NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 5/30/11
Running late today, but will have listings up by 11:00 am.
By the way, Monday night at Whiplash
Chris Gethard delivered one of the most hilariously
brilliant sets I've ever experienced in my life.
(And I've seen thousands...)
Chris will be a household name, guaranteed.
Catch him at every opportunity before LA steals him away;
and tune in to his new TV series on Manhattan Public Access
and his Web site starting June 22nd.
Comedy genius Chris Gethard (Whiplash) and stellar actress Jennifer Grace ( Gravid Water)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($30, plus $12 min. if you sit at a table): " A musical one-woman comedy show from Broadway's Jackie Hoffman at Joe's Pub: Jackie Five-Oh
[FREE] 7:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Amanda Baramki, Anton Shuford, Jermaine Fowler, Danny Mahar, and more performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Broadway & off-Broadway stars Jennifer Grace (Theatre World Award Winner for Our Town), Jonathan Kaplan (Tony nominee for Falsettos, Diary of Anne Frank), Zoey Martinson (Are We There Yet?, Shakespeare in the Park: Measure for Measure), and Julie Sharbutt (Shakespeare in the Park: Twelfth Night) mixing it up with some of the best improvisors in the world—Scott Adsit (30 Rock, Moral Orel, John & Scott), Tara Copeland (Baby Wants Candy, Mother, The Other Guys), Michael Delaney (Conan O'Brien, The Other Guys, The Stepfathers), and Anthony King (brilliant Artistic Director of UCBT, Gutenberg The Musical!, The Curfew)—as they crash improv into classic theatre scenes at actor/director Stephen Ruddy's Gravid Water
[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($5): World-class storyteller Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 17-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of Real Tales of College; for Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here) hosts a show that's "like watching the characters of The Wonder Years and Freaks & Geeks all grown up and telling coming-of-age tales of love, lost, regret, and redemption," with tonight's yarn-spinners Vito Lantz, Willy Appelman, Jake Goldman, and "two very special guests:" Adam Wade's Whatever Happened to the Nerds?
[TOP PICK] 9:30 ($5; including free baked clams!): A smorgasbord sketch show featuring a small army of comedy talent—Anthony Atamanuik, Julie Klausner, Rob Lathan, Shannon O'Neill, Justin Purnell, Jason Saenz, Caitlin Tegart, Charlie Toddm and more—making fun of anything and everything while hosts Alex Scordelis & Chris Schell actually serve you free baked clams: The Brooks Brothers Memorial Day Clambake
[FREE] 9:30 pm: Brooke Van Poppelen (brilliant stand-up, writer, and storyteller; TLC, blogger for trutV, co-host of Dive Comedy; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here), Giulia Rozzi (Jimmy Kimmel, MTV, VH1, Playgirl Magazine, co-host of Stripped Stories and Dive Comedy), Erik Braunsteen, Katrin Heir, Arthur Carlson, Brian McGuiness, Matt Wayne, Andy Klieman, and Alec Sobel performing stand-up at Pat O'Shea's and Troy Bynum's free weekly Brooklyn showcase at Freddy's Backroom (627 5th Avenue): Ed Sullivan on Acid
10:00 pm ($5): Improv is dominated by guys, so this is a rare treat—a dozen female improvisors "for an evening of comedy that will delight men, women, babies, and kittens," hosted by Megan Gray: We Might Just Kiss
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who tonight include comedy genius Chris Gethard, who in the past has managed to consistently do killer sets with zero prepared material, and at other times has told unforgettable personal stories, and is always worth catching (and has a new TV series on Manhattan Public Access and his Web site starting June 22nd); plus stellar stand-ups TBA—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (HBO, Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central) at Whiplash
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 5/31/11
Andrea Rosen (Righteous Kill) and Amy Schumer (Carolines)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
7:00 pm ($5): Two tough guys from the 1930s will explain the ins and outs of Hollywood at sketch show Listen Kid! ; and duo improv by Dustin Drury and Andrew Yurman-Glaser in Upstate New York
[FREE] 7:00 pm: Open mic for comedy of all types (with sign-up starting at 6:00) at Queens LIC's The Creek hosted by Robert Dean: The Dean's List
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($5.50 & 2-drink min.) Red-hot rising star Amy Schumer (whose birthday is tomorrow), Neal Brennan (co-creator of Chappelle's Show), and Max Silvestri & Gabe Liedman (co-hosts of Big Terrific) performing at the Carolines Comedy Club with host Joe Mande: The Joe Mande Five Dollar Comedy Show
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Comic book creators Ben McCool (Captain America) and Nate Cosby (Jim Henson's The Storyteller) will be talking in depth about their upcoming Image series Pigs with super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage, as well as engaging in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club
