ny comedy – The Comedy Bureau

Pick of the Day: Yosterbation (in NYC) 10/28-12/16

October 26, 2021

brooklyn, caroline yost, Dylan Adler, edy modia, hannah pilkes, ikechukhu ufomadu, Joe Castle Baker, Karolena Theresa, kate willett, ny comedy, rachel kaly, sabrina wu, solo show

Seeing someone develop an hour or a solo show can be one of the more rewarding things in the live comedy going experience. The ephemeral nature of newly forged jokes, bits, pieces, etc. for an hour of comedy solo on stage gives a certain urgency that can often be electric (and it’s often what we hope to see when we’re watching comedy these days).

Also, on the other hand, it’s pretty great seeing really funny people do shows live and in-person. Whichever school of thought you want to fall in line with, you definitely should catch Caroline Yost of the amazing NYC comedy group Ladies Who Ranch develop a solo show in the very hip, very hidden Life World in Gowanus in Brooklyn. Yost is such an absurdly fun force to watch on stage and it’s definitely worth you going to any one of the six shows she has lined-up starting this week.

Schedule and special guests are as follows:

10/28-Kate Willett, Joe Castle-Baker, Rachel Kaly
11/4-Karolena Theresa, Ikechukhu Ufomadu, Dylan Adler
11/18-Hannah Pilkes, Sabrina Wu, Edy Modica
12/2-a special split bill show with Sarah Wilson
12/9-TBA
12/16-TBA

All shows are at 8PM ET (doors 7:30PM ET) and tickets are only $11 (proof of vaccination required). Go RSVP and snag your tickets here.

Pick of the Day: Kwaczala-Palooza (in NYC) 10/25

October 21, 2021

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brad evans, clare o'kane, irene morales, Jeremy Levick, kenice mobley, nick ciarelli, ny comedy, Rajat Suresh, tommy mcnamara

In the worlds of stand-up and sketch (and Rock N Roll Hall of Fame podcasts), Joe Kwaczala is favorite staple of the LA comedy scene for his sharply crafted and often collaborative absurdity (especially in his video short series that he’s done over the years, 31 for 31 and 21 for 21. His bringing that ingenious silliness to NYC next week at the one and only Union Hall along with many of NYC’s best that are artisans of the comedic arts themselves.

Called Kwaczala-Palooza (perhaps there will be a game with how many times fast you can say that?), Joe will be gathering the comedy stylings of:

Nick Ciarelli & Brad Evans

Tommy McNamara

Kenice Mobley

Irene Morales

Clare O’Kane

Jeremy Levick & Rajat Suresh

That’ll all go down in Brooklyn at Union Hall on Mon. Oct. 25th at 10PM ET and tickets are only $10. If you’re not going to our anniversary show in LA on 10/25 because you’re in NYC, you really ought to go to Kwaczala-Palooza.

TCB Field Report Ep. 76: DeAnne Smith & Transplanting Again

September 8, 2021

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

deanne smith, donald glover, enrico colangeli, fuquan johnson, john mulaney, kate quigley, la comedy, ny comedy, phoebe waller bridge

The superb DeAnne Smith joins TCB’s Jake Kroeger for this week’s TCB Field Report as they have just re-transplanted themselves from LA to NYC (with love for both cities and their respective comedy hubs). Also, DeAnne fills us in their upcoming special which would expressly taped with some of their exes in the audience (complete w/interviews after the taping) and explains the joy they found in live-stream, front facing camera comedy.

Follow DeAnne @deanne_smith on Twitter and IG and get tickets to DeAnarchy on 9/15 and DeAnne Smith & Acquaintances on 9/17.

Also, at the time of this recording, DeAnne is looking for a more permanent spot in NYC. If you have leads DM them.

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

#Pick of the Day: DeAnne Smith’s DeAnarchy (in NYC) 9/15

September 3, 2021

News

brooklyn, deanne smith, Dylan Adler, ever mainard, lgbtq, martin urbano, ny comedy, stand up comedy, union hall

The wonderful and amazing DeAnne Smith has just switched coasts from LA to NYC (and NYC, you should feel so lucky). Smith originally hailed from up North in Canada and has, for the last few years, been a marvelous addition to the LA comedy scene.

