NYC Comedy Picks for November 2017

For at least the rest of this year, I'm replacing the daily comedy listings on this site and BestNewYorkComedy.com with monthly listings so I can more fully focus on several projects. These include my cross-genre short story anthology Ghosts On Drugs (for details, please click here), a comedy screenplay that needs a lot of research, and some other challenging items that'll require extra time and energy.

However, I'll still provide last-minute info on shows that especially merit attention, so please feel encouraged to check in regularly for updates. The best way to be instantly notified about new show postings is to subscribe to my BestNewYorkComedy.com blog and allow for email notifications, and/or to follow me on Twitter (@hybender) or Instagram (@hybenderny).

In addition, you can use the links below to explore the schedules of all the major comedy venues in NYC; and you can find excellent live comedy recommendations weekly via The New York Times.

All that said, my top NYC comedy recommendations for November include:

Judah Friedlander (one of the quickest minds and very finest stand-ups in comedy; 30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of bestselling cartoon book If the Raindrops United) has released a black & white stand-up special via Netflix that he wrote, performed, directed, produced, and edited from numerous sets he performed this year at the West VIllage's Comedy Cellar. TItled America is the Greatest Country in the United States, much of the material is a response to our current insane Trump era. According to Judah, the 84-minute special "mostly satirizes American Exceptionalism, including U.S. domestic & foreign policy; it’s a comedy about racism, sexism, imperialism, climate change, health care, LGBTQ rights, fascism, drones, and mass incarceration." For the trailer, please click here.

Natasha Vaynblat (Funny or Die, McSweeney's, Reductress; improv group What I Did For Love, sketch group Absolutely, one-woman show United Federation of Teachers) and Ashley Brooke Roberts (energetic, enormously likeable stand-up; writer for Nat Geo and MTV's Guy Code, stellar co-host of Fresh Out; sketch group Absolutely) perform a two-gal sketch show based on their experiences "eating pot edibles and taking an overpriced Uber to Disneyland;" plus in the second half of this double-bill, Steve O'Brien performs a sketch show about a hellish town. It's all part of a monthly 2-hour show hosted by Ashley Brooke Roberts & Nick Maritato called Camp: Ashley Brooke Roberts & Natasha Vaynblat: Ashley & Natasha Do Disney and Steve O'Brien: Nightmare City (Friday 11/3, 10:00 pm-midnight, $5, Queens LIC's The Creek at 10-93 Jackson Avenue)

Christi Chiello (delightful stand-up with infectiousness enthusiasm and unique voice; Comedy Central's Roast Battle, MTV's Girl Code, TruTV, co-host of Battle of the Divas) performs a (mostly) solo show for one night only at the prestigious Ars Nova theatre: Christi Chiello: It's Christi, B*tch! (Saturday 11/4, 8:00 pm, $15, Ars Nova at 511 West 54th Street between Tenth & Eleventh Avenues)

The annual New York Comedy Festival is happening November 7-12 in venues all over NYC. Details to follow here soon. Meanwhile, for the list of shows and to buy tickets, click New York Comedy Festival 2017

Filmmaker, actor, writer, pop culture nerd royalty, and ace talker Kevin Smith performs two different shows at Carolines. At 7:00 he's doing a Q&A called An Evening with Kevin Smith, and at 9:30 he's sharing his observations about show biz in Hollywood Babble-On (Tuesday 11/7, 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm, $32.75 per show plus 2-drink min., Carolines Comedy Club at 1626 Broadway)

This wildly popular monthly pun competition is hosted by father-daughter duo Fred Firestone and Jo Firestone (one of the most relentlessly inventive comics in the biz; staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; radio host of WFMU's Dr. Gameshow, co-host of Monday stand-up show Butterboy; co-author with Fred of #1 bestselling Punderdome: A Card Game for Pun Lovers). Enjoy the spectacle as 18 audience members—maybe including you—compete in Punderdome 3000 (Tuesday 11/7, 8:00 pm, $10, Brooklyn's Littlefield at 635 Sackett Street; take R subway to Union Street. Note: If you can't make it to the live stage, don't despair; you can alteratively watch the live stream on YouTube)

