The TBS Just for Laughs Festival is kicking off today!

The festival is certainly more standup than improv focused, but there are some great shows to see.

You can see my picks by date below. If you want to say hello, I’ll be at The Playground Tuesday and Wednesday night and then at the Annoyance late Wednesday.

Tuesday 6/13

Stuffed and Unstrung by Henson Alternative

WHERE: Bank of America Theater

WHEN: 7:30p

$: 40-60

Part of Broadway in Chicago, this is like Felt on steroids. Probably with  better puppetry. Don’t worry, giant screens magnify the tiny puppet stage action so everyone can see.

(You can see these guys around 7p every night of the festival. Cause they are basically just remarketing their normal tickets to the festival crowd….)

 

Wednesday 6/13

Hotdogs, Baseball and Schadenfreude

WHERE: Lincoln Hall

WHEN: 7:00p

$: 10

WHAT: Basically they will be MSTK3000 style watching a cubs game. I’m guessing if you want to buy a ticket to this, you probably still can. Alternatively you can sit at home and do this yourself with a few friends.

 

Pet Project Series

WHERE: The Playground

WHEN: 7:30p, 10:30p

$: 5

WHAT: These shows are all Chicago groups and performers given an hour to do what they want….

7:30p: WiseSnatch> Rachel Farmer, Jo Scott, Meg Johns.

Chicago Based Improv Trio!

Check them out on Facebook here.

10:30p: My Manns> Mark Raterman, Tim Robinson, Andy Miara

Two of the Cook County Social Club boys and longtime collaborator Andy Miara.

 

Scott Adsit and Kevin Dorff (with various guests)

WHERE: iO Theater

WHEN: 8p (with Dave Pasquesi and TJ Jagadowski), 10:30p

$: SOLD OUT

I’m seriously jealous of people attending the TJ and Dave Show.

 

Thursday 6/14

Pet Project Series (Night 2)

WHERE: The Playground

WHEN: 7:30p, 10:30p

$: 5

WHAT: These shows are all Chicago groups and performers given an hour to do what they want….

7:30p: NICE> Brooke Breit, Nancy Friedrich, Barry Hite and Hans Holsen

Longtime players from iO, Second City and Annoyance, I know literally nothing about this group. Google isn’t helping.

8:30p: Hovdees> Matt Hovdee, Megan Hovdee

Second City Artistic Director and his Tourco sister. You can get a sense of their level of artist skill and integrity from the above picture.

 

Scott Adsit, Kevin Dorff, Jon Glaser, Dave Pasquesi, TJ Jagadowski

WHERE: iO Theater

WHEN: 8p, 10:30p

$: SOLD OUT

Again. Jealous.

Messing with a Friend with Greg Hess

WHERE: Annoyance Theater

WHEN: 10:30p

$: SOLD OUT

I’m psyched to see Greg and Susan play together.

 

Friday 6/15

 Scott Adsit and Jet Eveleth

WHERE: iO Theater

WHEN: Midnight

$: 15

I have run out of quippy show comments.

 

That’s it!

It’s great to see improv highlighted in such a high profile festival and I hope next year features even more.

See you at the shows!