NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 5/14/12
Arden Myrin and Janeane Garofalo will wreak mayhem at Brooklyn's Dive Comedy...
...and Jena Friedman (writer for David Letterman), Michael
Patrick O'Brien (writer for SNL),
and more will form a human chain of laughter at the return of Jena's Entertaining
the Bartender
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open mic stand-up show running about 90 minutes at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with host Chris Gaynor: Open Mic Mondays
[FREE] 6:30 pm: Open-mic storytelling, with each of the four audience members chosen from the bucket of names getting to tell tales for 7 minutes each at The PIT downstairs lounge along with host Jake Hart: The Dump
7:00 pm ($5): Sketch troupe Shelby Company performs oddball bits for this Magnet sketch show show that in the past has included two-timing monsters and presidential ninjas: Ephemerama
[FREE] 7:30 pm: Four improvisers form teams with comics they've never performed with before at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: The Kaleidoscope
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Scott Adsit (cast member of 30 Rock, and co-writer/director/producer & cast member of Adult Swim's awesome & Emmy-winning Moral Orel) teaming up with fellow 30 Rock actor John Lutz (who previously spent six years as a staff writer for Saturday Night Live) to form a super-smart and hilarious star improv duo that's become one of the very best attractions at UCB Chelsea and should not be missed (in fact, attending this show is part of how I plan to celebrate my birthday today...): John & Scott
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($9.47 online or $8 at the door): All-star lineup of Rob Delaney (over 410,000 Twitter followers at @robdelaney; How to “Make It” in Comedy), Baron Vaughn (Jimmy Fallon; co-star of USA's Fairly Legal and Comedy Central's The Awkward Comedy Show; MTV, VH1), Eugene Mirman (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, FOX's Bob's Burgers, Adult Swim's Delocated, VH1; pioneer of NYC downtown comedy), and Seaton Smith performing at Brooklyn's Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) with sketches and more from a duo who between them won four 2011 ECNY Awards—including Best Variety Show and Best Hosts—Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler: Hot Tub Variety
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8): Two of my favorite musical talents, Mindy Raf (brilliant comedic singer/songwriter; VH1, College Humor, YA novelist; often performs as alter ego Leibya Rogers) and Robin Gelfenbien (VH1, Sirius Radio, FringeNYC, one-woman show about wieners), join forces for "an evening of original songs, characters, and saucy tales" at The PIT upstairs theatre: Raf 'n Robin
8:00 pm ($5): Making great use of UCB East's previous incarnation as an indie movie theatre, tonight features screenings of select films running five minutes or less—most of them funny—crafted in the style of TV pilots. The shorts receiving the most audience votes get to continue with additional episodes, while the others are "canceled" at Channel 101
[FREE] 8:30 pm: Sean Patton (red-hot rising star; killer sets on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, VH1; co-host of Comedy as a Second Language, frequent guest-host of Whiplash), Kurt Metzger (Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central's Ugly Americans), Leah Bonnemma, Christian Polanco, and Matthew Graham performing at this weekly show at Brooklyn's Matchless (557 Manhattan Avenue) hosted by Mike Denny, Michael Che, and/or Nimesh Patel: Broken Comedy
8:30 pm ($5): At The Magnet, a mini-play from Chris Nester & Ross Taylor about aspiring Country Western musicians: The Oakwood Boys
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Super line-up of TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo, Arden Myrin (Conan O'Brien, Mad TV, Chelsea Lately, host of The Party Machine; for Mad TV samples, please click here and here and here), Ben Lerman (nuanced raunchy comedic singer/songwriter; Logo TV's NewNowNext, Sirius Radio's Frank DeCaro Show), Jon Fisch (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, VH1, The Apprentice), and Lucas Molandes performing at Brooklyn's Freddy's Bar (627 Fifth Avenue; take R subway to Prospect Avenue) for this free biweekly show hosted by Brooke Van Poppelen (brilliant stand-up, writer, and storyteller; TLC, trutV; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here) and Giulia Rozzi (Jimmy Kimmel, MTV, VH1, Playgirl Magazine, co-host of Stripped Stories): Dive Comedy
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($8; or free with proof of unemployment or of employment as a comedian, or an awkward Facebook message to Jena the day of the show "but seriously, it has to be awkward"): The return of this monthly stand-up show from wonderful dark humor comic Jena Friedman (staff writer for David Letterman), with tonight's guests Michael Patrick O'Brien (staff writer since 2009 for Saturday Night Live; 7 Minutes in Heaven), Adira Amram (fresh, hilarious rising star singer/songwriter; co-star with Kurt Braunohler of Night of the Living; winner of the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Musical Act), Nick Vatterott (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, MTV, Second City), Kate Berlant (MTV, CNN, host of Crime & Punishment Tuesdays at Cake Shop), and—my favorite, verbatim from Jena—"my ex-boyfriend Dale (JDate, Christian Mingle, Craigslist)," plus music from Jefferson Hamer (Sound of Young America), and "a surprise guest," all performing at the Ace Hotel (20 West 29th Street, between Fifth Avenue & Broadway): Entertaining the Bartender
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Two UCB Chelsea house sketch troupes try out fresh material: The Prom (which is overflowing with wonderful talent, including Sasheer Zamata, Stephen Soroka, Amber Nelson, Ari Scott, and Siobhan Thompson), and Everything Rabbits (which includes the lovely & uniquely hilarious Violet Krumbein): Maude Night: The Prom & Everything Rabbits
