Thursday, June 5
Cage Match
The WWE is pretty hilarious on its own, but the UCB Theatre’s wrestling federation, the UCBW, pays such good attention to the details of the genre, it feels less like a satirical mockery and more of a hyper-hilarious homage to the dramatic sport. Just like real wrestling, there are shocking heel turns, referees who are distracted by shiny objects and promos that get you pumped. The announcers, Ben Rodgers (The Captain) and Eric Scott (TT Billingsworth) are so easily excited by all the action, it’s impossible not to get caught up in their hysteria too. Leave the Papa Roach Special Edition iPod at home, the UCBW is the only distraction you need. (Nate Sloan)
UCB Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-366-9176; Thursdays 11, $5.
Hot Comix
Hosted by Dean Obeidallah this night’s performance features Ryan Hamilton, Julian McCullough, Dan Ahdoot, Rachael Fienstein, and even more hot comix.
Comix, 353 W. 14th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-524-2500; 8, $15/$20.
Friday, June 6
Kurt & Kristen
Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler present a preview of their 2008 Edinburgh show said to be a seedy tale of gambling, death, hair-lips and a splattering of phone sex.
The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 W. 29th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-563-7488; 11, $8.
Death by Roo Roo: Your Fucked-Up Family
You might recognize Brett Gelman—he’s the man whose face is plastered all over subways and televisions as part of an ad campaign for Take Five lotto tickets. You can watch him and his improv group in action every week at UCB Theatre, where they riff on dysfunctional families from a single audience interview.
UCB Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-366-9176; 11, $8.
Saturday, June 7
Mother: The Soundtrack
Your mother told you to turn down that music. Mother tells you to hand over your iPod and CDs for some improv inspired by your taste in music. You better do what Mother says.
UCB Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-366-9176; 9, $8.
25 Questions for a Jewish Mother
Award-winning comedian Judy Gold brings her solo show to Comix. Gold’s show is based on interviews with 50 Jewish women of varying ages, occupations and backgrounds, in which she asks them questions about a whole array of self-help book subjects.
Comix, 353 W. 14th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.) 212-524-2500; 8:30, $25/$30.
Sunday, June 8
ASSSSCAT 3000
The most popular show in town continues on with Amy Poehler and pals combining their comedic talents for a kooky evening of improv.
UCB Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-366-9176; 7:30 ($8), 9:30 (free).
Monday, June 9
Maude Night
A medley of sketch comedy by UCBT’s writers and preformers. First performance of the night is 27 Kidneys and mixtape ’98, and the second is The Skuntz and Stone Cold Fox.
UCB Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-366-9176; 8 ($5), 9:30 ($5).
Tell Your Friends!
Chris Mata hosts this week’s Tell Your Friends! with guests John Oliver, Tome Shillue, Liam McEneaney, Peggy O’Brien and Bryan Tucker.
Lolita Bar, 266 Broome St. (betw. Allen and Orchard Sts.), 212-966-7223; 8, free.
Tuesday, June 10
The Comic Book Club
One of the more successful themed shows in town because it found its niche and took off running both offline and on. Comic book superfans, Pete LePage, Alex Zalben and Justin Tyler moderate a discussion on the week in funnybooks and host a panel of the top talents in the Marvel and DC Universes. I quit comics when the New Warriors ended its run in the ’90s—it just seemed futile to go on, you know? The few times I’ve checked out the CBC, I’ve felt welcome amid both the sizable crowds and the icons who drop by like Joe Quesada and Brian Michael Bendis.
The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 W. 29th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.) 212-563-7488; Tuesdays at 8, $5.
Bring It!
Think you’ve got what it takes? Are you up for three minutes of laughter—or awkward silence? Randy Pearlstein hosts an open mic comedy show every Tuesday.
The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 W. 29th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.) 212-563-7488; 11, free.
Wednesday, June 11
Julie Goldman's Offensive Women
In celebration of gay pride month, co-stars of LOGO’s Big Gay Sketch Show, Julie Goldman and Kate McKinnon, present an all-lady comedy show. Comics include Jessica Kirson, Liz Feldman, Claudia Cogan and more.
The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.) 212-253-7246; 8, $10.
The Rejection Show
Jon Friedman, host and creator, takes the turned-down material of popular or up-and-coming comics and has them preform the acts on stage. Lineup includes: College Humor, Jenny Slate, Pete Holmes, Larry Murphy, Mindy Raf, Greg Johnson, and Katina Corrao, with live music from The Defibulators.
Comix, 353 W. 14th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.) 212-524-2500; 8, $15/$17.
