new york comedy

One of the marvels of Anna Seregina and her comedy is that it is simultaneously ethereal and lofty, but undeniably farcical at the same very moment in spacetime. Seregina freely floats in between meta layers of bits and even of herself, but the silliness she embodies keeps the fun accessible to those who might initially seek out comedy at its fringes.

It’s this notion that should lead you to Seregina performing her “tour” of herself, A Tour of Anna directed by the splendid Mitra Jouhari more specfically, at the New York Comedy Festival next Sat. Nov. 11th at 5PM at Union Hall with beloved NYC comedy raconteur Dave Hill opening.

“Tour” tickets are only $15.64 and you really ought to go get them here right now.

Pick of the Day: Roz Hernandez (in NYC) 11/8

October 30, 2023

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new york comedy, ny comedy fest, roz hernandez, stand up comedy

If you somehow weren’t aware, Roz Hernandez is having a moment (and then some). There’s her hit podcast Ghosted!, then the upcoming Hulu comedy adjacent, supernatural reality series Living for the Dead, and then there’s her headlining show at the New York Comedy Festival.

That’s right, Roz will be front and center at the historic Stonewall Inn on Nov. 8th at 7PM as one of, as far as we’re concerned, one of the highlights/gems/must-sees of the entire festival (and there’s a whole lot of everything comedy to choose from). In general, Roz’s penchant for delightful, exuberant mischief is something you should never miss if it’s going to happen anywhere near you, but you definitely need to go snag tix at $25.55 to see Roz put on a gala worthy show at NYCF.

Pick of the Day: Danny Jolles Is Making Something Special (in NYC) 11/10

October 27, 2023

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Considering that Danny Jolles’ first special was done in six parts in unique venues a la Don’t Tell Comedy, then had a second special that was done Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style, when Danny says he’s going to do something “special”, you better believe that it’s not just going to be Danny delivering his meticulously crafted bits one right after the other on a bare stage.

Jolles obviously has something up his hoodie/bomber jacket sleeves and given that he’s setting to do something “special” at the New York Comedy Festival next month, it’s something that really will very likely exude the word in a way that few comedy specials actually do these days. Also, it’ll be really damn funny because Danny is really damn funny.

Danny Jolles Is Making Something Special is set for Chelsea Music Hall at NYCF on Fri. Nov. 10th at 6:30PM. Tickets are $34.28 a pop and we highly suggest snagging them right now right here.

Pick of the Day: LET’S MAKE A POOP FEAT. TRIUMPH THE INSULT COMIC DOG (NYCF) 11/6

October 25, 2023

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new york comedy, new york comedy festival, nyc, robert smigel, triumph the insult comic dog

Many things will endure in the collective memories of Gen-Xers and Millennial fans of Conan O’Brien and one of the most unforgettable of those things would be the Robert Smigel creation that is Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. A grandmaster of the man-on-the-street style of interview, Smigel’s dog puppet covered hand and his vaguely European gravel-y accent and some of the sickest burns and a constantly dropped cigar made an indelible impression in the world of late night and still lives on in laughs when remembering things like Triumph hanging with Star Wars fans or going to any political convention.

So, it shouldn’t go without saying that a very special New York Comedy Festival evening with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog lined up for Nov. 6th at 8PM at the Murmrr Theatre should be an immediate buy. Take care of that at $31.14 a pop here.

Pick of the Day: WGA Strike/Entertainment Community Fund Comedy Benefits (in LA & NYC)

May 16, 2023

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All signs point towards the Writers’ Strike lasting for quite some time. Don’t be surprised if this one goes as long as the last one (more than a couple months) or even longer.

As such, more support will be needed for many TV/movie writers who primary source of income will be on, shall we say, on hiatus for quite some time. Many a comedy writer is affected in this strike and, thankfully, there are plenty of benefits for the Entertainment Community Fund that will be supporting said comedy writers and writers of all ilks coming up.

Three in mind have caught our attention between LA and NYC.

On Wed. 5/17 at 8:30PM, UCB Franklin in LA will have writers from the likes of A.P. Bio, Ted Lasso, Never Have I Ever, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Loot, and New Girl do an improvised writers room. Cast includes Beth Appel, Phil Augusta Jackson, Kassia Miller, Zeke Nicholson, Mike O’Brien, Lamar Woods. All profits go to Entertainment Community Fund. Tickets are $15.

For Tues. 5/23 at 8:30PM ET, Planet Showbiz in NYC will be putting on a special showcase of Tonight Show writers bringing you their best jokes with all proceeds goin to the Entertainment Community Fund. More specficially Mike Drucker, Martin Urbano, Kylie Brakeman, Becky Krause, Brooks Allison, Zahid Dewji, and Mike Hanford are all on the bill. Tickets are $15.