8:00 pm ($5): Duo Andy Emeritz & George Lakis performing "a musical comedy about America's once greatest boy band. In the 80's, Five Alive was on top of the world...until they were fleeced by their manager. Years later, their now-deceased manager's fortune is up for grabs to the first of his washed-up bands to score a number one single. With their chart-topping "Kiss You With Tongue" a distant memory, Five Alive reunites as a duo of desperate has-beens, exploring a montage of hilarious original songs and classic 80's tunes for a final shot at fame and redemption:" Five Alive! The Musical
8:00 pm to Midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Grandma's Ashes, Ragnaröck, Badman, Sandino, and Dybbuk, and at 11:00 pm a small army of advanced UCBT improv students trying to snatch order from chaos—all at Harold Night
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: The Sound & the Fury and Tambourine
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): An all-star lineup, with Wyatt Cenac (star correspondent for The Daily Show who recently proved he can do anything by delivering a wonderful comedic story at Kevin Allison's Risk!), Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, NPR, star of The King of Miami, band Diamondsnake, champion rapper; The New York Times, The Huffington Post, The Dave Hill Explosion), and Julian McCullough (fiercely funny rising star; Comedy Central Presents, MTV, VH1) performing at Ella (9 Avenue A) hosted by Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Ted Alexandro (one of the very finest stand-ups in the country; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; frequently opens for Louis C.K.), Andrea Rosen (most hilarious pregnant stand-up alive; HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Comedy Central's Stella, Variety SHAC, winner of the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Stand-Up), and Louis Katz (HBO, Comedy Central) performing at the PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Joe DeRosa (HBO’s Down and Dirty, Comedy Central Presents) and Jared Logan (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central): Righteous Kill
[FREE] 10:15 pm: In this free show, audience members can join in with veteran musical improv talents 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 hosted with wit and energy by Jay Welch: Bring It
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 6/1/11
Tonight features delightful sketch from Klepper & Grey (Baggage), astonishing improv from Casey & Atamanuik (The Two-Man Movie)...
...and world-class storytelling and stand-up from Tom Shillue and Judah Friedlander (Monsters)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 2:00 pm: "Something worth watching. Could be a movie, or a TV show. Might be populist and unapologetically entertaining, or hard to find and harder to understand. But you will always leave saying, 'I am glad that I saw that.'" Hosted by The PIT's Chris Grace, today's free film is a highly acclaimed 2006 drama from Thailand about life in a hospital (don't know why Chris is picking dramas, but he's going for quality...): Syndromes and a Century
[FREE] 6:00 pm to midnight: Six free hours of improvisation at The PIT's Super Free Wednesday
7:00 pm, 8:30 pm, and 10:00 pm ($5): Magnet house troupes performing improv, followed by a free show at 11:30 pm: The Magnet's Megawatt
7:00 pm ($5): A one-man show from Paul W. Downs that I haven't seen but have heard good things about: The Paul Downs Syndrome
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Red-hot rising star Mamrie Hart somehow manages to be razor-sharp and immensely warm & accessible at the same time, and is always worth catching (for Mamrie's genius Mother's Day video, please click here). Her show tonight with sketch partner Stephen Soroka is more sweet & silly than hilarious, but come to have luminous Mamrie make you smile at BoF: It's Pronounced 'Boaf'!...
...and in the other half of this double-bill, superb Chicago-trained comics Jordan Klepper and Laura Grey perform an acclaimed sketch show in which "they're bringing their baggage to the stage and dumping it all on you" in Baggage
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8 at the door, $6.84 online with discount code Supermango): Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 17-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of hilarious monthly storytelling extravaganzas Real Tales of College and The Adam Wade show; for Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here), Christian Finnegan (co-star of TBS' Are We There Yet?; three Comedy Central specials; MSNBC, VH1's Best Week Ever, Chappelle's Show, The Today Show), Carmen Lynch (Last Comic Standing finalist, Comedy Central), and Liam McEneaney (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, host of Tell Your Friends) performing at the Bowery Poetry Club with host Dan Allen: Sacapuntas!
