NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 2/18/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
the delightful Kate Hess & Shelly Stover singing & crying for laughs, and sketches from Matt & Dave DiLoreto
and Joshua Sidis that include a Star Wars tribute, in We Kate Shelly and The Uncles (8:00 pm),
fine stand-up comics Leo Allen (NBC's SNL and Conan, Comedy Central), Jackie Kashian (NBC's Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Andres du Bouchet (NBC's Conan, FOX),
Liam McEneaney (Comedy Central, VH1), and more at the free show Tell Your Friends (8:00ish pm),
brilliant comics Eugene Mirman (HBO, Comedy Central), Dave Barry (HBO, VH1), Larry Murphy (Adult Swim),
and Michelle Collins (MTV, VH1) at the hilarious Joe Mande's & Noah Garfinkel's Totally J/K (8:15ish pm),
sketches & other fun regarding the Presidential primary season, plus an interview with eco-champion
Ed Begley Jr. and wife Rachelle Begley, at Lizz Winstead's Shoot the Messenger (8:30 pm),
and comedy giant Eugene Mirman (racing over from Totally J/K), genius improv beatboxer Reggie Watts,
inventive comedic chameleon Brett Gelman, and superb stand-up Kumail Nanjiani
at one of the funniest shows in NYC—which just happens to be free—Cavalcade! (11:00 pm).
Two comedy shows for five bucks.
First up is sketch group Pangea 3000, which consists of
Andrew Cleary, Sam Kemmis, Dan Klein, Arthur Meyer, and Seth Reiss.
To view two of the troupe's surreal tales of games guys play, involving
whoopee cushions and tag, please click here and here.
The double-bill then continues with Hot Lather, an improv group that specializes
in the soap opera format. Its members include some powerhouse performers:
Mike Cavanaugh, Matt Fisher, Jon Gutierrez, Molly Lloyd, Anna Rubanova, Achilles Stamatelaky, Mike Still, Abra Tabak, Andree Vermeulen, and Paul Welsh,
with direction by Rob Webber.
6:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Kate Hess & Shelly Stover of We Kate Shelly; and Matt DiLoreto, Dave DiLoreto, and Joshua Sidis of The Uncles
Two fine sketch comedy shows for five bucks.
This evening kicks off with We Kate Shelly,
a sketch show that has great fun with uncomfortable encounters (e.g., a woman declares joy
over her recent abortion, causing the women she's with to burst into tears because
she's just had a miscarriage...). Featuring singing, dancing, and even more crying,
written and starring the irresistible Kate Hess & Shelly Stover,
and directed by comedic genius Andy Secunda (The Swarm).
The double-bill then continues with sketch troupe The Uncles, consisting of Matt DiLoreto,
Dave DiLoreto, and Joshua Sidis. These guys are sharp comedic performers, so it's a bit disappointing their material often doesn't live up to their talent. However, a running gag that culminates in a memorable showdown will probably make you forgive the weaker material.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
This free weekly comedy show offers stand-ups the opportunity to try out new material
and is produced by Liam McEneaney (VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's
Premium Blend, former writer for Standup Nation with Greg Giraldo).
Tonight's terrific scheduled guests include
Leo Allen (writer for Saturday Night Live 2002-2005; Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
Comedy Central Presents, Ed, Sex and the City),
Jackie Kashian (Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; for Last Comic Standing
stand-up video about Jackie's salesman dad, please click here),
Andres du Bouchet (writer for & performer on FOX's Talkshow with Spike Feresten;
Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn, Cheap Seats;
live NYC comedy show Giant Tuesday; comedy videos),
and host Chris DeLuca (writer for a slew of TV shows, VH1's Best Week Ever
and CBS' former Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn).
8:00ish pm at Lolita Bar, 226 Broome Street (between Allen and Orchard Streets); free
Nearest subway stops are Delancey Street via the F or Delancey-Essex via the J/M/Z.
