NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 7/16/07
vs.
A 90-minute gals vs. guys improvisation double-bill. The all-female group is Frank: Elizabeth Blue, Leslie Collins, Julie Dulude, Caroline Goldrick, Mary Jacobson, Desiree Nash, and Abigoliah Schaumaun. The all-male troupe is Aztec Bacon: Anthony Batista, Jamie Cummings, Jonathan Kaplan, Matthew Love, Ben Masten, Steve Miller, James Rich, and Cole Stitelman. Says Ben Masten, "Watch in amazement as our scenes about professional sports and home repair are balanced out by Frank's scenes about feelings and emotional commitment."
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named welcoming his next guest
Up Late! with Lord Voldemort!
It was bound to happen. The evil so horrific that wizards dare not
even speak his name...finally has his own late night talk show.
Helping him celebrate the release of the seventh and (we are told)
final book of the Harry Potter series are a small army of UCBT stars
doing their bloody best to pull off credible British accents:
Anthony Atamanuik, Susannah Becket, Brian Faas, Fran Gillespie, Jon Gutierrez,
Will Hines, Billy Merritt, Lennon Parham Achilles Stamatelaky, and more.
At last week's Crash Test (see below), an audience member asked Aziz Ansari if he was going to catch the new Harry Potter movie. Aziz replied "I have no interest in Harry Potter movies, Harry Potter books, Harry Potter posters, no, not even Harry Potter prostitutes."
But for the rest of us, this show is a must (plus we're now rooting for the addition of Harry Hookers to the product line...). Come enjoy yourself, and then stick around afterwards to tell Aziz how much fun it was.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Michael Showalter revving himself up for tonight's show
Hosted by Aziz Ansari (one of the best stand-up comics on the planet, and member
of Human Giant). Guests are typically superb comedians trying out new material. Tonight's wonderful lineup includes Michael Showalter (MTV's The State, Stella comedy troupe, 2001 comedy feature Wet Hot American Summer); Demetri Martin (The Daily Show: Trendspotting, Comedy Central Presents, Comedy Central's Demetri Martin. Person., Conan O'Brien, These Are Jokes CD/DVD); and Eugene Mirman (Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Jump Cuts, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Conan O'Brien, VH1, The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman and En Garde, Society! CD/DVDs, and weekly NYC live variety show Invite Them Up).
Forget that it's free; this is flat-out one of the funniest shows in New York.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 7/17/07
Jason Mantzoukas and Jessica St. Clair are two of UCBT's brightest stars. The duo previously shined in their wonderful comedic plays We Used to Go Out and I Will Not Apologize; and they make audiences happy every Saturday night as members of Mother: The Soundtrack. It's therefore exciting that Jason & Jessica have launched a new improv show titled First Date, in which they ask an audience member about a dating experience as a launching pad for their own simulated special evening. When this premiered two weeks ago, Jessica took chances in risking audience ire that made even Jason uncomfortable—and we loved her for it. Don't miss what happens tonight. The show's ad promises, "How many bad dates have you been on? Trust us—this will be worse."
7:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Hot off his fun 10-minute performance at Crash Test last night, Michael Showalter (MTV's The State, Stella comedy troupe, 2001 comedy feature Wet Hot American Summer) takes the stage in a more intimate setting for a solo show running over an hour.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $10
Lizz Winstead and friend
Hosted by the sharp & witty Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).
Tonight's terrific lineup includes Lizz Winstead, who's 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. In addition, when Lizz canceled her appearance on the live NYC show Drink at Work a few weeks ago, she created one of the most memorable anti-apologies of this year; please enjoy by clicking here.
Other scheduled guests are John Viener (staff writer on animated series Family Guy), Matt Higgins (renowned comedic risk-taker, and three-time finalist for the Andy Kaufman award), Chelsea Peretti (writer for Playgirl, Village Voice, and Details; co-author of a Gawker book to be released this fall; co-creator of the New York City Rejection Line (212/479-7990) and of web satire blackpeopleloveus.com; and short film maker with the Variety Shac); and spectacular singer Angela McCluskey (former lead vocalist of the Wild Colonials, and now solo artist with her new album The Things We Do).