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5—which includes a free beer!): Star stand-up Judah Friedlander (30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of How to Beat Up Anybody), star storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents), and stand-ups Sam Morrill and Maddog Mattern performing at The Creek in Queens' Long Island City with host Nick Turner: Monsters
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Brooke Van Poppelen (brilliant stand-up, writer, and storyteller; blogger for trutV; TLC; co-host of Dive Comedy; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here), Jeffrey Joseph (Jay Leno), Josh Rabinowitz (College Humor), Lucas Molandes, and Alon Elian performing in a Brooklyn bowling alley (no, seriously) called The Gutter (200 North 14th Street) hosted by Aaron Glaser & Lee Rubenstein: Get Loose
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Comedy geniuses Gavin Speiller (Death by Roo Roo, Rogue Elephant), Ben Rodgers (The Curfew, Cage Match), and Jon Gabrus (Conan O'Brien, Best Week Ever, The Nights of Our Lives) comprise one of the most hilarious improv trios in NYC, and they'll demonstrate that tonight as troupe Outlook of the Poet; and Neil Casey & Anthony Atamanuik, both genius members of Death by Roo Roo, perform the jaw-dropping feat of making up an entire feature film as The Two-Man Movie
[FREE] 10:00 pm: Vanessa Hollingshead (Comedy Central Presents; new comedy DVD Because I'm a Lady), Katina Corrao (HBO, Comedy Central), and Calvin Cato performing at the Bar-Tini Ultra Lounge (542 Tenth Avenue, between 45th & 46th Streets) for a gay-themed show hosted by Adam Sank: That Sank Show
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing 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. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night
[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 in Queens' Long Island City with host Rob Stern: Bucket 'O Buckets
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 6/2/11
Musical comedy duo Mel & El (Our Time of the Month), and Michael Showalter (Variety SHAC)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
7:00 pm ($5): A smart sketch troupe, consisting of writers for The Onion, trying out new material: Pangea 3000
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($15): A delightful comedic singing duo (according to Molly, "really smart, funny, talented, awesome people with great bods; Molly is bitter, heavily medicated and she reads poetry") performing at 92Y Tribeca an intimate hour of music and more: Mel & El: Our Time of the Month
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Stellar storytellers Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents) and John Flynn (The Nights of Our Lives) performing at The PIT's basement lounge, with young hosts Michelle Markowitz & Bryan Rucker who say they're Failing Our Twenties
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Magnet Theatre co-owner Armando Diaz directs "veteran Magnet performers throwing down for an improv revue featuring classic long forms such as the montage, monoscene, time dash, and maybe even a little freeze tag:" Old School
[$] 8:00 pm ($49 & 2-drink min.) A TV and movie star who first earned fame on Chappelle's Show headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Charlie Murphy
8:00 pm ($5): A new UCBT sketch show by Ryan Karels, and another by Leah Gotcsik & Marty Johnson, in the double-bill Radio Rogue and Somebody's in the Doghouse
[FREE] 9:00ish pm: Typically terrific NYC stand-ups performing on this weekly show at the Kabin Bar and Lounge hosted by Chesley Calloway and comedy genius Sean Patton: Comedy as a Second Language
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Michael Showalter (MTV's The State, comedy troupe Stella, writer/star of feature films The Baxter and Wet Hot American Summer and Comedy Central's Michael & MIchael Have Issues; author of bestselling new book Mr. Funny Pants), Jessi Klein (fresh, unique, deliciously organic comic who's one of the best stand-ups in the country; staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim), Andrea Rosen (most hilarious pregnant stand-up alive; HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Comedy Central's Stella, Variety SHAC, winner of the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Stand-Up), and Jon Friedman (Jimmy Fallon, host of The Rejection Show) joining delightful singer/host Shonali Bhowmik for Variety SHAC
9:30 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors—tonight including Neil Casey and Jeff Hiller— make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT's downstairs lounge in The Scene
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Myq Kaplan (one of the quickest minds in comedy, and rapidly rising star; finalist on most recent Last Comic Standing; Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents, hit comedy CD Vegan Mind Meld), Jon Fisch (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), and Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien; warm-up comic for The Daily Show and The Colbert Report) performing stand-up at The PIT for this comedy club-style (i.e., long set) weekly show hosted by Harrison Greenbaum: The Big One
