CHICAGO COMEDIANS IN THE NEWS

The seventh season of W. Kamau Bell’s United Shades of America premiered on CNN last night. The show has earned five Emmy Awards. Kamau’s new book Do The Work: An Antiracist Activity Book will be released on July 19. Find out how to pre-order and get an exclusive free tote bag and pencil here. Kamau will appear in conversation with Kate Schatz at Dominican University Performing Arts Center in River Forest on August 23. Tickets here.

TICKET ALERTS:

July 18: How Do You Solve a Problem For Sophia?: An Employee Support Showcase at Zanies Chicago

July 23: Denise Medina hosts Zako Ryan, Eric Fretty and Mike Stricker at The Bottle Shop in Lake Geneva, WI. A Mark Klaber Production. Tickets available at The Bottle Shop or by phone: (262) 348-9463.

July 25: Denise Medina, Colleen Brennan, JT Newton, and Bob Jay at Harbor Brewing Co. in Lake Villa. A Denise Medina Comedy presentation.

October 1: Nick Swardson at The Chicago Theatre

October 8: Nick Thune at The Den Theatre

October 22: Demetri Martin at The Vic

November 17-19: Maria Bamford at The Den Theatre

THIS WEEK:

Zanies Chicago: Sketchup, Super 6 Showcase, Tom Thakkar, Maddie Weiner, Andy Haynes, After Hours with Calvin Evans, DougT Hypnotist

Zanies Rosemont: New Material Night, Andy Haynes, Pat Tomasulo, DougT Hypnotist, Joe Kilgallon

Riddles: Open Mic Night, Mike Bonner, Robert Kane’s Clean Comedy Showcase

The Improv: Lavell Crawford

AND! (please confirm all details before leaving home)

MONDAY, JULY 11

Live at The InterCon at the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, 6:30 p.m. Free stand-up show from Team US Comedy featuring nationally touring comedians from HBO, TruTV, The Laugh Factory and more TBA.

Discount Therapy at Pearl’s Southern Comfort, 8:00 p.m. An outdoor rooftop comedy show. Hosted by Joe Medoff, Sara Snyder and Tori Kilkenny. With Mitch Potts, Jerry Hamedi, Hatty Preston, Cameron Gillette.

TUESDAY, JULY 12

Friendsh*t at The Annoyance, 9:30 p.m. A storytelling comedy show by Zach and Kiki about friendship gone right and wrong. With special guests and new artists each show.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

Good Vibes Only at The Promontory, 8:00 p.m. Starring Just Nesh and B. Cole. Music by Simone Greene.

Amy Shanker at Lincoln Lodge, 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Live album recording! Amy has appeared on HBO and Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, Laugh Factory, Zanies and New York Comedy Club. “Shanker’s biting wit stems from her soul-crushing job as a CPS high school English teacher  and her strong hatred for children. As a Jewish woman, Amy is considered the least successful person in her family by her family.”

Hannah Gadsby at The Chicago Theater, 7:00 p.m. “Hannah thought she owed y’all a feel-good show. This is that.”

Faux Pas Comedy Show at Lathrop House Cafe, Forest Park, 7:00 p.m. A fundraiser for the Forest Park Theater with comedians from Zanies, The Improv and Laugh Factory.

THURSDAY, JULY 14

John Mulaney at The United Center, 8:00 p.m. Through Saturday, July 16. Follow link for all show times.

Lucy Darling: Indulgence at Rhapsody Theater, 8:00 p.m. Improv comedy and “impossible magical feats.” Lucy Darling is earning rave reviews for this show. She is a ten-time Award-Winning Entertainer and featured in the Guinness Book of World Records (2014) and Ripley’s Believe it or Not (2015). She is the star of the Super Channel documentary Carisa Hendrix: Girl on Fire. Show times through Saturday, July 16.

FRIDAY, JULY 15

Weird Al at Chicago Symphony Center, 8:00 p.m. With special guest Emo Philips. Tonight and tomorrow night.

High Spirits Comedy at Spirit Water in Cary, 8:00 p.m. A free standup show. A Funnier By The Lake Production.

Starving the Heart at The Annoyance, 8:00 p.m. Show preview. All about finding balance.

Back Room Comedy at aliveOne, 8:30 p.m. Lauren Hooberman hosts this free showcase with Aaron McDavis, Katie Mieners, Jessica Besser-Rosenberg, James Fisher Jr., Colleen Brennan. Produced by Colleen Brennan, Courtney Buckwalter, Lauren Hooberman and Lia Berman.

SATURDAY, JULY 16

Hannah Einbinder at The Den Theatre, 7:00 p.m. The star of HBO Max’s Hacks with Jean Smart.

SUNDAY, JULY 17

Improv Brunch at Second City, 12:00 p.m. Follow link for brunch menu.