Omaha Comedy Review – January 2012
Above: Rob Delaney, who performs at the Slowdown with OK Party on January 6th.
Looking for an easy New Year’s Resolution? How about you resolve to follow @OmahypeComedy on Twitter? That way when friends ask what your resolution is, you can just tell them you already completed it for this year and puff out your chest while they gawk in amazement at how proactive you are. Actually, they probably won’t be that impressed. But they WILL be impressed when you always know of a great, funny event for an evening out instead of the same-old lame bar with Bon Jovi on the jukebox.
Hope you guys are loving the new Omahype design as much as I am. Particularly the “Comedy” tab up above that allows instant access to all the comedy events and articles we plan on writing about in 2012.
The latter part of 2011 saw the Omaha comedy scene pick up steam as scores of newcomers hit the stage for the first time. Or maybe it just seems that way because that’s when I started to write this column? Either way it doesn’t matter… We’ll be here for 2012 to cover the growth that the Omaha comedy scene is sure to make this year. The goal remains the same: To be an inclusive resource for Omaha’s comedians and comedy fans and supporters.
So if you are doing something in comedy and don’t see your event listed here or elsewhere on the site, I may not know about it. PLEASE keep me up to date by filling out this form, or just emailing my name at gmail.com.
Happy 2012 Everybody! Now get out there and support local comedy!
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OMAHA’S COMEDY OPEN MICS!
MONDAYS: Means driving to Lincoln for Duffy’s Comedy Workshop. It usually kicks off around 10:30. The first one this month was cancelled, but they should kick up again on the 9th, 16th, 23th & 30th.
TUESDAYS: Go to The Hideout, 320 S 72nd, for Shoot Your Mouth Off. Sign up on the Facebook page if you want to get on stage. It begins at 9:00 and features music and poetry as well as comedy. There are five of them this month, on the 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st.
TUESDAY, the 24th head to the Pizza Shoppe’s “Comedy Tuesdays,” 6056 Maple, for Monty Eich’s Open Mic. Starts at 8:00. The best comic of the night gets to take home the $5 door, and everybody who attends is entered in a drawing for a New Belgium Limited Edition Crusier Bike.
THURSDAYS: Comedy Show Surprise at Mojo Smokehouse, 2110 S 67th St. Starts around 10:00. These are happening on the 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th.
Preston Tompkins will be in the "Young Comedian Showcase" at Shoot Your Mouth Off on 1/3
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PS COLLECTIVE COMEDY TUESDAYS
The Pizza Shoppe’s weekly comedy series has found a sponsor in New Belgium, meaning that every time you attend one of these events your name gets entered in a drawing to win a New Belgium Limited Edition Crusier Bike on January 31st. All shows start at 8:00 and cost $5.
*January 3rd we have 88 Improv doing some long-form improv, which are improvised plays based on a few suggestions from the audience in the beginning.
*January 10th is Skull Sketches. According to Skull Sketch Actress Ariel Ibsen in an interview with Les Femmes Folles, “Skull Sketches is a really fun concept. All of the comedy sketches are written by local writers and at the end of the production the audience gets to vote for their favorite. The actors in the sketch that win then get to take home some of the door money. There’s also some awesome raffles and games – it’s an all around great time.” This month’s sketches were written by Geoff Stienblock, Edward Baye, Paul Dickey and Monty Eich. Acting will be Kendall Gray, Ariel Ibsen, Darrick Silkman, Matt Burke, Luke Socha, Eric Green, Emily Balkovic, Daniel Balkovic, Tracie Mauk, Adam Hogston, CarrieBeth Stickrod, John E. Jones, Nate Schoenfeld, Audra Novak and Nick Rowley.
Skull Sketches
*January 17th is SkullProv!
*January 24th is Monty Eich’s Open Mic. The best comic as voted by the audience gets to take home the door money. It’s worth a shot!
*January 31st is your final opportunity to enter to win that bike and your first opportunity of the month to check out Special O’s improv group.
