NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 5/26/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
the perfect show for short attention spans—open-mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set
and around 30 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),
luminous actors including Sandy Rustin (Comedy Central's upcoming The Scariest Show on TV)
mixing it up with brilliant improvisors Tara Copeland, Michael Delaney, Becky Drysdale, Christina Gausas,
and Anthony King as they crash improv into classic theatre scenes at Gravid Water (8:00 pm),
sharp stand-ups Laura Mannino, Paul Case, and Joe Powers, plus Andrew Singer
as "soce, the elemental wizard," joining delightful hosts Jackie Monahan,
Leah Dubie, Amy Beckerman, & Gloria Bigelow at Dykes on Mics (8:00 pm),
and typically stellar stand-up comics at one of the finest comedy shows
in NYC—which just happens to be free—Cavalcade! (11:00 pm).
Lottery-style open mic for stand-up comics trying out material,
with 4½ minutes per performer...in return for a $5 contribution to the weekly prize kitty.
(In addition, Ochi's 1-item food or drink minimum applies to everyone.)
A breathtaking 30+ comics perform in this 2½ hour show; producer
John Morrison (above) has described it as "comedy on crack."
If you're seeking consistent laughs, this might not be the best way to spend
your evening. But if you're patient and adventurous, it's a potentially wild ride.
And if you're a performer looking for some stage time, it's a nice opportunity.
Plus if you stick around till the show's end to support your fellow comics,
you have a chance at winning the cash from the kitty, along with smaller prizes.
Ochi's Motel is hosted & booked by Sean Donnelly and Joe Powers.
To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,
please send email to ochismotel[at]gmail.com.
There are two shows tonight, at 6:30 and 9:00 pm (with entirely different sets of comics).
6:30 pm & 9:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Becky Drysdale, Christina Gausas, and Sandy Rustin...
...and Anthony King, Tara Copeland, and Michael Delaney
Classic theatre scenes performed by professional actors who stay on book—
and an improv comic who hasn't read the play and has to make up lines on the fly.
Starring world-class improvisers (in alphabetical order):
of Adult Swim's brilliant & Emmy-winning Moral Orel),
Tara Copeland (always-inventive star at both UCBT and The Magnet; weekly shows include Mother: The Soundtrack, The Tiny Spectacular, Ms. Jackson, and The Made-Up Musical),
Michael Delaney (genius improvisor, actor, and improv instructor; Late Night with Conan O'Brien; member of UCBT star troupe The Stepfathers and legendary troupe The Swarm),
Becky Drysdale (stellar charismatic performer; acclaimed one-woman show
One Woman in Several Pieces, Web video series Time Traveling Lesbian),
Christina Gausas (sharp, passionate, standout improvisor/actress; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, The Al Franken Show, Let's Have a Ball, Dorff & Gausas), and
Anthony King (brilliant UCBT-NY Artistic Director; Reuben Williams, Happy Hour,
Let's Have a Ball, off-Broadway show Gutenberg! The Musical).
And also starring are some of NYC's top theatre & TV actors: Jeremy Bobb (Is He Dead?),
Jenn Gambatese (Is He Dead?, Tarzan, All Shook Up, Hairspray), Jared Gertner (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Nick Offerman (American Body Shop, FOX's 24), and Sandy Rustin (Neil Simon's Hotel Suite, Comedy Central's The Scariest Show on TV).
Gravid Water is directed, hosted, and co-stars Stephen Ruddy—
and is one of the finest comedy productions in New York.
If you want to introduce an actor friend to the world of improv, start with this show.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Amy Beckerman, Gloria Bigelow, Jackie Monahan, and Leah Dubie
Free gay-themed stand-up comedy show featuring the gals above
as regulars/hosts, plus tonight's fine guests
Laura Mannino, Paul Case, Joe Powers, and Andrew Singer (as soce, the elemental wizard).
