NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 6/18/07
Rebekka Johnson, Kimmy Gatewood, and Sarah Lowe
The Apple Sisters Variety Show
The lovely Kimmy Gatewood, who is an exceptionally talented writer, director, and comedic performer, demonstrates that she's also great at singing and dancing—ably partnered with Rebekka Johnson and Sarah Lowe, and Tom Thomsen on keyboard—in this homage to 1940s girl groups like The Andrew Sisters. To get a feel for the show, please click here and here and here.
7:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; tickets are $8
Hosted by acclaimed writer/performer Leo Allen and Tony Camin (The Marijuana-logues), with "bartender" Johnny Conroy (fearless, quick-witted, and delightfully unpredictable).
Tonight's guests are Fabrice Fabrice (a.k.a. Nick Kroll, one of the sharpest and most hilarious comics working today), Found Footage Festival (sharing odd, funny videos) and musical group Children of the Unicorn.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Hosted by comedic masters Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler.
Guests are The Cody Rivers Show (acclaimed sketch duo Andrew Connor & Mike Mathieu, who'll be premiering an entire show at UCBT this Wednesday), Seth Herzog (host of the Tuesday live show Sweet at the Slipper Room), Jon Daly & Brett Gelman as their hip-hop parody group Cracked Out, and musical group Tigers and Monkeys (Rocktown).
Note: Kristen & Kurt will spend the rest of this month in London performing with David Cross; but you can see Kristen every Sunday at 10:30 pm on the new HBO series Flight of the Conchords.
8:00 pm at Pianos, 158 Ludlow Street at Stanton; tickets are $8
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.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 6/19/07
The sharp women of Meat serving up killer comedy
Guests are the four highly talented women of Meat (Elizabeth Ellis. Reggan Holland, Becky Poole, and Livia Scott), who recently performed a dazzling array of horror tales at SketchFest NYC; plus Paul Mecurio (The Daily Show), Jon Lang, and Jay Bois.
8:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Banj-Aid: A Benefit for a Fallen Banjo
Paying tribute to a banjo that's seen better days are some of the most talented funny musicians in NYC: Adira Amram, The Defibulators, Stuckey and Murray, Jonah Bruno, Hilary Hawke, and more; with host Jon Friedman of The Rejection Show. If you like music and laughter, how can you lose?
8:00 pm at Ace of Clubs, 9 Great Jones Street (3rd St. between Lafayette and Broadway);$10
This theatre is downstairs from the Acme restaurant. Nearest subway stops are
Bleecker Street on the #6 and Broadway-Lafayette on the F/V/D/B.
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight is chock full of industry guests: Alex Robinson (Box Office Poison),
Aaron Renier (Spiral-Bound), Cecil Castellucci (The Plain Janes), and
a phone call from Chris Staros (publisher at Top Shelf Productions).
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
A showcase for comedy twosomes.
Scheduled performers are Pat Shay & David Furfero, Amanda Allan & Alan Fessenden,
Leanne Linski & Mark Grenier, and Sunita Deshpande & Kim Fenwick.
9:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 6/20/07
Jeremiah Smallchild and Gideon Lamb doing the work of the Lord
The 7:00 Workout: God's Pottery
According to their Web site,"God's Pottery is a Christian acoustic duo formed to spread the Word while addressing the issues facing today's Youth and the Spiritual Community at large. Members Jeremiah Smallchild and Gideon Lamb use their unique blend of music, people-skills and Biblical know-how to inspire all who are willing to listen with open hearts." In other words, these guys are very funny. Please just note that The 7:00 Workout is designed to let performers "work out" material, so there could be some rocky moments; but also the pleasure of watching two artists in the process of trying out new ideas and techniques.
6:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Andrew Connor and Mike Mathieu in The Cody Rivers Show
The Cody Rivers Show: Flammable People
I'm not familiar with this two-man sketch group, but Andrew Connor & Mike Mathieu have received some terrific reviews and seem well worth checking out.
After this NYC premiere of Flammable People, they'll be taking off on a national tour.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
The PIT's razor-sharp improv instructors perform for around 45 minutes,
and then improv group Sid Viscous take the stage for another 45.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; 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 varies wildly—
but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
Alternatively, if you live in Brooklyn, or are simply up
for music like you've never imagined it, consider:
Reggie Watts is a scary talented vocalist, beatboxer, musician, and expert improvisor
who will likely amaze you. To get a feel for him, visit ReggieWatts.com
(which kicks off with the promise "If you like to copulate, you'll love this site!").
Cracked Out is a hip-hop parody consisting of white guys Jon Daly and Brett Gelman...who are beloved improv performers at UCBT, and employ their comedic skills and very odd songs to make you question your ears & eyes. Not for every taste; for samples, please click here and here.
8:00 pm at Europa Night Club, 98 Meserole Avenue at Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn; $8
(Take the G subway to the Nassau Avenue stop, then walk one block north to Meserole & Manhattan Avenues)
Note: If you miss the latter, you can still catch both star attractions soon. Cracked Out will have its own show at UCBT this Friday at midnight; and Reggie Watts' numerous NYC appearances can be found in the "Upcoming Gigs" section of his MySpace page.
