union hall – The Comedy Bureau

Pick of the Day: OK Stupid (in NYC) 5/3

May 1, 2024

brooklyn, caroline doyle, dating game, dating show, emily kob, nyc comedy, ok stupid, union hall

Reality TV purports to show strangers finding true love, but there is so much that goes into casting and producing such a thing that it’s hard to imagine it being truly genuine.

Thankfully, Caroline Doyle and Emily Kob are bringing you unfiltered truth when it comes to a comedy dating game show with their show, OK Stupid, by having actual blind date on stage with a beloved local comedian.

For this edition, fast rising NYC comedy up and comers Marley Gotterer, Julia Desmond, and Evan Lazarus will be joining Doyle and Kob through all the delightful blind date comedy chaos. This next edition of OK Stupid is set for this Friday, May 3rd at 10PM at Union Hall. Tickets are only $15.64 and we highly suggest getting them here.

Pick of the Day: Tim Platt: Teeth Like Beak ALBUM RECORDING (in NYC) 2/29

January 8, 2024

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absurdist, brooklyn, comedy taping, musical comedy, nyc comedy, tim platt, union hall

It has been true for awhile and it will very likely continue to be true for years to come: Tim Platt is one of the most original voices in NYC comedy. Oscillating between absurdist characters and jokes as Tim and the same for his sweetly personal songs, Tim has so many enthralling facets to his comedy and it feels like he has, perhaps, only scratched the surface.

With that in mind, you should go to his album taping for TEETH LIKE BEAK coming to Union Hall on what will be a very special Thurs. Feb. 29th at 7:30PM & 10PM. Tickets are only $11.55 and you best get tix here.

Pick of the Day: Tommy McNamara: Christmas Boy (in NYC) 12/19

December 8, 2023

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christmas, nyc comedy, union hall

Yep, Christmas is approaching fast and the deluge of holiday themed comedy shows are well under way. There are so many, kind of like the normal plethora of comedy shows, that you wonder which ones might be the ones to check out. Definitely, beloved Brooklyn/NYC comedy fave Tommy McNamara reprising his annual holiday comedy bash, Christmas Boy, with sharply wrought mirth and song will even warm the heart of the Grinchiest person in the audience.

Having a line-up of NYC’s very best of Josh Gondelman, Alex Kumin, Mike Hanford, Ashley Hamilton, Nick Naney (as Santa), Pay Byrne, Chris Donahue, and Kevin O’Brien will be a gift to any and all in attendance.

Christmas Boy is slated for Tues. Dec. 19th at 7:30PM @ Union Hall with tix going for $11.55. Go get ’em here.

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

November 1, 2023

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anna seregina, new york comedy, new york comedy festival, nycf, union hall

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: MY DEAD WEDDING: A Funeral for my Wedding (in NYC) 10/28

October 23, 2023

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chet siegel, nyc comedy, solo show, union hall

Long long ago, in a world before COVID and industry strikes, there was a thing called Above Average where came across the delightful, yet dark sketch comedy stylings of one Chet Siegel. Now, that we’re on the other side of those things (well, the SAG-AFTRA strike is still happening), Above Average isn’t around anymore and the entire world has been turned upside down, pulled inside out, and burned several times.

As such, Chet is continuing to develop her comedic solo show that is both a solo show and an “immersive nervous breakdown” centered on the concept of having a funeral for her wedding (Chet’s ex-fiance dumped her twice during the pandemic) and trying to get some semblance of how you get over anything. A funeral for a wedding sounds like the hysterically perfect name for this current chapter of history and has our interest more than peaked off of that concept alone.

Here’s Chet giving a bit of an explanation as she was developing this at Ars Nova.

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If your tastes are on the dark side (of comedy) as well as getting into the feels mixed in with hard laughter, we’d urge you to shell out $15.64 and find your way to Union Hall on Sat. 10/28 at 5PM (guessing the dress code would be “darkest black tie possible”?) for Chet’s My Dead Wedding.

