experimental comedy

October 16, 2017

comedy show, edinburgh fringe, experimental comedy, laid, los angeles, lyric hyperion, natalie palamides, silverlake, sketch comedy, solo show

After gaining international critical acclaim at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Natalie Palamides’ groundbreaking show returns home for another run at The Lyric Hyperion Theatre & Cafe.

Also, the show’s director (and Fringe Festival favorite), Dr. Brown, will attempt to perform the show. Show description reads (probably written by Natalie):
Dr. Brown has been developing this show with Natalie for over a year and knows the show like the back of his hand… SO HE THINKS. Come watch Dr. Brown crash and burn OR, more likely, blow the show so far out of the water that Natalie hands the role over to him forever. Following the show the audience is welcome to watch Natalie give notes on his performance.

Get tickets for LAID here and the Dr. Brown Edition here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com

October 13, 2017

chicago, comedy show, experimental comedy, helltrap nightmare, horror comedy, jamie loftus, los angeles, sarah sherman, sarah squirm, silverlake, sketch, stand up

Though Halloween will be over, you can keep the spirit alive with Chicago’s own Helltrap Nightmare, a surrealist, horror comedy show (seemingly in the same oozing vein of The Heart, She Holler) coming to the Lyric Hyperion next month.

Also, it might be a perfect night for the show as it’ll be exactly a year to the day after, well, you know, the 2016 election was over.

The line-up includes:
-host Sarah Squirm, The Shrimp Boys, and Scott Egleston, all from Chicago
-Ruby McCollister from NYC
-LA’s own Jamie Loftus, Bruce Bundy, and Lyra Hill.

Tickets are $10 and you can (and should, if you dare) get them here.

September 29, 2017

alice wetterlund, cocktail party, comedy show, experimental comedy, hollywood, jay larson, johnny pemberton, kurt braunohler, los angeles, mary holland, max and ivan, nick thune, outfit home, toast, toastmasters, toasty

Toasty is half real cocktail party, half fictional cocktail party with a bunch of characters giving toasts from folks that are, shall we say, not quite well-adjusted. It also happens to be one of our, hands down, favorite things ever.

The line-up would be stellar for a normal comedy show, but, as this is a slightly otherworldly show, it’s even more special.

Please get your tickets as soon as you can because space is limited. They’re $20 (includes free drinks and snacks) and you can get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

September 25, 2017

comedy show, epic comedy, experimental comedy, los angeles, lyric hyperion, odyssey, parody, play, silverlake, sketch comedy

Gerald, the amazing absurdist, partially nude, uncanny, kind-of-adult epic, directed by none other than Dr. Brown, is returning for another run at the Lyric Hyperion next month with the amazing cast of Max Baumgarten, Chad Damiani, Isaac Kessler, Erin Lampart, Paul B Levenhagen, Natalie Palamides, Anna Seregina, and Mark Sherman.

We’ve seen it for ourselves and it really is all those things that we said above.

Please get your tickets as soon as you can here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

September 20, 2017

comedy show, dark, experimental comedy, in the dark, live comedy, los angeles, lyric hyperion, marlena rodriguez, pitch black, silverlake, stand up, stand up in dark

Really, this show, Dark: Stand Up Comedy in Pitch Black, really takes advantage of your other senses while depriving you of your sight and it is one hell of a marvelous, hilarious ride.

Don’t miss the latest edition of the show with another wondrous line-up including Kara Klenk, Gary Richardson, Renee Gauthier, Mitra Jouhari, Jordan Doll, Grace Lusk, Noah Findling, and, of course, host Marlena Rodriguez.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door and you can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

September 12, 2017

amy miller, boast rattle, comedy show, compliments, dave ross, david gborie, experimental comedy, guy branum, hollywood, los angeles, matthew broussard, solomon georgio, ucb

People being nice to each other is such a novel concept these days that having people competitively complimenting each other would indeed be a basis for a show worth going out to see.

That’s why we keep telling you to go to Kyle Ayers Boast Rattle, which has its latest edition this Thursday with a “joy-filled, rosy eyed” line-up.

Tickets are $7 and you can (and really should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

September 4, 2017

allen strickland williams, amber nelson, comedy show, drinkin smokin and west coastin, dtla, ellie mcelvain, experimental comedy, ian abramson, living funeral, los angeles, lucas gardner, mikey heller, nikki black, nina tarr, steven king, think tank gallery

Nikki Black and Nina Tarr’s It’s Your Funeral really does feature live eulogies of audience members that have not yet left this mortal coil after a brief interview by featured comedians.

