Updated 16:15, September the 8th, 2008
Laugh it up
| Improv Boston Though these guys just moved to a swank Central location, they’re still like a cross between community players and truly inspired community players. We recommend the main stage show on Fridays and the Naked Comedy Showcase on the first Wednesday of each month, where the comics perform stand up in the buff. Actually, we’re not sure we want to go on record recommending that. We will go on record recommending the Thursday night improvised variety show that is Bastards, Inc. or the “Daily Show” with a local slant that is Boston News Net on Saturdays. 1253 Cambridge St., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Central or #69 bus to Prospect. Shows Wed. through Sun. Tickets $5-$15. 617.576.1253 |
| Improv Asylum IA is a key ingredient to a tasteful impress-your-date recipe: dinner in the North End, then a comedy show in a classy theater that combines smart sketches and mainstream improvisational games where, if you’re (un)lucky, they’ll elaborately make fun of you. If you don’t have a date, grab a few buddies and a bucket o’ brews. They sell those there. Their Wednesday second-stage shows are usually as good as their mainstage cast weekend shows, but cheaper. 216 Hanover St., Boston. MBTA: Green and Orange Line to Haymarket. Shows Wed. through Sat. Tickets $15-$20. 617 263-6887. |
| The Comedy Connection The Comedy Connection used to be in Faneuil Hall, but lately they’ve been putting on shows at the 94-year-old Wilbur Theatre. Joel McHale from “The Soup” was there this summer, and Nov. 8 it’s controversial comic Carlos Mencia (the controversy is whether he’s funny or not). 246 Tremont St., Boston.617.931.2000. |
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The Comedy Studio This is the place where indie heavyweights like Eugene Mirman come when they want to have an audience in Boston. This is the place where you get a scorpion bowl and Peking Duck. This is the place that has funky programming that ranges from new material on Sundays to comic magicians on Tuesdays. This is the place! 1238 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Red Line to Harvard. Shows Tues. through Sun. Tickets $7-$9. 617-661-6507. |
| Nick’s Comedy Stop Ever hear of a guy named Dane Cook? Yup. He got his start at this humble joint with the wedding reception-type chairs. Though that doesn’t sound comfortable, the venue is indeed intimate, but not so intimate that if you don’t think the person onstage is funny, you feel guilty for not laughing at him or her. But with NIcks’ track record (almost 25 years) many of the performers are funny, so relax. 100 Warrenton St., Boston. 617.482.0930. |