The Paper Machete has featured Chicagoistos y -as past and present before. For their special May Day show at the Grafton Sunday, it's time for el Jefe, Chuck Sudo, to make his Paper Machete debut. Chuck will be sharing the stage with Living Oprah author Robyn Okrant, Jamie Buell (winner of the first-ever Impress These Apes competition), iO and Second City performer Hans Holsen and Walker Parrish. Come on out and watch Chuck get the flop sweats. It's free and it's at 3 p.m. more ›

OINK!, Chicago’s self-proclaimed Premiere Comedy Variety Show™, hosted and produced by a one Otholomieux Dionysus Schwering (Othy), beseeches you to join their raucous festivities this evening, as the BYOB weekly stand-up/improv/sketch showcase celebrates its three year anniversary. The show will feature stand-up comic Prescott Tolk (Comedy Central's Premium Blend), and sketch comedy from Delicious But Unnecessary (DBU) (Mary Walsh, Alisha Ketry, and Feliciana Radice). In addition, iO's Zach Hanes, and former OINK! co-producer and Playground team member Kannan Arumugam, join Othy for an improv reunion. We had a chance to catch up with Othy recently about his hammy showcase. more ›

There’s nothing better than listening to an artist / designer talk about their creative process—the inspiration, the tears, the glory. But when you add in some random crazy-ass comedy, ‘80s jams, and deliciously crafted cocktails, the result is a brilliant alternative to an uptight theory lecture—The Show ‘n Tell Show. more ›

You meet, you woo, and a soul-consuming love blossoms. Then you break up. And why is it you suddenly have so much to say to the very person you swore you’d never speak to again? more ›

Do you crave comedy with a side of pancakes? If so, The Lincoln Lodge, located behind the Lincoln Restaurant in Northcenter, will get your carb-filled belly jiggling. more ›

We know what we're doing Wednesday: Heading to The Annoyance to see three of our favorite local comedy all stars. Jared Logan, Robert Buscemi and our pal Steve Delahoyde (of grumpy-curing fame in these parts) have teamed up yet again for the third installment of "Three Dumb Men," a variety show that features stand-up and video and probably other stuff. Special guests include Brady Novak and Kristen Studdard, both of whom we adored last... more ›

After eight long weeks, we’ll all get the chance to see who will be taking home the big prize (a staggering $250!) in the final performance of this season of the talent/variety show, Impress These Apes. Each week of the show is dedicated to a different talent challenge, ranging from puppet skits to songwriting; from creating a music video to coming up with a sideshow character. Judged weekly by a panel of three Apes —... more ›

If you were at last night's Estrojam (warning: makes noise) opening-night Panty Party at Funky Buddha, it's likely you're familiar with the festival. You're also probably a) hungover from all the $1 beers and mango vodka shots, and b) searching for your face on Last Night's Party, hoping for a new MySpace photo. The five-year-old, woman-centric music and culture festival continues all over the city this week with a bevy of concerts, films, workshops and... more ›

What Happened to Bozo? more ›

WORDSFest, a premier collection of local African-American performers and one of the most entertaining events you’ll see this Black History Month, opens tonight at the Theatre Building. The two-weekend showcase shares a path with last month’s Sketch Fest. Each grew from an impulse to bring together and raise the visibility of a talented community, each arrived at the Theatre Building when they outgrew their original space. Both open their arms (and their workshop) to aspiring... more ›

Now that Santa’s returned to the North Pole and Hanukkah Harry has commenced his rounds, it’s time to focus on New Year’s Eve. Maybe you’ve already ponied up your $100 or more to celebrate that sharp new desk calendar. Or maybe you’ve sworn off Saturday night as an overblown, overhyped, overpriced holiday. If you’re in that second category, consider spending 2005’s final hours at the theater, a more reasonably priced alternative where you leave the... more ›

Any event that advertises "gay boys in cheerleading outfits" and "Underwear for Sale! Come find out if its new or used!" quickly gets our attention. We're not exactly sure what "The Mobtown Moxie Review" is (although it's certain the Tribune would print wrong photos of it), so we'll quote from their website: more ›

Yeehaw, the Perpetual Motion Roadshow is back in town! Tonight, they'll be stopping at Quimby's (1854 West North). It's the last night of roadshow #17, "Born of Secret Transit," which has been on the…well, road for a week, stopping in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, New York, Cleveland and Cincinnati. This leg of the tour features Todd Taylor, Darren O’Donnell, and Chicago's own Jonathan Messinger (of recent RedEye fame). more ›