8:00 pm at RubyFruit Bar & Grill, 531 Hudson Street (between West 10th & Charles);
no cover, one item (food or drink) minimum
Bobby Tisdale, Leo Allen, and Christian Finnegan...
...and concerned citizens eyeing nerdcore rapper MC Chris at Disneyland
This razor-sharp stand-up extravaganza is no place for the innocent.
However, it's enormous fun.
Tonight's lineup hasn't been announced yet (probably because of Memorial Day); but as indicated by the comics above from the May 5th show, the guests are typically superb.
If updated info comes in, I'll list it here ASAP. But otherwise, come and take a chance on this show produced by Jeremy Levenbach that's consistently superb...and always free.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 5/27/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
stand-up comics taller than their hosts at Helen Hong's and Maria Shehata's Little Ethnic Girls and Friends (7:30 pm),
brilliant comedic character actors & weekly show hosts Larry Murphy (Adult Swim) and Brett Gelman
(Conan O'Brien, Colbert Report), plus stand-up comics Adam Lowitt (The Daily Show, host of It Is It!)
and Jay Bois, performing deliciously long sets at Ken Zimlinghaus' Fat Tuesday (8:00 pm),
comics artist Joe Infurnari (Caveman Robot, The Process) and stand-up Selena Coppock (Boston Comedy
Festival) joining in on a lively & fun discussion about comic books at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),
three full hours of improv for only five bucks at Harold Night (8:00 pm),
improv troupe Stray following the twists & turns of an audience-selected object, and the acclaimed
Adrianne Frost creating a unique show based on improvised character monologues, at Thread and Be (8:00 pm),
superb stand-ups Jeff Ross (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien,Comedy Central roastmaster),
Baron Vaughn (MTV, VH1, NBC, Shoot the Messenger), Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing,
Comedy Central, VH1), Jay Larson (Comedy Central, CBS' Craig Ferguson), and more
at one of the finest & funniest shows in NYC, the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm),
fine stand-ups comics Dan Bialek, Sean Patton, Pat Stango, and Blaine Perry at
the last installment for a while of Carol Hartsell's & Sean Crespo's Drink at Work (9:00 pm),
ace stand-ups John Mulaney (Conan O'Brien, VH1), Joe Mande (Totally J/K), Baron Vaughn
(MTV, VH1,Shoot the Messenger), and Lizz Winstead (The Daily Show, Shoot the Messenger), plus
comedic filmmaker Oren Brimer—and a post-show party with $1 PBRs—at Her Majesty's Stand-Up (9:30 pm),
and one of the top comedians in the country doing a show with his pals: Demetri Martin and Friends (10:00 pm).
Maria Shehata and Helen Hong
Little Ethnic Girls and Friends
This biweekly comedy show is hosted by two petite women,
one Korean-American and the other Arab-American, who like to make you laugh:
Helen Hong (TLC's What Not to Wear; E!'s Exposed: 25 Most Notorious Fashion Week Moments; Helen says " I love it when people ask me 'Where are you from?' and I say 'New York' and they say 'No, where are you really from???' I know they want me to name some Asian country like Japan or Korea. Instead I just stab them in the eye with a chopstick and scream 'I'm from the Land of Deadly Chopsticks, you evil Round Eye!' And then I shuffle away like a dainty geisha...;"
for Helen's hilarious stand-up video about false assumptions
and verbal misunderstandings, please click here), and
Maria Shehata (Comedy Central's The Watch List, TLC, Women's Entertainment Network, numerous appearances on Sirius Satellite Radio; for a stand-up video about Maria's parents' arranged marriage, please click here).
Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but will probably be taller than their hosts
7:30 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Adam Lowitt, Brett Gelman, and Larry Murphy
This weekly show allows a few talented comics to perform long comedy sets, just as if they —and you—were in a swanky comedy club. It's hosted by Ken Zimlinghaus, who can be heard regularly on Sirius Satellite Radio's Wake Up With Cosmo; and the best bits from this evening will probably end up getting broadcast on Sirius as well.