When it comes to one of the most dire battles of our time, whose side are you on: Taylor Swift ("Bad Blood") or Katy Perry ("Swish Swish")? Comic Evan Williams argues for Katy and Marie Faustin makes the case for Taylor, with illustrative diva drag performances by Elizabeth James and Shuga Cain, plus music from DJ Molly Austin, with fabulous hosts Christi Chiello (Comedy Central's Roast Battle, MTV's Girl Code, TruTV, stellar Ars Nova show It's Christi, B*tch!) & Matteo Lane (Seth Meyers, Comedy Central, MTV's Guy Code & Girl Code): Battle of the Divas: Katy Perry vs. Taylor Switt (Tuesday 11/7, 8:00 pm; $10, Brooklyn's Union Hall at 702 Union Street; take R subway to Union Street)

One of the smartest and nicest guys in show biz—who currently hosts NBC's The Wall and AMC's Talking shows, used to host the great @midnight, and is CEO of Nerdist Industries—headlines at Carolines for three nights to tell jokes and make you feel good: Chris Hardwick (Wednesday 11/8 at 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm, Thursday 11/9-Friday 11/10 at 7:30 pm & 10:00 pm, $41 plus 2-drink min., Carolines Comedy Club at 1626 Broadway)

A reverse roast battle, in which comics compete to deliver the best compliments to their opponents "in this showdown of sweetness, this clash of consideration, this barrage of benevolence. The stellar lineup consists of Jo Firestone (staff writer for Jimmy Fallon), Josh Gondelman (staff writer for John Oliver), Adam Conover (star of TruTV's Adam Ruins Everything), and Mike Drucker (hilarious stand-up and staff writer for The President Show; previously wrote for Jimmy Fallon, SNL, Bill Nye Saves the World), with music from DJ Will Winner and hosted by Kyle Ayers (Fuse's Uproarious; written for CBS, Comedy Central, TBS, BBC, The New York Times): Boast Rattle: Jo Firestone, Josh Gondelman, Adam Conover, and Mike Drucker (Thursday 11/9, 10:00 pm; $12, Brooklyn's Union Hall at 702 Union Street; take R subway to Union Street)

Big Jay Oakerson (Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, Louie, Inside Amy Schumer, HBO, Showtime, MTV, IFC; co-host of podcasts Legion of Skanks and The SDR; stellar comedy special Live at Webster Hall) performs unscripted to show off his skills at playing an audience: Big Jay Oakerson: The Crowdwork Sessions Volume 2 Album Taping (Thursday 11/9 at Midnight, $15 plus 2-drink min., Village Underground at 130 West 3rd Street)

The annual New York Comedy Festival is happening November 7-12 in venues all over NYC. Some of my top picks from the fest appear below. For the complete list of shows and to buy tickets, please click New York Comedy Festival 2017

Sean Patton is one of the very finest stand-ups in the country and among my all-time favorites. Among his credits are killer sets on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, a Comedy Central Half Hour, VH1, the feature film Wifed Out; and co-hosting Esquire Network's Best Bars in America. Simply the best, don't miss this rising superstar: Sean Patton (Sunday 11/12, 8:00 pm; $10, Brooklyn's Union Hall at 702 Union Street; take R subway to Union Street)

In this unique show, animators spontaneously bring the jokes of guest stand-ups to visual life with lightning speed & wit. Part of the fun is that the comics don’t know what the animators will draw and the animators don’t know how the comics will react. Tonight's superb comedy lineup consists of Aparna Nancherla (one of the very finest stand-ups in the country; co-star of HBO's Crashing and Netflix's Master of None), Jo Firestone (staff writer for Jimmy Fallon), Adam Conover (star of TruTV's Adam Ruins Everything), Rae Sanni (New York Magazine), and Sam Jay (Comedy Central), produced by Sam Varela & Brandie Posey and hosted by Ian Fidance: Picture This! (Sunday 11/12, 10:00 pm, $10, Brooklyn's Union Hall at 702 Union Street; take R subway to Union Street)

