HyReviews.com's
NYC Comedy Picks for Tomorrow Night (Wednesday 11/26)
Rhys Darby (Comedy Below Canal), Demetri Martin (Hold for the Laughs), and John Mulaney (Hold for the Laughs)
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday (7:00 pm-midnight),
[TOP PICK] Violet Krumbein demonstrating she's one of the most breathtakingly original
and darkly funny talents in NYC, and Thomas Middleditch (member of genius improv troupe Baby Wants Candy)
showing off a myriad of comedic characters via a dynamic one-man show, in a don't-miss double-bill:
Human Painkiller and Littlebitch (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] a fun auction of dreadful art, hosted with style by the hilarious Judah Friedlander (30 Rock)
and featuring a musical full set by indie band Xiu Xiu, at New York Magazine's Bad Art Auction (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] three of the finest stand-ups in NYC—Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1), Chelsea Peretti (Comedy Central, Variety SHAC), and Seth Herzog (VH1, Sweet)—plus New Zealand/UK star Rhys Darby (HBO's Flight of the Conchords) at a new weekly show hosted by 92YTribeca: Comedy Below Canal (9:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] some of most razor-sharp and uproariously funny storytellers in the country—Anthony Atamanuik, Jonathan Gabrus, Curtis Gwinn, Joe Mande, and Dave Martin—telling tales of "The Guiltiest Night Of My Life" at one of the finest shows in NYC, The Nights of Our Lives (9:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] an exciting monthly event bringing NYC theatre and comedy folks together,
tonight featuring a networking party at 9:30, and then a comedy show at 10:00 with top stand-ups
Demetri Martin (The Daily Show, star of upcoming series Important Things), John Mulaney
(Conan O'Brien, writer for Saturday Night Live), Dan Mintz (HBO, Comedy Central, MTV),
and Giulia Rozzi (VH1, Stripped Stories) at Margie Kment's Hold for the Laughs (9:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] and typically stellar stand-up comics who perform their sets but are periodically interrupted by the host—one of the funniest men on the planet, Doug Benson—at a very special show called The Benson Interruption (11:00 pm).
Kurt Braunohler and Pat Shay
The PIT's Super Free Wednesday
For four hours every Wednesday, The PIT provides free shows featuring its improv house troupes. Vacation Island and The Wilhelm perform at 7:00 pm; Big Black Car and Fancy Dragon go on at 8:00 pm; and The Baldwins and Sid Viscous show their stuff at 9:30. Rounding out the evening are The Faculty, consisting of The PIT's superb improv instructors, including such talents as Ali Farahnakian, Kurt Braunohler, Ptolemy Slocum, Jen Nails, Pat Shay, Kevin Scott, and Rebekka Johnson.
If you then feel sufficiently inspired, you can participate in the free show Improdome at 11:00 pm, which allows audience members to get on stage and improvise with each other in trios for 5-7 minute sets.
7:00 pm-midnight at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
A couple of the many faces of Thomas Middleditch...
...and the uniquely dark comedy of Violet Krumbein
Violet Krumbein: Human Painkiller and Thomas Middleditch: Littlebitch
A superb one-man show and mind-blowing one-woman show
from two rising comedy stars you shouldn't miss...all for a mere five bucks.
The evening kicks off with Violet Krumbein, an immensely appealing rising star who's performed on Comedy Central, Adult Swim, and UCBT Harold Night improv troupes Tantrum and Whorenado. (For a sample of Violet's sharp acting and vocal skills, please click here.) Tonight Violet demonstrates she has one of the most disturbingly inventive comedic minds to ever grace an NYC stage via a show she wrote and performs solo—with the aid of a dancer's grace, impeccable timing, and myriad props...including an unforgettable life-size doll. Imagine combining the playfulness of Sesame Street with the dark side of Andy Kaufman and you'll get some glimmer of what's in store for you. Not for every taste; but if you feel adventurous, don't miss this breathtakingly original show by the stunningly beautiful and delightfully twisted Ms. Krumbein. Directed by Megan Neuringer (VH1's Best Week Ever, All Access).
The double-bill then continues with Thomas Middleditch, a quick-witted organic talent who honed his improv & comedy skills at Second City and iO Chicago, and is currently a member of superb improv troupes Baby Wants Candy, Broad Shoulders, and The Improvised Shakespeare Co. Thomas is also the star of the upcoming film Splinterheads; the co-host of monthly UCBT show Game Bros. Live!; and a wildly popular character performer at the monthly Morrison Motel. It's the latter skills Thomas will be drawing on for this one-man show as he literally jumps around on stage, and switches among different voices and body postures in split seconds, to create a small mob of colorful people interacting with each other—and, at one point, even physically fighting each other! Come catch this rapidly rising star.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
New York Magazine's Second Annual Bad Art Auction, Hosted by Judah Friedlander
Last year New York Magazine auctioned off terrible art—to the great enjoyment of audience members. (To check out some highlights, please click here.) This year features even more dreadfulness, including velvet canvases, paper-mâché catastrophes, and anything having to do with ponies. Bidding on bad art feels especially good in this case, as the proceeds benefit the charity New York Cares.
