Comedy often comes with bonus features. Comedians sing and play. They throw their voices. They have nothing up their sleeves. They host podcasts. Or they live next door. So hold on to this raucous rundown of some of the comedy specialties slated for Connecticut stages, mostly in the first half of 2019.
As seen on screen
The bulk of TV-fed stand-ups emanate from late-night comedy shows, but the movies and TV series do their fair share.
TruTV’s risk-taking troupe of Impractical Jokers tour to Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport Jan. 18.
Tom Papa, whom you can see hosting “Baked” on the Food Channel and can hear on radio’s “Live From Here” is at the Comix Club Jan. 18 to 20.
Aziz Ansari — whose star initially ascended due to the ensemble sitcom “Parks and Recreation” and his own series “Master of None” — used club shows earlier this year to test the waters following a #metoo accusation. He’s back in theaters now and at Foxwoods Feb. 9.
Ben Bailey, host of the Discovery Channel’s “Cash Cab” game show, can be found at MGM Springfield May 31 and June 1. Carly Aquilino, co-host of Girl Code on MTV and its spin-off “Girl Code Live” (now on Snapchat Discover) — comes to the same venue June 6 to 8.
Aries Spears, who was on “MADtv” from its third through 10th seasons, is at the Funny Bone Feb. 22 to 24.
Ron Funches from short-lived superhero sitcom “Powerless” is at the Space Ballroom in Hamden Feb. 23.
“Saturday Night Live”‘s incredible Barack Obama impressionist Jay Pharoah is at the Funny Bone Jan. 25 and 26.
Jim Breuer, who channeled his “Goat Boy” “Saturday Night Live” character and the stoner movie “Half-Baked” into a long and versatile stand-up career, comes to Ridgefield Playhouse Feb. 20 to 21.
Tracy Morgan, who moved on from “Saturday Night Live” to “30 Rock” and now “The Last O.G.,” is at the Funny Bone March 8 and 9.
Self-destructive MTV “Jackass” star Steve-O is at the Funny Bone March 15 and 16.
Artie Lange, an original “MadTV” cast member in the mid-’90s who became a consummate talk-show guest while struggling with a slew of addictions, is at the Strand Theater in Seymour Jan. 26 and the Treehouse Comedy Club in Westport March 23.
Lewis Black, who ranted for years on “The Daily Show,” is at the Garde Arts Center in New London April 4.
Jay Leno, who never turned his back on stand-up during his decades as host of “The Tonight Show,” lobs one-liners May 2 at Stamford Center for the Arts.
Rob Schneider, the “Saturday Night Live”-honed star of the abhorrent “Deuce Bigalow — Male Gigolo” movies, is at Foxwoods July 12. (Eddie Griffin, who played Bigalow’s friend Tiberius Jefferson Hicks, is at the Funny Bone in Manchester Feb. 15 and 16.)
Your friendly, funny neighbors
Hartford’s own stand-up guy Rob Santos, a self-described chameleon who’s played the comedy clubs of New York City, headlines a show at City Steam Brewery Feb. 28. robsantoscomedy.com
Waterbury native Dave Reilly performs at Ridgefield Playhouse March 8.
New Haven-based comedian Kendra Dawsey, whose Instagram tag is unamusedblackgirl, hosts the popular monthly “Reel Life” stand-up series at Best Video in Hamden; the next three are Jan. 15, Feb. 19 and March 19.
You’ll find lots of Connecticut talent among the national and regional acts that line up for showcases and stand-up comedy nights at local clubs. Treehouse Comedy Showcases take root Jan. 19, Feb. 9 and March 9 at the Treehouse Comedy Club in Westport.
Playhouse on Park in West Hartford has got Comedy Nights with established local comics on Feb. 9, April 13 and June 1.
Curtain Call, Inc. in Stamford has back-to-back Comedy Nights June 14 and 15.
Local clubs hold benefits for local causes. There’s a Connecticut benefit for the New York-based Laughter Saves Lives Foundation, which helps first responders, Feb. 22 at the Treehouse in Westport.
Laughs with musical accompaniment
Impressionist Tom Anzalone can do Elvis, Elton and Springsteen. He’s at the Treehouse Comedy Club in Westport Feb. 2.
The Dan Band — comic actor Dan Finnerty and friends, adding lewd lyrics and gestures to ’80s pop hits usually sung by women — plays Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard March 9.
Potty-mouthed pop parodist John Valby tickles the ivories March 23 at Bobby V’s in Windsor Locks.
Chart-topping novelty act “Weird Al” Yankovic has always traveled with a kick-ass band. On his new “Strings Attached” tour, he’s working with symphony orchestras. July 19 at Foxwoods.