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Two of America's very finest comics, Aparna Nancherla (co-star of HBO's Crashing and Netflix's Master of None) and Jo Firestone (staff writer for Jimmy Fallon), host this new weekly stand-up show with Irish comic Maeve Higgins (Maeve in America, co-host of Nat Geo's Star Talk). Tonight's stellar guests include Todd Barry (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, FX's Louie, HBO's Flight of the Conchords and Bored to Death, Adult Swim, co-star of feature film The Wrestler, star of delightful documentary The Crowd Work Tour), Anna Drezen (writer for Saturday Night Live; superb stand-up who blends jokes with characters, movement, and sketch; author of How May We Hate You) and Matteo Lane (Seth Meyers, Comedy Central, MTV's Guy Code & Girl Code): Butterboy with Jo, Aparna, and Maeve (Monday 11/13, 8:30 pm, $10, Brooklyn's Littlefield (635 Sackett Street; take R subway to Union Street)

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Hosts Katie Hartman (above middle; brilliant, fearless dark comedy writer/performer; sketch groups Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting and Hartman & Carl, PIT Saturday night improv group Gypsy Danger), Natasha Vaynblat (above right; Funny or Die, McSweeney's, Reductress; improv group What I Did For Love, sketch group Absolutely, one-woman show United Federation of Teachers), and Jessie Jolles (above left; co-host of No Such Thing as Love; improv groups Witch and Lisa From School), plus guests Dan Chamberlain and Sachi Ezura, demonstrate their devotion to actor Stanley Tucci "with a combination of vibrant song and prayer, spontaneous testimonials, Tucci trivia, readings from Tucci's award acceptance speeches, and a creepy (but kissable) mannequin head:" Stanley Tucci is Our God (Tuesday 11/14, 7:30 pm, $5, Brooklyn's Cloud City at 85 North 1st Street)

Killer lineup of powerhouse talents Sean Patton (one of the finest stand-ups in the country; killer sets on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Half Hour, VH1, feature film Wifed Out; former co-host of Esquire Network's Best Bars in America), Tariq Trotter (a.k.a. Black Thought; co-founder & rapper/MC for legendary band The Roots; regular sketch performer on Jimmy Fallon, and exceptionally quick, witty guy), Jo Firestone (one of the most relentlessly inventive comics in the biz; staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; star of Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents special; radio host of WFMU's Dr. Gameshow, co-author of #1 bestselling Punderdome: A Card Game for Pun Lovers), Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; host of WFMU's The Goddamn Dave Hill Show; HBO, Comedy Central, NPR, bands Valley Lodge and Diamondsnake, book Tasteful Nudes, comedy album Let Me Turn You On), Mike Drucker (hilarious stand-up and staff writer for The President Show; previously wrote for Jimmy Fallon, SNL, Bill Nye Saves the World, The Onion, McSweeney's), Michelle Buteau (VH1's Morning Buzz and Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Key & Peele, FOX's Enlisted, Craig Ferguson, Last Comic Standing, @midnight, comedy album Shut Up), Corinne Fisher (co-host of popular podcast Guys We Fucked), and more performing for host Seth Herzog (long-time staff comic for Jimmy Fallon; 30 Rock, @midnight, CBS, VH1): Sweet (Tuesday 11/14, 9:00 pm, $10, The Slipper Room at 167 Orchard Street)

It's the fifth year of this annual 4-day PIT festival devoted to over 100 new comedic solo shows. (The fest was originally created by Peter Michael Marino & co-produced by Ronny Pascale, both giants in PIT history, but they've moved on this year to let others curate & run the extravaganza.) The only requirements for any production are that it's a one-person show that's funny and has never been performed in public before. The types of entertainment are therefore wide-ranging, encompassing sketch, characters, storytelling, stand-up, cabaret, music, dance, puppetry, magic, clowning, multimedia, and more.

On the first day of Solocom, standouts included Gastor Almonte and Jeff Simmermon in a dynamite double-bill that demonstrated they're two of the finest storytellers in the country; Erick Hellwig performing a hilarious mix of scripted character comedy and crowd work as none other than Death; and Michael Delisle performing way fun solo sketch comedy:

Notable shows on Friday include, at The PIT Underground, Filip Jeremic (extraordinary character actor and rising star; UCB's Characters Welcome) at 7:30 pm and Evan Kaufman (genius musical improvisor of Your Love Our Musical and North Coast; VH1) at 10:30 pm.

