Best New York Comedy

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The gorgeous and brilliantly talented Marina Squerciati tries out a one-woman show at The PIT…

…and true tales of young romance doomed to failure (“Gurl, I can smize better than you!”), accompanied by singing & piano playing from the irresistible Camille Harris, at “My High School Boyfriend Was Gay”

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open-mic stand-up show running about 90 minutes at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City with host Chris Gaynor: Open Mic Mondays

[FREE] 6:30 pm: Open-mic storytelling, with each of the four audience members chosen from the bucket of names getting to tell tales for 7 minutes each at The PIT downstairs lounge along with host Jake Hart: The Dump

[FREE] 7:30 pm: Four improvisers form teams with comics they’ve never performed with before atThe Creek upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City: The Kaleidoscope

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Scott Adsit (cast member of 30 Rock, and co-writer/director/producer & cast member of Adult Swim’s awesome & Emmy-winning Moral Orel) teaming up with fellow 30 Rock actor John Lutz (who previously spent six years as a staff writer forSaturday Night Live) to form a super-smart and hilarious star improv duo that’s become one of the very best attractions at UCB Chelsea and should not be missed: John & Scott

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Inspired by the popular blog My High School Boyfriend Was Gay, this superb show at UCB East “celebrates our most tragic, hilarious, and heinous teenage memories, full of chaste hugs, Grease sing-alongs, and trips to the stage door to accost the cast of Rent,” with true stories tonight from Giulia Rozzi (Jimmy Kimmel, MTV, VH1, Playgirl Magazine, co-host of Dive comedy and Stripped Stories), Rachel Shukert (author of Everything is Going to be Great, New York Magazine’s “Smash Recaps”), and Elaine Carroll (Very Mary Kate) hosted by Damian Bellino, and the super-delightful Camille Harris whose piano playing and singing will make you grin and dance in your seat (keep an eye out for her upcoming first CD): My High School Boyfriend Was Gay

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($9.47 online or $8 at the door): Adira Amram (fresh, hilarious rising star singer/songwriter; winner of the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Musical Act), Shane Mauss (Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central Presents) , Ryan Knighton (NPR’s This American Life), and Allison Castillo (Comedy Central) performing at Brooklyn’s Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) hosted by one of the sharpest and funniest comics alive, Kristen Schaal: Hot Tub Variety

8:00 pm ($8): Improv performed by talented duos at The PIT upstairs theatre: Ampers&nd

8:30 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups Phoebe Robinson, Jared Freid, Monroe Martin, Joyelle Johnson, Luis J. Gomez, and Andrew Schulz performing at this weekly show at Brooklyn’s Bar Matchless back room (557 Manhattan Avenue, near the G subway’s Nassau Avenue stop) hosted by Mike Denny, Michael Che, and Nimesh Patel, and often featuring free beer: Broken Comedy

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): This showcase for the wonderful Jen Nails’ Do It Yourself class tonight features one of the all-time favorite comedic actresses, the breathtakingly talented Marina Squerciati, who was the breakout star at the 2010 FringeNYC in the play Just in Time: The Judy Holiday Story. Tonight Marina—who is currently a cast member on Gossip Girl—tests out the first draft of a one-woman show titled The Bathtub Diaries

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Andy Blitz (comedy genius best known for being an Emmy-nominated and long-time writer/performer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien; has also written for Comedy Central’s Important Things, MTV’s Human Giant, etc.; a thoroughly unique stand-up whose sets—ranging from talking peanut butter to jet-flying cats—tend to be unforgettable), John Roy (Conan O’Brien), Tom McCaffrey (Comedy Central, VH1, The Onion), and Mike Racine (Comedy Central) performing at UCB East for this new show hosted by Bridey Elliott and Greg Johnson: The Price of Pleasure: A Stand-Up Comedy Show

9:30 pm ($5): Two UCB Chelsea house sketch troupes try out new bits: Neighbor Boy (which tends to be weak on material, but includes such talents as Tim Dunn and Beth Appel, and may get a shot in the arm with the addition of writer Caitlin Bitzegaio), and Fambly (which includes wonderful rising star Mamrie Hart, Nicole Byer, Dan Chamberlain, Veronica Osorio, and a sharp crew of writers): Maude Night: Neighbor Boy & Fambly

[FREE] 9:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central Presents, Jimmy Kimmel), Mara Herron (VH1), Reg Ferguson, Travis Irvine, Chris Lamberth, Paul Hooper, Koretta Gray, and Daralyn Kelleher performing at Brooklyn’s Freddy’s Backroom (627 5th Avenue) with host Pat O’Shea: Ed Sullivan on Acid

[FREE] 10:30 pm: Improv students are welcomed onto the stage at The PIT downstairs lounge for this weekly open access show hosted by Gary DeNoia & Keith Huang: Base Jam

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who haven’t been announced yet for tonight, but you can check for an update by clicking here—performing at UCB Chelsea and hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (HBO, Saturday Night Live, Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central): Whiplash

[FREE] 11:00 pm: If you’re an audience member who loves stand-up, Monday at 11 should beWhiplash! night (see listing above). If you’re a comic who couldn’t get booked on UCBT’s all-star show, though, you can opt to instead practice your skills at this stand-up open-mic at The PITupstairs theatre hosted by Erin Lennox & Michelle Wolf: Fresh

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