Now, she’s in NYC, New Yorkers will get the expressed privilege of getting to see the undeniable charm and warmth that Smith brings in with her finely honed humor.

She’s doing her very own show, DeAnne Smith’s DeAnarchy, at Brooklyn comedy stronghold, Union Hall, on Wed. Sept. 15th at 7:30PM ET with a fantastic line-up of guests (Dylan Adler, Martin Urbano, and even LA’s own Ever Mainard). Tickets are $12 right now (and will be $15 on the day of). Go get ’em here.

Whether it be this night or another one, please, NYC, go see and book DeAnne.

Pick of the Day: Pop Show with Ziwe (in NYC) 10/8

August 27, 2021

News

bell house, brooklyn, donwill, jen goma, live comedy, musical comedy, ny comedy, ziwe

Ziwe, the icon of IG Live turned iconic disruptor in late night/sketch on premium television, is doing an exclusive show at Brooklyn’s comedy haven, The Bell House.

We shouldn’t have explain any further for you to buy tickets, but, just in case, we will continue.

Pop Show will have Ziwe gather her favorite comedians in the city to perform their very own original pop songs as well as “pop presentations” to exude the most pop-stardom possible in one live comedy show. On the bill thus far is Jen Goma and DJ Donwill, but more will be announced very, very soon.

Pop Show with Ziwe will take place, iconically, on Oct. 8th at 7:30PM ET at The Bell House. Tickets are $25/proof of vaccination required (and they will sell out). Go get them here right now.

Pick of the Day: Vulture x Union Hall: Pretty Major (Tuesdays in NYC) 9/14

August 25, 2021

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jay jurden, live comedy, Marcia Belsky, ny comedy, stand up comedy, union hall, vulture, zach zimmerman

The importance of a stalwart, landmark weekly comedy show in a comedy scene is so vital. It acts as a linchpin for the scene itself, a platform for deserving talent to brightly shine, and a very fun lab for the bunch that takes on the hallowed duties of hosting such an endeavor. Names such as The Meltdown, Butterboy, Comedy at the Knit, Hot Tub, and Put Your Hands Together might come to mind in this regard (feel free take a moment to get nostalgic about any and all of those shows if you were ever in attendance).

Vulture is now looking to join those ranks by embarking their very own curated weekly live comedy show Pretty Major at the revered Brooklyn stage that is Union Hall every Tuesday at 7PM ET, starting on Sept. 14th. A fantastic cadre of Marcia Belsky, Jay Jurden, and Zach Zimmerman will be presiding over as hosts and, already, we have a pretty good feeling about this.

Just look at the month of line-ups they’ve announced and you’ll know you’re in for a treat of their favorites of the best of NYC comedy.

9/14: Please Don’t Destroy, Taylor Garron, Kylie Brakeman, Sydnee Washington, Francesca D’Uva, and more!

9/21: Jaye McBride, Larry Owens, Jes Tom, Devon Walker, and more!

9/28: Catherine Cohen, Nore Davis, Fareeha Khan, Mary Neely, Martin Urbano, and more!

10/5: Zack Zucker, Spike Einbinder, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Chris Gethard, and more!

Tickets are only $12 and you can (and really, really should) go get them here. They’ll likely sell out pretty quick.

FYI, to out of towners that Vulture’s own Jesse David Fox knows and loves:

FYI: Union Hall is handling the booking. HOWEVER, if you are an LA comedian I know and you're going to be in town or a SURPRISE DROP-IN type, please please please reach out to me. Love, Jesse https://t.co/chis8DNXkG

— Jesse David Fox: Battle Angel (@JesseDavidFox) August 25, 2021

Pick of the Day: Shut Up & Laugh: A Comedy Benefit Fundraiser for Rescue Efforts in Afghanistan (in NYC) 8/24

August 23, 2021

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afghanistan aid, atheer yacoob, benefit show, ismael loutfi, mohanad el-sheiky, ny comedy, sarah suzuki harvard, usama siddiquee

The ongoing crisis in Afghanistan right now is undeniably horrifying to see, let alone to actually go through. So many Afghans are fleeing and only certain pockets of the country are resisting the takeover by the Taliban and, as such, one can feel existentially helpless in doing anything about the situation.