Amy Beckerman, Gloria Bigelow, Jackie Monahan, and Leah Dubie
Free gay-themed stand-up comedy show featuring the gals above
as regulars/hosts, plus different guest comics every week.
8:00 pm at RubyFruit Bar & Grill, 531 Hudson Street (between West 10th & Charles);
no cover, one item (food or drink) minimum
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
Eugene Mirman (comedy giant who recently did a Comedy Central Presents half-hour special;
also appeared on Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Jump Cuts, Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
HBO's Flight of the Conchords, VH1; performs voice of gruff, screechy nun
as cast member of Adult Swim's Lucy, Daughter of the Devil animated series;
winner of the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Comedy Host; comedy CDs
The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman and En Garde, Society!),
Dave Hill (written for The New York Times, Salon, HBO, and the eerie
Web site Black Metal Dialogues; written and performed for VH1, Spike TV,
The Learning Channel, and the fabulous Smoking Gun TV series; hosts monthly
UCBT extravaganza The Dave Hill Explosion—to learn more, please click here),
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; co-host of
stellar NYC weekly comedy extravaganza The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show, which won
the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Variety Show; for an animated VO reel, please click here), and
Michelle Collins (VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, MTV U, YouCantMakeItUp.org; for a memorable chat about the power of penises over vaginas, please click here).
8:15ish pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
TV star & eco-activist Ed Begley Jr. with wife Rachelle Begley; 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 guests are Ed Begley Jr. and Rachelle Begley. Ed is the former TV star of
St. Elsewhere who went on to champion the Green Movement. He's currently
starring in HGTVs Living with Ed, and is the author of the hot-off-the-presses book
Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life.
To get a feel for STM, view a fun interview with cartoonist David Rees by clicking here.
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.
Nick Zimmerman in Out of Africa My Mind, and Lance Rubin & Ray Munoz in The Lance & Ray Show
The Lance & Ray Show and Out of Africa My Mind
Two quirky productions for five bucks.
The Lance & Ray Show is sketch comedy in a stream-of-consciousness style
from funny duo Lance Rubin & Ray Munoz. I liked the comedic intentions
more than the actual material, but the audience I saw this with seemed to enjoy
the whole package. Either way, these guys are talented and promising.
The other half of this double-bill is Out of Africa My Mind, a one-man show written and performed by Nick Zimmerman. Again, the material didn't quite resonate with me;
but Zimmerman's gentle and unsettling style makes him a performer worth keeping an eye on.
Directed by the wonderful John Flynn (John Flynn Has Terrible Sex, The Nights of Our Lives).
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Brett Gelman, Eugene Mirman, and Reggie Watts...
...and Kumail Nanjiani
This razor-sharp stand-up extravaganza is no place for the innocent.
However, it's enormous fun.
Tonight's magnificent lineup includes
Eugene Mirman (comedy giant who recently did a Comedy Central Presents half-hour special;
also appeared on Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Jump Cuts, Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
HBO's Flight of the Conchords, VH1; performs voice of gruff, screechy nun
as cast member of Adult Swim's Lucy, Daughter of the Devil animated series;
winner of the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Comedy Host; comedy CDs
The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman and En Garde, Society!),
Reggie Watts (winner of 3rd Annual Andy Kaufman Award; scary talented vocalist, beatboxer, and musician who will likely amaze you; to learn more, please visit ReggieWatts.com),
Brett Gelman (comedic chameleon; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, stellar improv troupe Death by Roo Roo; for samples of Brett's mind-blowing work with partner
Jon Daly, please click here and here, and also check out their hip-hop parody CD Fleetwood Cracked),
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), and
sneak peaks at short films from the upcoming second season of MTV comedy hit Human Giant.
Tonight's show is likely to be one of the funniest in NYC.