Tonight's wonderful guests—nearly all hosts of popular NYC comedy shows—are
Larry Murphy (genius comedic chameleon & voiceover actor who performs all the
key characters on Adult Swim's Assy McGee; other TV series include
Home Movies, O'Grady, Cheapseats, Computer Lab, Puppets N Such;
co-host of the 2008 ECNY Award-winning The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show;
for an animated VO reel, please click here),
Brett Gelman (another brilliant comedic chameleon, currently ubiquitous as Little Bit of Luck guy in New York Lottery ads; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report; ace improv troupe Death by Roo Roo; host of NYC weekly live comedy show Gelmania; for recent interview, please click here; for samples of mind-blowing work with partner Jon Daly, please click here and here, and also check out their hip-hop parody album Fleetwood Cracked),
Adam Lowitt (staffer at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; host of NYC live comedy show It Is It!; for a video stand-up sample, please click here), and
Jay Bois (Drink at Work).
8:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Images from Caveman Robot and The Process by comics artist Joe Infurnari
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's industry guest is comics artist Joe Infurnari
(Caveman Robot, digital comic The Process); and
tonight's funny guest is stand-up comic Selena Coppock
(Boston Comedy Festival, one-woman show Seriously?).
To get a feel for the smart, playful vibe of Comic Book Club, please check out its podcasts—
that is, audio recordings of previous shows in their entirety—by clicking here.
(And for my current fave, a delightful show with Kevin "Batman" Conroy, please click here).
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
The Harold is longform improv, pioneered by Del Close.
Tonight, five improv troupes—
RAGNARÖCK, DeCoster, Bastian, The Scam, and Whorenado—
each give it a go for 30 minutes, with
short breaks in between, for a total of 3 hours.
Some of the groups are great; some are less so. And this show
is designed more for students of improv than the general public.
But if you're interested, and patient, a mere $5 will buy you
a full evening's education...and periodic solid laughs.
8:00-11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Two unique improv shows for just five bucks.
First, improv troupe Stray performs a show titled Thread: "After getting a physical, tangible object from the audience, Stray follows this object as though a camera were trained on it, catching the action that happens around it. Whether the object stays in one place or moves through a variety of different people and places, you're along for the ride." The group consists of Jill Farris, Wendy Herlich, Kristy Kershaw, and Stefan Schick.
The double-bill then continues with a one-woman improvised show by veteran comic Adrianne Frost, who'll use suggestions from the audience to craft complex and unique character monologues on the spot. Frost has previously performed similar show to great acclaim at the Toronto Improv Festival. Her many credits include The Daily Show, VH1s Best Week Ever, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and the book I Hate Other Peoples Kids.
8:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Baron Vaughn, Joe Schiappa, and Craig Baldo...
...and Seth Herzog and Jay Larson
Hosted by the razor-sharp, dynamic, and hilarious Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).
Seth is one of the finest hosts around—and this is one of the best comedy shows in NYC.
Tonight's superb comics are
Jeff Ross (Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central roastmaster),
Baron Vaughn (MTV's The Gamekillers, VH1's Awesomely Oversexed and
Best Week Ever, BET's Shades of Black special, NBC's Law & Order; co-star of weekly NYC live comedy show Shoot the Messenger; for a radio interview, please click here),
Craig Baldo (performed over 30 sketches on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Comic Remix; VH1, Bravo, The Onion),
Jay Larson (Variety's "Comics to Watch;" Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, CBS' Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson; upcoming Web series The Steamer;
for stand-up video about uncomfortable anniversaries, please kick here), and
Joe Schiappa (sketch/improv actor; half of comedy duo Project: Projekt; director of numerous comedic productions, including the off-Broadway play Matt and Ben).
9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
Carol Hartsell and Sean Crespo
Weekly show produced by Carol Hartsell and hosted by Sean Crespo.
Tonight's guests are stand-up comics Dan Bialek, Sean Patton, Pat Stango, and Blaine Perry.
