NYC Top Comedy Choices for Monday 10/1/12

October 1, 2012

For more, please visit HyReviews.com.

Marina Squerciati

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

My High School Boyfriend Was Gay

…and true tales of young romance doomed to failure (“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?” “Hey, girl, hey. Right here. Popping my hip atchu.”), 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: Weekly hour-long open-mic storytelling show, with audience members chosen from a bucket of names getting to tell tales for 8 minutes each at The PIT downstairs lounge along with host Jake Hart: The Dump

6:00 pm ($5 cover & $5 drink min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open-mic stand-up with 4 1/2 minutes per set and 20 comics crammed into 2 hours—at the Greenwich Village Comedy Club (99 MacDougal Street) for John Morrison’s Village Motel

[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

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): World-class storyteller Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 18-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of hilarious monthly storytelling extravaganzas Tales of the Cosmos and The Adam Wade Show; for a sampling of Adam’s award-winning tales, please click here), hosts a show at The Magnet that’s “like watching the characters of The Wonder Years and Freaks & Geeks all grown up and telling coming-of-age tales of love, lost, regret, and redemption,” with tonight’s guests Robin Gelfenbien (host of storytelling show Yum’s the Word; VH1, Sirius Satellite Radio, FringeNYC), Ginny Leise, Justin Trudell, and Jen Bokoff: Adam Wade’s Whatever Happened to the Nerds?

7:00 pm ($8): A house sketch troupe performs bits about current events at The PIT upstairs theatre: National Scandal Nightly News

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

7:30 pm ($10; sign-up starts at 7:00 pm): Open mic for stand-ups, storytellers, singers, poets, actors, and more, with 5 minutes per performer and 25 slots available, at One and One Bar’s Downstairs Nexus Lounge (76 1st Street, corner of First Avenue) hosted by Nathan P., followed by a raucous afterparty with dancing & drink specials from 10:00 to midnight: Inspired Word’s Open Mic Joint

[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 for Saturday 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 ($9.47 online or $8 at the door): The final NYC edition of this superb weekly show, as a result of Kurt & Kristen moving on to greater things (and lesser cities…). Helping bid it adieu are Eugene Mirman, James Adomian, Marcus Monroe, Nick Turner, and more performing stand-up at Brooklyn’s Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) hosted by Kurt Braunohler: Hot Tub Variety

[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 Bridgid Ryan (host of Don’t You Find Us Charming?, improv troupe Chester), Ariel Carson (Pillow Talk), William Mullin (Risk!), and Naomi Ekperigin, with hosts Damian Bellino, and the super-delightful Camille Harris whose piano playing and singing will make you grin and dance in your seat: My High School Boyfriend Was Gay

[FREE] 8:30 pm: NYC stand-ups celebrating the One Year Anniversary of this weekly show at Brooklyn’s Matchless (557 Manhattan Avenue) hosted by Mike Denny, Michael Che, and/or Nimesh Patel: Broken Comedy

8:30 pm ($5): Sketch troupe Shelby Company performs oddball bits for this Magnet sketch show show that in the past has included two-timing monsters and presidential ninjas: Ephemerama

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($8): 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 and whose current credits include being a cast member on Gossip Girl (with way more to come…). See this rising star try out a one-man show, plus Laurie Lattimer doing her own one-woman show, at The PIT upstairs theatre: Do It Yourself

9:30 pm ($5): Two UCB Chelsea house sketch troupes try out fresh material: Supereasy (which includes such stellar talents as Livia Scott) and Dinner (which includes such stellar talents as Silvija Ozols, Caitlin Bitzegaio, Don Fanelli, and Eddie Dunn): Maude Night: Supereasy & Dinner

[FREE] 9:30 pm: Following a club format, hosts Nore Davis & Andrew Short perform stand-up throughout for a total of 25 minutes, two comics each perform a 15-minute set, and then a seasoned headliner closes out the show with a 20-minute set, all at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City: On the Road

