Turn up this Tuesday! Jimmy Buffett and Trio Solisti are in concert. Plus, drink up at MOFAD or hit a comedy show.
Tag Archives: comedy
DOWN TO A FINE ART – JUL 27
Slayer in concert and Amy Seiwert’s Imagery leaps to the stage. Or, check out the Animation Block Party and a new Joan Cornella exhibit.
SEINFELD & SCHUMER – NOV 16
Two funnies unite for a great cause, pretend it’s still the ‘Weeknd,’ or party with Flo Rida.
VIEWS & THE BLUES – NOV 12
An Arthur Miller classic comes to Broadway plus sports galore for your Thursday.
SUGAR SUGAR, HONEY HONEY – AUG 26
Learn the art of sugar flowers or take in art at The Met. Plus, a hot new show at the Fringe Festival.
DELOREANS FOR DAYS – AUG 24
Back to the work week and Back to the Future! Plus get all your looks for the upcoming wedding season, today on Citybuzz.
LATIN DANCE & LOL’S – JUNE 24
Put on those dancing shoes, laugh out loud, and work out while sight seeing!
MR. GREY WILL SEE YOU NOW… FEB 13-15
What a weekend coming up! Great ideas for how to spend Valentine’s Day, plus a sports fans dream.
January 7, 2015
Hey NYC, Louis C.K. in town tonight! Plus time is running out on the circus and a Picasso exhibit.
January 6, 2015
Celebrate Three Kings Day at the Harlem Parade, or meet Patton Oswalt! Sports as well today in NYC.
Weekend Edition: January 2-4, 2015
It’s the weekend! From sports to music, and Broadway, lots going on this weekend. And, Katt Williams is in town!
November 7, 2014
Bradley Cooper on Broadway and more coming up this weekend in NYC!
November 6, 2014
The incomparable Stevie Wonder plays for one night only, and funny man Dane Cook heats up the Beacon…November 6 is a splendid day New York!
November 3, 2014
Martin Short exposes his life as a comic legend, and The Dalai Lama drops knowledge in New York…today, Monday November 3rd is truly inspired.
October 22, 2014
Comic legend George Carlin finally “gets his own way” and you too can own a piece of Vivienne Westwood…Wednesday October 22 in NYC is a good one!
The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a religious satire musical with book, lyrics, and music by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone.
Check Out The Comedy At The Stand!
The Stand Restaurant and Comedy Club in the Gramercy section of New York City, is bringing you the best comedians working today with delectable dishes and unique cocktails to match. New Yorkers can now enjoy great comedy seven nights a week paired with our critically acclaimed chef, Seth Levine. Our bi-level venue provides patrons with the option of having dinner and drinks before and after a show guaranteeing comedy fans an experience like no other.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter Fame stars in this hilarious musical comedy about a window washer who tried to work his way up the corporate ladder with the help of a book that bares the title of the play!
Chemically Imbalanced Comedy is BYOB
Don’t be fooled by Chemically Imbalanced Comedy’s small theater space with only 40 seats. The stage might not be big, but the laughs will be, especially considering the theater is BYOB. Home to a handful of comedy groups, Chemically Imbalanced Comedy puts on a variety of performances, including improv, sketch, stand-up, and plays. On their current run, they’re performing the uber-popular comedy, “The Book of Liz,” penned by Amy and David Sedaris.
When not taking over the stage with their antic, Chemically Imbalanced Comedy also offers improv comedy classes for the masses. They also sell package deals for large groups.
The Wilbur Theatre: Continuing Its Tradition of Live Entertainment in The Theater District
Comedians like Brian Regan, Joan Rivers and Bill Maher have all performed on stage at this cozy theater nestled inside the Theater District. The theater itself was built in 1914 by the Shubert brothers who named it after their friend and theatre manager A.L. Wilbur and was the first Boston theatre to draw its inspiration from American Colonial architecture rather than from European sources. Today, you can catch a musical performance from the likes of Gaelic Storm, Yesterday – The Beatles Tribute, Engelbert Humperdinck, Steel Pulse and ABBA – The Concert. Click here for the schedule of events.
IO Theater: SNL Loves Them So You Should Too
Yes Chi-town is a funny freaking city. Ever stop to think how many native Chicagoans star on SNL and are the comedic stars of the big screen? And when SNL is ready for new cast members, guess where they recruit? Yep, Chicago. Not just Second City either, in the Lakeview neighborhood, just a hop skip and a jump away from Wrigely Field is the IO Theater – the best of the city’s improv.
Spectators are oohed and ahhed over the skills of these actor slash comedians as they whip up entire musicals based on words provided by the audience. From cabaret to the just plain bizarre one thing is sure here – you won’t leave without a side ache.