Pick of the Day: How to Start a Fire with Sydnee Washington (in NYC) 9/20

September 6, 2023

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nyc comedy, solo show, storytelling, Sydnee Washington, union hall

Though Sydnee Washington has indeed returned to NYC, she is far from a prodigal daughter. It was wondrous having her comedic spirit in and around LA for her limited stint, but, alas, her heart is in New York and is at home.

To mark her momentous homecoming, Sydnee is putting up her fantastic solo show, How To Start a Fire, once again at Union Hall. For the uninitiated, yes, the title is literal (and a little metaphorical as well) and a damn great collection of stories from Sydnee’s early years leading up to the eponymous event.

Welcome Sydnee back to NYC and please enjoy/re-enjoy this solo show on Wed. Sept. 20th at 10PM. Tickets are $18.98 and you can and should go get ’em here.

Pick of the Day: Blake Rosier’s Bad Show (in NYC) 8/5

July 27, 2023

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blake rosier, brooklyn, nyc comedy, talk show, union hall

We’re thrilled that Blake Rosier, one of the bolder, daring comedians (e.g. doing shows with permitted tomato throwing at the performers, performing/living in theaters for a whole week) in the LA comedy scene right now, is currently on tour across the country. Rosier’s penchant for experimentation and knack for absurdity and commitment to vulnerability have made for some of the most memorable, enthralling, and hilarious shows we’ve seen in awhile.

Come next week, Rosier’s tour with his “bad” show will find its way to Union Hall in Brooklyn and New Yorkers can delight in Blake’s special kind of controlled chaos. Blake Rosier’s Bad Show will take place on Sat. Aug. 5th at 10PM and you ought to nab your tickets at $15 a pop here.

Pick of the Day: Kenice Mobley: Don’t Kill Yourself Yet (in NYC) 7/29

June 29, 2023

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kenice mobley, nyc comedy, solo show, union hall

Of the messages that are crucial to get out to folks these days, “don’t kill yourself yet” is a pretty important one. Thankfully, the hilarious Kenice Mobley has a whole solo show that has that message as its title (and, ostensibly, as the takeaway/moral for the show) coming to NYC soon.

Centered on her experience of having to deal with a near death experience while working through depression and inherited trauma (amongst other wells that comedians often go to for their comedy), Kenice is going to bring her exacting comedic lens to why we should keep staying around on this mortal coil. Opening for Kenice will be NYC comedy favorites Zach Zimmerman, Brittany Carney, and Rohan Padhye.

Kenice Mobley: Don’t Kill Yourself Yet is set for Union Hall on Sat. Jul. 29th at 5PM. Tickets are $11.55 a pop and you really ought to have a formative experience/a great time at a comedy show by buying some here.

Pick of the Day: Don’t Stop! I’m About to Jazz (in NYC) 5/16

April 17, 2023

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brooklyn, nyc comedy, rose kelso, stand up comedy, two tree hill, union hall

While such comedy folks as Mitch Hedberg, Todd Glass, Nick Thune, and Bernie Mac have used musical accompaniment to punctuate and accentuate their jokes to great success, it’s strange that such a dynamic isn’t more common in stand-up comedy (other than that it’s difficult to tell jokes and play instrument at the same time or always have a musician or band accompany you wherever you go).

Thanks to the musically inclined comedians Two Tree Hill and Rose Kelso, NYC comedy is going to get a whole evening of what might be the classiest way to present stand-up comedy on what they’re ingeniously calling Don’t Stop! I’m About to Jazz. Having the ivories tickled during their sets will be a swanky line-up of Eric Rahill, Annabel Meschke, Sabina Meschke, Napoleon Emill, and Natasha Vaynblat.

So, break out the formal wear and get your tickets for Don’t Stop! I’m About to Jazz, coming to Union Hall on Tues. May 16th at 7:30PM. Tickets for such a ritzy affair are only $11.55 and you best go get them here.