8:30 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
Improv group Threat (Stephen Booth, Matt Donnelly, Jim Festante, and Rebekka Johnson) performs for 45 minutes, and then improv duo Starkey & Grace ( Nate Starkey and Chris Grace) performs for another 45.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 7/18/07
The Stepfathers (above), Pete Holmes, and fwand at Carolines
UCBT invades world-famous comedy club Carolines on Broadway for a couple of hours of alternative funny business. Scheduled performers are brilliant comedy improvisors The Stepfathers: Michael Delaney, Christina Gausas, Chris Gethard, Billy Merritt, Bobby Moynihan, Silvija Ozols, and Zach Woods; Pete Holmes (three seasons of VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, Comedy Central's Premium Blend); and popular long-form improv troupe fwand: Dominic Dierkes, Jonathan Gabrus, Sean Hart, Kevin Hines, Ellie Kemper, Shannon O'Neill, Gil Ozeri, and Greg Tuculescu.
The official cover for this show is $16.25, but you can buy a ticket for only $8 by providing the code uncorked either at the door or via phone (212/757-4100). Please note there's also a two-drink minimum (juice, soda, alcohol), which will add $10 or more to the bill. But $18—the typical price for an off-off-Broadway show—isn't bad for the opportunity to experience some of UCBT's finest at a great venue.
7:00 pm at Carolines, 1626 Broadway (between 49th and 50th Streets);
$8 cover charge (w/code uncorked), plus 2-drink minimum (additional $10 or up)
Brian Kiley: "I bought a box of animal crackers the other day,
it said 'Do not eat if seal is broken.' I opened it up and sure enough..."
Hosted by comedy greats Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale. Tonight's guests include two stellar writer/performers: Brian Kiley (staff writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien since its start in 1994 and nominated for 11 Emmy Awards; Late Night with David Letterman, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Comedy Central's Premium Blend) and Leo Allen (writer for SNL 2002-2005, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, Ed, Sex and the City).
Other guests are Linas Phillips (writer/star of Walking to Werner), Dan Allen (Comedy Central's Premium Blend; claims to be writing Kevin Bacon's biography in the sixth person), and Adam Lowitt (host of Magical Show at at Pianos, Saturday Night Rewritten).
8:30 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Justin Purnell wrangling comedy acts
Host Justin Purnell provides a mix of guests who perform stand-up, improv, music,
and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent varies wildly—
but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun.
Come to support the experimentation, and periodic delightful 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 7/19/07
Comedy greats Rob Riggle and Horatio Sanz
The UCB Theatre at Central Park's SummerStage
There are other funny shows happening tonight,
with performers I adore; but this is a singular annual event.
It's also the precursor to one of the most magical comedy festivals
in the country, the Del Close Improv Marathon (playing July 27-29).
And this evening's star-studded Central Park SummerStage extravaganza,
which typically runs 3-4 hours, is entirely free.
Scheduled comics and musicians include:
Horatio
Sanz (co-host): Saturday Night Live,
founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Rob
Riggle (co-host): Saturday Night
Live, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Arrested Development, The Office.
Demetri
Martin: The Daily Show: Trendspotting,
Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy
Central Presents, Comedy Central's Demetri
Martin. Person., These Are Jokes CD/DVD.
Slovin
& Allen: Comedy duo of Leo Allen (writer
for Saturday Night Live 2002-2005;
Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy
Central Presents, Ed, Sex and the City) and Eric
Slovin (writer for Saturday Night
Live 2002-2005; Comedy Central
Presents, Premium Blend, Spin City).
Rebecca
Drysdale: One Woman
in Several Pieces, HBO.com's
upcoming Time Traveling
Lesbian.