And it's free.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 2/19/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
five superb female comics who are also a terrific experimental cover band: Stickerbook (7:00 pm),
Jenny Rubin, Ann Carr, Helen Hong, Amy Crossfield, Rachael Parenta, and other sharp
women stand-ups who'll shock and amuse you at host Diana Saez's Chicks & Giggles (8:00 pm),
book author Arlen Schumer, stellar stand-up Carolyn Castiglia, and a reality show superhero join the
always-fun explorations of comic books with a comedic slant at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),
magical and breathtakingly talented comics Livia Scott and Reggie Watts, plus superb
stand-up comics Roger Hailes and Joselyn Hughes, at the fabulous Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm),
and ace sketch group Olde English (ABC, MSNBC), plus comics Jon Friedman, Dan Allen, and
Michael Somerville (David Letterman, Comedy Central, VH1), at Her Majesty's Stand-Up (9:30 pm).
Stickerbook is a terrific all-gal experimental cover band whose members include some of the funniest women in NYC: Jen Hammaker (theremin, keys, vocals), Becky Poole (saw, accordion, guitar), Eliza Skinner (drums, accordion, vocals), Sue Galloway (guitar, keys, vocals), and Becky Yamamoto (keys, tambourine, vocals). Please sample their stuff via their MySpace page,
and then come see them perform live tonight for a mere five bucks.
7:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Jenny Rubin, Ann Carr, and Helen Hong
Tonight's lineup of talented female stand-up comics is hosted by
Diana Saez (DC Comedy Festival; XM Radio; created/produced Washington DC's
first all-female comedy showcase; for stand-up videos, please click here and here).
The scheduled guests are
Jenny Rubin (host of weekly NYC live comedy show Max!),
Ann Carr (Comedy Central Motherload's Honesty Wedding, UCBT's High School Talent Show,
The Pit's Keith & Donna's Grateful Dead Listening Hour),
Helen Hong (TLC's What Not to Wear; E!'s Exposed: 25 Most Notorious Fashion Week Moments; for a video stand-up sample, please click here),
Amy Crossfield (for tough, funny Carolines stand-up video about kids, dogs,
domestic violence, and Internet dating, please click here),
Rachael Parenta (for audio clip of three hilariously shocking jokes, please click here),
Maria Shehata (Comedy Central Motherload's The Watch List), and
Laura Mannino (California Comedy Festival).
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)
Darren Passarello as Nitro G, stellar comic Carolyn Castiglia, and Arlen Schumer's The Silver Age of Comic Book Art
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's guests are Arlen Schumer, author of the book The Silver Age of Comic Book Art,
Darren Passarello, who played Nitro G on Stan Lee's Sci-Fi Channel reality game show
Who Wants to Be a Superhero?, and
the wonderful Carolyn Castiglia, a stand-up comic who's appeared on VH1, MTV2,
and Sirius Satellite Radio, and writes for The Huffington Post. Carolyn is also the superb host and co-producer of the weekly NYC live comedy show Chicks & Giggles (see directly above); but tonight she's taking off from C&G to grace CBC with her quick wit.
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—
Twelve Thousand Dollars, Tantrum, 1985, Bastian, and DeCoster—
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
Roger Hailes, Reggie Watts, and Livia Scott...
...and Seth Herzog and Joselyn Hughes
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 stellar lineup includes
Reggie Watts (winner of 3rd Annual Andy Kaufman Award; genius improv beatboxer, vocalist, and musician who will likely amaze you; just recorded his first CD/DVD, for which we should all keep an eye out; to learn more, please visit ReggieWatts.com),
Livia Scott (brilliant, magical comedic chameleon; Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
world-class sketch group Meat, acclaimed one-woman show Goodnight, O.J.,
Livia's Castle of Enchantment),
Roger Hailes (exceptionally sharp, personable stand-up; Chappelle's Show, VH1's All Access;
writer for Comedy Central and MTV; for sample videos, please click here and here), and
Joselyn Hughes (co-host of biweekly NYC live comedy show Slumber Party).
9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
Michael Somerville, Olde English, and Jon Friedman
Hosted by Jon Bander, Dan Gregor, and Lucas Held.