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Vibrant improv troupes The Curfew and Boy Butter competing for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match
11:00 pm ($5): Two improv groups competing for audience laughs and votes—yes, like UCBT's Cage Match, but with less well-known troupes and a game-like challenge component—at Inspirado
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 6/3/11
Musical YouTube stars Axis of Awesome perform one
night only at UCBT, and Tom Papa headlines at the Gotham Comedy Club
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
7:00 pm ($8): "Ever wonder how you become a writer for an Emmy winning TV show? So does J. D. Durkin. Since no one has told him, here is his one-man show performing all original material to become a writer for The Colbert Report. Durkin channels Colbert live on stage to present political punditry as only The PIT could do it...and only The PIT, since he was escorted off the Comedy Central premises:" Stephen Colbert: Hire Me
7:00 pm ($7): A new sketch troupe—consisting of popular comedy teams such as We're Matt Weir and Good Morning Ladies—delivering brand new material every week: Ripe Sketch Comedy
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): A musical trio who created one of the most popular YouTube videos ever—to watch it, please click here—performing their set of comedic songs for one night only at UCBT: Axis of Awesome
[MEGA-TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($49.50): Mike Birbiglia performing a unique blend of stand-up and storytelling that's one of the best theatrical shows in NYC. For my more detailed write-up, please click here; and then grab tickets at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street, just one block from the #1 subway's Christopher Street stop) for Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend's Boyfriend
[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($49 & 2-drink min.) A TV and movie star who first earned fame on Chappelle's Show headlining through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Charlie Murphy
[FREE] 8:00 pm: Matt McCarthy (Comedy Central, AMC, hilarious shorts with Pete Holmes for Front Page Films, national TV ads as Verizon FIOS guy, feature film The Other Guys), Ben Lerman (gently raunchy singer/songwriter), Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central), RG Daniels (host of Sunday Night Stand-Up), and Thomas Dale performing stand-up at O'Hanlon's (14th Street off 1st Avenue) hosted by Mark Normand: Hot Soup
8:00 pm ($5): "Six comedy writers get one month to geek out in private, then share it in public. Come hear about neuro-linguistics, Lady Di's dresses, and more:" The Geek Out
8:00 pm ($10): An improv troupe making up a musical on the spot after a friendly greeting: Hello
8:00 pm ($5; includes copious homemade treats): NYC stand-ups Team Submarine, Michael Che, Rae Sanni, Brendan Fitzgibbons, and "surprise guests" performing at Karma Lounge (51 First Avenue, off 3rd Street) with hosts Aalap Patel, Matt Maragno, and the delightful Chelsea White (MTV, College Humor): It's Not That Serious
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Craig Baldo, Henry Zebrowski, Roger Hailes, Patrick Keane, and Josh Rabinowitz, plus musical group Ronald Reagan 80's, performing at Brooklyn's Red Star Bar (37 Greenpoint Avenue) for host Nick Turner's & Jason Saenz's Too Cool for School
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who's toured with Jerry Seinfeld for nine years—and who Jerry hired to host The Marriage Ref—and has appeared numerous times on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, CBS, and Comedy Central headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Tom Papa
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm: Arden Myrin (Conan O'Brien, Mad TV, numerous other TV shows & films; for Mad TV samples, please click here and here and here), Sara Schaefer (inventive, luminous comic; Emmy-nominated staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; VH1's Best Week Ever), Alice Wetterlund, Robbie Collier, Joe Cocozzello, and musical guests Chaz Kangas & DJ Milkmoney performing at Brooklyn's Fort Useless (36 Ditmars Street) hosted by George Flanagan: Spit Take Friday
9:00 pm ($7): "In March of 2009 a gaggle of performers were born. Some died, some wandered off into the woods, others went to work in the private sector. Those that remained grew strong by feeding on the nectar of specific choices and the gruel of strong character work. The 2-year-old terror that exists today is akin to watching a Tsunami of hair and teeth attack a baby Blue Whale and destroy it with the will of a thousand hungry Burnese Mountain Dogs. What does it all mean? We don't know." In other words, improv from Chet Watkins