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 6/21/07: "Famous" Night
Jessica Delfino—and her friend who wants to be famous
Hosted by Rob Lathan (who plays comedic characters such as Lanny Lathan and "Quick Lips" Lathan with immense energy and boldness) and Adira Amram (brilliantly funny and sexy writer/singer/performer, and a rising star who should not be missed).
Tonight's guests include the spectacular Jessica Delfino, who enjoys singing songs about her vagina, as demonstrated by her acclaimed CD Dirty Folk Rock; created the hilarious & award-winning animated short film I Wanna Be Famous; toured the country with the wonderful Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players; and has a cool MySpace page, and an even cooler blog.
Other guests are Josh and Tamra (puppet improv comedy), Todd Levin (Premium Blend, The Onion, and his blog Tremble), and Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents, storytelling podcasts).
8:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
John Hodgman demonstrates tonight that he's much more than a PC
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."
Joining Dave will be John Hodgman, who's famous for playing a PC (in those fallacious but entertaining Apple Computer ads) and as a regular correspondent on The Daily Show. John's also written for The New York Times Magazine and The Paris Review, and is the author of the book The Areas of My Expertise. Joining Dave as well will be Jonathan Coulton, a singer/songwriter who, according to Wikipedia, "focuses on intellectual, geeky topics such as a man who's devolving into a monkey; a loner who dreams of destroying the world and gives half-monkey, half-pony monsters to his girlfriend; and the dangers of bacteria."
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Cage Match: Omlette Vision vs. Fiefdom
Two improv teams are pitted against each other for audience approval.
Omlette Vision is Michael Delaney, Billy Merritt and Andy Secunda,
who are members of the legendary group The Swarm.
Fiefdom is a much less experienced troupe, with members Chris Camp, Samantha Gurewitz, Bevan Mahaney, Kim Rittberg, Jamey Shafer, and Trevor Williams. Do these plucky youngsters have a chance against improv comedy geniuses? Come and judge for yourself.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 6/22/07
Canadian comedy group Frenzy visits NYC
Drop Six Hosts The Canadian Invasion
Sketch troupe Drop Six makes Canadian talent feel at home.
Tonight's guests are Frenzy, winners of the 2006 Toronto Sketch
Comedy Festival's Audience Choice Award.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $8
Some of the best improv comics in NYC—including Michael Delaney, Billy Merritt,
Bobby Moynihan, and Chris Gethard—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
Brett Gelman and Jon Daly, who are beloved performers at UCBT,
deliver their parody of a hip-hip group. Wildly oddball, and not for every taste;
but visit the duo's Cracked Out Web site, and check out some samples
by clicking here and here, and see whether their tunes strike a chord.
12:00 midnight at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Then again, if you're in the mood for something more laid-back, consider:
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Stacy Mayer |
Laura Dillman |
Character Dogville and The Big Bang
Anyone who loves comedy has to appreciate the brilliantly sharp-edged, in-your-face approach of venues such as UCBT. That said, the world of laughs is a large one, and there are other styles also worth enjoying. 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). Among this troupe's offerings is Character Dogville, in which performers are presented with costumes shortly before showtime and must improvise characters to fit their respective "looks"—and interact with each other. It runs every Friday at 10:00 pm at the Sage Theatre, 711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd floor (between 47th and 48th Streets); tickets are $8 online or $10 at the door.
Also consider visiting next weekend (June 28-July 1) for a set of shows called The Big Bang. The evening includes Jessica Carr Phillips, the great-grandniece of legendary animators Max and Dave Fleischer—producer and director of the classic Betty Boop cartoons—performing her one-woman show Drawn; a one-act romantic comedy by Monica Flory titled Third Wheel; and a full-length sketch show by new troupe The Commercials, consisting of writer/performers Dave T. Koenig, Ken Pond, and the delightful Laura Dillman. It all starts at 8:00 pm at the Sage Theatre, 711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd floor (between 47th and 48th Streets); tickets are $12 online or $15 at the door.
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 6/23/07
Olde English hosts an old-fashioned variety show
The instructors at the Magnet, 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
The Harvard Sailing Team: On the Jitney
The highly inventive sketch troupe Harvard Sailing Team (which recently
appeared in SketchFest NYC) performs its new 45-minute show.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; tickets are $8
Fiercely funny comedy duo Jason Mantzoukas and Jessica St. Clair (see my review of We Used to Go Out) 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
Reuben Williams: As Seen on TV
Artistic Director 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
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 Craig Baldo (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, Last Comic Standing, The Onion); Chelsea Peretti (Village Voice, Details, Playgirl, Jest, blackpeopleloveus.com, and Rejection Line: 212/479-7990); Canadian troupe Frenzy (winner of the 2006 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival's Audience Choice Award); and, to spice things up, a mystery performer.
12:00 midnight at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 6/24/07
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)
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Copyright © 2007 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
