Best New York Comedy

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Wry, quick-witted, hilarious Natasha Leggero concludes her not-to-be-missed run tonight headlining at Comix...

...while the champion of feminism Leibya Rogers performs for her comedy CD recording Leibya Fair Live...

...and the absolute funniest show (out of 197) at last month's FringeNYC—a comedic play about fantasy role-play gaming—has its final encore performances tonight and Sunday: Saving Throw Versus Love

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:

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($8): Brilliant comedic singer/songwriter Mindy Raf lets loose as her best-known character, ultra-feminist Leibya Rogers, singing songs for freedom in “a loving parody of Ani Difranco and the singer-songwriters of the 90’s,” to record Leibya’s first comedy CD—with the help of comedy genius Kate McKinnon—at Arlene’s Grocery (95 Stanton Street): Leibya Fair Live

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm & 10:00 pm ($26.95 online if you use code PLAYBILL, plus 2-item minimum): A razor-sharp and irresistible star who was the stand-out judge on this summer’sLast Comic Standing; who’s performed on Jay Leno, Comedy Central, FX, Chelsea Lately, and more (for samples, please click here); and who loves music, dark comedy, and mercilessly parodying the rich, performing a not-to-be-missed headlining set at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Natasha Leggero

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisor Christina Gausas and friends she originally made in Chicago—which include writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors, all joyously declaring Let’s Have a Ball

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A stand-up who’s appeared on HBO’s Down and Dirty, performed his own Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, co-hosts the weekly Tuesday NYC comedy show Punch Up Your Life, and recently released his comedy CDThe Depression Auction, headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Joe DeRosa

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($15 at the door, $13.99 online): NYC improv and sketch troupes—many of whom perform at The PIT—competing against each other via this unusual annual contest in which each group, regardless of specialty, will perform both improv and sketch…as well as a comedy form known as sketchprov using the Second City routine The Pad. This final night of the week-long competition features the best of the groups, and will probably sell out, so buying in advance onlineis recommended: SketchProv

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—and the Cage Match Champion for two years in a row!—genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Visiting Irish comedy star Maeve Higgins, master sketch comic Kurt Braunohler (Comedy Central; co-creator & co-star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets), Roger Hailes (Chappelle’s Show, VH1, MTV; for sample video, please click here), and more performing at Brooklyn’s Sycamore with hosts Caroline Creaghead and Anne Johnson: Rope Swing

9:00 pm ($7): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!

[MEGA-TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($18): The absolute funniest comedy at FringeNYC 2010 was a play about the world of D&D role-play gaming. It’s a smart, hilarious production that’s exceptionally well-written and directed with razor-sharp timing. For my review, please click here; and then don’t miss this second chance provided by the FringeNYC Encore Series to experience the extraordinarySaving Throw Versus Love

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, fast-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience interaction and audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer

10:30 pm ($10): While Reuben Williams plays a gig in Las Vegas, improv troupe Bastian fills in with an intriguing-sounding show springboarding off audience fantasies: Why Don’t You Do What You Dream?

10:30 pm ($5): Vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): “The most fabulous show on Earth,” hosted by Tim Gunn (John Flynn) and Tim Gunn (Michael Hartney), tonight featuring Project Runway Season 5 contestants Jennifer Diederich and Wesley Nault, plus superb comedic performers (both straight and gay)—including Megan Neuringer, Andy Rocco, Brian Faas, Sue Galloway, Eliot Glazer, Chris Kelly, Matt Pavlovich, and Thorgi—and two audience members who’ll be selected to compete in a design challenge, at The Same Sex-Tacular

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