Pick of the Day: WAR (in NYC) Mondays Starting 3/27

March 13, 2023

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brooklyn, dave ross, james austin johnson, neel ghosh, nyc comedy, stand up comedy, union hall

Over the last couple of years, whether you know it or not, NYC has gotten some true gems from the LA comedy scene. Namely, James Austin Johnson, Neel Ghosh, and Dave Ross have relocated to New York and spreading their honed comedy wares across the five boroughs. They all had their own respective, cherished comedy happenings that they built out in LA (Rod Stewart Live, Night Voyage, Good Heroin), but they’re set on making their mark in NYC (especially if they’re not already on SNL… yet).

So, these three hysterical LA-to-NYC transplants are banding together to make use of the fact that are way more night owls in New York and are setting up a weekly late night, Monday stand-up show at Brooklyn’s venerable comedy stage, Union Hall. What are they calling this 10PM Monday night comedy hang in Park Slope that’s probably equal parts chill and madcap fun? WAR. Perhaps, a perfect name?

WAR commences on (most) Mondays at Union Hall starting Mar. 27th at $11.55 a pop. Go get tickets over and over here.

Pick of the Day: Good One Live! with Jesse David Fox (in NYC) 3/17

January 26, 2023

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francesca d'uva, George Civeris, good one, jesse david fox, Marcia Belsky, phoebe robinson, sam taggart, union hall, vulture

Process.

It’s one of the most mysterious and elusive elements in the art form of comedy. Trying to decipher an individual comedian’s process might actually be harder than making a room full of strangers laugh. That said, Jesse David Fox has done tremendous work in uncovering how comedians actually do their work and pull off that magic that is making people laugh with his long running podcast, Good One.

Fox is doing a special edition of the podcast that will show off his expertise in front of a live audience at Union Hall on Fri. Mar. 17th at 7PM. Phoebe Robinson, StraightioLab, Marcia Belsky, Francesca D’Uva, and possibly more will do short sets followed by an in-depth interview about said set.

It ought to be something special as you’ll get an in-real-time, up-close-and-personal look at exactly how some of NYC’s funniest do what they do best.

Tickets are $18.98. Go get them now before they probably sell out here.

Pick of the Day: Rachel Kaly: HOSPITAL HOUR (in NYC) 1/14

December 20, 2022

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brooklyn, headlining, nyc comedy, rachel kaly, stand up comedy, union hall

We’ve said it here more than a couple times that Rachel Kaly is one of the most exciting and unique voices in comedy at this point in time. That’s especially impressive considering how much more diverse (both in an inclusion way and style of performance) comedy has gotten (and continues to be) over the last few years. Her low key absurdity is sure fire delight every time we go see it and we’re always wanting more of Kaly’s brand of hijinks every time she has to leave.

Lucky for NYC, Rachel Kaly will be doing a brand new hour of comedy about “all the times she’s been in the hospital due to mental illness” at Union Hall in Gowanus, Brooklyn on Sat. Jan. 14th at 7:30PM.

Tickets are $18.98 and we highly suggest you go get them here before they sell out.

Pick of the Day: Nick Naney: Nessun Dorma [Special Taping] (in NYC) 12/8

November 28, 2022

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brooklyn, nick naney, nyc comedy, special taping, stand up comedy, taping, union hall

Throughout the NYC comedy scene days, there are few performers as mastered at tomfoolery quite like one Nick Naney. Through stand-up, characters, and a myriad of next level shenanigans, Nick has become quite the staple, especially if there are certain bits that require commitment in the face of sheer, unfiltered silliness.

With that in mind, next week should be very exciting for any and all in the five boroughs as Naney will be taping his very comedy special. We have a sneaking suspicion that he’ll have plenty of hijinks up his sleeve to really bring back the “special” in ‘comedy special’.

Called Nessun Dorma, Nick has set the date for Thurs. Dec. 8th at Union Hall with both an early show (7:30PM) & late show (10PM). Tickets are $11.55 and you really ought to go get ’em here.

Pick of the Day: Absolutely Thriving: It’s Been a Year Already?! (in NYC) 9/13

August 31, 2022

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absolutely thriving, brooklyn, Dylan Adler, glennis laroe, jay jurden, Marcia Belsky, molly ruben long, nyc comedy, sabrina wu, union hall

In a time that’s rife full of turnover and upheaval, it’s a wonder how any comedy show that started a year ago is still going, especially in the crowded in NYC comedy scene that seems back to its 2019 pace.