Tonight's comics include
Olde English (ace sketch troupe and prodigious generator of funny videos;
ABC's Good Morning America, MSNBC, hosts UCBT variety show Very Fresh;
on Entertainment Weekly's" Must See" list; members are Caleb Bark,
Ben Popik, David Segal, Adam Conover, and Raphael Bob-Waksberg),
Jon Friedman (host of the superb NYC live comedy extravaganzas Slightly Buzzed and
The Rejection Show; author of the book Rejected: Tales of the Failed, Dumped, and Canceled),
Michael Somerville (Late Show with David Letterman, Comedy Central's
Premium Blend, Starz's Stand Up or Shut Up, VH1), and
Dan Allen (Comedy Central's Premium Blend; claims to be writing
Kevin Bacon's biography in the sixth person).
9:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 2/20/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
brilliant comics Todd Barry, Julie & Jackie, Kurt Braunohler, Hot Sauce, and more at CBS/NYC Presents (8:00 pm),
some of the most talented funny women in New York, including the magical Adira Amram (jammin' with
her famous dad David Amram and brother Adam), and the delightful Sara Schaefer, Ann Carr,
Becky Yamamoto, and Katina Corrao at Williamsburg Brooklyn's Let's Do It (8:00 pm),
open mic comedy with hilarious headliner Rick Shapiro at John F. O'Donnell's The Kingdom of Heaven (8:15ish pm),
the penultimate edition of one of the finest comedy shows to ever grace NYC, with stellar stand-ups
coming to bid near-farewell to Eugene Mirman's & Bobby Tisdale's Invite Them Up (9:00 pm),
a wonderful new show combining storytelling, alcohol, and improv, with players from 30 Rock,
The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Mad TV, and more: Happy Hour (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
Todd Barry, Michelle Collins, and Kurt Braunohler...
...and Julie Klausner & Jackie Clarke (Julie & Jackie), and Gil Ozeri, Ben Schwartz, & Adam Pally (Hot Sauce)
Some of the funniest stand-ups and comedic teams in New York
are gathered for tonight's showcase. They include:
Todd Barry (wryly brilliant stand-up who's one of the very best in the biz;
Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
Comedy Central Presents; HBO's Flight of the Conchords and Lucky Louie;
Comedy Central's Freak Show, Dr. Katz, and Shorties Watching Shorties;
Adult Swim's Space Ghost, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and Tom Goes To The Mayor;
upcoming comedy CD From Heaven),
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),
Julie Klausner & Jackie Clarke (razor-sharp and hilarious writer/performers who host the monthly NYC live comedy show Obsessed with Julie & Jackie; please check out
their recent short films by clicking here),
Hot Sauce (stellar sketch/improv consisting of Gil Ozeri, Adam Pally and Ben Schwartz;
for some video samples of their work, please click here and here), and
Michelle Collins (VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, MTV U, YouCantMakeItUp.org; for a memorable chat about the power of penises over vaginas, please click here).
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Ann Carr, Adira Amram, and Sara Schaefer...
...and Katina Corrao and Becky Yamamoto
Stellar female comics sing and perform stand-up. Starring:
Adira Amram (brilliantly funny and sexy writer/singer; Jane Magazine Editors Choice;
co-star of UCBT's Get Psyched!; for sample songs & videos, please click here),
Adira's acclaimed musician father David Amram and brother Adam joining in for an Amram Jam,
Sara Schaefer (delightful quick-witted comics; VH1's Best Week Ever,
E! Network's Rise of the Geeks, Union Hall's Name That Tune, UCBT's Video Gaga),
Ann Carr (Comedy Central Motherload's Honesty Wedding, UCBT's High School Talent Show,
The Pit's Keith & Donna's Grateful Dead Listening Hour),
Becky Yamamoto (rave reviews from The New York Times, The New Yorker, etc.
for her recent performance in the play Songs of the Dragon Flying to Heaven;
member of all-female comedic rock band Stickerbook), and
Katina Corrao (HBO's Daddy, Comedy Central; for video samples, please click here and here).