Varied voices
Ventriloquist Darci Lynne, the child ventriloquist who won on “America’s Got Talent” when she was 12 and is now 14, brings her puppet pals Petunia, Oscar and Edna Doorknocker to Foxwoods March 2.
The top ventriloquist in the country, Las Vegas icon Jeff Dunham, fills Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport with many voices March 16.
Some comics work without talking at all. Tape Face, who duct-tapes his mouth shut so he can be funny, rolls his eyes at the Ridgefield Playhouse March 14.
A touch of magic
The Amazing Johnathan makes amusing sidelong glances as he makes stuff disappear Jan. 18 at Foxwoods.
Hypnotist Rich Guzzi’s mesmerizing mirth is at the Funny Bone club in Manchester March 26.
And Jim Spinnato holds a magic show every Sunday at Mohegan Sun’s Comix Roadhouse in Uncasville.
Improv
Comedy finds community at Sea Tea Improv. The troupe runs classes, holds an annual improv festival (the next one is April 4 to 7) and hosts friendly improv competitions and special events at its own Sea Tea Comedy Theater on Asylum Street in Hartford. Regular Improv Comedy Nights at the theater are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 and 9 p.m., plus family-friendly shows Sundays at 4. There are “CT Improv Mixer”s Jan. 26 and Feb. 15, “Connecticut Comedy Cage Matches” Jan. 18 and Feb. 22, and a “Sketch Summit” happening Feb. 16. seateaimprov.com
You can also immerse yourself in improv Jan. 26 at Westport’s Treehouse Comedy Club with Al Isaacs and Scott Baker’s “It’s Your Line Now.” The nationally touring Chicago City Limits troupe is at Stamford Center for the Arts March 21. itsyourlinenow.com
Dave Foley of “News Radio” and “Kids in the Hall” heads an all-star improv comedy tour “Whose Live Anyway?,” also featuring Greg Proops and Jeff B. Davis of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and “Mad Men” actor Joey Murray, at The Bushnell April 13. whoseliveanyway.com
Comics who travel in packs
The Laugh Factory Comedy Night Jan. 12 at Dunkin’ Donuts Park (1214 Main St., Hartford) offers Rodney Perry (from BET’s “The Mo’Nique Show”) and Matt Heath as well as host Barbara Carlyle, plus music by DJ Drake and DJ Platinum. Quite the party.
The Fresh Drunk Stoned Comedy Tour, March 13 at the Funny Bone, brings two Chicago comedians, Matt Bellak and Franco Harris together with L.A.-based Tim Hanlon.
When it’s the multifaceted team of Steve Martin and Martin Short, two can be company and a crowd. The duo, who bring along a bunch of musicians to accompany them, visited the Oakdale and The Bushnell in recent years, is at Foxwoods Feb. 16 with the final-sounding “Now You See Them, Soon You Won’t” tour.
New Jersey’s Rich Vos has a lot of comedy friends. He brings some of them to a June 1 show at the Ridgefield Playhouse. You can also catch Vos solo June 13 to 15 at MGM Springfield.
Scripted shows
They’re not exactly plays, but they’re more than character-based comedy sets.
Robert Dubac, who brought the “Am I right, fellas?” attitude of his long-running hit “The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron” to Seven Angels in Waterbury two years ago, has a newer and equally self-deprecating show, “The Book of Moron” at Stamford Center for the Arts Jan 18.
The venerable funny-nun show “Late Nite Catechism” is at the Waterbury Palace Jan. 26.
The lose-knit “Friends! The Musical Parody” comes to Foxwoods Jan. 26 and 27.
As heard on podcasts
Dan Cummins, whose “Timesuck” podcast is a fine forum for his skewed comic vision, is at the Stress Factory in Bridgeport with his intriguingly titled “Happy Murder Tour” Jan. 17 to 19.
Kurt Metzger, a sizzling stand-up who wrote for “Inside Amy Schumer” and hosts the “Race Wars” podcast, is at Mohegan Sun’s Comix Comedy Club Jan. 10 to 12.
Nick Di Paolo, who launched both audio and video versions of his “Nick Di Paolo Show” podcast last year, is at Bobby V’s in Windsor Locks Jan. 19.
Vicki Barbolak brings her “Trailer Nasty” podcast persona to the Stress Factory Feb. 17.
Corey Holcomb, whose “5150 show” airs live on YouTube Tuesdays and also has its own app, is at the Funny Bone April 19 and 20.
Hartford-born Dan Soder, whose Sirius XM radio show “The Bonfire” is also available as a podcast, is at MGM Springfield March 7 to 9.