So, why not join in and celebrating Glennis LaRoe and Molly Ruben-Long’s one year anniversary of their splendid monthly Brooklyn show Absolutely Thriving come next month? Lasting a year should be proof positive that they’re actually thriving (on top of having a lot of Brooklyn’s best line-ups whenever it was happening).

So, they’re going to celebrate proper and do their year anniversary at one third of Brooklyn’s holy comedy trinity, Union Hall (the other two being Littlefield and The Bell House) with a properly stellar line-up of Dylan Adler, Jay Jurden, Sabrina Wu, and Marcia Belsky on Tues. Sept. 13th at 7:30PM.

Tickets are only $12 and you can (and should) go get them here.

Pick of the Day: Josh Gondelman: What’s New? (in NYC) 7/31

July 22, 2022

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brooklyn, josh gondelman, ny comedy, stand up comedy, union hall

For all that is said about how gritty NYC is and how much hustle and grinding goes in on NYC comedy specifically, Josh Gondelman is living proof that you can be one of comedy’s nicest folks and also be one of the funniest people throughout all of NYC (and beyond).

Gondelman has not only killed it on so many stages around the scene with his sweet demeanor, but has written for so many of the best shows on TV including Last Week Tonight and Desus & Mero. Come Sun. Jul. 31st at 8PM ET at Union Hall, you can watch him, up close and personal, work on brand new jokes along with other grand NYC comedy staples Hari Kondabolu, Ophira Eisenberg, and Mohanad Elshieky.

Tickets are only $12 right now and you can (and should) go get them here.

Pick of the Day: Tim Platt Presents a Night of Wedding Speeches (in NYC) 6/3

May 26, 2022

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alise morales, brooklyn, danny groh, eudora peterson, Ike Ufomadu, Joe Castle Baker, Karolena Theresa, ny comedy, peter mills weiss, sarah wilson, tim platt, union hall

Wedding season is upon us and, despite everything, we’re pretty sure that most folks that put their wedding on hold because of COVID-19 are now getting hitched this year (even though COVID-19 hasn’t been eradicated).

As such, you shouldn’t miss the show dedicated to one of the major cornerstones of any wedding, the speeches. The endlessly imaginative Tim Platt started putting together a very special evening of wedding speeches delivered to a comedy couple by a bunch of comedians, sometimes in character and sometimes not, and it’s more fun than nearly every wedding we’ve ever been witness to.

Tim’s latest edition of A Night of Wedding Speeches will be happening at Brooklyn Comedy Collective on Fri. Jun. 3rd at 8:30PM ET with an astounding wedding party of Joe Castle Baker, Eudora Peterson, Ike Ufomadu, Sarah Wilson, Karolena Theresa, Peter Mills Weiss, real life married comedy couple Alise Morales & Danny Groh, and, of course, Best Man Tim Platt.

Tickets are only $15 and you really ought to snag your tickets/save the date here.

Pick of the Day: Petey DeAbreu: Bodega N-Word, Supermarket World. (in NYC) 4/15

March 22, 2022

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nyc comedy, petey deabreu, stand up comedy, union hall

One of the most dynamic, captivating stand-ups that NYC has it, without a doubt, Petey DeAbreu. Simultaneously a poet of the five boroughs and just a hysterical comedian, DeAbreu’s charming rambunctiousness plays to raucous laughter and applause pretty much wherever we see him, no matter who is on the line-up or how the show is going.

It has been a minute since you’ve probably gotten a chance to see him do an extended set (as he is such in high demand at all the choice shows throughout NYC and beyond), but you’ll get to see him do an entire hour next month on Apr. 15th at Union Hall at 10PM ET (maybe it’ll make up for it being tax day?). Tickets are only $15 right now and we highly suggest snagging them right now as space is limited.