9:30 pm ($8): From the wonderful Jen Nails' Do It Yourself class, the debut of two one-woman shows at The PIT upstairs theatre. First up is Laurie Lattimer in "a story about an alcoholic father, a perfectionist mother, seven weddings, four divorces, one funeral, two boroughs, and the crossing of one very big ocean:" Things Would Be Different; and then Cara Kilduff describes going "from babysitting the spawn of Satan to learning how to kill an attacking dog to plotting recurring revenge upon a pervy McDonald’s manager" as she "acquired a non-traditional skill set as an adolescent and beyond:" How I Became an Unskilled Laborer
[FREE] 9:30 pm: Following a club format, hosts Nore Davis & Andrew Short perform stand-up throughout for a total of 25 minutes, two comics each perform a 15-minute set, and then a seasoned headliner closes out the show with a 20-minute set, all at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: On the Road
9:30 pm ($5): A monthly stand-up competition at UCB East in which "new and emerging stand-up comics face off against each other in front of a panel of judges eager to provide unsolicited advice and even more unsolicited scores"—the judges being Brian Cichocki (Caroline's, Stand-Up New York), and Shannon Coffey. If you're an up-and-coming stand-up, send a video link and brief bio to john@ucbcomedy.com for a chance to participate in Stand-Up Smackdown
[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): Twelve improv comics who are "friends of Dorothy" perform at The Magnet hosted by Andrew Fafoutakis: There's No Place Like Home: A GLBTQ Event
[FREE] 10:30 pm: Improv students are welcomed onto the stage at The PIT downstairs lounge for this weekly open access show hosted by Gary DeNoia & Keith Huang: Base Jam
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who haven't yet been announced, but you can check for an update here—performing at UCB Chelsea and hosted by comedy genius Chris Gethard (star of The Chris Gethard Show; author of new bestseller A Bad Idea I'm About to Do): Whiplash
[FREE] 11:00 pm: If you're an audience member who loves stand-up, Monday at 11 should be Whiplash! night (see listing above). If you're a comic who couldn't get booked on UCBT's all-star show, though, you can opt to instead practice your skills at this exceptionally supportive stand-up open mic at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted by the Thelma & Louise of comedy, Michelle Wolf & Erin Lennox: Fresh
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 5/15/12
Chris Gethard explains How I Learned to be a Grownup; Justin Long is at Sweet...
...Tom Papa performs at Comedy Juice, and Kristen Schaal performs at Tell Your Friends
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:30 pm: Open mic for comedy of all types (with sign-up starting at 6:00) at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre hosted by Chesley Calloway (co-host of renowned Comedy as a Second Language): The Ches Club
7:00 pm ($5): Bob Kulhan (Second City) and Micah Sherman are at The PIT downstairs lounge "trying out sketches, songs, riffs, and flights of fancy in a fun, loose show:" Bob & Micah's Sketch Comedy Show
7:00 pm ($5): Chano Garcia performs a one-man show at The Magnet about how "Everybody fails. Sometimes you learn from it, and sometimes you don't, but it's always fun to watch... at least for everybody else. A Schaudenfreudic tour of memorable failures, secrets, and a big finish:" Fail: A Collection of Stories
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:30 pm: Jon Benjamin (FX's Archer, Comedy Central's Jon Benjamin Has a Van, FOX, Adult Swim, MTV's Human Giant) and Charles Soule (Image's 27) joining super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Pianos (158 Ludlow Street), with giveaways of comics and gift certificates: Comic Book Club
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($15 at the door or $18.88 online): TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo, TV & movie star Kristen Schaal (one of the funniest women alive; shining star correspondent on The Daily Show; co-star of HBO's Flight of the Conchords and NBC's 30 Rock; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets; co-host of Hot Tub Variety; co-author of bestselling book The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex), Christian Finnegan (Conan O'Brien, co-star of TBS' Are We There Yet?; three Comedy Central specials; MSNBC, VH1's Best Week Ever, Chappelle's Show, The Today Show), musical group Hand Job Academy, and more performing at Brooklyn's The Bell House hosted by Liam McEneaney: Tell Your Friends
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10 at the door or $10.70 online): Comedy genius Chris Gethard (brilliant improvisor and comedic storyteller; star of Comedy Central sitcom Big Lake and Manhattan Cable Access' The Chris Gethard Show; The Stepfathers, author of new bestseller A Bad Idea I'm About to Do and Weird New York), Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), Doug Moe (Bad Dad), Jillian Lauren (Some Girls), and Andy Ross performing at Brooklyn's Union Hall hosted by Blaise Allysen Kearsley: How I Learned to be a Grownup—Allegedly
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): A musical show at UCB East describing itself as "Female-fronted folky-pop band. Hyper-articulate, nerdy, post-modern sort of musical comedy. Folk singalongs and catchy pop jams are merely the metaphorical table holding up the buffet of wordplay, sarcastic wit, and rapid-fire pop culture references:" Summer & Eve: Folky-Pop Musical Comedy
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Superb improv troupe Doppelganger, ace storyteller Margot Leitman (Conan O'Brien, VH1, Spike TV, co-host of sexy & funny Stripped Stories), character actress Ann Carr (Louie, The Actress), and stand-up Leah Bonnema (Sirius XM Radio) performing at The PIT upstairs theatre with host Darcy Burke: The GLOCdown
[FREE; plus, while supplies last, free Eric Vreeland bobblehead] 8:00 pm: Baron Vaughn (Jimmy Fallon; co-star of USA's Fairly Legal and Comedy Central's The Awkward Comedy Show, MTV, VH1), Dan St. Germain (quick-witted & enormously likeable rising star; Jimmy Fallon, The Electric Company, MTV, VH1), Louis Katz (HBO, Comedy Central), Jeffrey Joseph (Jay Leno, HBO, Comedy Central, FOX), Nick Cobb, and Dave Smith performing stand-up at 116 (116 MacDougal Street, between 3rd & Bleecker Streets), hosted by Amin Makhani & Eric Vreeland: Bacon & Sex