Brazilian comedian/singer Whindersson Nunes, who has more than 30 million subscribers to his comedy-video YouTube channel, brings his “Eita, Casei!” tour to College Street Music Hall March 22.
Drew Lynch, who has 1.5 million subscribers for his “Dog Vlog” YouTube channel (the dog being Lynch’s service dog Stella) spends May 23 to 25 at MGM Springfield.
With a twist of…
… Factoids, with “HQ Trivia” host Scott Rogowsky at Foxwoods Jan. 11.
… Astrophysics, in Matthew Starr’s “Dark Matter: Part Stand-up, Part Science” Jan 12 at the Sea Tea Comedy Theater on Asylum Street.
… Storytelling, in the “Chatterbox” improv hybrid at Sea Tea Comedy Theater Jan. 25, Feb. 8 and beyond.
… Drag, in the ongoing “Lipstick, Lashes & Lies” variety show at Comix Club, Mohegan Sun; next one is Jan. 25.
… Advice, in the latest installment of Chion Wolf’s “Asking for a Friend” at Sea Tea Comedy Theater Feb. 16.
… Literature, when “New Yorker” essayist David Sedaris reads from his work April 11 at Stamford Center for the Arts.
… Basketball, when the Harlem Globetrotters beat the Washington Generals again and again, Feb. 15 and 18 at Webster Bank Arena, Feb. 16 at the XL Center and April 5 at WCSU’s O’Neill Center in Danbury.
Back to basics
Among those who still get by on no-frills stand-up alone are:
NPR radio star Paula Poundstone March 2 at the Shubert in New Haven.
Kathleen Madigan March 8 at Foxwoods.
Boston comedy legend Lenny Clarke at Bobby V’s in Windsor Locks April 6.
“Deadpool” and “Silicon Valley” actor T.J. Miller at Foxwoods April 12 and Ridgefield Playhouse July 26.
Trumbull-born, nationally renowned comedian/playwright Lisa Lampanelli holds an audience-participation “Fat Chance: An Evening of Conversation and Story” event at Ridgefield Playhouse April 11.
Bob Saget at Foxwoods, April 20.
Brian Regan at the Shubert on April 26.
Multi-threat talent Wayne Brady, who spent much of 2017 co-starring in “Hamilton” in Chicago, now on a solo tour that hits Ridgefield Playhouse May 4.
And (in his first major tour in four years) Dane Cook Oct. 19 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Comedy on call
Don’t forsake those reliable clubs and theaters that deliver regular bursts of stand-up comedy throughout the year: The Brew HaHa Comedy Club at City Steam on Main Street in Hartford, The Funny Bone in Manchester, the Stress Factory in Bridgeport, the Comix Club (soon to become the Comix Roadhouse) at Mohegan Sun and the new Roar! Comedy Club at the MGM Springfield casino in Massachusetts, which just had its grand opening Jan. 3.
The Funny Bone tends to book a single act for a whole weekend, so if you like them you can come right back and see them again. Upcoming Funny Bone headliners include Gary Owen Jan. 10-12, Mitch Fatel Jan. 18-20, physical comic Arnez J. (who briefly played for the Harlem Globetrotters) Feb. 1-2, Chris Porter (whose TV special was “Ugly and Angry”) Feb. 7-9, “Ragin’ Cajun” John Morgan March 22-24, Guy Torry (brother of Joe Torry) May 17-18 and Sam Comroe, who talks about his Tourette’s Syndrome in his sets, June 2.
Guy Torry’s not the one comedy brother in the clubs. Kevin Farley, younger sibling of Chris Farley, is at the Treehouse Comedy Club Feb. 9. Also coming to the Treehouse: Fairfield University grad Joe DeVito Jan. 12.
Mohegan Sun’s Comix Club is being transformed this winter into the new “Comix Roadhouse,” with country music acts and “Texas-style food” as well as comedy. Upcoming Comix comics this month are Kurt Metzger Jan. 10-12, Tom Papa Jan. 17-19, Mark Normand Jan. 24-26. You can also find Normand in April at the new Roar! Comedy Club.
Rob Falcone, whose face has been seen in TV commercials for Wendy’s and Nabisco, is at Randall’s in West Haven Jan. 26, followed Feb. 23 by tireless stand-up Joey Kola, who’s allegedly performed over 300 shows a year for the past 36 years.
The Stress Factory in Bridgeport also has weekend-long bookings, including some oddball acts like social-media sensations Kountry Wayne (who likes to joke about his nine kids) Jan. 11 to 13.
Ready to laugh now?
Christopher Arnott can be reached at carnott@courant.com