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BACKLINE IMPROV
Backline Improv performs at the Studio Gallery, 4965 Dodge, every Thursday. Shows are typically divided into several segments that start at 8:00 and get over around 11:30. A $5 donation is appreciated. Also, since Studio Gallery is not a bar you get to bring your own beer. Check out an Omahype Cheap Beer Review before hand and go out on the cheapest, most entertaining date you’ve ever been on.
*On January 5th & January 12th you will see groups Ladies and Gentlemen, (composed of Chel Wagoner, Nick Rowley, Sarah Kennedy and Will Meinen) and Kung Pow Sandwich, (comprising Doug Rothgeb, Elissa Johnson, Eric Green, Heather Jones, Nick Rowley and Will Meinen). They will also play a game called “Interrogated,” where an audience member is literally interrogated onstage.
*January 19th join the members of 88 Improv (Nate Schoefeld, Sarah Kennedy, Steve Hydeen, Timothy Schoefeld) as they open up for a CAGEMATCH between Backline groups Ladies and Gentlemen and Kung Pow Sandwich. The winner, as decided by the audience, gets to come back and defend their title at next month’s cagematch.
*On January 26th help Backline Improv celebrate the graduation of its first Level Four class AND see the second CAGEMATCH of the month, this time between historical and fictional characters.
Backline's Will Meinen, Patricia Lillyhorn, and JC Morgan.
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OK PARTY
* On Friday, January 6th, join OK Party as they host Twitter legend Rob Delaney at the Slowdown. Opening will be Zach Peterson, and Chris Larkin will host. Get your tickets here for $10, as they go up to $13 on the day of the show.
* OK Party’s Explosivo will be held at the Slowdown on Wednesday, January 11th. These shows are always free and feature the guys from OK Party with friends they think should be doing stand up. It’s kind of a landing spot for those energized by the Battle Royales.
* Saturday, January 21st, OK Party will invade Backline Improv’s turf at Studio Gallery to put on a stand-up show.
* OK Party will return to the Waiting Room on Wednesday, January 25th, for an as-yet undefined show.
OK Party's Chris Larkin & Ian Douglas Terry at the Omahype Throwdown at the Slowdown Photo Booth.
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FUNNY BONE OMAHA
* Begin your new year with comic hypnotist J. Medicine Hat at the Funny Bone on the 4th to the 8th. $16-18.
* From the 12th to the 15th you can find Wendy Liebman at the Funny Bone for $15-17. Jump to 6:46 in the video below to catch her.
* Adam Ferrara will be at the Funny Bone from the 19th to the 21st for $17-20. You may know him better as Chief “Needles” Nelson on the FX series Rescue Me.
* Bringing up the rear in January, but not in our hearts, is Greg Warren. He’ll be at the Funny Bone from the 26th to the 29th. $15-17.
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YET MORE STUFF
* You can see “Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche” at Shelterbelt Theatre, 3225 California, three times between January 6th and the 8th.
* Craig Ferguson will be at the Orpheum Theater Wednesday, January 25th. Tickets are $38-58 and can be bought through Ticket Omaha. I know you’ve seen him on television, so I dug up this OLD video of @CraigyFerg for your enjoyment.
* If you missed OK Party’s Explosivo last month, the guys are starting to release these shows on their side project, the Mid-Best Podcast. Below you can hear the first episode, featuring Tim Greenup, Casey Crawford, Nick Rowley, Jason Miller, Chris Larkin, Will Meinen, Ian Douglas Terry, Bob Gurnett and Mike Perry.
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TO KEEP ON THE RADAR
Feburary 18th – Gabriel Iglesias at Omaha Music Hall.
March 17th – Ron White at the Orpheum.
March 21st – Jim Gaffigan at the Orpheum.
June – C4: The Cross Country Comedy Competition, opens a branch in Omaha at the PS Collective. The winner recieves a $1,000 grand prize and an exemption to compete in the finals in Des Moines.
Thanks for reading!
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