe in New York specializing in thematic, story-based comedy.
To get a feel for CCC's wit and talent, please check out a hilarious video showing George Lucas' digitally remastered "Special Edition" version of Singin' in the Rain by clicking here.
7:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $8
Becky Drysdale, Anthony King, Christina Gausas, Peter Gwinn, and Tami Sagher
Some of the sharpest writers and performers in NYC get together for long-form improv fun.
The players typically include Scott Adsit (cast member of 30 Rock, and co-director & cast member of Adult Swim's brilliant & Emmy-winning Moral Orel), Kay Cannon (writer for 30 Rock), Becky Drysdale (acclaimed one-woman show One Woman in Several Pieces, Web video series Time Traveling Lesbian), Christina Gausas (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Stepfathers, Dorff & Gausas), Peter Gwinn (writer for The Colbert Report), Anthony King (UCBT-NY Artistic Director, Reuben Williams, Gutenberg! The Musical), Laura Krafft (writer for The Colbert Report), Tami Sagher (writer for 30 Rock; writer and producer for Mad TV 2001-2006), and Rob Riggle (correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; Saturday Night Live, The Office).
7:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Magnet instructors & Second City veterans such as Rachel Hamilton, Ed Herbstman, Abby Sher, and Miriam Tolan, plus stars of Mother: The Soundtrack (see below) Jason Mantzoukas, Tara Copeland, James Eason, Christine Walters, plus occasional special guests (such as superstar Mike Meyers), turn a tiny suggestion into larger-than-life improvised scenes.
7:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Drop Six is a superb NYC-based sketch troupe that makes great use of physical comedy.
The group—consisting of Marcus Bonnée, Tim Girrbach, Alicia Levy, Rodney Umble, and director Larry Rosen—was awarded Best of the Fest by Second City at the 2006 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival. And their Drop Six: Mr. Lucky show killed at last year's FringeNYC, placing in my top 15 of the festival (out of 188 wildly diverse & competitive productions).
If you like sketch comedy, or simply enjoy laughing, I recommend Drop Six.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $8
RG Daniels is a quirky experimental comic whose influences include Woody Allen
and french fries. Tonight's show came about because, in RG's words, "It's been 5+ years doing stand-up with no documentation to show for it. Determined to bring it to the next level
there has always been the issue of not being able to provide a tape of my performance.
Now, I heed the call."
Joining RG will be a slew of talented stand-ups (who, presumably, can also use a tape):
Mike Drucker (SNL, McSweeney's),
Joselyn Hughes (co-host of biweekly NYC live comedy show Slumber Party),
Sean Patton (LES' The Tommy Danger Show, founder of the New Orleans Comedy Festival),
Jesse Popp (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, co-producer of the weekly NYC live comedy Beauty Bar Show for 6 years running),
Will Franken (Grandpa, It's Not Fitting one-man show at UCBT), and
host Charles Kasov (creator & co-producer of the Drunken Focus Group Show).
8:00 pm at Karma Lounge, 51 First Avenue (between 3rd & 4th Streets); free
Carol Hartsell and Sean Crespo
Comedic variety show produced by Carol Hartsell and hosted by Sean Crespo
(stand-up comic and prolific filmmaker; for samples, please click here & here & here).
Tonight's scheduled guests include
Mark Douglas, Ryan Conner, Jackie Kashian, and Susan Prekel.
8:30 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Jason Mantzoukas leads a vibrant team of improv comics—Scot Armstrong, Tara Copeland, Jon Daly, James Eason, Jesse Falcon, Doug Moe, and Christine Walters—who make up scenes based on CD tracks contributed by the audience. One of UCBT's most beloved shows.
9:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Broad Shoulders: Chicago Improv
The six members of improv troupe Broad Shoulders met while performing at the
famed I.O. Theater and The Second City in Chicago, and they'll be showing off their stuff at this one-night-only NYC performance. The group consists of the acclaimed Thomas Middleditch, Mackenzie Condon, Mary Grill, James Harris, Scott Markman, and Steve Pasieka.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $8
Reuben Williams: As Seen on TV
Anthony King demonstrates that in addition to running UCBT-NY brilliantly, he's a superb improvisor and actor. Joining him are stellar talents Eugene Cordero, Lennon Parham, Charlie Sanders, Eric Scott, Kate Spencer, Charlie Todd, and Joe Wengert. Together, they interview an audience member, and then use the answers as the basis for a new TV show...which this fiercely talented comedy troupe creates & performs for you on the spot.
10:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Springboarding from a word suggested by the audience,
George Basil, Frank Campanella, Christian Capozzoli, and Matt Evans
perform organic & energetic long-form improv for about 40 minutes.
Basil is a stand-out, but they're all sharp, committed improvisors.
There's also a warm chemistry between the men, which is especially evident
if you arrive early to watch them getting ready on stage: They toss a ball
back and forth, and then toss each other back and forth...sending
a body message of "If you throw an improv concept at me, you can trust me
to not let it drop..." One of the Magnet's most popular shows.
10:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Elna Baker, Larry Murphy, and Kurt Braunohler...