8:00 pm at Sound Fix Records, 110 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg Brooklyn; free
Take the L subway to Bedford Avenue and walk four blocks to N 11th Street
John F. O'Donnell and Rick Shapiro
Free open mic stand-up comedy show in Queens' Long Island City
(just one stop from Manhattan on the #7 train).
Hosted by John F. O'Donnell (Comedy Central's Fresh Faces; for stand-up video, please click here),
a wild man who will make you love him...and who genuinely loves comedy and fellow comics.
If you're looking for stage time, John makes this a very friendly place to perform.
Sign-up for the open mic is at 7:30.
Tonight's visiting star comic is Rick Shapiro ...who is fresh, surprising, and hilarious.
Rick's credits include HBO's Lucky Louie, PoCreations Radio, and his comedy CD Unconditional Love.
8:15ish pm at The Creek and The Cave, 10-93 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Queens; free
From Manhattan, take the #7 subway to the Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue stop (one stop after Grand Central);
exit on Jackson Avenue and walk one block north to 49th Avenue.
Hosted by comedy greats Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale (above).
The lineup—which is sure to be 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.
Please Note: This is the next-to-last show of this wonderful six-years-running extravaganza.
9:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Becky Drysdale, Thomas Middleditch, Miriam Tolan, Tami Sagher...
...and Anthony King, Chris Gethard, and Jason Mantzoukas
This new show is a wonderful blend of storytelling and improv.
A group of stellar comics take an audience suggestion and, while sipping beers, start telling personal tales related to it—with an emphasis on the ribald and ridiculous, just like what you'd want to hear from your friends while hanging out at a bar. Helping enormously with this is Chris Gethard, who's one of the most talented and brilliant storytellers in New York.
The yarn spinning is great fun; but on top of that, when the performers hear a story that especially tickles them, they jump up and instantly create scenes revolving around it. And because these talents are razor-sharp improvisors, the results are hilarious.
The players include
Deb Downing (improv at Second City),
Becky Drysdale (acclaimed one-woman show One Woman in Several Pieces,
Web video series Time Traveling Lesbian),
Chris Gethard (The Stepfathers, The Nights of Our Lives, author of book Weird New York),
Peter Grosz (writer for The Colbert Report; famed for performing numerous Sonic commercials),
Anthony King (UCBT-NY Artistic Director, Reuben Williams, Let's Have a Ball,
Gravid Water, off-Broadway show Gutenberg! The Musical),
Jason Mantzoukas (Mother: The Soundtrack, We Used to Go Out, The Mantzoukas Brothers),
Thomas Middleditch (Second City, Baby Wants Candy; for cartoon that prompted the comment
"wow i think i actually feel my intelligence melting away as i watch this," please click here),
Tami Sagher (writer for 30 Rock; writer and producer for Mad TV 2001-2006), and
Miriam Tolan (sketches on Late Night with Conan O'Brien 1993-1994, correspondent on The Daily Show 2000-2001, acted on The Office as "fake Tina Fey").
At one of its first productions, Becky Drysdale asked audience members to "please spread the word if you liked the show; and if you didn't, well, why are you talking about it?"
No worries, Becky. You're a treasure; and this show is a winner.
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 2/21/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include stellar storyteller Tom Shillue,
Saturday Night Live's Will Forte and Eric Slovin, musicians Fountains of Wayne, plus surprise guests
performing from Ben Karlin's new book Things I've Learned From Women Who've Dumped Me (8:00 pm),
Dave Hill demonstrating he's one of the sharpest, freshest, funniest comics around, with guests
Amy Sedaris (Strangers with Candy) and star musician Bob Mould, at The Dave Hill Explosion (9:30 pm),
and two great improv troupes, Derrick and Broad Shoulders, battling for audience votes at Cage Match (11:00 pm).