If you wanted a fun preview of what a living funeral might be like, this is absolutely for you, especially for the fact that Black and Tarr play two charming Jersey Girls who love the macabre.

The latest edition of It’s Your Funeral is happening this week at Think Tank Gallery. Get more details here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

September 2, 2017

clowning, comedy show, dtla, experimental comedy, idiot, john gilkey, live comedy, los angeles, think tank gallery, wet the hippo

If you’re wondering what people are doing at the edges of comedy in terms of experimenting with the form, challenging methods, etc., you might want to check out The Idiot Hub.

The Idiot Hub is an absurdist comedy collective, started by one John Gilkey, that likes to peel back every convention and trope of comedy that they can in favor of something silly and visceral. Starting off in 2013 as the ensemble known as Wet The Hippo, they have since expanded into other shows that you might have heard or seen around LA such such as The Murge and The Vivian Beckley Performing Arts Players and classes.

Typical performances will have a very sizable cast and aim to be more interactive, very physical, defy expectation, and be absent of a “fourth wall”. For instance, The Murge will have Gilkey pick and guide/heckle players into some sort of crazy bit as if a stand-up was directing a very otherworldly improv scene.

The Murge and The Vivian Beckley Performing Arts Players will be doing their next show at The Think Tank Gallery in Downtown LA as part of Drinkin’ Smokin’ & West Coastin’ on Saturday September 9th starting at 9PM.

Tickets are $17-$23 and you can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

August 31, 2017

character comedy, experimental comedy, free comedy, hollywood, john paliferro, los angeles, nick gligor, pack theater, speedface

For 2 years, The Pack Theater has been home to our favorite inter-dimensional character/bit show, SPEEDFACE.

To mark this anniversary this Sunday, they’re starting earlier than normal at 9PM so they can put on an extra special, big Speedface chock full of the best bits of comedy that only last 100 seconds.

As with all shows at The Pack Theater, admission is ‘pay what you can’. Get more details here.

August 30, 2017

comedy show, dr brown, experimental comedy, free comedy, incubator, live comedy, los angeles, lyric hyperion, silverlake

One of the best recurring shows at the marvelous Lyric Hyperion Theatre & Cafe is Dr. Brown’s Incubator.

Internationally renowned and award winning comedian Dr. Brown actually does a whole run of shows with a big cast that starts from scratch and grows and develops night after night into a beautifully interwoven interactive live show of experimental characters, sketches, etc.

Incubator’s latest run will be happening all next week in previews that are pay what you can for admission on:
Tuesday, Sept 5
Wednesday, Sept 6
Thursday, Sept 7
Friday, Sept 8

All of this will lead up to a final showcase night on Saturday, September 9th at 9PM for $10. Get your tickets soon here as they do go pretty fast.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

cheap comedy, experimental comedy, experimental theater, free comedy, los angeles, losing virginity, lyric hyperion theatre, silverlake

A descent into the psyche of Jamie Loftus is an experience that we’ve enjoyed reveling in for the last couple of years now.

So, a show that’s specifically themed to losing her virginity 7 years ago hosted by the man she lost her virginity to sounds pretty great to us.

Also, in Jamie’s own words, there will be:

– A STUPID-ASS PLAY WITH ME N BARBIE
– FREE ZINES FOR THOSE WHO RSVP IN ADVANCE
– ENTERTAINMENT B/W SCENES FROM LUMINARIES SUCH AS:
Lizzy Cooperman, Mira Gonzalez, Christina Catherine Martinez, Mitra Joy,Caitlin Durante, Alana Levinson, Corie Johnson, MY PARENTS Jill andMike, MY BROTHER Ben, MY OBOE TEACHER
– NEW CARTOONS FROM ME JAMIE
– THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE YOUR PHOTOGRAPH WITH A MASSIVE SEVERED HYMEN WHO WILL TELL YOUR FORTUNE
– LIVE COMMENTARY FROM STEVEN WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN AUGUST 15 2010 INTHAT HE WAS THE ONE WHO TOOK FROM ME THAT WHICH I CAN NEVER GET BACK (CONSENSUALLY)

For what could be a life-altering show, donations will be accepted.

Get more details and RSVP here.

cheap comedy, dark, dark comedy, experimental comedy, josh fadem, los angeles, lyric hyperion, marlena rodriguez, pitch black, ryan singer, silverlake, stand up, stand up in dark

Marlena Rodriguez will be shrouding comedians and audiences in darkness once more for another round of DARK: Stand Up Comedy in Pitch Black this week on Friday, Aug. 11th 8PM at Lyric Hyperion Theatre & Cafe in Silverlake.