Please note this will be the last Drink at Work for a while; Carol & Sean are pursuing other activities this summer and so taking a break from the show during June, July, and August.
9:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Baron Vaughn, Lizz Winstead, and John Mulaney
Biweekly show hosted by Jon Bander, Dan Gregor, and Lucas Held.
Tonight's superb stand-up guests are
John Mulaney (one of the most razor-sharp stand-ups around; VH1's Best Week Ever,
Late Night with Conan O'Brien; for stand-up samples, please click here and here),
Joe Mande (2008 ECNY Award winner for Best Emerging Comic;
writer/co-star of new autobiographical comedic play Workdays with Maury at UCBT;
co-host of weekly NYC live comedy show Totally J/K),
Baron Vaughn (MTV's The Gamekillers, VH1's Awesomely Oversexed and
Best Week Ever, co-star of weekly NYC live political comedy show Shoot the Messenger;
for a radio interview, please click here),
Lizz Winstead (co-creator and former head writer of the original The Daily Show; former Executive VP of Air America Radio; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; HBO's Women of the Night; host & star of weekly NYC live political comedy show Shoot the Messenger), and
Oren Brimer (writer/director/producer of short funny films for SuperDeluxe.com
and YouTube.com; for numerous samples, please click here).
Stick around afterwards for a post-show party with $1 PBRs.
9:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Demetri Martin
This weekly show, which is slated to run for only another month or so, is hosted by star Demetri Martin, an immensely popular stand-up comic with his own segment, Trendspotting,
on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart [13
appearances]. Demetri has also been on Late Night with Conan O'Brien [4 appearances]; performed a Comedy Central Presents 30-minute
special, and a Comedy Central 2007 one-hour special titled Demetri
Martin. Person. [both specials now available
on DVD
Rumor is this show is helping Demetri test out material for his TV series...which is why its run is limited. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to catch one of the sharpest talents in the biz perform live on stage along with some of his stellar fellow comics.
10:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 5/28/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
one-man shows from Nate Lang and stellar improv/sketch performer Adam Pally (7:00),
smartly silly sketch comedy from the three guys of Sidecar, plus the understated Nick Zimmerman
performing a mini-play, in This One's for the Losers and Out of Africa My Mind (8:00 pm),
a blow-out spectacular featuring genius stand-up John Oliver (The Daily Show), genius beatbox improvisor
Reggie Watts (2007 Andy Kaufman Award), sly & sexy Jenny Slate (Gabe & Jenny), Anthony Atamanuik (30 Rock),
John Gemberling (Adult Swim), Neil Casey (Death by Roo Roo), and Violet Krumbein (Comedy Central)
at comedic chameleon Brett Gelman's (Conan O'Brien, Colbert Report) Gelmania (9:00 pm),
delicious comics Margaret Champagne, Joselyn Hughes, and Brooke Van Poppelen inviting
a few of the coolest gals and guys they know for stand-up comedy fun at their Slumber Party (9:00 pm),
some of most razor-sharp and uproariously funny storytellers in the country—including Chris
Gethard, Anthony Atamanuik, Curtis Gwinn, and Joe Mande—telling fascinating personal tales about intimacy issues at one of the finest shows in NYC, The Nights of Our Lives (9:30 pm),
and a laid-back free show where virtually anything can happen on a School Night (11:00).
TV Alert: South Park is one of the funniest shows in TV history, and this season
has been especially superb—which, considering the series is in its 11th year,
is little short of astonishing. On tonight's repeat, Cartman finds his calling as a teacher
of the underprileged; and a lab-grown penis runs rampant through town. The penis pausing a moment
to sing on a moonlit back alley fence is one of the most hilarious scenes you'll see anywhere this year.
Set your TiVo to 10:00 pm or midnight at Comedy Central...and enjoy the magic.
Two one-man shows for five bucks.