Paramount Theatre: Downtown Denver’s Performance Palace
Denver’s a wonder of early to mid-twentieth century architecture, and the Paramount Theatre is no exception, boasting as it does a sweeping Art Deco interior complete with a 1600-pipe Wurlitzer organ—a feature it shares with only one other venue in the nation, namely Radio City Music Hall. But this inductee into the National Register of Historic Places is also a vibrant showcase for performers of all kinds, from alternative songsters like Sufjan Stevens and star comedians like Louis CK and Margaret Cho to TV celebrities like Buddy Valastro, aka The Cake Boss. The Paramount screens films, hosts lectures—think talks by famed Egyptologist Zahi Hawass—and of course stages holiday classics like The Nutcracker. In short, it’s a glitzy, posh one-stop entertainment shop.
Wild Ivories: Tickling the Keys and the Karaoke Crowd
Denver’s karaoke bars are getting a run for their money since the opening of this self-styled dueling piano saloon in Lodo. Part old fashioned singalong, part comedy showcase, the performances (Tuesday through Saturday nights) star pianists who take requests from the audience, so don’t be shy about your Billy Joel fixation or your soft spot for honkytonk blues! Downstairs, dance club Juke keeps things current with DJs, but the same fun interactive format applies: while you call the songs, the turntablists try to trump one another in granting your every rockin’ wish. One caveat: if you fear the wild bachelorette party crowd, come on a weeknight.
A Dash of Moxie With Your Roxy: The Roxy Theatre
Since most famous music institutions in Los Angeles are located on Sunset Boulevard, it’s no wonder that the Roxy Theatre has become apart of that family. Ever since the days of live shows from Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, the Roxy has become a must for up-and-coming musicians and those who feel like giving a little love back to the fans.
The Roxy itself is an intimate space with open dance floor and bar. Though most of the music performed at the Roxy is loud enough to blow out an eardrum, the Theatre has also become a place where comedy shows and performance art can take place.
Though the Roxy makes for the perfect night out in L.A., many visitors boast about ‘On The Rox’, an after-hours bar upstairs with DJ and all night debauchery. If you wish to make it out alive without getting bombarded by crowds, park across the street in the open lot, especially if you are visiting on the weekend.
ACME Comedy Theatre: Any Celebrity May Enter
The ACME Comedy Theatre has become a Los Angeles staple for those looking for a little comedy training or those looking for some entertainment.
The famous theatre is home to a long list of celebrity guests such as Lea Thompson, Joel McHale, and Adam Corolla. Friday and Saturday nights are big nights at the theater where ACME Radio Hour has their Liquid Radio Players perform completely improvised as though they were on old-time radio.
The 99-seat theatre is not only a place to watch shows but a place to learn from the best. The comedy school gives students the chance to learn the ins and outs of sketch, improv and stand-up comedy.
Though the theatre is the perfect place to spend a Friday or Saturday night, the theatre doesn’t have a concession stand and prohibits bringing food or drinks into the theatre.
If you are questioning whether or not to visit the theatre, just remember that Nia Vardalos was discovered by Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks when she was performing. Whether you are looking to discover or be discovered, ACME is the place to be.
It’s Comedy Central at Cobb’s Comedy Club
When it comes to comedy clubs, the question to ask isn’t 
“What?” or “Where?” it’s “Who?” In any case, Cobb’s Comedy Club has you covered. In its 25th year, the North Beach venue plays host to the finest funny men and women working today. From Jerry Seinfeld and Dave Chappelle to Ellen DeGeneres and Margaret Cho, Cobb’s rotating cast of headliners are Leno and Letterman regulars, many with a comedy series of their own. Let’s put it this way: a celebrated stand-up doesn’t step foot out of SFO without first making an appearance on this stage.
If you’re hungry for more than laughter, the 400-seat venue offers a full dinner menu of classic American pub food, like crispy fried calamari, marinated chicken sandwiches, and of course, a Cobb’s chopped salad. Just remember to come thirsty: with a two-beverage minimum, they mean business. Sobreity is no laughing matter.
Giggles and Gasps at Buntport Theater Company
Think theater’s pretentious or all doom and gloom? 
The locally acclaimed Buntport Theater Company will make you think again. This six-person troupe collaborates and hosts a variety of different projects, from original plays to monthly themed open mic nights—The Most Worthless Thing I Own, for instance—almost all of which are marked by the writer-director-actors’ characteristic brand of risky and borderline absurd wit (as the titles of recent productions Realism: The Mythical Brontosaurus and Kafka on Ice suggest). That’s not to say the Buntport Theater Company doesn’t do serious, heart wrenching work; it’s just that the company never forgets to have fun with the audience, including pint-sized playgoers (the seasonal family series tRUNks brings comic books to life).