That said, there are a myriad of relief efforts to support, one of which can be done through just going to a comedy show.

This Tuesday, at one of NYC’s new favorite underground spots, SESH Comedy, will be hosting an exclusive live comedy fundraiser, Shut Up & Laugh, presented by Nervous Laughter, with an amazing line-up of many of NYC comedy’s finest to aid rescue/resettlement efforts.

On the bill:

Usama Siddiquee
Ismael Loutfi
Mohanad El-Sheiky
Atheer Yacoob
Sarah Suzuki-Harvard

The show starts at 7PM ET and tickets are only $10. So, go get them right here and let’s sell this thing out for a great cause (and, also, have a damn good comedy show).

Pick of the Day: Eddie Pepitone (in NYC) 10/4

August 19, 2021

News

city winery, eddie pepitone, ny comedy, stand up comedy

We have oft praised Eddie Pepitone for his comedy mastery and reaffirmed the idea that you should go see him at any and all times. For the longest time, our shout outs of his shows were relegated to LA dates, but, since we now cover comedy in NYC, we’re thrilled to tell you that Eddie has a headlining NYC date in the not so distant future.

On Mon. Oct 4th at 7:30PM ET, Eddie will play City Winery (w/JT Habersaat featuring). Truly, you should not miss a chance to see Eddie roar with his seemingly prophetic, yet always self-aware comedy (especially since the NY Times named his special For the Masses, the funniest comedy special of 2020).

Tickets are only $25 and you best go get them here right now.

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 73: Mikala Knezevich & Working the Comedy Matrix

August 18, 2021

News, The Comedy Bureau Field Report

ny comedy, ny comedy festival

Going from coast to coast more than once, Mikala Knezevich has built quite the reputation for producing comedy. She got the comedy bug after seeing one live comedy show and then asking for a job at the comedy club that very night and just wanted to be in and around comedy at all times. That has led her to taking on a plethora of shows in NYC, many of which are weekly. If you know the ins and outs of the production side of live comedy, which Mikala and TCB’s Jake Kroeger go into here, you ought to know that it’s such an ambitious undertaking to do one weekly show. Thus, you’ll be delightfully surprised to discover that Mikala paints as well.

Also, “hot” takes on the NY Comedy Festival, What We Do In the Shadows getting renewed, and Wyatt Cenac’s deal at Warner Animation/Cartoon Network Studios.

Follow Mikala @mikalalk on IG

The Comedy Bureau @thecomedybureau across platforms and please, please support TCB via GoFundMe, Patreon, or on Venmo (@jakekroeger).

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and KT

Pick of the Day: Shalewa Sharpe’s Don’t Reach in the Bag (in NYC) 8/22

August 11, 2021

News

comedy show, dulce sloan, ny comedy, shalewa sharpe, solo show

In comedy right now, one of the keenest observers and deft storytellers is Shalewa Sharpe. Her stand-up is just so precise and rich in its narrative and color that it captures the absurdities of Shalewa’s world and offers them up so delightfully to the any and all.

So, Shalewa doing a whole solo show, Don’t Reach in the Bag, about working several years at an adult video store is bound to be a riveting, hysterical, marvelously textured performance chock full of unforgettable tales of people’s voyeuristic desires. Oh, and you better bet that there’s a Q&A after the show as, undoubtedly, you’ll have questions.

Dulcé Sloan is putting up Shalewa Sharpe’s Don’t Reach in the Bag at Brooklyn Comedy Collective’s new home at Eris, next week on Sun. Aug. 22nd at 7PM ET.

Tickets are only $15 and you really ought to get them right here, right now.

Pick of the Day: Phoebe Robinson HBO Special Taping (in NYC) 8/13

July 15, 2021

News

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As live comedy is returning to some of the pace and volume that it used to be, so are exclusive tapings of comedy specials for big time networks and streaming services (and it won’t be something unprecedented like a drive-in or sitting at a converted part of Universal Studios).

The latest high profile special that will be taped will feature Phoebe Robinson, whom you ought to know from 2 Dope Queens/Doing the Most/Tiny Rep Books/guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live last night, for HBO Max. Robinson will be bringing her first hour filled with her hot takes on the world that are equal parts sharp and bubbly to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden on Fri. Aug. 13th for two shows, 8PM ET & 10PM ET.