Reggie
Watts: Scary talented vocalist, beatboxer, musician, and expert improvisor
who will likely amaze you; to learn more, please visit ReggieWatts.com.
The
DEFiBULATORs: Highly skilled and hilarious country band; please check
out the DEFiBs
videos & tunes via their MySpace page.
Stickerbook:
Terrific all-gal experimental cover band; please sample their stuff via
their MySpace page.
Cracked Out: Sometimes hilarious, sometimes surreal parody of hip-hop group by two of UCBT's most beloved comics, Jon Daly & Brett Gelman; please check 'em out by clicking here and here.
The show is slated to begin at 7:30 pm; the doors open at 6:30 pm.
Even though SummerStage is spacious enough to accommodate hundreds of visitors,
last year every square inch of ground was occupied with folks eager to laugh.
It's therefore highly recommended you arrive early for this wonderful comedy party
to ensure you get in, and can nab either a seat or a comfortable spot on the grass.
(And consider bringing a large blanket...)
Directions to SummerStage
SummerStage is located at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.
From the East side: Take the #6 subway to 68th Street and Lexington,
or the M1/M2/M3/M4 bus to 72nd Street and 5th Avenue;
enter the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue;
and then walk a bit following the map above.
Traveling crosstown: Take the M-66 or M72 bus to Fifth Avenue;
enter the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue;
and then walk a bit following the map above.
From the West side: Take the 1/2/3/B/C subway to 72nd Street,
or the M7/M10/M11 bus to 72nd Street and Central Park West;
enter the park at 72nd Street and Central Park West;
and then walk a whole lot following the map above.
For more stuff you ought to know, please click here.
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 7/20/07
Peter Karinen, Brian Sacca, and Joe Schiappa state the obvious
There's no way to improve on the description from this show's creators, so here it is verbatim:
"Following up on their lackluster appearance at the 2007 Aspen Comedy Festival, mediocre comedy duo Pete and Brian once again join forces with the always boring Joe Schiappa, this time to perform something totally unique: 3-person sketch comedy. This has never been done before. Ever. In this wholly original show, one sketch involves a wacky character. Another involves two people and miscommunication. Another sketch features funny accents. There will be an unexpected plant in the audience. Also, there is an introduction. And an ending. And plenty of self-conscious, self-deprecating, self-referentiality." How can you resist? For sample sketches from these oddly witty guys, please click here & here.
7:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Big Black Ballet and Dying Breaths
One of the PIT's finest improv groups, Big Black Car, performs something they call Big Black Ballet (pictured above); and Ellie Kemper (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, McSweeney's) & Scott Eckert (ImprovOlympic) do a sketch show in which none of the characters survive, yet is reportedly life-affirming and very funny.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $8
Jason Mantzoukas (We Used to Go Out, Mother: The Soundtrack) and Ed Herbstman (co-founder of the Magnet Theater) show off how damn smart and breathtakingly talented they are. Time Out New York named these guys Best Improv Duo of 2006, and features them as a top comedy choice in this week's issue. Take advantage of a great opportunity to see these improvisation comedy stars shine in an intimate setting.
8:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Some of the best improv comics in NYC—Michael Delaney, Christina Gausas, Chris Gethard, Billy Merritt, Bobby Moynihan, Silvija Ozols, and Zach Woods—make stuff up, and make you laugh.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Death by Roo Roo: Your F*cked Up Family
Comedic powerhouses Jackie Clarke, Curtis Gwinn, Brett Gelman, Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, and John Gemberling interview an audience member about family and then act out his or her life story via improv scenes. Scary and funny.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
To perform improvisation at UCBT, you must spend years taking classes and carefully perfecting your craft...or you can come to this monthly free show, which allows audience members to jump on stage and participate! Hosted by popular long-form improv troupe fwand (Dominic Dierkes, Jonathan Gabrus, Sean Hart, Kevin Hines, Ellie Kemper, Shannon O'Neill, Gil Ozeri, and Greg Tuculescu).
