NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 11/26/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
stellar comics & actors crashing improvisation into classic theatre scenes at Gravid Water (8:00),
razor-sharp hosts Joe Mande & Noah Garfinkel, and a lineup that includes
one of the most hilarious comics in the country, star Nick Kroll, at Totally J/K (8:15ish pm),
the return of improv greats Dan Bakkedahl, Peter Grosz, and John Lutz in 3 Square (9:30 pm),
and a breathtaking collection of genius comedic talent, including Human Giant, John Mulaney,
Dave Hill, Seth Herzog, and maybe "a special guest" at the free stand-up show Cavalcade! (11:00 pm).
Ellie Kemper, Elizabeth Laime, and Megan Neuringer are...
The Darlings of Cell Block 6 and Cool Your J
Tonight kicks off with a fun double-bill.
Terrific comedic performers Ellie Kemper (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Onion, McSweeney's), Elizabeth Laime (SNL, one-woman show Dear Diary, UCBT sketch troupe Gunderson), and Megan Neuringer (improv troupes Creep and DeCoster) are "three bitches in prison" in their new comedic play The Darlings of Cell Block 6. Directed by Joe Schiappa.
And the other half of this production features Nick Philip Ross (improv troupes Wilder, Sidework, and T.R.U.C.K.S.) performing his one-man show Cool Your J. Directed by Nate Smith.
6:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Anthony King, Christina Gausas, 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 genius improvisers: Dan Bakkedahl (correspondent for The Daily Show, 3 Square), Tara Copeland (Mother, Ms. Jackson, The Tiny Spectacular), Michael Delaney (The Stepfathers, The Swarm), Christina Gausas (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Stepfathers), Peter Gwinn (The Colbert Report), and Anthony King (UCBT Artistic Director, Shut Up! I Hate You!, Reuben Williams).
And also starring some of NYC's top actors: Jared Gertner (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Kate Hess (UCBT sketch comedy show We Kate Shelly), Jonathan Kaplan (Tony Award nominee), Joel Karie (The Lion King), and Sarah Saltzberg (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, producer and co-star of NYC live show Don't Quit Your Night Job).
Gravid Water is directed and hosted by 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
Hosts Noah Garfinkel & Joe Mande, Nick Kroll, and Tom McCaffrey
Hosted by quick-witted and enormously funny best buds Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkel
(for dueling birthday videos, please click here and here; and for other videos,
please click here and here). Tonight's guests include the wonderful
Nick Kroll (one of the most brilliant and hilarious comics around;
widely agreed to be the highlight of ABC's Cavemen; VH1's Best Week Ever;
conducts very funny interviews for MTV, etc. as Fabrice Fabrice; has a permanent spot
on this Web page, which you're encouraged to visit by clicking here),
Tom McCaffrey (Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Shorties Watchin' Shorties;
for a memorable video on how to pick up women by being a jerk, please click here),
Jack Kukoda (Onion News Network, maker of funny videos), and
Jason Kanter (for a stand-up clip about a personal ad, please click here).
8:15ish pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Stand-up comedy hosted by Billy Reno (SNL's Weekend Update,
Caroline's; for video samples, please click here and here).
Unfortunately, tonight's guests haven't been announced;
to check for a last-minute update, please click here.
8:00ish 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)
John Lutz, Peter Grosz, and Dan Bakkedahl
Brilliant comics Dan Bakkedahl (correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart),
Peter Grosz (writer for The Colbert Report, star of over 100 Sonic fast-food commercials),
and John Lutz (writer & occasional actor on SNL since 2004; recurring character on 30 Rock)
perform a three-man improv show (a version of their previous long-running and acclaimed
Chicago show 4 Square, which then also included Rob Janas).
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
All-female improv group Frank consists of Elizabeth Blue, Leslie Collins, Julie Dulude, Caroline Goldrick, Mary Jacobson, Desiree Nash, and Abigoliah Schaumaun.
In addition to performing, the gals typically play host to another talented comedy group.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
John Mulaney, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, Aziz Ansari, and Dave Hill...