...and host Olde English
Very Fresh with Olde English
Hilarious sketch comedy group and prodigious generator of funny videos Olde English
(Caleb Bark, Ben Popik, David Segal, Adam Conover, and Raphael Bob-Waksberg)
host this wonderful show consisting of sketch, stand-up, short films, and more.
Tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests include
Kurt Braunohler (master comic and frequent comedy partner of Kristen Schaal;
performs in sketches that are hilariously indescribable;
co-star of Web series Penelope, Princess of Pets, for which
Kurt won the 2008 ECNY Award as Best Director),
Larry Murphy (genius voiceover actor who performs all the
key characters on Adult Swim's Assy McGee; other TV series include
Home Movies, O'Grady, Cheapseats, Computer Lab, Puppets N Such;
co-host of great NYC weekly comedy extravaganza The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show;
for an animated VO reel, please click here),
Elna Baker (brilliant writer, storyteller, improvisor, and comics creator whose If You See Something was the best one-woman show at FringeNYC 2006; currently writing a book
about her experiences living and dating as a Mormon in New York City),
stand-up comic Zach Sims,
and cartoons by Dan Meth.
Midnight at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 2/17/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
UCBT's playground for celebrities and ace improvisors, ASSSSCAT 3000 (7:30 & 9:30 pm),
hilarious stand-up comics Joe Mande (Totally J/K), Jackie Kashian (Last Comic Standing),
Kumail Nanjiani, Brad Steuernagel, and more at a free show hosted by
Timmy Williams & Sam Brown of The Whitest Kids U' Know: Scum and Villainy (8:00 pm),
and comedy giants Eugene Mirman and Michael Showalter hosting their stellar
Brooklyn comedy stand-up show Tearing the Veil of Maya (8:00 pm).
The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre's signature show, which features a monologist telling stories based on audience suggestions and a group of top improvisers (sometimes including stars such as SNL's Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz) creating scenes based on the stories. There are two shows every Sunday which share the same format, but are otherwise entirely different because everything is improvised. The 7:30 pm show is $8; advance tickets might be sold out by the time you read this, but a limited number of seats are available at the door for
those who arrive early enough to nab 'em...and even more tickets are available for those willing to watch the show standing. The 9:30 show is free, with tickets distributed outside the theatre
at 8:15 pm; but again, you may need to come early and wait on line to ensure getting into
this first come, first served performance.
7:30 pm & 9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue)
This free weekly show is hosted by Timmy Williams and Sam Brown, members of popular comedy group The Whitest Kids U' Know (currently starring in a TV show on IFC).
Tonight's superb stand-up comic guests are
Joe Mande (quick-witted & hilarious co-host of superb NYC weekly live comedy show Totally J/K),
Kumail Nanjiani (rising star; for very funny stand-up about the dark side of video games,
odd memories, and the many ways cell phones are eliminated in horror films, please click here),
Jackie Kashian (for Last Comic Standing stand-up video about Jackie's salesman dad, please click here),
Brad Steuernagel (ImprovOlympic, shows Ice Cream Before Bed and Local Comedian;
for video with Brad as scary-hilarious magazine subscription salesman posing the
memorable question "Do you like information, sir?", please click here), and
Jamie Lee (VH1's Best Night Ever, Archers of Ha).
8:00 pm at Pianos, 158 Ludlow Street at Stanton; free
Hosts Eugene Mirman and Michael Showalter
If you live in Brooklyn, or simply don't mind going a few subway stops beyond Manhattan,
some of the best comedy minds in New York can be found at this weekly show hosted by
Eugene Mirman (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents half-hour special,
Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Jump Cuts, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, VH1,
The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman and En Garde, Society! comedy albums) and
Michael Showalter (MTV's seminal sketch show The State, legendary comedy troupe Stella,
co-writer & co-star of comedy feature film Wet Hot American Summer).
Tonight's guests include Jacqueline Novak (for "response to heckler" video, please click here).
8:00 pm at Union Hall, 702 Union Street at 5th Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn; tickets are $7
Take the R train to Union Street and walk 1 block east; or take
the F train to 4th Avenue, walk north on 4th Avenue and turn right on Union Street, and go 1 block up;
or take the 2/3/4/5/Q train to Atlantic Avenue, walk south on 5th Avenue, and make a left on Union Street.
A showcase for talented improvisation twosomes.
Tonight's scheduled duos are
Samantha Gurewitz & Ernie Privetera,
Corey Grimes & Charlie Whitcroft,
Alexis Saarela & Brigid Boyle, and
Alina Chappotin & Nicole Cascio.
8:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
The Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour
Adam Sank (former TV news producer for FOX and WABC-TV; written
for The New York Times, Esquire Magazine, and The San Francisco Sentinel)
hosts this free gay-themed stand-up comedy show.
Tonight's scheduled guest are
Matt Daly, Jeff Lawrence, Bernadette Pauley, and Yamaneika.
To get a feel for the show, please click here.
10:00 pm at Therapy, 348 West 52nd Street (between 2nd & 3rd Avenues); free
Alternatively, consider seeing a funny and/or musical
Broadway, off-Broadway, or off-off-Broadway show.
To learn how theatre tickets can be purchased for around 50% off—
or, in some cases, for as little as $3 each—
please read Hy on Theatre Discounts.
Return to Previous NYC Comedy Picks
Copyright © 2008 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