Ryan Singer, Amber Nelson, David Gborie, Josh Fadem, Kara Klenk, Aaron Weaver, are Kyle Ayers slated to perform (and that’s a line-up that’s worth seeing in the light as well)

Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. You can (and really should) get your tickets in advance here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Our friends at DoLA asked us what indie comedy shows in LA you can’t miss and we happily obliged with this list.

experimental comedy, free comedy, howard kremer, jury duty, los angeles, lyric hyperion theatre, pack theater, ripped bodice, stand up, summahfest, virgil

Our friends at DoLA asked us what indie comedy shows in LA you can’t miss and we happily obliged with this list.

bridey elliott, comedy show, experimental comedy, ian abramson, it's your funeral, jamie loftus, live comedy, los angeles, lyric hyperion, nikki black, nina tarr, silverlake

Unless you’re going to do a living funeral, you’re never going to get the opportunity to hear your own eulogy.

This Friday, you’ll have the opportunity to not only get a eulogy, but one from some of LA’s finest comedians in the very first It’s Your Funeral.

Get your tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

art, art forum, atwater village, calm talk, comedy show, dan mintz, experimental comedy, frogtown, glassell park, in conversation, josh fadem, los angeles, ron funches, silverlake, zebulon

Josh Fadem and Brent Weinbach, two comedians that are mastered in the art of being silly, will “lead” a “forum” on art. We’re not sure exactly how that’ll manifest, but we’re excited for whatever that will end up being.

Also, Ron Funches and Dan Mintz from Bob’s Burgers are just a few of their guests.

Tickets will be available at the door.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

alison leiby, darkness, experimental comedy, live comedy, los angeles, lyric hyperion, marlena rodriguez, nick vatterott, pitch black, solomon georgio, stand up, steph tolev

That’s right. This show is stand-up comedy completely in complete darkness. If you’ve never experienced such a thing before, it’s pretty trippy, and, for this show, you’ll be in the hands of a great line-up.

Also, we should point out that this show, done in pitch black darkness, has a comedian named Steven King on it (sure, it’s spelled differently than the author, but it’s still a cool, novelty selling point anyway).

You can (and should) get your tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Via Airbnb, You Can Ride Along with The Comedy Bureau for an Evening

airbnb, experimental comedy, improv comedy, indie comedy, local tours, los angeles, podcast taping, sketch comedy, stand up, tourism, tours, underground comedy, what to do, what to see

UCB’s Cool Sh*t/Weird Sh*t taking the show into a convenience store, Hollywood

Airbnb has officially launched an exciting new “experiences” program where local experts can show visitors places and happenings that usually only denizens of that city could know and love.

Our founder, Jake Kroeger, is indeed hosting one of those experiences, a “Comedy Bureau Ride Along”.

Basically, we here at The Comedy Bureau see the best comedy in LA seven nights a week to keep tabs on what’s going on and what’s worth telling our readers about.

Good Heroin at Stories in Echo Park, Photo by Kelly Dwyer

So, if you want to see what we see and hang with us as we make the rounds around the LA comedy scene, you can book us for a night here.

Moses Storm literally connecting to his audience with a specially made sweater at UCB Franklin

For your money, we’ll cover all admission to shows we go to, let you grab a ride with us from spot to spot, and hang with us after with comedians wherever that may be. Think of it like a police ride-along, but it’s for comedy and it’s with one of the most highly regarded authorities in LA comedy.

As you can see above and below, we really go wherever we have to for a hearty laugh. There are limited spots for our ‘ride along’, two per night in fact, and we’ve already got people reserving their spots. So, you might want to act on this fast.

Again, get more details and reserve your spot for the experience right now right here.

Alex {Hanpeter] and Jude [Tedmori] having a bit of innocent, “harmless” fun at their “What A Time to Be Alive” show, Photo by Joel Mandelkorn

dicker troy, eddie pepitone, experimental comedy, josh fadem, kate berlant, live comedy, los angeles, mike lawrence, nick vatterott, satellite, silverlake, stand up

Few explore the frontiers of silliness quite like Josh Fadem and Dicker Troy (Johnny Pemberton) and we think you would really regret any time the duo got together and reveled in their next level tomfoolery.

So, with that in mind, get tickets to their next show, this Sunday at The Satellite with guests Eddie Pepitone, Nick Vatterott, Mike Lawrence, and Kate Berlant. They are $8 and you can (and really should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Jamie Loftus and JASH Will Be Livestreaming a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-1980s-Political Thriller/Ballet Performance “Swan Lake Live!” From a Locked Basement

absurdist comedy, choose your own adventure, experimental comedy, jamie loftus, jash, live stream, parody, reagan, swan lake

If you love absurdist, experimental comedy, please commit the name Jamie Loftus to memory (we’ve suggested doing this on a number of occasions as we find Jamie to be hysterical).