8:00 pm-Midnight ($5): Five full hours of improv at UCB Chelsea for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Johnny Romance, Creature, The Pox, Bucky, GoodGirl, and Sandino—and at 11:00 pm advanced students repeatedly rearrange elements of scenes to create improv anagrams—all at Harold Night
8:00 pm ($8): New PIT house sketch troupe Team Barbara, featuring eight performers including Brigid Boyle and headed by writer Jen Curran, performs at the downstairs lounge: Team Barbara
[FREE] 8:00 pm: This weekly show features "a swarthy selection of fine stand-up comics and mildly entertaining recurring segments" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre, hosted by Jim Tews & Brendan Eyre: Chest Hair
[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($5; or you can watch remotely on the Web via live stream): Kurt Braunohler (Comedy Central; creator & host of IFC game show Bunk; co-creator & co-star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets; co-host of Hot Tub Variety; triple 2011 ECNY Award winner), Avery Monsen (author of All My Friends Are Dead), Bridgid Ryan (host of Don't You Find Us Charming?, improv troupe Chester), and superb musical group The Defibulators (The Rejection Show) performing at Brooklyn's Union Pool (484 Union Avenue) along with sketches from Moon regulars Camille Harris, Jordan Clifford, James Beard, Tim Skinner, Tim Whitney, Bryan Condon, and Kenny Pickett, and hosts Nat Towsen & Bob Walles: The Moon Show
8:30 pm ($5): In this double-bill, each of two of The Magnet's singing improv troupes will make up a musical on the spot based on an audience suggestion: Aquarius and Mint Condition
9:00 pm (no cover, one drink min.): NYC stand-ups Ray Devito, Chris Laker, George Gordon, Gabe Pacheco, and Kris Tinkle performing on tonight's topic of Possessions for this weekly show at Sidewalk NYC (94 Avenue A) hosted by Josh Gondelman: The Afterlife
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Justin Long (NBC's Ed, Galaxy Quest, Going the Distance, Live Free or Die Hard, the Mac in Apple Computer commercials, co-star of Broadway's Seminar), Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, Conan O'Brien, HBO's Funny or Die, director/co-writer of Comedy Central's Jon Benjamin Has a Van, host of top NYC comedy show Whiplash), Jamie Lee (Last Comic Standing, MTV's Ridiculousness, VH1), and more performing at Ella (9 Avenue A) hosted by Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, 30 Rock, VH1): Sweet
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): A weekly wild experiment in dark comedy, blending sketch and improv, from two of the most brilliant, fearless, and innovative comics in the biz, John Gemberling (Death by Roo Roo, Adult Swim, Comedy Central) and Anthony Atamanuik (Death by Roo Roo, 30 Rock, Conan O'Brien, Huffington Post, The Nights of Our Lives) at UCB East with tonight's guests Sheng Wang, Adam Conover, and Tim Martin: The Tony and Johnny Show
9:30 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups (not yet announced) performing stand-up at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Chris Grace: Cold Soda Comedy
[FREE] 9:30 pm: James Adomian (hilarious, super-charged character comic/impressionist; finalist on most recent Last Comic Standing; Harold and Kumar 2), Neil Thornton, Nora Nolan, and Paul Hooper performing stand-up at this new monthly gay-themed show at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre hosted by Tom Steffen: Rapier Wit
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15 & 2-drink min.): Tom Papa (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno; host of The Marriage Ref), Sean Patton (red-hot rising star; killer sets on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, VH1; co-host of Comedy as a Second Language, frequent guest-host of Whiplash), Big Jay Oakerson (Comedy Central Presents, Louie, HBO, Showtime, MTV), and more performing stand-up at the Gotham Comedy Club hosted by Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central): ComedyJuice
[FREE] 10:15 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members can join in with musical improv troupe Mint Condition to make up stories in song on the spot: Musical Magnet Mixer
[FREE] 11:00 pm: A breathtaking 40 comics are given 2 minutes each in this rapid-fire open mic stand-up show at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted with wit and energy by Jay Welch: Bring It
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up at UCB East hosted by Boris Khaykin, John Trowbridge, and/or Katie East: Tuesday Night Open Mic
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 5/16/12
A dancing orphan named Cripply, a sex cult that eats orphans,
and more in the 30-minute dark
musical
Newsadoozies,
and the unsinkable Mamrie Hart (above) and Stephen Soroka performing
as comedy duo BoF: Friends
Without Benefits
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:00 pm to midnight: Six free hours of improvisation at The PIT upstairs theatre for PIT Super Free Wednesday
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up providing four minutes per comic, with "15 people chosen randomly through e-mail, and five walk-ins; and a guaranteed spot to anyone who performs in character as a famous explorer" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre: Comedic Exploration Club of Long Island City, West
7:00 pm-12:30 am ($7 for the entire evening): Magnet house troupes The Party Lions, Silver Fox, The Wrath, Featherweight, Horses, Chet Watkins, Leviathan, and Brick performing improv, followed by a free audience interactive show with Horses at 11:30 pm: The Magnet's Megawatt
7:00 pm ($5): Expanding the UCB longform improv showcased on Harold Night is this weekly show at UCB East which tonight features troupes Hoops and Spooky Ghost: Lloyd Night
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Mamrie Hart is a rising star who somehow manages to be razor-sharp and immensely warm & accessible at the same time—and is always worth catching. Mamrie and her superb comedy partner Stephen Soroka tonight perform puns, wild facial expressions, dance, rock trivia, audience pranks, murder reenactments, and more as sketch duo BoF: Friends Without Benefits...