...and Seth Herzog, and—who knows?—maybe a special guest
Tonight's awesome Cavalcade! features some of the finest comedic performers in the biz:
Aziz Ansari (one of the best stand-up comics on the planet),
Paul Scheer (genius improvisor), and Rob Huebel (brilliant jack-of-all-comedy-trades),
who are the writers & stars of MTV hit sketch comedy series Human Giant;
John Mulaney (VH1's Best Week Ever, Late Night with Conan O'Brien;
for stand-up samples, please click here and here);
Dave Hill (Variety Magazine's 2007 pick for 10 Comics to Watch; written for The New York Times,
Salon, HBO, and the eerie Web site Black Metal Dialogues; written & performed for VH1,
Spike TV, The Learning Channel, and the fabulous Smoking Gun TV series;
hosts the always-surprising monthly UCBT extravaganza The Dave Hill Explosion);
Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever; razor-sharp host of one of the very best live
comedy shows in NYC, Sweet, Tuesday nights at The Slipper Room),
Taylor Williamson (Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Fuel TV's The Daily Habit,
for a stand-up video, please click here);
and, according to the show listing, possibly a special guest.
Tonight's jaw-dropping lineup makes this best comedy show in NYC.
And it's free.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 11/27/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
an incredible gathering of NYC's top comedic musicians, including up-and-coming star
singer/songwriters Adira Amram, Shayna Ferm, Mindy Raf, and Erin Hall; terrific
singer/actors Becky Yamamoto and Wendy Ho; and stellar stand-ups
Desiree Burch and Carolyn Castiglia; all at this evening's Chicks & Giggles (8:00 pm),
and three uncommonly good-looking stand-up comics—Christian Finnegan,
Rob Lathan, and Clara Bijl...possibly accompanied by the brilliant and gorgeous
comedic performers Livia Scott & Biz Ellis—at sexy Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm).
Shayna Ferm, Adira Amram, and Mindy Raf...
...and Erin Hall, Desiree Burch, and Becky Yamamoto
Carolyn Castiglia hosts a lineup of female comics.
And tonight's guests are a wow.
They include many of NYC's most awesomely talented funny musicians
...and who are among my all-time favorite comics:
Adira Amram (brilliantly funny and sexy writer/singer; Jane Magazine Editors Choice;
co-star of UCBT's Get Psyched!; for sample songs & videos, please click here),
Shayna Ferm (also brilliantly funny and sexy writer/singer; member of world-class
sketch troupe Fearsome; lead of band Shayna and the Upper Decks;
for samples of Shay's witty songs, please click here ),
Mindy Raf (also brilliantly funny and sexy writer/singer;
VH1's Best Week Ever, relationship columnist for CollegeHumor.com,
comedy writer for WABC, actor on SuperDeluxe.com's The Post Show,
plays popular character Leibya Rogers: "When I sing, your soul jumps out
of your body and nestles in between my legs;" for video sample, please click here),
Erin Hall (stellar musician and delightfully subtle comedic singer/songwriter;
for looped series of videos of her live act Erin and her Cello, please click here;
to preview tracks of Erin's upcoming debut CD, please click here),
Becky Yamamoto (rave reviews from The New York Times, The New Yorker, etc.
for her recent performance in the play Songs of the Dragon Flying to Heaven;
member of all-female comedic rock band Stickerbook),
Desiree Burch (sharp, hilarious stand-up; VH1s Best Night Ever), and
Wendy Ho (raunchy comedic singer/performer; for her music video
Bitch, I Stole Yo' Purse, please click here).
Again: Wow. Folks, it doesn't get better than this.
Also, a very Happy Birthday to both Nichelle Stephens and host
Carolyn Castiglia, the producers who organized this amazing evening.
8:00 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)
Writer Dan Slott and two of his graphic novels: She-Hulk—Superhuman Law and Avengers—The Initiative
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's guest is Dan Slott, writer of such popular comics series as
Avengers: The Initiative and She-Hulk.
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—
Raynard, fwand, Tantrum, 1985, and DeCoster
—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
Rob Lathan and Christian Finnegan...
...and Clara Bijl, and Biz Ellis & Livia Scott
Hosted by the razor-sharp & witty Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).