Things I've Learned From Women Who've Dumped Me
Perfectly timed for Valentine's month 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 Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents,
Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, storytelling podcasts;
for stand-up samples, please click here and here), and includes
Will Forte (cast member of NBC's Saturday Night Live 2002-2007, NBC's 30 Rock,
HBO's Flight of the Conchords, and way too many other credits to mention),
Eric Slovin (writer for Saturday Night Live 2002-2005; Comedy Central Presents,
Premium Blend, Spin City; half of comedy duo Slovin & Allen with partner Leo Allen),
music by Fountains of Wayne,
and surprise guests.
7:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Amy Sedaris, Dave Hill, and Bob Mould
Dave Hill has written for The New York Times, Salon, HBO, and the eerie Web site Black Metal Dialogues. Dave has also written and performed for VH1, Spike TV, The Learning Channel, and the fabulous Smoking Gun TV series. Dave says, "Sometimes I miss being able to walk into the free clinic and stuff without being harassed by people who watch television really late at night, but for the most part I gotta say this 'fame thing' suits me well. Really, really well."
Indeed it does; Dave is an enormously witty, razor-sharp comic.
During Dave's previous two shows, the guest walked out during his opening
comedy routine. (For a write-up of the first such incident, please click here.)
Tonight Dave has hedged his bets by inviting two guests:
Amy Sedaris (co-wrote and starred in Comedy Central's Strangers with Candy,
hosted Trio's Film Fanatic; appeared in such films as Elf and School of Rock;
author of I Like You: Hospitality Under The Influence and co-author of
Wigfield: The Can-Do Town That Just May Not), and
Bob Mould (highly popular musician; please check out
his music, and latest album, by visiting his MySpace page).
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
vs.
Cage Match: Derrick vs. Broad Shoulders
This delightful show pits two improv teams against each other while creating the
atmosphere of a professional wrestling arena (and providing such side-shows
as a bout to the death between guys costumed as an alcoholic wolf and TV's Alf...).
Derrick is three sharp and enormously appealing performers,
Dominic Dierkes, Donald Glover, and DC Pierson, who have
proven themselves to be both stars and champions, winning
a breathtaking 11 improv matches in a row last year at Cage Match...
and breaking several all-time records while at it.
The guys also make wildly popular YouTube videos—
for some samples, please click here and here and here.
The six members of Broad Shoulders met while performing at the famed I.O. Theater and
The Second City in Chicago. The group consists of Mackenzie Condon, Mary Grill,
James Harris, Scott Markman, Thomas Middleditch, and Steve Pasieka.
Can a star NYC troupe beat a group honed by Chicago improv?
There's no telling what will happen...which is one of the great pleasures of this extravaganza.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 2/22/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
the delightful Sara Schaefer, Kambri Crews, Craig Baldo, Hayes Hargrove, and a bunch more comics
telling funny, and sometimes poignant, stories about their family at Sara Benincasa's Family Hour (7:00 pm),
Jessica Chaffin & Jamie Denbo bringing their hit UCBT-LA show to NY: Ronna & Beverly's All Jew Revue (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),
and singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical (10:00 pm).
Happy children with "Aunt" Sara Benincasa...
...and Sara Schaefer 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's guests include
Sara Schaefer (irresistible razor-sharp comic; VH1's Best Week Ever,
E! Network's Rise of the Geeks, Union Hall's Name That Tune, UCBT's Video Gaga),
Kambri Crews (luminous storyteller & actress, and stellar publicist & producer;
from my review of last week's show: "Kambri Crews is one of the most sharp, charming, and heartfelt comedic storytellers working in NYC. I've seen thousands of routines that quickly fade from memory, but I'll probably never forget her poignant and hilarious tale of gum smuggling;"
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),
Craig Baldo (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing,
Comedy Central's Premium Blend, VH1, Bravo, The Onion),
Hayes Hargrove (This Is Spinal Tap, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Larry Sanders Show,
The Muppets, The Office (UK), The Groundlings, gobeyondthepale.com),
Elaine Williams (was featured dancer on SNL and acted in Waiting for Guffman;
for sample stand-up video, please click here),
Greg Barris (Heart of Darkness), and
Billy Lyons (Comix).