Later this month, the cast and writers of dark horse reality/game show secret Jury Duty will be assembling to do a blend of stand-up and improv for the Entertainment Community Fund. That includes Susan Berger, David Brown, Kirk Fox, Marcos Gonzalez, Pramode Kumar, Brandon Loeser, Sheedz Olayiwola, Kerry O’Neill, Ben Seaward, and Ron Song all coming to Dynasty Typewriter in LA on Fri. May 26th @ 10:03PM PT. Tickets are once more $15.

Also, on 5/26, will be a stellar showcase of fantastic NYC comics who pay their bills as TV writers including Emmy Blontick, Karen Chee, Cole Escola, Larry Owens, Jes Tom, and Jeff Wright as well as music from Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner. Called Writers… On Stage?! No Way, it’s set for 7:30PM and tickets are $25.

Pick of the Day: Surrounded: Crowdwork in the Round (in NYC) 3/9

February 27, 2023

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crowd work, mike falzone, new york comedy, stand up comedy, the stand

For quite some time now, comedian multi-hyphenate Mike Falzone has encircled performers with audience members and prohibited them from doing any prepared material and resorting only to crowd work on his creation, Surrounded. It has been a delightful monthly installment at The Hollywood Improv, but is going to be touching down in NYC next week.

That’s right, there will be a special rearranging of the Main Room at The Stand in NYC, probably unlike the club has ever had and the crowd will be as close and on top of the comedians as possibly can be. It’s a special, unique crowd work show (especially because Mike brings such a positive energy to his crowd work show) that feels more like a communal experience rather than being singled out for something you’re wearing by a comic who forgot their next joke.

Surrounded is set for The Stand on Thurs. Mar. 9th at 8PM and 10PM and you can (and should) get tickets here & here respectively for $19.72 ($15 plus fees) a pop.

Pick of the Day: 50 First Jokes (in NYC) 1/8

A gathering of 50 comedians, much less 50 audience members indoors wasn’t really happening at the start of 2021. So, it’s been awhile since we’ve had the legitimate in-person annual comedy kick-off to a new year with 50 First Jokes.

Perhaps, pending some variants, an actual in-vaccinated-person edition of 50 First Jokes will happen for 2022 in NYC. The Bell House in Brooklyn will host the bright and shiny new jokes from the best of the NYC comedy scene, which ought to have a different, more electric urgency to them considering where we are now and where will be three weeks from now.

On the bill thus far: Alison Leiby, Anthony Devito, Chanel Ali, Charlie Bardey, Devon Walker, Dina Hashem, Emmy Blotnick, George Civeris, Kate Willett, Kenice Mobley, Martin Urbano, Max Wittert, Petey DeAbreu, Rojo Perez, Sam Taggart, Shalewa Sharpe, Sonia Denis, Tom Thakkar, and host John F. O’Donnell.

Of course, as you can tell by the count of those names, there will be way more comedians shuffling onto the Bell House stage to get out their freshest bits (as we round the corner on nearly two years of this waking nightmare).

2022’s 50 First Jokes is set for Sat. Jan. 8th at 8PM ET. Tickets are $15 right now and you best get them here before they sell out.

Pick of the Day: Newcomers at the Bell House (in NYC) 11/17

We often get asked, “Who is next in comedy?” or “Who are the folks that are about to break; the comedians that we need to see before they blow up?”

Well, there always around and they’re always performing, but they are not often on the very same line-up.

That said, every once in awhile, such marvelous institutions like the Bell House in Brooklyn will gather together their favorites seasoned performers that deserve that shine of being on such a coveted stage. That night will be Newcomers Night at The Bell House on Wed. Nov. 17th at 8PM ET and have a plentiful spread of NYC’s best that are getting their official Bell House debut.

That’ll include:

Kendall Payne
Cody Wilkins
David Tveite
Fareeha Khan
Dan Rosen
Alysia Brown
Sami Schwaeber
Gara Lonning
Simone Norman
Pooja Reddy
Kevin Casey White
Walter Kelly
Colette McIntyre
Zilla Vodnas
Courtney Bee

Tickets are only $10 right now ($15 at door) w/proof of vaccination. Go snag your tickets right now here.

The New York Comedy Festival Announces Its 2021 Headliners

August 16, 2021

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Alok, brian regan, colin quinn, gary gulman, marc maron, megan stalter, michelle buteau, michelle wolf, new york comedy, nick kroll, norm macdonald, ny comedy festival, ronny chieng

Michelle Wolf, Nick Kroll, Colin Quinn, Marc Maron, Megan Stalter, Michelle Buteau, Norm MacDonald, Gary Gulman, Ronny Chieng, Brian Regan, Alok, Smart Funny & Black Live!, Bill Maher, Andrew Santino, Vir Das, and Tim Dillon are all set to be the top billing of this year’s New York Comedy Festival, which is, indeed happening in person from Nov. 8th-14th.

Though the Delta variant continues to surge COVID-19 throughout America, it would seem that the comedy festival slated for the fall are still in pushing forward, setting the stage for, perhaps, the normal annual schedule of SF Sketchfest, SXSW, Edinburgh Fringe, etc. all coming back to their festivities in person. While that is already quite the mix of headlining acts, that is only the tip of the iceberg as there is a cornucopia of other shows and performers that will take part in NYC’s annual big time comedy shin dig.