Midnight at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 7/21/07
Amy Heidt and Eliza Skinner play eight women you don't want living next door
These two one-woman shows offer a parade of characters so horrible that you have to laugh.
In Booze Cruise, Amy Heidt takes you on a corporate cruise and, says, Time Out NY, "introduces you, with spot-on and very funny impersonations, to five dysfunctional women you'll instantly recognize and love to loathe." For samples, please click here and here.
In Shameless, Eliza Skinner (who did great work at SummerStage this Thursday with her band Stickerbook, and has also performed in MTV's Damage Control and UCBT's Made-Up Musical) plays a mother, a wife, and a party girl who are mean, vicious, and reportedly hilarious.
7:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
The Magnet's instructors, 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
According to the spurn Web site, this sketch group has "amassed a cultish following and a cast who blindly throw themselves into the most questionable of onstage situations, bless their black little hearts." For examples of the troupe's work, please click here and here.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $10
Fiercely funny comedy duo Jason Mantzoukas and Jessica St. Clair (see my write-ups of We Used to Go Out and First Date) lead a vibrant team of improv comics 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: On the Jitney
The highly inventive sketch troupe Harvard Sailing Team (which recently
appeared in SketchFest NYC) performs its newest show.
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 formidable improv performer. Joining him are stellar talents Lennon Parham (see my review of her Showgirls parody), Chris Kula, Charlie Sanders, Eric Scott, Kate Spencer, Charlie Todd, and Joe Wengert.
10:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Olde English hosts an old-fashioned variety show
Very Fresh with Olde English
Comedy group and prodigious generator of funny videos Olde English (Caleb Bark, Ben Popik, David Segal, Adam Conover, and Raphael Bob-Waksberg) host a variety show with sketches, stand-up, short films, and more. Tonight's guests are Julie & Jackie (hilarious writer/performers Julie Klausner and Jackie Clarke), Pete Holmes (three seasons of VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, Comedy Central's Premium Blend), sketch group Trophy Dad (Bradley Bazzle, Matteo Borghese, Scott Hoffer, Jeffrey Miller, John Phillips, and Adam Wells), and comic/musician Adam Goldman.
12:00 midnight at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 7/22/07
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 celebs 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; tonight's advance tickets are sold out, but a limited number of seats may be available at the door for those who arrive early enough to nab 'em. 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)
Dave Hill checking on the time
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 (Comedy Central's Premium Blend
and Jump Cuts, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Conan O'Brien, VH1,
The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman and En Garde, Society! CDs)
and Michael Showalter (MTV's The State, Stella comedy troupe,
2001 comedy featureWet Hot American Summer).
Tonight's scheduled guests are Dave Hill (who's written for The New York Times,
Salon, HBO, and the eerie Web site Black Metal Dialogues; and written and performed for VH1,
Spike TV, The Learning Channel, and the fabulous Smoking Gun TV series)
and A. D. Miles (Human Giant, Conan O'Brien, Reno 911, TV Funhouse, Stella comedy troupe).
7:30 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.
If you're looking for a good time, this might not be it.
But if you're interested in getting on the Mo Pitkin's stage and
performing stand-up—or any other kind of act—a mere $4 will buy you
a chance at being selected via the show's lottery system. The rules are:
Sign-up is at 9:00 pm sharp.
You get eight minutes maximum for your act.
You can do anything you'd like on stage, with two exceptions:
1. Don't damage the stage or equipment (respect the space).
2. Don't pick out people in the audience, even just to say something nice (respect the audience).
No online reservations available; simply pay at the door.
Again, this show isn't for everyone.
But if you're a performer, you've probably risked
a lot more that $4 to nab an NYC stage credit...
9:00 pm at Mo Pitkin's, 34 Avenue A (between East 2nd & 3rd Streets); tickets are $4
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 visit this site's newest page Hy on Theatre Discounts.
Return to Previous NYC Comedy Picks
Copyright © 2007 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