[FREE] 9:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Jaqi Furback, Mo Diggs, James Search, Erika Wasser, Brian McGuiness, Matt Nagin, and Christian Polanco performing stand-up at Pat O’Shea’s free biweekly Brooklyn showcase at Freddy’s Backroom (627 5th Avenue): Ed Sullivan on Acid

9:30 pm ($5): The debut of the only open-stage show for entire groups of improvisors and sketch comics, running weekly at UCB East hosted by Austin Rodrigues: Bring Your Own Team: Improv/Sketch Team Jam

[FREE] 10:00 pm: Open-mic storytelling show at The Magnet hosted by Kelly Buttermore: Storytelling Mixer

[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

[FREE] 10:30 pm: Karaoke at the UCB East Bar for the 9:30 BYOT improvisors and more: Karaoke Night at the Hot Chicks Room

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who are no longer being announced in advance, but it’s virtually always a great lineup—at UCB Chelsea hosted by someone wonderful (while usual wonderful host Leo Allen is in LA): Whiplash

[FREE] 11:00 pm: If you’re an audience member who loves stand-up, Monday at 11 should be Whiplash! 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 exceptionally supportive stand-up open-mic at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted by Jared Reed: Fresh

For more, please visit HyReviews.com.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Monday 5/7/12

May 7, 2012

For more, please visit HyReviews.com.

For some of NYC’s greatest storytellers, please click here.

Marina Squerciati

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

My High School Boyfriend Was Gay

…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

For more, please visit HyReviews.com.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Friday 9/10/10

September 10, 2010

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Marina Squerciati in Just in Time: The Judy Holliday Story

Marina Squerciati delivers one of the best performances of the year in the FringeNYC Encore comedy "Just In Time: The Judy Holliday Story"...

Amy Schumer

...and rising star Amy Schumer headlines tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club

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] 7:00 pm: Razor-sharp comedic singing duo Stuckey & Murray, stand-ups Emily Epstein, Elon James White, and Dave Lester, band The Summer Replacements, and more performing atOtto’s Shrunken Head (538 East 14th Street, between Avenues A and B) hosted by Eric Vetter: No Name and A Bag O’ Chips

7:00 pm ($8): Award-winning improv duo Lucas Kavner and Bradford Jordan make stuff up with “a celebrity guest improvisor’ at Swords

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): A delightful tale of heartbreak by Leslie Meisel —who manages the impressive feat of being adorable, sexy, and hilarious all at the same time, and is a sharp comedic talent very much worth keeping an eye on—quite ably abetted by co-writer Megan Neuringer in one of the smartest theatrical shows to grace UCBT this year: Love Can Suck a Dick…and So Can I …

…plus, as the second half of this double-bill, “pop culture obsessed Billy Eichner takes you on a fun-filled 30 minute journey through his twisted and topical celebrity-fueled world:” Billy Eichner Goes Pop!

[$] 7:30 pm & 10:00 pm ($35 & 2-drink min.)  A TV & film star whose credits include Beauty Shopwith Queen Latifah and Bulworth; hosting BET’s Hollah! and Comic View; and appearing on ABC’sThe View, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and Politically Incorrect, and Showtime’s Laffapalooza, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Sheryl Underwood

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 on ($19.33 online with discount code WONG, plus 2-item minimum): A petite comedy dynamo, this razor-sharp rising star will shock you and make you roar with laughter with a fearlessness that’s won her acclaim in San Francisco and, over the past year, a devoted following in NYC; don’t miss her headlining for one night only—along with performances from Hannibal Buress, Sheng Wang, and Kevin Camia—at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Ali Wong

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): A groundbreaking and surreal improv/sketch troupe performing with new guests each Friday and making a valid complaint: Centralia: We Were Supposed To Have Flying Cars By Now

[FREE] 8:00: NYC stand-ups (who haven’t been announced) performing at O’Hanlon’s (14th Street off 1st Avenue), possibly hosted by Matt Ruby: Hot Soup