...and in the other half of this double-bill: Comedy genius Kate McKinnon used to dominate UCB Chelsea with her dark and deliciously quirky sketch shows. Now Kate is at Saturday Night Live, the show she was born to shine on. Meanwhile, nobody on an NYC stage has really stepped into the void Kate left...but this show is the closest I've seen so far as a contender. Sue Galloway delivers smart, organic, beautifully crafted physical & verbal comedy that's fresh, specific, at times surreal, and very funny. It's no easy thing to walk the tightrope between darkness and hilarity, but Sue manages it here with impressive grace. Kudos also go to UCBT's Artistic Director Nate Dern, who did a brilliant job of providing guidance and judgment as the show's director. Ignore this production's lame title and official description, which don't do it justice, and simply come to see one of the best one-woman sketch shows of 2012: Pose
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): At UCB East, Sasheer Zamata, Nicole Byer, and Keisha Zollar perform as the fiercely energetic & entertaining all-gal improv troupe Doppelganger
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups do sets "and then have a discussion about what’s going on in the world and the mysteries of life" at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, hosted by Chris Laker: The Show
[FREE] 8:30 pm: Typically terrific NYC comics (not announced) performing at this free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) typically hosted by Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman, and/or Max Silvestri: Big Terrific
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Neil Casey & Anthony Atamanuik, both genius members of Death by Roo Roo, perform the jaw-dropping feat of making up an entire feature film at UCB East as The Two-Man Movie
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): At UCB Chelsea, a delightful dark musical about the rich consuming the poor—literally. Witty songs from Brian Glidewell, Marcy Jarreau, and Kevin Carter, a uniformly strong cast (Megan Maes, Aaron Jackson, Kevin Michael Murphy, Katie Schorr, Dan Hodapp, Brian Glidewell, and Stephanie Streisand), and sharp direction from Christopher Gladysz and Lauren Conlin Adams make this 30-minute surreal parody of Newsies a winner as a UCBT comedy, and recommended. That said, right now the story is paper-thin and the characters cardboard. While the latter is turned into an asset (e.g., Kevin Michael Murphy's ieg-injured character is hilariously named "Cripply"), I'm hoping the creators consider making all the elements deeper and more nuanced, and expanding the production to a 90-minute legit theatre length. Meanwhile, enjoy this remarkably compact version that delivers a quick, sharp punch to the gut you're likely to remember: Newsadoozies: A Man-Eating Musical...
...and in the other half of this double-bill, unique and relentlessly silly performer Brandon Gulya does a one-man sketch show at UCB Chelsea that's at times hilarious (the restaurant bit, which is an instant classic) , and at other times less so, in the hope that Brandon Gulya Will Be Famous Soon
[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): The instructors of UCB's classes include some of the finest improvisors in the country. In this new weekly show a bunch of them get on stage at UCB East, along with hosts Betsy Stover and Ari Voukydis: Hot for Teacher: The UCB Faculty Show
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: The wonderful Sasheer Zamata (Doppelganger) hosts as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. (Tonight's scheduled lineup includes Becky Yamamoto and Brandon Gulya; for the complete list, please click here.) Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a weekly show at UCB Chelsea makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Your opportunity to perform on the stage of UCB East with improv veterans, hosted by UCBT Harold Night house troupe Grandma's Ashes: The Improv Jam
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up running until 1:00 am, with time divided evenly between performers (up to five minutes), at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' Long Island City with host Rob Stern: Bucket 'O Buckets
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 5/17/12
The lovely Julia Wiedeman is both playful and fearless in her memorable
sketch show
Naked
People
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Eliza Skinner (Conan O'Brien, Showtime, MTV, TBS, AMC, co-host of weekly stand-up show Magic Bag with DC Pierson in LA) is tonight's guest at this weekly open mic storytelling show, with each performer given a whopping eight minutes to captivate & impress, at UCB East hosted by John Flynn: Oh, Hey Guys!
6:00 pm ($5): Two shows about which I know nothing audition for a regular spot on the prestigious UCB Chelsea schedule: Kathy and Emily Regret Everything and Small Men. These might be great or awful; but at $2.50 per show, you can't go far wrong either way. That's part of the fun of Spank
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Veteran musical improvisors at The PIT mix with novices on-stage at Pitch
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up with comics' names drawn from a bucket and each chosen one receiving three minutes at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Corby Haas
7:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT downstairs lounge: Hot Diner and THEM
7:00 pm ($5): Improv duo Steve Soroka (BoF) & Jen Curran (Harvard Sailing Team) team with improv troupe The Imposters at The PIT upstairs theatre to kick off your Evening Bliss
[FREE] 7:00 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members (signing in at 6:00) can join in with improv troupe Hello Laser to make up scenes on the spot: Magnet Mixer
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo, Nikki Glaser (Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing, podcast You Had to Be There), Joe List (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Matt Koff (Onion News Network, WitStream, 9 Am Meeting), and Michael Che performing at UCB East produced by Mark Normand, Matt Ruby, and David Cope, and hosted tonight by David Cope: Hot Soup
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): At UCB Chelsea, a witty and ultimately exhilarating exploration of baring it all by fabulous long-time nudist Julia Wiedeman. Julie is a charismatic actress whose star is just starting to rise, and is well worth catching even beyond the enjoyment of her playful beauty. Check out promo videos here and here, and then run to see Naked People...
...and in the other half of this double-bill, a one-man sketch show by George Kareman about which I know nothing, but it has a fun title: Incredibly Extreme and Extremely Incredible
8:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT downstairs lounge: The East Side Orphan Riot and Harvey
8:00 pm ($5): Sketch comedy from a group that met as college students in Boston now performing at The PIT upstairs theatre: Astronaut Theatre
[$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($15 [vs. $25] online or at the box office using discount code BBOX): Telly Savalas returns to life to entertain you and provide life guidance in this 50-minute show that was a hit at FringeNYC 2011 and is now enjoying an open-ended Friday night run at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club. The script is at times very smart, especially in its choices of hilarious video clips and music tracks from the real Savalas...who, in his more intense moments, apparently rivaled William Shatner at his silliest. But even when Hunter Nelson's writing isn't consistent, actor Tom DiMenna—who is a professional comic with great timing and skill at engaging an audience—will keep you entertained: Who Loves You, Baby?
8:00 pm-MIdnight ($7 for the entire evening): The Magnet house troupes The Boss, Hello Laser, Phooka, and Junior Varsity performing improv, followed at 10:00 pm by Christina Gausas directing The Subject (improvised scenes that focus on one character who never leaves the stage, while other characters from the past, present, and future come and go), and then at 11:00 improv competition Inspirado (like UCBT's Cage Match, but with a game-like challenge component) with troupes Upstate and Pumpkin battling for laughs & votes: The Magnet's Night Out
[$] 8:00 pm ($35 & 2-drink min.) A regular on ABC's Happy Endings headlining through Saturday at Carolines: Daman Wayans Jr.