Pick of the Day: Gemma Soldati: The Poor Rich (in NYC) 4/2

March 10, 2022

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brooklyn, clowning, gemma soldati, nyc comedy, the poor rich, union hall

Whether you have yet to dip your town into this new world of clown that you might have heard rumblings about or you’re obsessed with it as you are a clown yourself, you really should be watching whatever Gemma Soldati does wherever she does it. A long time, masterful clown performer, Gemma’s absolute fearlessness matches her commitment to the absurd (on top of having satirical point to all of it to boot).

Her latest show, The Poor Rich, currently a work in progress, might be her greatest work to date with Gemma commanding the stage as a sort of unfettered capitalist finance dominatrix and teasing the audience cleverly for every last penny. Soldati exquisitely shows how much money runs our daily lives and has such madcap fun doing it, almost like Wolf of Wall Street done up by clowns.

Gemma is performing The Poor Rich at Union Hall on Sat. Apr. 2nd at 7:30PM ET. Tickets are $12 and we highly suggest getting them ASAP.

Pick of the Day: Bust Down Screening with Jak Knight (in NYC) 3/12

March 9, 2022

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bust down, chris redd, jak knight, langston kerman, nyc comedy, peacock, sam jay, union hall

As we’re getting into the thick of the streaming wars, each service tries to get a leg up in the current conversation with their latest acquisitions or brand new, shiny series. HBO finally unveiled the long awaited Winning Time and Peacock might just have something that’ll delightfully take us all by surprise with Bust Down, the single cam trying-to-get-by-in-life comedy with Chris Redd, Sam Jay, Langston Kerman, and Jak Knight, that premieres this Thurs. Mar. 10th on the NBC exclusive streaming service.

To mark the occasion, Jak and surprise guests from Bust Down will be presenting a special in-person screening (and doing stand-up) at Union Hall this Saturday, March 12th at 10PM ET. It won’t get more intimate of a special release/premiere screening than this, so you ought to snag tickets for $15 right now right here.

In case you haven’t seen it or are only catching wind of Bust Down just as you read this, please enjoy the announcement trailer here.

Pick of the Day: Adam Cayton Holland: Happy Place (in NYC) 4/9

February 16, 2022

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adam cayton holland, brooklyn, happy place, nyc comedy, solo show, union hall

At this current point in time, even though the pandemic isn’t over, it does seem like we are now legitimately picking up where we left off in March 2020 and as we’re nearing the actual two year mark of when lockdown happened, we’re reminded of all the great things that came to a screeching halt around then.

The brilliant Adam Cayton-Holland was on the path of touring his solo show loosely based off his critically acclaimed tragi-comic memoir, Tragedy Plus Time, resulting in a beautiful, funny, and heart-wrenching hour. Now, on this side of the pandemic, we have no doubt that there’s even more to the show that will be timely and so cathartic, especially as the themes of “suicide, mental illness, stand-up comedy and Nancy Kerrigan,” have become prevalent in our lives in 2022 (Kerrigan comes to mind because of the Winter Olympics happening right now).

Adam will be bringing his Happy Place show back to Brooklyn’s Union Hall on Sat. Apr. 9th at 7:30PM ET. Tickets are only $15 and you best not miss your chance to watch Cayton-Holland’s most arresting and affecting work to date. Get tickets here.

Pick of the Day: Kenice Mobley Records an Album (in NYC) 4/29

January 24, 2022

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album recording, brooklyn, kenice mobley, nyc comedy, stand up comedy, union hall

In 2021, Kenice Mobley made our 100 Best list and, for 2022, you really ought to not miss whenever she’s going up. That’s actually been true for a long time as Mobley’s deftly crafted comedy has superbly making the rounds in NYC for years now.

If you’re in NYC, you absolutely shouldn’t miss Kenice’s live stand-up album recording. She’ll be doing two tapings on Fri. Apr. 29th, which means it’s probably going to happen and not get canceled or postponed and you’ll have enough to figure out how to get tickets and get to Brooklyn to catch the taping in person.

Tickets are only $10 right now for either the early 7:30PM ET show or the late 10PM ET show and Rohan Padhye and Xazmin Garza will be opening. Go get your tickets before the very likely sell out here.