You can just take a gander of what’s to come with the headliner schedule below:

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8th
COLIN QUINN: THE LAST BEST HOPE – 7:00PM – LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9th
COLIN QUINN: THE LAST BEST HOPE – 7:00PM – LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10th
COLIN QUINN: THE LAST BEST HOPE – 7:00PM – LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE
VIR DAS: MANIC MAN WORLD TOUR – 7:00PM – TOWN HALL

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11th
TIM DILLON – 7:00PM – BEACON THEATRE
COLIN QUINN: THE LAST BEST HOPE – 7:00PM – LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE
MICHELLE WOLF – 7:00PM – TOWN HALL
NORM MACDONALD – 7:30PM & 10:00PM – CAROLINES ON BROADWAY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12th
MEGAN STALTER – 7:00PM – BMCC TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
RONNY CHIENG: THE HOPE YOU GET RICH TOUR – 7:00PM – TOWN HALL
NORM MACDONALD – 7:00PM & 9:45PM – CAROLINES ON BROADWAY
JON LOVETT’S LOVETT OR LEAVE IT – 7:00PM – BEACON THEATRE
SMART FUNNY & BLACK LIVE! – 7:00PM – APOLLO THEATRE
COLIN QUINN: THE LAST BEST HOPE – 7:00PM & 9:00PM – LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE
NICK KROLL – MIDDLE-AGED BOY TOUR – 8:00PM – CARNEGIE HALL

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13th
ALOK – 7:00PM – BMCC TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
NORM MACDONALD – 7:00PM & 9:45PM – CAROLINES ON BROADWAY
MARC MARON – 7:00PM – TOWN HALL
BRIAN REGAN – 7:00PM – BEACON THEATRE
COLIN QUINN: THE LAST BEST HOPE – 7:00PM & 9:00PM – LUCILLE LORTEL THEATRE
GARY GULMAN: BORN ON THIRD BASE – 8:00PM – CARNEGIE HALL
AN EVENING WITH BILL MAHER – 8:30PM – HULU THEATER AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
MICHELLE BUTEAU: BITCH GOTTA BABYSITTER – 9:45PM – TOWN HALL

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14th
NORM MACDONALD – 7:00PM – CAROLINES ON BROADWAY
TITO CHEETO TOUR: ANDREW SANTINO LIVE – 7:00PM – TOWN HALL

If you’re curiosity has already been peaked from just this first announcement, note that you can get tickets starting next week on Aug. 23rd at nycomedyfestival.com (there is a Citi Cardmemeber pre-sale running from Aug. 18th-22nd, FYI).

Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio Sued by Group of NY Theaters and Comedy Clubs for Reopening Protocol

October 27, 2020

News

andrew cuomo, bill de blasio, new york comedy

(via Deadline)

NYC’s reopening continues to be fraught with a bunch of contradictions that gives some breathing room for some businesses and leaves others still hanging like they were at the beginning of the pandemic. Certain indoor activities are currently cleared for operation in New York State and even in NYC in some cases including bowling or trivia at a bar, but small live performance venues are still kept in the dark as to how, when, or why they can’t try and put on shows.

Thus, six off Broadway theaters along with the New York Comedy Club and Broadway Comedy Club are suing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio for more equitable reopening treatment when it comes to live performance venues that could potentially open safely with limited capacity. For the last few weeks, the world has gotten to see Saturday Night Live return with a live audience (that’s paid to be there as a loophole) and these venue owners and proprietors are left angrily wondering why they’re being left out.

There are outdoor shows that currently happen in NYC without any guidance, which really does beg for answers from both Cuomo and de Blasio as to what is the path back for small venues and intimate live performance, especially live comedy in such a way that a good majority of NYC venues will not have to shudder their doors for good.

As with everything that’s happening in the world right now, we’re unsure as to how the suit will go exactly, but it very well may set a precedent for re-opening for live performance in every other major city around the globe.

Pick of the Day: Anna Seregina: A Tour of Anna (in NYC) 11/11

Pick of the Day: Roz Hernandez (in NYC) 11/8

Pick of the Day: Danny Jolles Is Making Something Special (in NYC) 11/10

Pick of the Day: LET’S MAKE A POOP FEAT. TRIUMPH THE INSULT COMIC DOG (NYCF) 11/6

Pick of the Day: WGA Strike/Entertainment Community Fund Comedy Benefits (in LA & NYC)

Pick of the Day: Surrounded: Crowdwork in the Round (in NYC) 3/9

Pick of the Day: 50 First Jokes (in NYC) 1/8

Pick of the Day: Newcomers at the Bell House (in NYC) 11/17

The New York Comedy Festival Announces Its 2021 Headliners

Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio Sued by Group of NY Theaters and Comedy Clubs for Reopening Protocol