[FREE] 8:00 pm: "A stand-up comedy showcase and baking competition—come to eat or come to compete" at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Cody Hess & Jessica Gross: Cookies!
[$] 8:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A stand-up who's performed on Jay Leno, Craig Ferguson, Showtime, and his own hour-long Comedy Central special headlining through Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Sebastian Maniscalco
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Sean Patton (one of the finest stand-ups in the country; killer sets on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, VH1; co-host of Comedy as a Second Language, frequent guest-host of Whiplash), plus Max Silvestri and Gabe Liedman (co-hosts of Big Terrific), performing at UCB East with best bud hosts Noah Garfinkel & Joe Mande (author of Look At This F*cking Hipster): Totally J/K
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00ish pm: Terrific NYC stand-ups (the lineup is typically announced by 3:00 pm; for an update, please click here) performing on this weekly show at the Kabin Bar and Lounge hosted by Chesley Calloway: Comedy as a Second Language
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Todd Bieber, the razor-sharp Director of Content & Production for UCBComedy.com, has had his video/film work viewed over 25 million times via such sites as YouTube.com, NewYorkTimes.com, and EntertainmentWeekly.com. But before his success, Todd spent a couple of years churning out, as he bluntly puts it, "shitty local commercials in rural Pennsylvania." If you're a filmmaker, a fan of ridiculously awful late-night TV ads, or someone who likes to laugh, come enjoy this fascinating and hilarious insider look at microbudget commercials and the creative process (for a trailer, please click here). Directed by UCBT Artistic Director Nate Dern, this is one of the very best solo shows in NYC: Commercial Interruption...
...plus in the other half of this double-bill, "Matt Hobby & Mary Grill have a love deeper than one thousand really deep oceans. Through storytelling and sketch comedy, Matt & Mary show you the characters who helped them on their journey from fiancés to newlyweds:" Tying the Knot
9:30 pm ($5): Improvisors (not announced) make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge for The Scene
9:30 pm ($5): Sketch comedy written by Ryan Darden & Melissa Somosky that purports "love is like eating an entire cake all by yourself—it'll make you sick, but deep down you secretly like it" at The PIT upstairs theatre: Fetish: Dirty Talk is for Amateurs
[FREE] 9:30 pm: A monthly showcase of both stand-ups and improvisors at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, hosted by stand-up Zach Broussard and improv troupe Priest & the Beekeeper: Pig Pile
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Airwolf is crushing all opposition, winning its eight victory in a row last week 116-49. Tonight Airwolf will be seeking to stamp out The Pox. Don't miss this medicinal competition for audience laughs and votes at UCB Chelsea for the raucous Cage Match
11:00 pm ($5): Adrienne Iapalucci (Last Comic Standing), Andy Hendrickson (Comedy Central), Luis Gomez (MTV's Guy Code), John Milhiser (The Prom), and musical group Thin Skin Jonny performing at UCB East with host Chris Wilkes (Thunder Gulch): After Dark
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 5/18/12
Joe Bill and Amey Goerlich are among the brilliant improvisors performing at Chica Go Go...
...and a spirited young cast explores a proposed US government project: Gay Bomb: The Musical
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open mic show on a lottery system (sign-ups start at 5:30 pm) at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Mike Recine (Comedy Central) and Annie Lederman (Comedy Central): The Shinebox
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($7): The Magnet's new house sketch troupe Company 29 consists of such wonderful talents as Lauren Olson (powerhouse one-woman FringeNYC show Our Condolences; brilliant writer, actress, and improvisor) and Peter McNerney (former Magnet Artistic Director; half of improv troupe Trike). Tonight it debuts a show that "takes a look at all things American, from Johnny Appleseed to Ira Glass. It's a character driven sketch show sure to make Neil Diamond proud:" Company 29 Presents America
[FREE] 7:00 pm: Nikki Glaser (Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing, podcast You Had to Be There), Phoebe Robinson (100 TV Shows To See Before You Die, Sirius XM Radio), Kevin Barnett (College Humor), Richard Chassler (Comedy Central, MTV, VH1), and Adam Mamawala performing at Beauty Bar (231 East 14th Street) for this biweekly stand-up show hosted by Peter Ostrovski & Ilya Gofshteyn: Beautiful Comedy
7:00 pm ($5): Layer by layer, improvisers build a town based on an audience member’s suggestion for the town’s name, while artist Asher Rogers paints a large map of the town based on the improvisers’ descriptions. This cool-sounding show is at The PIT downstairs lounge: Our Town
7:00 pm ($5): PIT improvisors Nate Starkey & Chris Grace makes stuff up as Starkey & Grace
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Stone Cold Fox is the only sketch troupe (vs. improv troupe) to ever be honored with an ongoing spot on the prestigious UCB Chelsea weekend schedule. It's earned this slot because its cast is one of the finest in comedy, with each performer strong enough for potential stardom; and, at their best, the troupe's writers sizzle too. Both strengths are evident in Crisistown, an interactive sketch show in which the audience is periodically asked to choose which of two paths it wants to go down next. This highly playful approach puts you in charge; and it also tempts you to see the show repeatedly (just as you might return to a favorite improv group week after week), because each performance is a never-to-be-repeated event. A vibrant, brilliant cast and mostly terrific comedy writing—plus what was probably a near-superhuman directorial effort by comedy giant Shannon O'Neil—equals a wonderful way to kick off your Friday evening: Stone Cold Fox: Crisistown
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): UCBT Artistic Director Nate Dern, Zhubin Parang (writer for The Daily Show), Tracey Wigfield (writer for 30 Rock), Michael Kayne (Baby Wants Candy, Diamond Lion), Abra Tabak (Grandma's Ashes), and more perform improv at UCB East springboarding scenes off interviewing an audience member about his or her love life: What I Did For Love
[FREE] 7:30ish pm: Rob Cantrell (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, VHI, documentary Metaphysical Graffiti, High Times), Emily Heller (Comedy Central; staff writer for Rooftop Comedy; for ruminations on pregnancy, please click here), Andy Rocco (The Tony & Johnny Show, Underground Americana), Dylan Love, Diana DeLuna, Nimesh Patel, and more performing stand-up at One and One (76 1st Street, corner of First Avenue) hosted by Ben Conrad: Cranky Pants Comedy Hour
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): A glorious collection of hilarious genre film clips from super-fan Kevin Maher and friends at 92 Y Tribeca. If you love SF, fantasy, comic books, pinball machines, or just overall pop culture silliness, this is a must-see—and one of my all-time favorite shows. Grab a ticket for Kevin Geeks Out: Grab Bag
[$] 8:00 pm ($35 & 2-drink min.) A regular on ABC's Happy Endings headlining through Saturday at Carolines: Daman Wayans Jr.
[DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($7.50 [vs. $15] online or at the box office using discount code BBOX): Telly Savalas returns to life to entertain you and provide life guidance in this 50-minute show that was a hit at FringeNYC 2011 and is now enjoying an open-ended Friday night run at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club. The script is at times very smart, especially in its choices of hilarious video clips and music tracks from the real Savalas...who, in his more intense moments, apparently rivaled William Shatner at his silliest. But even when Hunter Nelson's writing isn't consistent, actor Tom DiMenna—who is a professional comic with great timing and skill at engaging an audience—will keep you entertained: Who Loves You, Baby?
[FREE] 8:00 pm: The third annual comedy tournament featuring 40 improv groups...only one of which will triumph. Tonight four improv troupes battle for superiority, pride, and glory at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by James Ferrarella: The Arena, Round 9
[FREE] 8:00 pm: An open mic show that's first come, first serve (sign-ups start at 7:30 pm), with each comic getting five minutes on stage at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' Long Island City: Mic and Cheese
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm ($15): A musical comedy at The Magnet "inspired by the real life plans of the US military to build a bomb that would make their enemies gay. The show is a cautionary tale set in a not-to-distant America that is a xenophobic, homophobic wet dream. This timely political piece is not only topical but extremely on point, leaving no stereotype unscathed." Directed by Michael Martin, with music by Frank Spitznagel, and book and lyrics by Chris Friden & Steve Whyte: Gay Bomb
[$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A stand-up who's performed on Jay Leno, Craig Ferguson, Showtime, and his own hour-long Comedy Central special headlining through Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Sebastian Maniscalco
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Sharp improvisors at UCB East making up a musical on the spot—tonight featuring Tim Martin (ace improv troupe Airwolf): Diamond Lion
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from UCB Chelsea's all-star members of The Stepfathers
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 9:00 pm & 11:00 pm (FREE TICKETS if you reserve in advance by calling (212) 260-2445 and mention HyReviews.com, but there's still a 2-drink min. per person): TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo (9:00 pm only), Greer Barnes (Comedy Central), DC Benny (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), and more performing at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club
9:30 pm ($10): A PIT improv troupe making up a musical on the spot after a friendly greeting: Hello
10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors at The Magnet using an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical
[FREE] 10:00 pm: "Improv comedy that's all like, 'Have you been drinking tonight, sir?' but then is all like, 'Lemme get a sip'" at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Teenage Cop
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Fran Gillespie, Jon Gabrus, Sue Galloway, Matt Fisher, Craig Rowin, Nate Lang, and other superb improvisors at UCB Chelsea making up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute: The Law Firm: Law & Disorder
10:30 pm ($10): NYC comics (not announced) performing at UCB East hosted by Emily Axford, D'Arcy Carden, Alden Ford, Brandon Scott Jones, and/or Justin Tyler: Gentrify
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): One of the finest improvisors alive, Joe Bill (Bassprov, iO, co-founder of the Annoyance Theatre) spearheads a breathtakingly brilliant group of improvisors from Chicago and New York who will blow the roof off The PIT downstairs lounge with lightning-quick dark comedy unlike anything else in NYC. The other superb players are Doug Stoley (Conan O'Brien, The Scene), Amey Goerlich (Indie Cage Match, Krompf, The Scene), Jodi Lennon (Exit 57, Annoyance Theatre), Jed Resnik (Annoyance Theatre, UCB), Silvija Ozols (The Stepfathers), Betsy Stover (UCB), Ari Voukydis (VH1's Best Week Ever, UCB), Russ Armstrong (iO Chicago, The Magnet), Micah Sherman (Second City, co-host of The Scene, host of Fun), Rick Andrews (Magnet teacher/performer), and Michael Burton (Act One, The Magnet), all declaring Chica Go Go
[TOP PICK] 11:30 pm ($5): This new Magnet improv show makes clever use of the Web: "Give us a topic, a name, a question on any subject and the cast—including ace improvisors Alex Marino and Jesse Falcon—will answer it using the full power of the Internet and the combined mental acumen of five intellectual juggernauts. Also, maybe some improv. What you will learn cannot be unlearned! What do you want to know?": Search Engine
[TOP PICK] [FREE] Midnight: NYC stand-ups—sometimes stellar ones—pushing boundaries for a show designed for looseness and experimentation at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Jacqueline Novak and Chris Laker: Permission to Fail
Midnight ($5): A three-person improv competition at UCB East hosted by Brian Glidewell, Josh Patten, and Ben Rameaka: Three for All
Midnight ($5): Toby Knops (PIT Associate Artistic Director), Tilda Helen (Producer for The Food Network), and musical guest David Carl (Barnstormer, Frank Pfefferkorn) as talk show guests at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Paul Gutkowski: Sex in the Late Night Air
[FREE] Midnight: This show might not be much fun for audience members, but it's an amazing opportunity if you want to perform sketch for free and with almost zero hurdles on the prestigious UCB Chelsea stage. Hosted by Maude troupe Onassis: Liquid Courage
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 5/19/12
Matt Besser, co-founder of the legendary Upright Citizens Brigade,
tonight makes rare NYC appearances at UCB East.