Pick of the Day: Jes Tom: Less Lonely (in NYC) 2/12

January 10, 2022

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jes tom, nyc comedy, stand up comedy, union hall

We put Jes on our 100 Best Things in Comedy of 2021 We Were Witness To in No Particular Order and, thusly, you shouldn’t miss out on any chance to see them. Their current hour is a pristine work of stand-up that’s so timely coming from Jes as one of the funniest people around who happens to be non-binary, yet so universal in its finding connection and love at this time and place that very much feel like the end of all things.

Jes’ hour Less Lonely is playing at Brooklyn’s Union Hall right before Valentine’s Day on Sat. Feb. 12th at 7:30PM ET at Union Hall. Please go get your tickets now and we can hope that Omicron will have died way down by then.

Pick of the Day: Stamptown (in NYC) 1/27 & 1/29

December 28, 2021

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asylum nyc, brooklyn, jack tucker, nyc comedy, stamptown, union hall, zach zucker

We’re not quite back at March 2020 in terms of live comedy being completely shut down, but there is a dreadful similarity to this week and the last couple, no?

To remedy that, let’s look further into the future for things that we were so glad that are back when lockdown lifted and will be thrilled to see once more (hopefully) in a few more weeks. Those include such things as one of comedy’s wildest shows, Stamptown. One of the only internationally traveling comedy showcases that rounds up clowns, sketch folks, stand-ups, musical comedians, and more genre defying comedic performers to do some of the wildest things anyone has seen on stage.

Currently, host/ringleader Zach Zucker/Jack Tucker is in the UK, but will be returning to NYC for two shows in January. Specifically, Stamptown will be at Union Hall on Thurs. Jan. 27th at 7:30PM ET & The Asylum NYC on Sat. Jan. 29th at 9:30PM ET. The line-ups aren’t announced yet, but you can rest assured that it will be jam packed with comedians you need to see as it has been for years.

Tickets are $20 a pop ($15 for Union Hall right now) and you can and should get them here and here respectively.

Pick of the Day: Nore Davis’ 5th Stand-Up Album Recording (in NYC) 1/29

December 21, 2021

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If there was ever an uplifting voice of comfort in comedy that also kept it completely honest and vulnerable and, most importantly, so very hysterically funny, there would be a very tiny short list with the name Nore Davis clearly on it.

For the dozens of times we’ve seen him live and all the hours/specials/albums we’ve heard/seen, Nore has been a constant in offering a rare hopeful outlook threaded through his deftly crafted material and undeniable charm and finesse on stage. His comedic artistry even shined through on Zoom, the rare feat during this time of COVID-19, and he made a thoroughly enjoyable album via Zoom.

So, that said, you shouldn’t miss his latest album recording (it’ll be his fifth one) at Union Hall on Sat. Jan. 29th at 7:30PM ET & 10PM ET when, one can only hope, the current Omicron surge will have subsided. Get tickets for $20 here.

Pick of the Day: Thanks But No Thanksgiving (in NYC) 11/20

November 11, 2021

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BIPOC, comedy show, indigenous, native american, ny comedy, thanksgiving, union hall

We sincerely hope that, at this point in time, especially with all the reckoning that we all were supposed to be going through with racism in America, that you know the history behind Thanksgiving isn’t the idyllic picture that you were very likely shown when you were a kid.

That said, there’s a comedy show coming up that’s being put up by all Native American comedians on Lenape land at Union Hall. Brian Bahe, Dash Turner, Tai Leclaire will put on this non-Thanksgiving holiday variety show that will still be a great time, but free of any whitewashed American Turkey Day make-em-ups.

Thanks But Not Thanksgiving: A Native American Variety Show is set for Sat. Nov. 20th at 7:30PM ET at Union Hall. Tickets are $10, $12 on the day of.

Also, the event says “One free horse per audience member.” You should go for a lot of reasons, but one of those reasons should definitely be to find out if you actually get a horse of some kind.

Get tickets here now.

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