And even if you're not interested in buying, you should come delight in this fun event hosted by Judah Friedlander (hilarious stand-up comic; cast member of NBC's 30 Rock; actor in such movie hits as Meet the Parents, Zoolander, and Full Grown Men), and featuring a full set from experimental/pop indie band Xiu Xiu.
Plus there'll be complimentary cocktails from Cape North Vodka; complimentary drinks from Glaceau; the chance to win a brand new Gibson Guitar or a pair of Saucony Originals; and a guaranteed 46-issue subscription to New York Magazine.
Because alcohol will be served, attendees must be 21 or over with valid ID.
To order a ticket for $28.75—which, again, includes a year's subscription to
New York Magazine—please click here.
8:00 pm at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street
(between Sullivan and Thompson Streets); nearest subway stops are
1 at Houston, C/E at Spring, 6 at Bleecker, B/D/F/V at Broadway-Lafayette;
ticket is $28.75 online (includes 46-issue subscription to New York Magazine)
Pete Holmes and Chelsea Peretti...
...and Seth Herzog and Rhys Darby
Three of NYC's best comics, plus a TV & film star from New Zealand and the UK,
gather tonight to entertain you at new venue 92YTribeca:
Pete Holmes (one of the quickest & sharpest minds in comedy; VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Motherload; writer for CollegeHumor.com; cartoonist for mags ranging from The New Yorker to Cosmo Girl;
host of UCBT's monthly open mic stand-up show Gutbucket),
Rhys Darby (New Zealand comic who played the band manager in HBO's Flight of the Conchords and Jim Carrey's boss in recent movie Yes Man),
Chelsea Peretti (exceptionally fresh, smart stand-up comic; Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; member of superb comedy troupe Variety Shac; writer for Village Voice, Details, Playgirl, Jest,
blackpeopleloveus.com, and Rejection Line: 212/479-7990), and
Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show, host of superb NYC weekly live comedy show Sweet).
9:00 pm at 92YTribeca Mainstage, 200 Hudson Street (intersection of Canal & Hudson Streets);
tickets are $12; take the 1/6/E subway to Canal Street stop
The Nights of Our Lives: The Guiltiest Night of My Life
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 Guiltiest Night Of My Life."
The only rules of the show 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.
This evening's scheduled yarn-spinners are stellar core regulars Anthony Atamanuik, Curtis Gwinn, and Dave Martin, plus Joe Mande (winner of the 2008 ECNY Award winner for Best Emerging Comic; co-host of superb weekly NYC show Totally J/K) and Jonathan Gabrus (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, VH1's Best Week Ever, writer and star of Spike TV sitcom The Void, member of improv troupes Tybrus and Outlook of the Poet).
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Brilliant star stand-ups Demetri Martin and John Mulaney...
...and Margie Kment, Giulia Rozzi, and Dan Mintz
This show is an exciting attempt to mix NYC's vibrant comedy and theatre worlds together.
It opens at 9:30 pm with a networking event in which theatre and comedy folks can meet each other, and also get to know the artists involved in upcoming theatrical shows produced by the sponsor, Small Pond Entertainment.
It then shifts gears at 10:00 pm with a full-blown comedy show hosted by the
lovely Margie Kment (for stand-up video about dating a stoner, please click here).
Tonight's wonderful stand-up comics are
Demetri Martin (immensely popular comedy star 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
John Mulaney (one of the funniest stand-up comics in the country; since August 2008 has been staff writer for Saturday Night Live; frequently appears on VH1's Best Week Ever; performed stand-up twice on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian; selected by Variety as among the 10 Comics to Watch for 2008; to check out videos of John's two Conan sets, please click here and here), and
Dan Mintz (sharp deadpan stand-up; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, HBO's Lucky Louis,
Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, MTV's Human Giant, writer of upcoming
Demetri Martin show Important Things; "It's so much easier for kids to jerk off than
it used to be. When I was young, you had to find the Sears catalog, flip to the lingerie section.
Now, with the Internet, I just turn on my computer, get online, and go right to Sears.com;"
for stellar stand-up video, please click here), and
Giulia Rozzi (VH1's Best Night Ever podcasts; monthly video series The Message Board, which makes fun of brides, on ComedyNet.com; co-producer of East coast version of hit national show Mortified; co-host of red-hot comedy show Stripped Stories;
for a video sample, please click here).
Please Note: It's recommended that you reserve in advance by emailing holdforthelaughs@gmail.com. First, this will allow you to purchase tickets for $10 instead of $12. Second, this will give you the opportunity to fill out a short questionnaire about your role in the NYC comedy and/or theatre community; your answers will be included in an information packet handed out to everyone to enhance networking both before and after the show.
9:30 pm for networking, 10:10 pm for comedy show at the Sage Theatre,
711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd floor (between 47th & 48th Streets);
tickets are $10 if you reserve by emailing holdforthelaughs@gmail.com, otherwise $12
Doug Benson
Doug Benson (finalist on Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, VH1's Best Week Ever) is one the sharpest stand-ups in the world.
In this superb show, Benson invites some of the funniest people he knows—who include some of the most sought-after comics in the country—to perform stand-up. And whenever he feels like it, Benson interrupts the act with a sharp observation to make the audience laugh even harder...and, with luck, crack up the comedian on stage as well.
Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but expect high-powered talent...and what promises to an unforgettable night of comedy.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Copyright © 2008 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