Adam Pally is a wonderful sketch/improv member of star troupe Hot Sauce, as well as a
storyteller on ace comedy show The Nights of Our Lives and a Cage Match champion. Tonight he performs a solo show that's likely to be something special.
The double-bill then continues with Nate Lang, who's a member of improv troupe Beatrice; but chances are tonight he'll be performing a sketch show.
7:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Adam Newman and Shawn Pearlman
Weekly comedy show hosted by
Adam Newman (CMT's Prankville'd, VH1's Best Week Ever blog, co-host of
monthly NYC live comedy show Street Meat; host of weekly NYC live open-mic comedy show
Blowtorch Slaughter; half of musical comedy duo Uber Luber Death Metal) and
Shawn Pearlman ("If you're in a bad neighborhood, blowing a rape whistle
is like ringing a dinner bell;" for stand-up videos, please click here and here).
Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but they're likely to be
highly talented stand-up comics.
7:30 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Matt Fisher, Alden Ford, and Justin Tyler of Sidecar; and Nick Zimmerman
Sidecar: This One's for the Losers and Out of Africa My Mind
Two comedy shows about folks who haven't quite reached their potential.
First up is absurdly fun sketch/improv troupe Sidecar, which consists
of very talented & brave comedic trio Alden Ford, Matt Fisher, and Justin Tyler.
The official description: "A lot of sketch shows are for guys like David Beckham and George Clooney, but not this one. This one's for the rest of us, this one's for you, This One's For The Losers." For a sample sketch about their interrogation technique, please click here.
The double-bill then continues with Out of Africa My Mind, a one-man show written and performed by Nick Zimmerman. The material didn't quite resonate with me,
but Zimmerman's gentle and unsettling style makes him a performer worth keeping an eye on.
(And Time Out NY's Jane Borden found it "a candid and hilariously awkward monologue...")
Directed by the wonderful John Flynn (John Flynn Has Terrible Sex, The Nights of Our Lives).
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Big Black Car and Fancy Dragon
This free weekly show features the two PIT improv teams above,
each of which performs for about 30 minutes. For a video sample of Big Black Car,
please click here; and for a video sample of Fancy Dragon, please click here.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
Jenny Slate, John Oliver, Reggie Watts, and Violet Krumbein...
...and Brett Gelman, Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, and John Gemberling
This magical weekly show is hosted by Brett Gelman, a comedic chameleon
who's currently ubiquitous as the Little Bit of Luck guy in New York Lottery ads.
Brett's numerous credits include Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report,
and ace improv troupe Death by Roo Roo. For a recent interview with Brett, please click here.
For samples of Brett's mind-blowing work with partner Jon Daly, please click here and here;
please also explore their hip-hop parody album Fleetwood Cracked...and keep an eye out
for their just-completed Cracked Out pilot for Comedy Central.
Tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests are
John Oliver (delightful & hilarious news correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; one of the very finest—and nicest—stand-up comics in the biz;
recently aired a superb hour-long Comedy Central special, Terrifying Times; is co-writer/star
of The Department for BBC Radio 4, and host/star of BBC stand-up radio show Political Animal),
Reggie Watts (musical improv comedy genius; winner of 2007 Andy Kaufman Award;
scary talented vocalist, beatboxer, and musician whose unique skills will likely amaze you;
to learn more, please visit ReggieWatts.com; and for video samples of what Reggie does,
Anthony Atamanuik (actor on NBC's 30 Rock; hilarious reporter who recently covered the New Hampshire primaries for The Huffington Post; ace storyteller on NYC monthly comedy show
The Nights of Our Lives; member of great NYC Friday night improv show Death by Roo Roo),
Neil Casey (sharp, hilarious, multi-talented comic; member of wonderful improv troupes Death by Roo Roo and Krompf; periodic panelist for Shut Up! I Hate You!; superb substitute co-host for Cage Match),
John Gemberling (co-creator and co-star of TV series Fat Guy Stuck in Internet,
MTV's Human Giant; member of genius improv troupe Death by Roo Roo),
Jenny Slate (co-host of monthly Brooklyn live comedy show At Night with Gabe & Jenny; for hilarious video, please click here), and
Violet Krumbein (Comedy Central, Adult Swim; UCBT Harold Night improv troupes Tantrum and Whorenado).
9:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); $5
Your hosts Margaret Champagne, Joselyn Hughes, and Brooke Van Poppelen at...
This twice-monthly event is "the sort of variety show that happens when three girls
are delirious from staying up all night boozing and slap-happy from crank-calling!"
How can you resist? The lovely & hilarious hosts are
Margaret Champagne (Carolines, UCBT; for acting reel, please click here),
Joselyn Hughes (for video questioning the effectiveness of rape whistles, please click here), and
Brooke Van Poppelen (Carolines, Laugh Factory; for a video sample, please click here).
Tonight's stand-up comedy guests haven't been announced, but these gals have lots of friends and admirers so expect some fine comics to participate in their party.
9:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
The Nights of Our Lives: Intimacy Issues
This is one of the best shows in New York.
The format is simple: A bunch of razor-sharp writer/performers tell stories
about themselves revolving around the evening's theme—
which tonight is the highly enticing "Intimacy Issues."
The only rules to the show itself are that the tales must be true, and must be funny.
The brutal honesty, and jarring bravery, of some the participants can be hair-raising.
What they offer aren't merely jokes, but resonant, humane perspectives on life.
At the same time, there are very few shows, on or off Broadway,
that will make you laugh as consistently and as loud.
Enormous kudos go to host David Martin; and to brilliant storytellers
Anthony Atamanuik, John Flynn, Chris Gethard, Anthony Atamanuik,,
Anthony King, Margot Leitman, Adam Pally, and the other comedy soldiers
who've bared some of their darkest and funniest secrets on the Nights of Our Lives stage.
This evening's scheduled yarn-spinners include the aforementioned Chris Gethard, Anthony Atamanuik, and Dave Martin, plus razor-sharp comics Curtis Gwinn (Adult Swim's Fat Guy Stuck in the Internet, ace improv troupe Death by Roo Roo) and Joe Mande (2008 ECNY Award winner for Best Emerging Comic; writer/co-star of new autobiographical comedic play Workdays with Maury at UCBT; co-host of weekly NYC live comedy show Totally J/K).
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Kurt Braunohler, Pat Shay, and Kimmy Gatewood
The Faculty and The Baldwins and Sid Viscous
Some of the PIT's instructors—who include such talents as Ali Farahnakian,
Kurt Braunohler, Ptolemy Slocum, Jen Nails, Pat Shay, Matt Donnelly, Kevin Scott,
Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood—perform improv for around 30 minutes.
And opening for them will be house improv troupes The Baldwins and Sid Viscous.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
Host Justin Purnell provides a mix of guests who perform stand-up, improv, music,
and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly—
but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun.
Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises,
that this free show makes possible.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 5/29/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
brilliant & sexy singer/songwriter Adira Amram (Jane), master comic Kurt Braunohler
(SuperDeluxe.com, Hot Tub Variety), Rob Neill (Neo-Futurists), and Dangaru guitarist Phil Yanos
at a show mixing comedy and music: Tim Ellis' & Matthew Park's Of the Moment (7:00 pm),
world-class storyteller Kambri Crews, and a small mob of talented comics—including Joselyn Hughes, Brooke Van Poppelen, Liz Miele, and Charles Star—telling funny and sometimes poignant tales about their relatives at Sara Benincasa's Family Hour (7:30 pm),
Lennon Parham, one of the most appealing & hilarious comedic actresses you'll ever see on stage,
tackling eight wildly different characters, plus an unsettling sketch troupe in the double-bill
Lennon Parham: She Tried to Be Normal and Pangea 3000 Recommends the Beatles (8:00 pm),
acclaimed comedy duo