On the second day of Solocom, standouts included Filip Jeremic (UCB's Characters Welcome), an exceptional writer/performer who proved himself to be one of the most talented comedic character actors in NYC (casting directors, please take note); Craig Mangum, who told gripping tales of his experiences as a young man growing up as both Mormon and gay while attending Brigham Young University; and musical comics Austin Sanders and Evan Kaufman, with Sanders playing a former rock 'n roll superstar who's now an octogenarian but still doing concerts, and Kaufman playing "Michael Jordan McDonald," a character combining basketball legend Michael Jordan and Grammy-winning singer Michael McDonald:

Potential highlights on Saturday include Phoebe Stonebraker telling about her 11 years devoted to competitive figure skating 5:15 pm at The Underground; Claire Yale Raynes sharing her memories of Church Camp 8:30 pm at The Underground; Gianmarco Soresi (Seeso; acclaimed FringeNYC play <50%) recalling the times he "should have shut up" 9:00 pm at The Striker; Nate Foster providing "a history of the world as told through the comedic routines of famous historical figures" 10:30 pm at The Underground; and Erin Wagner lecturing about "the worst women in herstory" 11:00 pm at The Striker.

On the third day of Solocom, standouts included Erin Wagner playing history's most infamous women, ranging from Typhoid Mary to Ann Coulter to Eva Braun (revealing Hitler poisoned both of them to avoid a discussion about their relationship); Claire Yale Raynes subtly and hilariously playing a variety of oddly mild characters who formed her girlhood experiences of Church Camp; and Sloane Miller springboarding an audience suggestion into a group of improvised songs that exposed her childhood hopes and pains with so much naked vulnerability and sensitive insight that Miller crafted, in the moment, one of the very best and most memorable shows I've been lucky enough to see all year:

You can catch any show for $10; but the sensible thing to do is buy an all-you-can-see pass for $30, which gives you access to all shows throughout the fest: Solocom 2017 (Thursday 11/16-Sunday 11/19; $10 per show or $30 for an all-you-can-watch 4-day festival pass; The PIT Upstairs, Downstairs, and Attic Theatres at 123 East 24th Street and The PIT Loft at 154 West 29th Street)

Monday 11/20: The spectacular 4-day Solocom festival, featuring over 100 new comedic solo shows, concluded last night at 11:00 pm; but while it's over, the last day's best of the fest still merit recognition. I spent nearly 11 hours at Sunday's Solocom scouring for notable talent at The PIT's Striker and Underground theatres. I never made it to The Loft, with apologies to all the wonderful comics who performed there.

That noted, standouts on the final day of Solocom included Melanie Owens relating what it was like to have a stroke at age 28—and the effects of brain surgery on bangs—with extraordinary joyfulness and juiciness, turning a potential trauma into an opportunity to be a luminous and sexy force for life who's also way funny; Emily Mathwich proving herself a highly compelling comedic actress in a mini-play she wrote in which the world has been nearly destroyed and her only hope for survival is a relationship she forms with Siri (titled Hey, Siri, Am I Gonna Die?); and Jen Adams cleverly and hilariously articulating what we're really thinking when we spout cliche responses—e.g., "I can't wait to see your one-man show!" = "I have to go to this, don't I."

As Adams points out, some solo shows can be little more than an obligation imposed on friends. But in the hands of superb talents like the comics above, and scores more performing on all four days of Solocom, the one-person show is a vibrant form for sharing and creating experiences that can be as riveting and funny as the best offerings from Broadway or Hollywood. Huge kudos to everyone involved at The PIT for their continued support of this magical festival.

Comics give funny pseudo-scientific lectures on an assigned topic—which this month is Dinosaurs—featuring Aparna Nancherla (one of the very finest stand-ups in the country; co-star of HBO's Crashing and Netflix's Master of None; former writer for Seth Meyers; Conan O'Brien, @Midnight, Comedy Central Half Hour, comedy album Just Putting It Out There), Paul Gale (MTV, Huffington Post), Allie Goertz (musician and Mad Magazine editor), and more TBA. It's all brought to you by brilliant & delightful hosts Blythe Roberson (The New Yorker, The Onion, McSweeney's) & Madelyn Freed (ace improvisor & computer programmer): The Scientists (Friday 11/17, 8:00 pm, $10, Brooklyn's Union Hall at 702 Union Street; take R subway to Union Street)

Please note: I wrote the following before Louis' film was pulled by its national distributor on Friday 11/10..