3. Laughs and More Laughs with Conan O’Brien May 19-20
With Conan O’Brien finally back on TV with his new TBS show, it seems that we can get back to getting our late night doses of laughter. Yet, for those who don’t just want to see him on a TV screen, Conan is also currently touring the nation on his Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour. Already receiving great reviews and an enormous turnout, the tour showcases Conan at his best. Joined by his sidekick Andy Richter and classic characters like Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Conan does stand up, interviews, videos and more in his show. If you’ve missed Conan on late night or are just looking for some great laughs, Conan’s tour is for you.
3. E!’s Chelsea Handler Live! April 17
TV’s favorite late night lady is coming to Philadelphia with her unique style and sense of humor for a one night only show.Sure to be a night of dry wit and pop culture commentary, Chelsea Handler will have you clutching your sides and rolling in the aisles.
And don’t worry guys, her charms are sure to work on you as well as everyone else, and if not, at least she’s nice to look at!
4. Plenty of Laughs at Chicago Improv Fest April 19-25
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Chicago’s best improv can be found at the 13th Annual Chicago Improv Festival. There will be 65 acts, including Improvised Shakespeare Company, Pimprov, Children of a Lesser God and Improvised Tween Erotica, with 38 of those from Chicago. The rest of the acts come from 24 different cities and eight countries. The events take place throughout 12 locations, from the Apollo Theatre to the Second City. Lifetime Achievement Awards will be handed out during the festival to improv legends Harold Ramis, Dick Schaal and Severn Darden. Dick Schaal will also be teaching a 5 hour-long Master Class geared for improv teachers.
Second City is First for Improv
Chicago’s Second City alumni list reads like a who’s who of today’s Hollywood comedic hard-hitters: Bill Murray, Jim Belushi, Stephen Colbert, Jeff Garlin, Mike Meyers, Bonnie Hunt, Chris Farley, Tina Fey and oh-so-many more are among those to have once graced the stage (and still do on special occasions). That said, who knows who tomorrow’s stars are, but you’re sure to find at least one of them on the stage at Second City at any given time. This is after all, the best improv-based comedy school and theater in the world.
Always pushing the envelope with witty humor that plays on everything from American politics to the flu, the Second City packs in audiences every day of the week, so buying tickets in advance is always recommended. On top of the stand up gigs, shows with a modern twist, a la Taming of the Flu, are performed on the main stage. Aside from the main stage, shows take place at the Skybox Theater and Chicago E.T.C.
For those who don’t want to stop the experience as a spectator only, classes are available. Who knows, maybe the next star is you?
Harris Theater is Like a Good DJ- Hot New Numbers Every Time
Chicagoans take theater seriously. Not that they’re obsessed with dramas, no, but the art of theater-going, yes. Here theaters range from the classics like the Goodman, Ford Center (Oriental Theater), and (of course) Chicago Theater to the king of comedy, Second City. In the middle of these two genres is the Harris Theater, whi
ch masterfully presents options worthy of the classics and funny enough for the kids at Second City. The reason the Harris Theater’s so successful in diversity is that it partners with some of the best performing arts companies, allowing the theater to be on the forefront of all things dance, musical, comedy and drama.
Just take a look at some 2010 highlights to come:
Mikhail Baryshnikov in a solo dance performance, an evening of insight with the “Master of the Musical,” Stephen Sondheim, the Harris Theater debut of Lang Lang under the baton of his mentor Christoph Eschenbach, the Chicago premiere of Orquestra de Sao Paulo with virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.
The theater’s calendar is jam packed with performances making its repertoire new and fresh, especially compared to the big-boy theaters whose stage productions last for months at a time. And for those who still can’t enough of Harris Theater, there are plenty of classes and volunteering opportunities to keep everyone entertained.
1. Chicago Sketch Fest 1/7-1/17/10
One of the biggest draws in Chicago’s thea
ter scene is sketch comedy and 2010 marks the ninth year for the Chicago Sketch Fest. The 100+ participating comedy troupes, including homegrown Chicago talent, and troupes as far afield as Seattle, Austin and Denver, will offer audiences close to 150 shows over the festival’s eight day run.
This year’s theme? “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” As with improv, sketch comedy is satirical, but unlike improv, sketches are scripted. So ready yourself for sharp wit, biting commentary and humorous takes on today’s world, courtesy of some of the funniest people in the country.
1. Comic Greats at SF Sketchfest 1/14-2/2/10
“Weird Al” Yankovic, an evening with the Reno 911! Department, and a Sketchfest tribute to Conan O’Brien are some of the main events at the Ninth Annual San Francisco Sketchfest. The comedy festival is always one of the highlights of the year taking over various venues across the Bay area. Check out hilarious local comedians as well as comedic celebrities performing improv, stand up, and more.
