"Best" is a relative idea, much like what you think is funny. That's why each month we recommend various comedy events -- some that are sketch, some improv, some standup and some a little of everything -- and deem them the best. If you're in search of a laugh or willing to take a risk on humor, read on.
What a well-oiled machine St. Louis comedy has become. If every event taking place on Saturday, March 21, sells out, roughly 3,500 individuals will be attending a comedy show in St. Louis on a single night. This month welcomes the DIY with the P-R-O; the Pageant alone has Chris Hardwick, Demetri Martin and two shows from John Mulaney.
On the alt side, a nationally touring amateur standup competition is taking place at Foam, the Duck Room and the Firebird. And we've got to tip our hats to Art Bar for making the #RoadKillComedy Tour possible.
STL SketchPAD Tuesday, March 3, at Satori Theater 8 p.m. | $5 | All Ages
In the name of teamwork, STL SketchPAD has assembled a rotating squad of St. Louis' most enthusiastic and talented writers under the roof of the Satori Theater. If you're not familiar with comedy terminology, a "sketch" is a series of short scenes. The form was famously brought to households on TV shows such as Saturday Night Live, The Chappelle Show and Portlandia. SketchPAD differs in that the scenes will be brought to life right before your eyes, as opposed to with a seven-second delay.
The fourth installment, "For the Funk of It," features producer Jason Flamm and writers Joshua Evans and Christopher Melton of The Catalogue Podcast.
Ben Kronberg Wednesday, March 11, in the Elvis Room 8 p.m. | $8 | All Ages
After returning home to Brooklyn from the Very Much Comedy Tour with Nick Thune and Kate Berlant, Ben Kronberg is headed back to the Midwest for a single date in St. Louis. Kronberg has been a busy boy in the past year, clocking hundreds of miles on the road and even landing himself on Last Comic Standing. (If you're a fan of the show, you may recognize him as the guy Roseanne Barr dismissed from the stage by stating, "Go fuck yourself.")
A true multimedia adventurer, Kronberg has been known to sneak a catchy tune into his act. In between his one-liners and clever observations, he'll make use of a guitar, keyboard and even his iPhone. His Half Hour special aired on Comedy Central in 2013, and his appearances on @Midnight have never been less than absurdly amusing.
Bare Knuckle Comedy "Premiere Show" Wednesday, March 18, at Melt 8 p.m. | No Cover | All Ages
Imagine sitting around a living room, competing with your friends over which funny video to cue up next, and that's "Premiere Show" to a tee.
St. Louis' best-known alt-comedy show, Bare Knuckle Comedy, is hosting a night of cinematic feats in utter mockery of the Oscars. A red carpet is unlikely, but tuxedo T-shirts are practically guaranteed. The night will showcase comedic shorts produced by the heaviest hitters in the comedy game. The city's favorite (and only) late-night talk show, STL Up Late, is contributing, as is Parody Patrol, the masterminds behind the one of the few #UpForWhatever ads worth watching.
Comedy in the Lou, the Catalogue Podcast and a number of others will make appearances as well. Continue to page two.
Here: An Improvised Musical With Tara DeFrancisco and Rance Rizzutto Saturday, March 21, at the Improv Shop 8 p.m. | $5
Yes, a musical. And, no, you're not going to be the outcast when everyone in the audience is singing along except for you. That's because Here is unlike any other musical you've ever seen: The whole thing is improvised. You can't sing along because not even the performers know the tune. If you're thinking, "There's no way that can be anything less than a disaster," stop right there. Remember how much everyone loved Wayne Brady's songs on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
The Improv Shop brought in Tara DeFrancisco and Rance Rizzutto of Chicago's Improv Olympics, and to round things off, pianist Larry Pry of the Muny will provide accompaniment. While new to us, Here is a weekly production that's making its way across the U.S. Both DeFranciso and Rizzutto have impressive resumes and will deliver a fortuitous and one-time-only feature.
Following the performance, Empty Full of Sorrow, St. Louis' only all-goth improv group, will take over the stage in celebration of "Improvica Satanicus." The show is just $5, but if you attend the 8 p.m. show you are invited to stay free of charge.
Make Me Laugh St. Louis March 14, 20 and 21 at Foam, the Duck Room and Firebird 8 p.m. | $10
Make Me Laugh is a nationally touring amateur standup comedy competition produced by Dan Frigolette, creator of the Hoboken Comedy Festival. In celebration of both the city's and national DIY scenes, Make Me Laugh is stopping in St. Louis to crown St. Louis' best amateur comic. The winner will receive a spot on the Comedy's Best Kept Secret Tour as well as a website, head shots and of course the bragging rights to jump-start their career.
Make Me Laugh St. Louis takes place in three venues over the course of three days. Preliminaries are Saturday, March 14, at Foam, and the semis and finals will be held the following weekend at the Duck Room on Friday, March 20, and the Firebird on Saturday, March 21. The competition will be judged nationwide by Dan Frigolette and the winner of the Albany competition, Erik Anker. Local talent will be added to the judges' table courtesy of standup comic Jeremy Essig, Luke Taytro of Tayto's Bistro, John and Kane of Indio Radio and Joel Crespo of Guerrilla Street Food Truck. Each night will feature a surprise headlining comic to wrap the night.
Demetri Martin Thursday, March 26, at the Pageant 8 p.m. | $39.50
Demetri Martin is a man of palm-to-forehead puns, insightful one-liners and comedic drawings that put the "art" in "graph charts." His delivery is rhythmically in time with the steady beep of an EKG machine monitoring a sleeping man, and each line leaves you anxiously awaiting the next. His brand-new hour, The Persistence of Jokes, will impress.
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