Tonight's scheduled guests include
Christian Finnegan (VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central Presents, Chappelle's Show, The Today Show, host of TVLand's Game Time, former staff writer for Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; just released first comedy CD, Two For Flinching; for stand-up videos on how to get rid of a boring guy and what your movie choices say about you, please click here and here),
Rob Lathan (plays comedic characters such as Lanny Lathan and "Quick Lips" Lathan,
stars in the UCBT show Get Psyched!; for Rob's reel, please click here),
Clara Bijl (semifinalist in Comedy Central's 2003 Laugh Riots; writer for French hit sitcom Le Petit Silvant Illustré; for stand-up video on replacing an ex with a dildo, please click here),
David Wain (writer/director who just finished shooting the Universal comedy feature Little Big Men; also directed feature The Ten and Comedy Central's Stella), and just maybe
the wonderful Biz Ellis & Livia Scott, who are half of the world-class sketch group Meat and
have just spun off into their own sketch duo named Dirty Jeans and the Thunder Chief.
9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 11/28/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
a fascinating free view of a sketch troupe constructing material via entertaining anecdotes
and improv, featuring superb talents such as Elna Baker and Pat Shay, at Red (6:00 pm),
the best sexy comedy show in NYC, Margot Leitman & Giulia Rozzi's Stripped Stories (8:00),
the delightful & highly talented Amber Petty, Jessie Schupack, and Tricia McAlpin of Penny, and
hilarious sketch duo Matt DeCoster and Will Hines, in the double-bill White Orphans/7 Fights (8:00 pm),
Eugene Mirman's & Bobby Tisdale's star-studded stand-up show, which tonight
includes genius comics Andy Blitz and Nick Kroll, at Invite Them Up (9:00 pm),
the most hilarious storytelling show in NYC (with the possible exception of Stripped Stories)
—tonight's theme is Adventure at 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).
Pat Shay and Elna Baker
Comedy troupe Red tells stories off the top of their heads, then improvises scenes
based on the tales; and also perform sketches from material they improvised the previous week. It's a clever way of crafting a sketch show organically, week by week—and you can watch the whole process, at no charge. The group consists of Kevin Allison, Elna Baker, Chris Caniglia, Scott Eckert, Sarah Lowe, Sarah Nowak, Pat Shay, Nate Starkey, Shelly Stover, and Kevin Townley.
6:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
Margot & Giulia are two fun-lovin' gals...who are world-class storytellers
Sexual storytelling with a comedic slant.
Tonight's theme is sexual hubris: moments of ill-advised sexual confidence.
Offering frank confessions will be comedy guests Craig Baldo and Julia Miller; plus the two sensual hosts, Giulia Rozzi (VH1's Best Night Ever podcasts) and Margot Leitman (Late Night With Conan O'Brien)—or, as Margot likes to describe it, "newly married Giulia Rozzi and the eternal bridesmaid Margot Leitman." In addition, there'll be raunchy songs from unique singer Cock Lorge, "a spontaneous audience interview, sex games, and hookups...hopefully."
Cost is normally $10 plus a two-item food or drink minimum.
However, if you buy online and use code SS1128, the ticket is a mere $5.
This is a wonderful show, and recommended.
8:00 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
$5 online with code SS1128, plus 2-item minimum
Comedy troupe Penny (Amber Petty, Jessie Schupack and Tricia McAlpin) explore white orphans...
...and Matt DeCoster & Will Hines portray combative relationships
Penny: White Orphans and Hines & DeCoster: 7 Fights
One of the things we should all be thankful for is sketch/improv group Penny, consisting of the adorable & very funny comedy trio Amber Petty, Trisha McAlpin, and Jessie Schupack. In tonight's show, the gals promise to "guide you through their wonderful world of art, music, and laughter. You'll laugh till you cry, cry till you laugh, and be moved enough that
you too will want a white orphan for your very own." Directed by Susannah Beckett.
7 Fights is a hilarious sketch show written and performed by Will Hines & Matt DeCoster, formerly of acclaimed improv group Monkeydick (plus Will burned up the stage a few months ago with sibling Kevin as The Brothers Hines at UCBT's Cage Match).
The show includes such scenes of contention as a political debate in which a guy with a bloody harpoon through him blithely denies he's been impaled. In a word, fun.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Hosts Jenny Rubin and Matt McCarthy
Stand-up comedy hosted by the very funny Jenny Rubin and Matt McCarthy.