[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($15): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about how boys will be girls, please click here) delivering a brand new collection of sketches: The Harvard Sailing Team
[FREE] 10:00 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 in Queens' Long Island City: Mic and Cheese
10:00 pm ($5): LA-based comedy duo Meg Swertlow & Rebecca Leib performing an oddball punk cabaret in The PIT downstairs lounge "with magic tricks, hula hoops, costume changes, a sexy raffle, and a bevy of original songs such as Bubonic Disco Plague, Sex Horse, and Let's Go to the Aquarium and Have a Blood Bath:" Mustaches and Mai Tais
10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with a n audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Comedy genius Thomas Middleditch (when he's not in LA), Nate Lang, Craig Rowin, Matt Fisher, Fran Gillespie Sue Galloway, and other superb improvisors make up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute at The Law Firm: Law & Disorder
11:00 pm ($5): Hobos, folk music from the Road Sisters, and more in The PIT's downstairs lounge at Hobo Joe's Boxcar Sideshow
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 11:30 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'll blow the roof off at this spectacular monthly show that offers lightning-quick dark comedy unlike anything else in NYC. The other players are Jordan Klepper (Klepper & Grey, iO, ), Jodi Lennon (Comedy Central's Exit 57), Ari Voukydis (UCB instructor, VH!'s Best Week Ever), Doug Stoley (Conan O'Brien, UCB), Rick Andrews (Magnet performer), Mark Grenier (Magnet instructor), Jen Sanders (Magnet performer), and Chet Siegel (Magnet performer). The previous show I caught was one of the finest comedy hours I've ever been lucky enough to experience (but no pressure, Joe; am just sayin'....). You don't want to miss Lights Out, Shirley!
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): A comedic freestyle rap contest featuring some of the funniest & sharpest comics in NYC—who tonight include Josh Segarra (The Electric Company), Michael Kayne (Baby Wants Candy, Diamond Lion), Heather Fink (Comedy Death Ray), Alan Starzinski (Sandino, Fat Penguin), John F. O'Donnell (50 First Jokes)—plus a volunteer from the audience!, hosted by genius human beatbox Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan (The Daily Show, The Electric Company, Freestyle Love Supreme) and Victor Varnado (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central) at one of my favorite monthly shows: The BEATdown
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 6/4/11
Unique comedy geniuses: Curtis Gwinn, briefly back home from LA
(Underground
Americana), and
Ed Herbstman pairing up with one top improvisor after another "until he
shatters inside" (Marathon
Man)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[MEGA-TOP PICK] [$] 4:00 pm & 8:00 pm ($49.50): Mike Birbiglia performing a unique blend of stand-up and storytelling that's one of the best theatrical shows in NYC. For my more detailed write-up, please click here; and then grab tickets at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street, just one block from the #1 subway's Christopher Street stop) for Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend's Boyfriend
7:00 pm ($5): Sketch comedy from New Jersey-based troupe Upset Triangle
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisors Anthony King, Joe Bill, Ed Herbstman, Becky Drysdale, Christina Gausas, and more—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors who've included writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball
7:30 pm ($7): Improv veterans Mark Grenier, Louis Kornfeld, and Charlie Whitcroft making up a play on the spot in Theory of Everything
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who's toured with Jerry Seinfeld for nine years—and who Jerry hired to host The Marriage Ref—and has appeared numerous times on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, CBS, and Comedy Central headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Tom Papa
[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($49 & 2-drink min.) A TV and movie star who first earned fame on Chappelle's Show headlining through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Charlie Murphy
[FREE—plus FREE BEER!] 8:00 pm: A variety show of stand-up, storytelling, and sketch that's not only free, but promises to give each of the first 25 audience members who arrive a free beer! Unfortunately, the lineup hasn't been announced; but if you'd care to take a chance, join hosts Ray Combs Jr., Evan Jacobs, and Aalap Patel as they provide you a drink On the House
[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—genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo
9:00 pm ($7): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!