First Matt will tell tales at the wonderful Todd Bieber's
Animated
Stories; then he'll perform at
If You Build It;
and at midnight Matt will introduce,
screen, and discuss afterwards his 2010 feature film musical comedy
parody Freak
Dance.
Assuming I can get manage my current cold, I'll be at all three shows; come join
me for this rare Besser triple-treat.
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 4:00 pm: An unusually early weekly open mic stand-up show ("starts late enough to sleep off that hangover but ends just in time to begin a new one") at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Jhoel Walkowski & Evan Davis: The Amateur Hour
[FREE] 5:30 pm: New improv teams experimenting with new forms at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, hosted by Andy Rocco and Jon Monje: Anybody Vs. Everybody: An Improv Show for You
6:00 pm ($5): Improv troupes Dog Court, Swagu, and Mr. Gorsky at The Magnet kicking off your Saturday evening: The Rundown
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): Todd Bieber (Commercial Interruption, Director of Content & Production for UCBComedy.com) hosts this monthly open mic storytelling show at UCB East that at the end selects a favorite from the audience tales to be turned into an animated short film premiering the following month (for hilarious samples, please click here). Tonight's extra special guests are Matt Besser (co-founder to the legendary Upright Citizens Brigade; NBC's Parks & Recreation, Comedy Central, tonight's midnight film Freak Dance) and Margot Leitman (Conan O'Brien, VH1, Spike TV, co-host of sexy & funny Stripped Stories): Animated Stories
7:00 pm ($8): Stand-ups Seth Herzog (staff comic for Jimmy Fallon; 30 Rock, Comedy Central, CBS, VH1, film actor; host of Sweet) and Adam Newman (Comedy Central, MTV, College Humor, comedy CD Not for Horses) opening for a sketch comedy troupe famed for their YouTube videos (especially The Bear, The Cloud, and God) at The PIT downstairs lounge: The Upset Triangle
7:00 pm ($8): At this PIT double-bill, Dan Hodapp & Natasha Rothwell "bring more than five years of improv collaboration to stage for an evening of bold, committed characters and probably a fart joke for good measure" as Hodapp & Rothwell, and then all-gal improvisors Alexis Saarela, Brigid Boyle, Elizabeth Findlay, and Ashley Ward perform as troupe Taco Supreme
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm ($15.25 [vs. $20.25] online using discount code WEDDING, plus $15 food/drink min.; I personally like both the burgers and lasagna): One of my all-time favorite FringeNYC shows is Cynthia Sliver's true-life recounting of the "deal with the Devil" she made with reality TV (for my 2005 review, please click here). The production is enjoying a brief revival tonight at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, inside the West Bank Cafe (407 West 42nd Street, off Ninth Avenue), and is highly recommended: Bridezilla Strikes Back!
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Charlie Todd, Jim Santangeli, D'Arcy Carden, Chelsea Clarke, and/or other stellar improvisors at UCB Chelsea interview an audience member about where he or she grew up and then "turn that town's tourist attractions, landmarks, hangouts, local celebrities, urban legends, and more into a hilarious show made up on the spot:" The Curfew: Not From Around Here
7:30 pm ($7): Improv veterans Mark Grenier, Louis Kornfeld, and Charlie Whitcroft at The Magnet making up a play on the spot: Theory of Everything
8:00 pm ($10): Two of the most respected PIT improv troupes performing on this weekly double-bill—and occasionally with comedy giants Kristen Schaal and/or Kurt Braunohler participating: Big Black Car and The Baldwins
8:00 pm ($5): From the producers of The Scene, improvisors make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge: Act One
[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($35 & 2-drink min.) A regular on ABC's Happy Endings headlining one last night at the Carolines Comedy Club: Daman Wayans Jr.
[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A stand-up who's performed on Jay Leno, Craig Ferguson, Showtime, and his own hour-long Comedy Central special headlining one last night at the Gotham Comedy Club: Sebastian Maniscalco
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups performing stand-up at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Ray DeVito, Ben Kronberg, Nick Cobb, and/or Tim Dimond: Shoot the Shite
[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($10): Matt Besser (co-founder to the legendary Upright Citizens Brigade; NBC's Parks & Recreation, Comedy Central, tonight's midnight film Freak Dance), plus stand-ups Mike Drucker (freelance writer for SNL, The Onion, McSweeney's), Jordan Carlos (The Colbert Report, MTV, VH1), Sara Hennessy (Fuse TV), and Andrew Johnston (Fuse TV) performing at UCB East produced by Kara Klenk and guest-hosted tonight by Erin Lennox: If You Build It
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—with honors including being Cage Match Champion for three years in a row, and winning the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Improv Group—UCB Chelsea's genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($7): The Magnet's new house sketch troupe Company 29 consists of such wonderful talents as Lauren Olson (powerhouse one-woman FringeNYC show Our Condolences; brilliant writer, actress, and improvisor) and Peter McNerney (former Magnet Artistic Director; half of improv troupe Trike). Tonight it debuts a show that "takes a look at all things American, from Johnny Appleseed to Ira Glass. It's a character driven sketch show sure to make Neil Diamond proud:" Company 29 Presents America
[$] [DISCOUNTED] 9:00 pm & 11:00 pm (FREE TICKETS if you reserve in advance by calling (212) 260-2445 and mention HyReviews.com, but there's still a 2-drink min. per person): Greer Barnes (Comedy Central), DC Benny (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), and more performing at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club
[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): Comics performing as characters at The PIT downstairs lounge, with tonight's superb packed lineup featuring Tom Shillue, Jared Logan,Sasheer Zamata, Arthur Meyer, Silvija Ozols, Andy Rocco, Matt Koff, Dan Hodapp, Ashley Ward, and Caitlin Bitzegaio, hosted by Rob Stern: Overload the Machine
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, fast-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience interaction and audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer
[FREE] 10:00 pm: Stand-up, sketch, and who knows what else at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by a stand-up/sketch duo: Team Submarine and Friends