Tonight's scheduled guests include
Pat Candaras, Roger Hailes, Collette Hawley, and Sean Crespo.
To get a feel for the show overall, please click here.
8:00 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)
Ready to tackle your holiday anxieties are Paul Downs, Alan Fessenden, Elana Fishbein, Marcy Jarreau, Leslie Korein, Louis Kornfeld, and Peter McNerney, who improvise a show based on "an audience member's confession."
8:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Nick Kroll and Andy Blitz
Hosted by comedy greats Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale.
Tonight's star guests include
Andy Blitz (comedy genius best known for being a writer and performer for
Late Night with Conan O'Brien since 1999; for Andy's memorable hosting
of Crash Test a couple of weeks ago, please click here), and
Nick Kroll (one of the most brilliant and hilarious comics around;
widely agreed to be the highlight of ABC's Cavemen; VH1's Best Week Ever;
conducts very funny interviews for MTV, etc. as Fabrice Fabrice; has a permanent spot
on this Web page, which you're encouraged to visit by clicking here).
For the full lineup, please click here.
9:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
the most hilarious storytelling show in NYC (with the possible exception of Stripped Stories)
—tonight's theme is Adventure at The Nights of Our Lives (9:30 pm),
Tonight's theme is The Most Adventurous Nights of Our Lives.
But whatever the subject, this is flat-out 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.
The only rules 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, Curtis Gwinn,
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.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Kurt Braunohler, Pat Shay, and Kimmy Gatewood
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.
Afterwards, house improv troupe The Baldwins takes the stage.
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 11/29/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
the delightful Kate Hess & Shelly Stover dancing and singing for laughs,
and Livia Scott delivering a brilliant performance in her one-woman show
about OJ Simpson fans, in We Kate Shelly and Goodnight, OJ (8:00 pm),
razor-sharp comics having fun with the news, including Anthony King,
Scott Brown, Horatio Sanz, Brett Gelman, Jason Mantzoukas, and New York Magazine
theatre critic Jeremy McCarter, at Shut Up! I Hate You! (9:30 pm),
and two of the most interesting improv troupes in NYC,
C, C + C Improv Factory and Working Girls, going head to head at Cage Match (11:00 pm).
Kate Hess & Shelly Stover, and Livia Scott
We Kate Shelly and Goodnight, O.J.
This all-female extravaganza kicks off with We Kate Shelly,
a lively sketch show featuring singing, dancing, and crying,
written and starring the irresistible Kate Hess & Shelly Stover,
and directed by comedic genius Andy Secunda (The Swarm).
The double-bill then continues with comedic chameleon
Livia Scott (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, world-class sketch group Meat,
Livia's Castle of Enchantment), who wrote and performs this
superb one-woman show, described as follows:
"In 1994, while he was in prison and on trial for murder, O.J. Simpson received over 300,000 letters. To help pay for his defense and gain public support, he had them published in a book called I Want to Tell You by O.J. Simpson: My Response to Your Letters, Your Messages, Your Questions. Alternately humorous, disturbing, and poignant, Goodnight, O.J. explores the minds of the people who wrote him."
The idea is clever; but Livia Scott's thoughtful choices and
brilliant performance make this truly special...and recommended.
For a video sample, please click here.
Directed by Baron Vaughn (MTV's The Gamekillers,
VH1's Best Week Ever, Shoot the Messenger).
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); $5
Hosts Anthony King and Scott Brown...
...and panelists Horatio Sanz, Brett Gelman, Jason Mantzoukas, and Jeremy McCarter
A funny look at the news, with lots of amusing video clips,
hosted by Anthony King (UCBT Artistic Director, Reuben Williams)
and Scott Brown (writer for Entertainment Weekly, and
co-writer with Anthony King of Gutenberg: The Musical).
Tonight's panelists include
Horatio Sanz (Saturday Night Live; founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade),
Brett Gelman (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, improv troupe Death by Roo Roo; for samples of Brett's mind-blowing work with partner Jon Daly, please click here and here, and also check out their new hip-hop parody album Fleetwood Cracked),
Jason Mantzoukas (Mother: The Soundtrack, We Used to Go Out, The Mantzoukas Brothers), and
Jeremy McCarter (theatre reviewer for New York Magazine and