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)
Ronna & Beverly's All Jew Revue
Hosted by Jessica Chaffin & Jamie Denbo (above) playing) Ronna Glickman & Beverly Kahn, the bestselling authors of You'll Do a Little Better Next Time: A Guide to Marriage and Remarriage for Jewish Singles. To get a feel for the act, please visit ronnaandbeverly.com.
Reservations for seats are sold out; but if you're okay with standing, come enjoy
this UCBT-LA hit make its debut in the city where it really belongs.
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
Paul Case
Gay-themed comedy, hosted tonight by Paul Case.
Tonight's scheduled guests include
Jenny Rubin (host of MAX!),
Michelle Buteau (Comedy Central's Premium Blend),
Michael Brill (2007 MAC Award Winner), and
Michael Carbonaro (Another Gay Movie).
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.
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.
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 2/23/08
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 comics crammed into 2¼ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:00 pm),
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),
stellar sketch troupe Olde English, hilarious stand-up Kumail Nanjiani, and more at Drink at Work (8:15 pm),
genius star comic Kristen Schaal (HBO, Comedy Central) and more at Tom Shillue's acclaimed Moonwork (9:00 pm),
improv comedy mixed with audience-supplied music at the rockin' Mother: The Soundtrack (9:00 pm),
inventive & hilarious sketch comedy from The Harvard Sailing Team (9:30 pm),
improvised TV shows about audience members via world-class troupe Reuben Williams (10:30 pm),
and some undoubtedly shocking moments from the always inventive Cracked Out (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)
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
Olde English and Kumail Nanjiani
Comedic variety show produced by Carol Hartsell and hosted tonight
by Mark Douglas (for a stand-up audio sample, please click here).
This evening's terrific lineup includes
Olde English (ace sketch troupe and prodigious generator of funny videos;
ABC's Good Morning America, MSNBC, hosts UCBT variety show Very Fresh;
on Entertainment Weekly's" Must See" list; members are Caleb Bark,
Ben Popik, David Segal, Adam Conover, and Raphael Bob-Waksberg),
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),
stand-up comics Stephanie Holmes and Ben Kissell,
and rock band AfterParty.
8:45 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)
Kristen Schaal and Tom Shillue
Acclaimed monthly comedy show hosted by Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents,
Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, storytelling podcasts;
for stand-up samples, please click here and here), who demonstrates his storytelling prowess via an extended witty monologue at the end of the show.
Tonight's guests are the wonderful
Kristen Schaal (lovely, brilliant, breathtakingly talented writer/actress/comic;
co-star of HBO's Flight of the Conchords; writer for MTV's Human Giant;
co-star of Web video series Penelope: Princess of Pets; co-host of NYC live Hot Tub Variety Show with Kurt Braunohler; winner of numerous comedy awards, including the prestigious 2nd Annual Andy Kaufman Award and the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Female Stand-Up;
to read about Kristen's recent killer set, please click here),
Christian Finnegan (VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central Presents, Chappelle's Show, The Today Show, host of TVLand's Game Time, former staff writer for Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; just released first comedy CD, Two For Flinching; for stand-up videos on how to get rid of a boring guy and what your movie choices say about you, please click here and here),
Benari Poulten (cast member of NYC weekly political comedy show Shoot the Messenger),
stand-up comic Wesli Spencer, and
Tracy Bonham (acclaimed singer/songwriter; albums include The Burdens of Being Upright
and Down Here).
9:00 pm at Phil Coltoff Center, 219 Sullivan Street (between Bleecker & West 3rd); tickets are $20
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
The Harvard Sailing Team: A Hundred Years of Song and Dance
The Harvard Sailing Team, which just won the ECNY Award for Best Sketch Comedy Group,
performs their special brand of fresh, imaginative comedy
that turns familiar rituals on their head. (For a video about awkward goodbyes
at the end of a party, please click here.) The very talented troupe consists of
Rebecca Brey, Jen Curran, Clayton Early, Faryn Einhorn, Katie Larson,
Adam Lustick, Chris Smith, Billy Scafuri, and Sara Taylor.