9:30 pm ($10): "A cabaret of darkly funny songs and topical sketch comedy about culture and politics," following sold out shows at Joe's Pub: Political Subversities
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($15 both online and at the door using discount code SBWC, otherwise $20): This top musical improv troupe has wowed audiences around the world with its skill at making up an hour-long musical moment by moment. The plot and characters, the musical accompaniment, even the song lyrics and the "choreography" are invented on the spot, with no pre-planned structure. Come see why BWC won a FringeNYC Award for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event by catching tonight's edition of Baby Wants Candy
[TOP PICK] [$] 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
10:00 pm ($5): Sketch troupes Two Fun Men, 3D Beard, Level Seven Detective, and Jim Tews —all groups with a number in their name!—performing at the The Brooklyn Lyceum (227 Fourth Avenue) hosted by all-gal sketch troupe M.A.D. and all-guy sketch group Sidecar: Gentrify Brooklyn
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King interviews an audience member about where he or she grew up and then creates an entire show based on the mini-bio: The Curfew: Not From Around Here
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($7): Improv genius Ed Herbstman is paired with one improv partner after another, "pulling Ed into a blood pit of mystery scenes and disturbing surprises. All the improvisers who matter will help disorient Ed from 10:30 until he shatters inside. One of you, the mere audience, will be picked to play a scene with this soon to be broken man. Who do you trust when you can't trust yourself? Don't answer that. That question was for Ed:" Marathon Man with Ed Herbstman
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Arden Myrin (Conan O'Brien, Mad TV, numerous other TV shows & films; for Mad TV samples, please click here and here and here), a now-rare NYC appearance by the beloved Curtis Gwinn (Death by Roo Roo, The Nights of Our Lives, now living in LA), Andrea Rosen (most hilarious pregnant stand-up alive; HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Comedy Central's Stella, Variety SHAC, winner of the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Stand-Up), John Gemberling (fearless comedy genius; Death by Roo Roo, Adult Swim), Streeter Seidell (College Humor), Billy Prinscell, and musical guest Niall Connolly performing with host Andy Rocco at Underground Americana
[FREE] Midnight: A weekly chance for you to shine, 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 6/5/11
Headlining tonight at Carolines: Charlie Murphy and Harrison Greenbaum
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 5:00 pm ($18.50 online using discount code ADVANCE ): One of the very best shows at FringeNYC 2010 was an award-winning comedy from NYC's own Faye Lane, a luminous storyteller and singer who will charm your socks off—and possibly give you a moon pie to boot—at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club. This marvelous event recently received a 2011 Bistro Award for Musical Comedy and 2011 MAC Award for Special Production. Please read my review by clicking here, watch Faye make a pecan pie by clicking here, and then take advantage of this revival running Sundays through June to experience the hilarious and unforgettable Faye Lane's Beauty Shop Stories
7:00 pm ($5): Musical/rap improv from troupe The Boombox Kids
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000
[$] 8:00 pm ($49 & 2-drink min.) A TV and movie star who first earned fame on Chappelle's Show headlining one last night at the Carolines Comedy Club: Charlie Murphy
8:00 pm ($5): Young comics producing a comedic news show...because isn't it about time someone tried mixing news and comedy?: Local News
[FREE] 8:00 pm: Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central), Jeffrey Joseph (Jay Leno), Scott Moran, Amber Nelson, and Dan Hirshon performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at The PIT's downstairs lounge for a free weekly show typically hosted by Chris Grace: Cold Soda Comedy
[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced) performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar at Vince Averill's & Jesse Popp's free weekly show Beauty Bar Comedy
[$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($10 using code COMEDY over the phone or at the box office, plus 2-drink min.) The quick-witted, rapid-talking winner of the 2010 Andy Kaufman Award, and a writer for Mad Magazine, headlining for one night only at Carolines: Harrison Greenbaum
[FREE] 10:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Allison Castillo, Adam Lehman (Here TV’s Hot Gay Comics), and Neil Thornton (host of Standup @ Rock Bar)performing at this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour
[FREE] 10:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up, with 4 minutes per comic, at The PIT's downstairs lounge hosted by Rob Stern: Vicious Cycle
Copyright © 2011 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