Superstar Louis C.K. co-wrote (with Vernon Chatman), directed, edited, and stars in a feature film shot in 35mm black & white. The stellar cast includes Chloe Grace Moretz, John Malkovich, Edie Falco, Rose Byrne, Charlie Day, Pamela Adlon, Helen Hunt, and Ebonee Noel.

In a recent email to fans, Louis wrote: "This is the first movie I have made since Pootie Tang (16 years ago). I promise that this movie is better than Pootie Tang. Although some of you who loved Pootie Tang will disagree with me and those people will be wrong. I know that art is subjective, but Pootie Tang is not. And I say that with deep love for Pootie Tang, the character, not the movie. Enough about Pootie Tang.

"How this movie got made: A lot of you might remember that about two years ago, I created a series called Horace and Pete (still available at louisck.net). I paid for that show myself. When I did it, I told myself that I was parting with the money forever. It wasn't an investment. It was a $4.5 million grant to the "Make whatever the fuck I want" Foundation. By that approach, I was able to make and roll out the show exactly the way I saw it, the way I wanted the audience (you) to see it, without any concern for commerce or profit. In the end, the show made all the money back and more (with zero advertising) through website sales, and through licensing it to HULU, I was able to actually make a sizable profit for me and the actors and some of the crew, who own a piece of the show. That was a pretty good result.

"So this year, I decided, I got the money back, I can throw it away again. This time to the "Make a Black and White Movie about a Shitty Father foundation.” All that to say, that I want to really thank all of you who bought Horace and Pete because you gave me the freedom to make this movie."

The movie is being screened theatrically in NYC, LA, and Chicago starting Friday November 17th, and will then enjoy a wider release around the country. In NYC, advance tickets are available online at Regal Cinemas Union Square (850 Broadway at 13th Street), AMC Empire 25 (243 West 42nd Street off Eighth Avenue), and The Landmark (657 West 57th Street at Twelfth Avenue).

You can get a feel for the movie by watching this trailer...or, like me, you can trust in Louis and be totally surprised (I've already nabbed my ticket...) by I Love You, Daddy

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A show celebrating the app that redefined online dating, with the lovely and quick-witted Lane Moore (above right; HBO's Girls; Sex & Relationship Editor of Cosmo; writer for The Onion, McSweeney's) going on a live Tinder safari for guys while a packed audience watches her every choice with fascination. Offering comments and suggestions during the adventure are tonight's guest Janeane Garofalo (above left; movie & TV star with too many amazing credits to list). This show usually sells out, so I recommend nabbing tickets ASAP for Tinder Live (Saturday 11/18, 8:30 pm, $15, Brooklyn's Littlefield (635 Sackett Street; take R subway to Union Street)

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Blythe Roberson (The New Yorker, The Onion, McSweeney's) & Colin Stokes (Associate Cartoon Editor at The New Yorker; The Onion, GQ) read a book every month so you don't have to, with tonight's classic What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Learn culture while being entertained by comics Dylan Marron (Ridgefield Middle School Talent Nite, Seriously.tv, Welcome to Night Vale podcast), Halcyon Person (writer for Blaze and the Monster Machines), and Sandy Honig (Three Busy Debras, The Special Without Brett Davis): Book Club—A Comedy Show: What Happened (Saturday 11/18, 8:00 pm, $10, Brooklyn's Union Hall at 702 Union Street; take R subway to Union Street)

Fifty comics gather to each share a minute's worth of observations about a bit of pop culture with which he or she can’t be bothered. Tonight's participants include Lane Moore, Joel Kim Booster, Brandon Scott Jones, Giulia Rozzi, Philip Markle, Anna Roisman, Natasha Vaynblat, Chelsea Clarke, Jonathan Braylock, and many more, hosted by Matt Rogers & Bowen Yang (above; hosts of the acclaimed Las Culturistas podcast): Las Culturistas Live: I Don't Think So, Honey (Saturday 11/18, 10:00 pm, $20, Brooklyn's The Bell House (149 7th Street; take R subway to 9th Street or F/G to Fourth Avenue)