Cage Match
The WWE is pretty hilarious on its own, but the UCB Theatre’s wrestling federation, the UCBW, pays such good attention to the details of the genre, it feels less like a satirical mockery and more of a hyper-hilarious homage to the dramatic sport. Just like real wrestling, there are shocking heel turns, referees who are distracted by shiny objects and promos that get you pumped. The announcers, Ben Rodgers (The Captain) and Eric Scott (TT Billingsworth) are so easily excited by all the action, it’s impossible not to get caught up in their hysteria too. Leave the Papa Roach Special Edition iPod at home, the UCBW is the only distraction you need. (Nate Sloan)
UCB Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-366-9176; Thursdays 11, $5.
Hot Comix
Hosted by Dean Obeidallah this night’s performance features Ryan Hamilton, Julian McCullough, Dan Ahdoot, Rachael Fienstein, and even more hot comix.
Comix, 353 W. 14th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-524-2500; 8, $15/$20.
Friday, June 6
Kurt & Kristen
Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler present a preview of their 2008 Edinburgh show said to be a seedy tale of gambling, death, hair-lips and a splattering of phone sex.
The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 W. 29th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-563-7488; 11, $8.
Death by Roo Roo: Your Fucked-Up Family
You might recognize Brett Gelman—he’s the man whose face is plastered all over subways and televisions as part of an ad campaign for Take Five lotto tickets. You can watch him and his improv group in action every week at UCB Theatre, where they riff on dysfunctional families from a single audience interview.
UCB Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-366-9176; 11, $8.
Saturday, June 7
Mother: The Soundtrack
Your mother told you to turn down that music. Mother tells you to hand over your iPod and CDs for some improv inspired by your taste in music. You better do what Mother says.
UCB Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-366-9176; 9, $8.
25 Questions for a Jewish Mother
Award-winning comedian Judy Gold brings her solo show to Comix. Gold’s show is based on interviews with 50 Jewish women of varying ages, occupations and backgrounds, in which she asks them questions about a whole array of self-help book subjects.
Comix, 353 W. 14th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.) 212-524-2500; 8:30, $25/$30.
Sunday, June 8
ASSSSCAT 3000
The most popular show in town continues on with Amy Poehler and pals combining their comedic talents for a kooky evening of improv.
UCB Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-366-9176; 7:30 ($8), 9:30 (free).
Monday, June 9
Maude Night
A medley of sketch comedy by UCBT’s writers and preformers. First performance of the night is 27 Kidneys and mixtape ’98, and the second is The Skuntz and Stone Cold Fox.
UCB Theatre, 307 W. 26th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-366-9176; 8 ($5), 9:30 ($5).
Tell Your Friends!
Chris Mata hosts this week’s Tell Your Friends! with guests John Oliver, Tome Shillue, Liam McEneaney, Peggy O’Brien and Bryan Tucker.
Lolita Bar, 266 Broome St. (betw. Allen and Orchard Sts.), 212-966-7223; 8, free.
Tuesday, June 10
The Comic Book Club
One of the more successful themed shows in town because it found its niche and took off running both offline and on. Comic book superfans, Pete LePage, Alex Zalben and Justin Tyler moderate a discussion on the week in funnybooks and host a panel of the top talents in the Marvel and DC Universes. I quit comics when the New Warriors ended its run in the ’90s—it just seemed futile to go on, you know? The few times I’ve checked out the CBC, I’ve felt welcome amid both the sizable crowds and the icons who drop by like Joe Quesada and Brian Michael Bendis.
The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 W. 29th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.) 212-563-7488; Tuesdays at 8, $5.
Bring It!
Think you’ve got what it takes? Are you up for three minutes of laughter—or awkward silence? Randy Pearlstein hosts an open mic comedy show every Tuesday.
The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 W. 29th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.) 212-563-7488; 11, free.
Wednesday, June 11
Julie Goldman's Offensive Women
In celebration of gay pride month, co-stars of LOGO’s Big Gay Sketch Show, Julie Goldman and Kate McKinnon, present an all-lady comedy show. Comics include Jessica Kirson, Liz Feldman, Claudia Cogan and more.
The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.) 212-253-7246; 8, $10.
The Rejection Show
Jon Friedman, host and creator, takes the turned-down material of popular or up-and-coming comics and has them preform the acts on stage. Lineup includes: College Humor, Jenny Slate, Pete Holmes, Larry Murphy, Mindy Raf, Greg Johnson, and Katina Corrao, with live music from The Defibulators.
Comix, 353 W. 14th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.) 212-524-2500; 8, $15/$17.