You can see why we love Jamie with her latest endeavor that mixes ballet, conspiracy theory, President Ronald Reagan, and choose your own adventure all into one event that will be livestreamed.

We’ll actually let Jamie further explain “Swan Lake Live! (from a Locked Basement)”:

The premise of the show goes: it is March 30, 1981, the day of Reagan’s assassination attempt, and I play a ballerina/government spy named um Jamie Loftus which is my name and my associate Gary and I come to in a locked basement that is slowly filling with gas from a stove full of ham upstairs. Suspecting that our employer, the president, may be in danger, we are tasked with escaping the basement and saving Ronald Reagan (who is a shitty president but we don’t know that yet it’s only 1981 keep up) while still performing Swan Lake in its entirety.

WHY WE NEED YOU: Because this is a livestream, I’m introducing several choose-your-own-adventure style choices in the show, including whether I should do a complicated ballet dance in a Ronald Reagan mask or whether I should buttchug a bottle of milk after punching through a pinata I made of Jodie Foster’s head.

THERE WILL BE: five dances to Swan Lake, five choices for the audience, three original cartoons from me Jamie, two miserable ballerina ingenues trapped in a basement that is slowly filling with gas, two costume changes I have to do live on camera and only one chance to see it live.

Also, my boyfriend is a young man named John Hinckley Junior, a man who you may not have heard of as of March 30, 1981 but who I think has the potential to really make something of himself.

Pretty great, right?

You can get more details about Swan Lake Live! (From a Locked Basement) here and livestream it on JASH tomorrow at 12PM PST-3PMPST.

andres du bouchet, eddie pepitone, experimental comedy, hollywood, jay larson, john early, kate berlant, lauren lapkus, los angeles, matt mccarthy, outfit home, toast

Blending a show and semi-fictional parties together, CleftClips’ Toasty allows comedians to give the toasts that they have always dreamed of. It’s one of our all time favorite shows and the line-up for the latest edition, as you can see above, is stellar.

Tickets are $20 (the venue is small, so they will be limited and you should get them sooner rather than later), and cocktail attire is required.

cheap comedy, cocoon central dance team, eleanore pienta, experimental comedy, hollywood, john early, kate berlant, live comedy, los angeles, modern dance, sunita mani, tallie medel

Trailblazing comedy dance team, Cocoon Central Dance Team, is stopping by LA once again this Monday at UCB Sunset. On top of their imaginative routines (and everything that goes down between them dancing), they’ll be joined by another great team of John Early and Kate Berlant.

Tickets are still available at $7 a pop and you can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

david brown, devin field, diana reasonover, eugene cordero, experimental comedy, hollywood, late night, marques ray, parody, sketch comedy, ucb, ucb franklin, will hines

We weren’t kidding about that pull quote from our ‘100 Best’ list from last year.

F*ck This Late Night Show, the late night talk show that has an enemy force actively trying to ruin the show, was so damn fun.

They’re finally doing another version of it next week and you really ought to not miss it.

Tickets are only $5 and you can (and really should) get them here.

cheap comedy, experimental comedy, hollywood, joe pera, kate berlant, los angeles, stand up, ucb, whitmer thomas

Currently, one of the most best and most unique voices in comedy belongs to Joe Pera.

He’ll be doing an extended set at UCB Sunset next Wednesday, March 29th at 10:30PM that you shouldn’t miss.

In fact, knowing Joe, there might even be some truth to him allowing “anyone to drive his mid-size rental car wherever they would like to go” after the show.

Tickets are $7 and you can (and should) get them here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

cheap comedy, experimental comedy, hollywood, los angeles, natalie palamides, solo show, ucb franklin

As the pull quote on the flyer above suggests, Natalie Palamides’ solo show LAID is one of our favorite things of 2016.

Thankfully, she’s bringing it back once more, this Monday, in LA at UCB Franklin and you really ought to not miss the groundbreaking show.

Please get your tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

Comedy Crawl & Open Mic Run Updated for Next Week

cheap comedy, comedy shows, experimental comedy, free comedy, improv, los angeles, sketch, stand up

Comedy Crawl & Open Mic Run Updated for Next Week

Judah Friedlander for $5, new UCB Maude teams, Yacht Rock, Dick Gregory, and more!