This new collection of sketches, titled
A Hundred Years of Song and Dance, covers such topics
as Melissa Etheridge, Duck Tales, and American Gladiators.
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
Cracked Out (above) is the hilarious Jon Daly & Brett Gelman parodying a hip-hop group.
These guys love to shock; for a write-up of their UCBT show in October,
which featured trash gods and giant dildos, please click here.
For samples of the duo's mind-blowing videos, please click here and here;
and please check out their album Fleetwood Cracked.
There's no telling what they have planned tonight,
but it's probably worth experiencing.
Midnight at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 2/24/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
an evening of Oscar-watching at the gorgeous Comix Comedy Club hosted by the luminous Kambri Crews
and stand-up Christian Finnegan, with free admission and chances for prizes, at Oscar Night 2008 (6:30 pm),
UCBT's playground for celebrities and ace improvisors, ASSSSCAT 3000 (7:30 & 9:30 pm),
terrific stand-up comics Roger Hailes (MTV, VH1, Chappelle's Show), Baron Vaughn (MTV, VH1,
Shoot the Messenger), Joselyn Hughes (Slumber Party), and more at Scum and Villainy (8:00 pm),
genius character comic Larry Murphy joining comedy giants Eugene Mirman and Michael Showalter
at their Brooklyn comedy stand-up show Tearing the Veil of Maya (8:00 pm),
and a superb star comic performing his solo stand-up show in Brooklyn: Mike Birbiglia (9:30 pm).
Watch this year's Academy Awards for free at the gorgeous Comix Comedy Club.
Hosted by the luminous Kambri Crews and stand-up comic Christian Finnegan (VH1's Best Week Ever, Chappelle's Show), the evening will feature big flat screen TVs showing the Oscars; ballots for sale with chances to win lots of prize packages given out during commercial breaks; and discounted food and drinks. Please RSVP kcrews@comixny.com with your name and number of people in your party. For additional details, please click here.
6:30 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues); free
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)
Roger Hailes, Joselyn Hughes, and Baron Vaughn
This free weekly show is guest-hosted tonight by Roger Hailes
(exceptionally sharp, personable stand-up; Chappelle's Show, VH1's All Access;
writer for Comedy Central and MTV; for sample videos, please click here and here).
Tonight's other terrific stand-up comics are
Baron Vaughn (MTV's The Gamekillers, VH1's Awesomely Oversexed and
Best Week Ever, co-star of weekly NYC live comedy show Shoot the Messenger;
for a radio interview, please click here),
Joselyn Hughes (adorable co-host of biweekly NYC live comedy show Slumber Party),
Ross Hyzer (host of NYC live extravaganza County Fair Comedy Show;
for stand-up videos, please click here and here), and
Will Franken (performs slew of eccentric characters in stream-of-consciousness style;
for a sample video, please click here).
8:00 pm at Pianos, 158 Ludlow Street at Stanton; free
Larry Murphy, Michael Showalter, and Eugene Mirman
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
Larry Murphy, the brilliant voiceover actor who performs all the key characters
on Adult Swim's Assy McGee. Larry's TV series include Home Movies, O'Grady,
Cheapseats, Computer Lab, Puppets N Such; and he's the co-host of the stellar
NYC weekly comedy extravaganza The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show, which won the
2008 ECNY Award for Best Variety Show. For Larry's animated VO reel, 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.
Mike Birbiglia is a razor-sharp stand-up comic who just performed an hour-long Comedy Central special titled What I Should Have Said is Nothing. Mike's also performed two
Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; appeared multiple times on Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien; and has released the comedy CDs
Two Drink Mike and My Secret Public Journal—Live.
For sample stand-up videos, please click here and here;
and then come let Mike make you laugh helplessly with this solo stand-up show.
9:30 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.
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