The sharp and lovely Rachel Feinstein (stellar Comedy Central special Only Whores Wear Purple; finalist on Last Comic Standing; Inside Amy Schumer, HBO, The Apprentice, opens for Sarah Silverman on tour) headlines this intimate monthly stand-up show, plus Adrienne Iapalucci (David Letterman, Last Comic Standing, Artie Lange, VH1), Liam McEneaney (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, Showtime), Jeff Lawrence, and Frank Vignola hosted by the exceptionally kind and charming John Morrison: Morrison Motel (Monday 11/20, 8:30 pm; $20 at the door—which includes one drink—if you mention code HyReviews.com or BestNewYorkComedy.com [otherwise $25]; you can make a reservation by calling 212.989.9319, or otherwise simply show up; West Village's Cornelia Street Cafe at 29 Cornelia Street)

Tuesday 11/21: Comics perform their darkest, saddest, and most traumatically funny bits for this monthly catharsis machine—with tonight's guests TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo, Jo Firestone (one of the most relentlessly inventive comics in the biz; staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; star of Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents special; radio host of WFMU's Dr. Gameshow, live-on-stage host of The Unexpectashow and The Incredible Game Show Showcase, co-author of #1 bestselling Punderdome: A Card Game for Pun Lovers), Dulcé Sloan (powerhouse comic who's the newest correspondent of The Daily Show; Conan O'Brien, @midnight), Casey James Salengo (Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents), Dina Hashem (Comedy Central's Roast Battle, Seeso's Night Train), Chris Laker, Mehran Khaghani, and Jess Salomon— hosted by Shane Torres, Nate Fridson, and Alison Zeidman: Dark Spots (8:30 pm, $10, Brooklyn's Union Hall at 702 Union Street; take R subway to Union Street)

Tuesday 11/21: Two superb comics, Ashley Brooke Roberts (energetic, enormously likeable—as you can see above—stellar co-host of Fresh Out and Camp; former writer for Nat Geo Explorer and MTV's Guy Code; UCB Maude sketch groups The Prom and Absolutely) and Matt Koff (staff writer for The Daily Show), each perform a 30-minute stand-up set hosted by Julia Johns (writer for MTV's Girl Code): Ashley Brooke Roberts and Matt Koff (8:00 pm, Free!, Brooklyn's Halyards Bar at 406 Third Avenue)

Wednesday 11/22: Two-thirds of legendary improv trio Hot Sauce (Gil Ozeri is in LA) make up scenes for your amusement: Pally & Schwartz (8:00 pm, $7 [sold out of seats, but you can probably get in if you arrive early and are okay with standing], UCB Chelsea at 307 West 26th Street)

Wednesday 11/22: Two-thirds of legendary improv trio Doppelganger (Nicole Byer is in LA), plus guest improvisor Tim Meadows, make up scenes to dazzle you: Doppelganger: Sasheer Zamata & Keisha Zollar (9:30 pm, $7 [sold out of seats, but you can probably get in if you arrive early and are okay with standing], UCB Chelsea at 307 West 26th Street)

Nearly all NYC comedy venues are closed today, but Comedy Cellar is serving stand-up:

Superb comics—Sean Patton, Josh Gondelman, Nick Griffin, Seaton Smith, and more—perform stand-up in the West Village at 8:15 pm, 10:15 pm, and Midnight at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane), and 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm at Village Underground (130 West 3rd Street), for a $24 cover charge plus 2-item food/drink min.: Comedy Cellar Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Friday 11/24: A TV, movie, and radio star (for a sample, please click here) headlines tonight and Saturday at Carolines: D. L. Hughley (7:30 pm & 10:00 pm, $53 plus 2-drink min., Carolines Comedy Club at 1626 Broadway)