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A stand-up who co-hosts FUSE’s A Different Spin; has performed on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, NBC’s 30 Rock, Jimmy Fallen, John Oliver’s NY Stand-Up, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show; and has interviewed such celebs as Sarah Silverman (to watch, please clickhere), headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Amy Schumer

[MEGA-TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($18): My pick for #1 show (out of 197) at this year’s spectacularFringeNYC 2010 was an award-winning comedy about comedy legend Judy Holliday featuring one of the best performances you’re likely to see anywhere this year. Please read my review by clickinghere; and don’t miss this second chance provided by the FringeNYC Encore Series to experience the delightful Just in Time: The Judy Holliday Story

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about awkward goodbyes at the end of a party, please click here) delivering a brand new collection of sketches titled Ms. Larsen’s Class: The Harvard Sailing Team

10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Jonathan Gabrus, Sue Galloway, and other superb improvisors make up scenes about an audience member’s legal dispute at The Law Firm: Law & Disorder

11:15 ($5):Roman Rimer performs a one-man show about “inspirational and comedic true stories intertwining spirituality, sex, laws, identity, drug busts, discomfort, fear and discovery from a spontaneous road trip down South” in Evolution

[TOP PICK] [$] Midnight ($22.50 & 2-drink min.) Some of the raunchiest shock comics in the biz—Adrienne Iapalucci, Kurt Metzger, Mike Vecchione, and headliner Jay Oakerson—performing stand-up through Sunday at Carolines: Jay Oakerson’s Dirty Minds

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Stand-up comic Tom McCaffrey switches to a career as “a hip-hop superstar,” performing as TMC his “hip-hop/comedy rapsterpiece” Get Rich or Move Back in With my Dad, aided by such comedy greats as Carolyn Castiglia, Mara Herron, Joe Derosa, Rob Cantrell, Dan Curry, and Boris Khaykin: Joke Life

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Sunday 8/15/10

August 15, 2010

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

Marina Squerciati

Come catch a FringeNYC comedy playing today at 1:45 pm that's received great buzz, in large part due to its lead actress Marina Squerciati -- Just in Time: The Judy Holliday Story

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] [$] 1:45 pm ($18): FringeNYC is one of the most delightful annual events in NYC, and it’s happening for the rest of August; to learn lots more, please click here. Be sure to check out the Festival’s superb comedy shows—such as today’s debut of a play at the Soho Playhouse about a screen legend, which has gotten great buzz for its lead Broadway actress Marina Squerciati: Just in Time: The Judy Holliday Story

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:15 pm ($18): One of the very best shows at FringeNYC 2010 is a comedy from NYC’s own Faye Lane, a luminous storyteller and singer who will charm your socks off—and possibly give you a moon pie to boot. Please read my review by clicking here; and don’t miss Faye Lane’s Beauty Shop Stories

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT’s signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced) performing at RG Daniels’ free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Streeter Seidell (College Humor, MTV, The New York Times), Sheng Wang (Comedy Central), Lil Rel (Last Comic Standing, Russell Simmons Presents), Chuck Burks (writer for Chappelle’s Show), Matty Goldberg, David Cope, and Amanda Baramki performing at Calise Hawkins’ free weekly show at The Fat Black Pussy Cat (130 West 3rd Street): S’Weird Man

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced) performing at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan) hosted by the wonderful Hannibal Buress (writer for SNL; comedy CD My Name is Hannibal): Comedy Night

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced) performing in the East Village’s Beauty Bar at Vince Averill’s & Jesse Popp’s free weekly extravaganza Beauty Bar Comedy

[FREE] 10:00 pm: Karith Foster (Comedy Central), Dana Lovecchio (Comedy Central), and Scott Ryan (Here! TV’s Hot Gay Comics) performing at this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapytonight guest-hosted by Adam Sank: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

Leave a Comment » | Best New York Live Comedy Shows | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
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