3. Get Wow’d at the WOW Dance Festival 1/14-1/31/10
Now in its tenth year, the Women on the Way Festival (WOW) celebrates the diversity and variety of San Francisco performers. But there’s a catch: the performers are only female.
Three venues over three weeks rotate from dance to theater to music to comedy, all of which are done by talented female artists. Sexy, talented, and innovative, these performances are always entertaining.
A Good Night’s Never a Question at Cafe Wha?
Tucked along the NYU friendly Macdougal Street, Cafe Wha? and its humble exterior might make you question the legitimacy of this place. Put all doubts aside, over the years Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor have all performed on its small stage. 
Today, the place is always packed with a cool, downtown crowd. The lowly lit venue is always loud with buzzed New Yorkers and the small stage allows for an intimate setting. Different guests perform every night, but the acclaimed Cafe Wha? Band is guaranteed to play every Wednesday through Sunday. And comedians, many of whom have appeared on Comedy Central, HBO or late-night television, open for the band regularly.
Arrive early for the best seats, but bets are on that you half-way through you’ll be singing at the top of your lungs and turning this live music venue into a personal dance floor.
50 Years of Funny: Taming of the Flu
50 Years of Funny. Hell yeah. Bravo to Chicago’s Second City which has been going strong for 50 straight years producing some of the world’s favorite comedians and productions that push the envelope. This season, why not make fun of the flu? After all – it’s everywhere, coughing, sneezing, calling in sick for work – and you can believe the Second City cast will capitalize on it with their newest production, The Taming of the Flu.
What can you expect here? According to the 
Second City:
While hope and change won’t stop you from getting sick, they may help you pay the hospital bills. And if you believe that, we have a great policy to sell you. We’re sick of the flu, sick of the health care system, and sick of the cameras catching us running the red lights. Although technology & Twitter have supposedly made us a smaller world, people have never felt farther apart. Taming of the Flu connects with everyone: put-upon Chicago cabbies, Canadian expatriates and even a visit with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni.
Leave it to the Second City to incorporate so much more than just one topic. Word of the wise: snag your tickets fast because they’re becoming harder and harder to cough up.
The Taming of the Flu plays Tuesday through Sunday with multiple shows on weekends.
Where SNL Stars are Born: Upright Citizens Brigade
Before Amy Poehler was Baby Mama and a SNL star, she was one of the four founders of Upright Citizens Brigade, one of the premiere improvisation theaters in the country. UCB is known for its long form improvisation and the 152-seat, intimate basement theater. It is so intimate that you can literally see the sweat on the performers’ faces during the scenes. The talent ranges from familiar faces you may have seen on Madtv and 30 Rock to advanced students showing off their comedic timing on stage.
Make sure to book tickets in advance and if you plan on going to the famously free Sunday show, be prepared for a long wait. This is a casual affair with fold up chairs and an intermission filled with cheaply priced beer and wine, but that’s the way comedy should be: gritty and real.
Castagnola’s is San Francisco’s Waterfront Hotspot
This is undoubtedly Fisherman’s Wharf’s waterfront hotspot. Balmy breezes rolling right off the San Francisco Bay add to the sheer bliss of the seafood inspired menu at Castagnola’s Restaurant. Favorites include fresh specialties like the Cedar Plank King Salmon and Whole Main Lobster, but there’s also steaks, lamb, and veal for the meat lovers.
If you like a little sizzle to your meal, Castagnola’s offers entertainment like nightly live comedy and jazz during happy hour. There’s good food, great entertainment, and sophisticated cocktails-all with a beautiful view- at Castagnola’s.
Laugh it Up at Comedy Store
If you are looking to laugh your ass off in the home of true comedic hilarity, look not further than The Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard.
When passing the painted black building with red drapery, you might think that this is just another comedy house on comedy house row. Though some say the interior and exterior is nothing to rave about, everyone will agree that the comedians who grace the stages should truly never be missed.
Featuring three rooms for comedians to perform seven days a week, The Comedy Store is not only famous for being around for so long but for also having handfuls of comedians and celebrities constantly hitting the stage. Celebs like Dave Letterman and Eddie Murphy are just two of an extraordinary amount of talent that have performed at the Store and with a two drink minimum, you’ll probably laugh even more than you though you would.
Even though you are supposed to let loose at the store, there are few pointers to follow to play smartly. If you plan on buying tickets at the door, opt for buying them online to avoid herds of people who figured they would do the same thing. And if you show up without knowing who will be performing, head to the “original room” where people rant the funniest comedians perform.
When the lines are too long and the crowd top big, you don’t have to head home. You can always go to their sister store in La Jolla, if you are willing to drive a few extra miles for a few extra laughs.