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Improv troupe Grandma's Ashes—which includes stellar talents Ryan Karels, Morgan Grace Jarrett, Brandon Scott Jones, and more—promises to "take your stories of the tragic and depraved and scatter them into laughter" at this newest UCB Chelsea show to be honored with a weekend time slot: Grandma's Ashes Gets Dark
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($7): Improv master Ed Herbstman and five others "perform organic freeform improvisation in two mind-blowing parts; the only rule is that there are no rules" at The Magnet theatre: The Weave
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): UCBT improv troupe Airwolf—which has been crushing other troupes into powder at Cage Match with nine consecutive victories to date—makes stuff up at UCB East for an entire hour: Airwolf: Let's Go Back to Your Place
11:00 pm ($8): A young all-guy improv troupe making stuff up at The PIT upstairs theatre: Gentlemen Party
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5; SOLD OUT, but you might be able to get in if you're willing to wait on the stand-by line): A screening of a 2010 feature film by the Upright Citizens Brigade written, co-directed, and co-starring Matt Besser, and also co-starring Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts, Horatio Sanz, and other comedy giants, at UCB East—which is a perfect venue for films because it used to be an indie movie theatre. I'll be seeing the movie for the first time at this show, but in the meanwhile you can check out some festival reviews. Come and join me—especially since the wonderful Matt Besser will be making a rare NYC appearance to both introduce the movie and stick around afterwards to answer your questions: Freak Dance
P.S. If you can't make this screening, you can also see the movie (sans Matt) at UCB East on Monday May 21st at 10:00 pm, Tuesday May 22nd at 9:30 pm, Wednesday May 23rd at 10:00 pm, Thursday May 24th at 11:00 pm, and Friday May 25th at midnight (at which point the run will probably be eligible for a New York Times review...). You can also purchase the movie and /or its soundtrack to enjoy anytime via iTunes.
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Improv is dominated by guys...and for no good reason. A way to help remedy this situation are shows like this one, which is an open improv jam for any gal wanting to participate, at any experience level. This new monthly UCB Chelsea event is helmed by the wonderful Shannon O'Neill Shannon O'Neill (breathtakingly innovative, lighting-quick, and fearless improvisor/sketch comic and rising star; The Stepfathers, Diamond Lion): The Lady Jam
[FREE] Midnight: NYC stand-ups (not announced) participate in the fake taping of a bad late-night TV comedy show at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with host Brad Steuernagel: Comedians Off Of the Leash
Midnight ($10): Typically disturbing and semi-obscene sketches at The PIT downstairs lounge from troupe FUCT
[FREE] Midnight: A weekly chance for you to shine at The Magnet, as students and veteran improvisors share the stage to form "rare and wonderful one-night-only teams," with sign-up starting at 11:30 pm: Magnet Mixer
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 5/20/12
Baron Vaughn performs at Pretty
Good Friends; the luminous Lauren Olson is in sketch comedy
Company 29 Presents America
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 4:00 pm: An unusually early walk-in open mic stand-up show at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Face-Plant Comedy Showcase
[FREE] 6:30 pm: Magnet sketch comics performing new material: Ripe Sketch Comedy
7:00 pm ($5): Improvisors at The PIT upstairs theatre pretend to be office workers delivering presentations—only they've never seen the PowerPoint slides before and have to make up the stories behind them on the spot: PowerPoint Improv
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCB Chelsea's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000
7:30 pm ($5): Improv troupes not affiliated with any comedy school compete at UCB East for audience laughs and votes—and the privilege to go on to perform at the primary Cage Match show at UCB Chelsea—in this show hosted by the delightful Amey Goerlich & R an Karels (Krompf): Indie Cage Match
[FREE] 7:30 pm: Sketch, improv, and more at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City from comedy troupe Froduce
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): The Magnet's new house sketch troupe Company 29 consists of such wonderful talents as Lauren Olson (powerhouse one-woman FringeNYC show Our Condolences; brilliant writer, actress, and improvisor) and Peter McNerney (former Magnet Artistic Director; half of improv troupe Trike). Tonight it debuts a show that "takes a look at all things American, from Johnny Appleseed to Ira Glass. It's a character driven sketch show sure to make Neil Diamond proud:" Company 29 Presents America
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): Baron Vaughn (Jimmy Fallon; co-star of USA's Fairly Legal and Comedy Central's The Awkward Comedy Show, MTV, VH1), Meg Ferrill, Dave Waite, and more performing at Brooklyn's Union Hall hosted by comedy giant Eugene Mirman: Pretty Good Friends
[FREE] 8:00 pm: Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, host of ComedyJuice), Emily Blotnik, Greg Stone, Luke Younger, Sagar Bhatt, and more performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups lounge (83 First Avenue at 5th Street): Sunday Night Stand-Up
9:00 pm ($5): Improv veterans Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, and Phillip Jackson hosting & performing in a show at UCB East with guest improvisors: Improv Nerds
[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Avenue): Comedy Night
[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar for this free weekly show hosted by Adam Sokol, Brad Austin, and/or Nate Fridson: Comedy at the Beauty Bar
9:30 pm ($5): Magnet improvisors team up with poets at Kiss*Punch*Poem
[FREE] 9:30 pm: Open-mic stand-up, with four minutes per comic, at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Molly Austin & Mike Brown: Vicious Cycle
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: A roast of host Brad Loekle on his birthday, with Roastmaster Adam Lehman and participants including Chris Doucette, Jessimae, and Yamaneika at this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour
10:00 pm ($5): Improv veterans Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, and Phillip Jackson hosting & performing in a show at UCB East with improvisors taken from the audience...and who may include you: Improv Nerds Jam
Copyright © 2012 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