Friday 11/24: While David Bowie's classic album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars plays from beginning to end, comics perform acts based on the songs, with participants including Matt Dennie, Joel Kim Booster, Michael Wolf, Mo Fry Pasic, and Marcia Belsky hosted by Josh Sharp: Cool Shit / Weird Shit: David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust (Midnight, $7, UCB East at 153 East 3rd Street)

Friday 11/24: Brilliant improvisors Connor Ratliff, Shannon O'Neill, and Brandon Scott Jones spearhead this character-based improv show driven by the following premise: "Six months ago Principal Ratliff accidentally shot himself in the head and lost all of his memories, so the alumni of Fuckville High are making this year's reunion special. All classes are invited in order to help Principal Ratliff get his memory back! Class of 2014, maybe you can vape in his face? Class of 2000, do you want to lie about how your life is still okay? Class of 1994, wanna talk about how fat/skinny/dead you are? Class of 1985, can you remind Principal Ratliff about that pneumonia epidemic? We are asking for all Classes to attend. Hope to see you there!": Fuckville High's Annual Reunion (Midnight, $7, UCB Chelsea at 307 West 26th Street)

Sunday 11/26: There's nothing more unpredictable on a stage than an animal. In this endearing monthly show, improvisors perform along with their real-life pet dogs, plus other improvisors TBA, and wonderfully humane host Adrian Sexton (superb Unauthorized: The Musical series, improv groups The Community Players, Ouiser & Clairee, George/Martha, and The Darklings), all making up scenes for Pet Prov (6:00 pm, $7, The PIT Loft at 154 West 29th Street)

Monday 11/27: Top improvisors stumble into theatre scenes of plays they've never seen—performed by Broadway, TV, and/or film stars—and make up their dialogue while the actors commit to staying in character and on book. The result is way fun, hosted by actor/director Stephen Ruddy: Gravid Water (8:00 pm, $7 [sold out of seats, but you can probably get in if you arrive early and are okay with standing], UCB Chelsea at 307 West 26th Street)

Monday 11/27: Ronny Chieng (correspondent for The Daily Show), Lauren Adams (Gretchen in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), and Ally Hord (writer for Seth Meyers) chug a couple of beers on stage and talk politics at the UCB East theatre hosted by Charlie Todd & Cody Lindquist: Two Beers In (7:30 pm, $7, UCB East at 153 East 3rd Street)

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Monday 11/27: Two of America's very finest comics, Aparna Nancherla (co-star of HBO's Crashing and Netflix's Master of None) and Jo Firestone (staff writer for Jimmy Fallon), host this weekly stand-up show with Irish comic Maeve Higgins (Maeve in America, co-host of Nat Geo's Star Talk). Tonight's guests include Mike Drucker (hilarious stand-up and staff writer for The President Show; previously wrote for Jimmy Fallon, SNL, Bill Nye Saves the World, The Onion, McSweeney's), Alison Leiby (writer for The President Show; VICE, Triumph The Insult Comic Dog; host of It's a Long Story), Joyelle Nicole, and Gary Richardson: Butterboy with Jo, Aparna, and Maeve (8:00 pm, $10, Brooklyn's Littlefield (635 Sackett Street; take R subway to Union Street)

Tuesday 11/28: Judah Friedlander (one of the quickest minds and very finest stand-ups in comedy; 30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly; Netflix stand-up special America is the Greatest Country in the United States; bestselling cartoon book If the Raindrops United) answers your questions for about an hour: Judah Friedlander (8:00 pm & 10:00 pm, $15 plus 2-drink min., Village Underground at 130 West 3rd Street)

Tuesday 11/28: Jean Grae & John Hodgman have written topics on a carnival wheel. In this show they spin the wheel and then chat about whatever subject they land on, along with a surprise guest. What else do you need to know?: Jean and John (8:00 pm, $15, The Bell House at 149 7th Street; take R subway to 9th Street or F/G to Fourth Avenue)

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Tuesday 11/28: Host Marina Franklin (Trainwreck, Louie, Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing, Chappelle's Show) tries out a solo stand-up show she plans to film pretty soon: Marina Franklin: Single Black Female (8:30 pm, $8 plus 2-item food/drink min., The Fat Black Pussycat Lounge at 130 West 3rd Street)