Best of all, tickets are free and you best go RSVP for them right here right now.

Pick of the Day: Cabernet Cabaret with Catherine Cohen (in NY) Wednesdays

July 9, 2021

News

cabernet cabaret, catherine cohen, club cumming, ny comedy

Once more, the indie comedy shows in LA and NYC are making their way back and so too are their loyal audiences who so loved packing in from wall to wall to watch of either city’s vast treasure chest of comedy.

Cabernet Cabaret, an institution for alt comedy in NYC, has been back in full force on Wednesdays at 8PM ET at its home Club Cumming with its loving mother Catherine Cohen for weeks now, going up for sold out crowds. Actually, there are several weeks of the show that are already sold out stretching out all the way to mid-August. So, you best set a reminder to check Cohen’s socials @catccohen on IG and @catcohen on Twitter or the calendar at Club Cumming regularly so you can get a ticket to a fantastic edition of Cabernet Cabaret in the not so distant future.

Pick of the Day: Poppycock 6/29 (in NYC)

June 22, 2021

News

dulce sloan, Jared Freid, lucas brothers, matt richards, ny comedy, rosebud baker, slipper room, stand up comedy

Not only are venues and shows coming back in the realm of live comedy, but new things are springing up from the ruins of the pandemic that we are very much excited to see.

The exquisite Slipper Room, which hosted so many beloved comedy and variety shows, not only survived, but is back at a robust schedule several nights out of the week. In fact, they’re about to have a brand new show, that ought to be high class affair with the appropriate name, Poppycock.

Hosted by Matt Richards, it’ll be an intimate night of stand-up that will feature NYC comedy’s best (and handpicked by those in the know and not just the “very best” in a general hackneyed sense). The line-up for this coming Tues. 6/29 with doors at 8PM ET will have Rosebud Baker, Dulce Sloan, Jared Freid, and, just added, The Lucas Brothers. Also, this will be a Yondr event and you’ll have to leave your phone in a protected bag, so you don’t have to be distracted from any sort of notifications throughout the show.

Tickets for Poppycock start at $20 (with a $20 minimum at the bar) and you can (and very much should) go get them here.

Pick of the Day: Sarah Squirm + River L. Ramirez + Zhe Zhe 6/21

June 18, 2021

News

brooklyin, ny comedy, river l ramirez, sarah squirm, zhe zhe

Recently, we overheard an audience member comment that Sarah Squirm‘s comedy is perfect for the tenor of the times. Honestly, her comedy has been perfect for the zeitgeist for years now and her ultra-sarcastic, meta, wildly colorful, horror-core, anti-establishment, hellbent feminist humor is even more on point these days.

Thus, if you’re in NYC, you should get yourself to The Bell House this coming Mon. Jun. 21st at 7:30PM ET. That is the date and time to catch Sarah’s very special evening in Brooklyn. She’ll be joined by other boundary pushing comedic luminaries, River L. Ramirez and the band Zhe Zhe. Tickets are only $20 and, while it’s a full vaccinated event, there will be no distancing, so you can enjoy being packed like the most squished sardines at a comedy venue like you used to do.

Go get your tickets right now right here.

Pick of the Day: Tinder LIVE! with Lane Moore (in person & livestream) 6/25

June 17, 2021

News

brooklyn, lane moore, littlefield, ny comedy, tinder live

One of the shows that you should all be most excited about coming back in person is the always electric and romantically mischievous Tinder LIVE! with Lane Moore. Lane had been doing her brilliant show where she works Tinder live on stage, often with the audience playing a huge part, all over the country before lockdown.

Of course, that all came to a screeching halt in March last year, but Lane is now set to not only do a date in Brooklyn at the beloved Littlefield, but is going on a legitimate nationwide Tinder LIVE! with Lane Moore Tour. The Littlefield show will be in person on Fri. Jun. 25th at 8PM ET, but also be available for live-stream, and will be featuring very special guests Joanna Hausmann and Frank Coniff of MST3K. Go get tickets for that show here and get dates and tickets for her nationwide tour here.