Author name: Rodney

Yeah, it’s a new year. Possibilities abound for those of us who survived the dreaded 2012 Apocalypse. Some of your first chances to test your ability to laugh in 2013 come from some local standup shows. At 9 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 3, Lara Beitz will be hosting the monthly showcase at The Sugar Maple. 441 […]

Talk about your year-end finale, the monthly open mic competition at Milwaukee’s Comedy Café culminates in a grand championship this week. Winners from the past 11 months are going head-to-head-to-head-to-head-to-head-to-head-to-head-to-head-to-head-to-head-to-head to determine who’s the 2012 Milwaukee Open Mic Champion.  Competitors include: Matty Field Shaleigh Fitzpatrick Shawn Shelnutt Marc Caron Tony Tudor Chastity Washington Carmen Morales

Irving  Berlin wished that all of our Christmases be white, but that was before we knew much about climate change.On Dec. 2, Milwaukee broke a record of 280 consecutive days without measurable snow. Just because it isn’t snowy doesn’t mean it’s not December. In the same way, just because you haven’t seen The Improvised Musical doesn’t

It’s getting to be a regular weekend comedy showcase at the Underground Collaborative, in the bowels of the Plankinton Building in Downtown Milwaukee.This weekend, it’s the Underground Comedy Spectacular, featuring live music, giveaways and – you guessed it – comedy.Among those scheduled to appear are standup standouts Stacy Pawlowski and Damon Millard, the band known as

We all know that the standup comedy scene in Milwaukee has been building in recent years.  Among your chances to catch local stars rising in the next few days: Open Mic Under the Stairs at 8 :30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 12, at the Karma Bar & Grill, 600 E. Ogden Ave., $5. Papa’s Social Club

Everyone loves a circus, right? Especially if it’s homegrown. And electric! This Friday, Milwaukee’s Homegrown Electric Circus has a comedy improv show. The usual suspects – Scott Heaton, Mike Walker, Josh Barto and Evan Koepnick – will be performing. It’s a merry seasonal event. The troupe has even composed this verse to share the tidings: The holiday season is upon

If you’ve been around Milwaukee comedy and figure you’ve pretty much seen it all, feast your eyes on LeeRick. LeeRick, is a two-headed improvisational experience featuring Lee Rowley as Lee- and Rick Katschke as –Rick. With little more than their considerable wits, LeeRick creates “a complex story out of thin air using your suggestions,” says

Milwaukee Comedy is putting on a real old-fashioned-type variety show. It’s a win-win-win evening: Making audiences laugh, promoting local talent, and raising funds for wholesome homegrown comedy. The holiday-themed show is called Christmas in Mil-waii! It includes a performance by the silent-film inspired group, The Marvelous Unspeaking Troupe of  Entertaining Scoundrels (The M.U.T.E.S.). The holiday-themed

Hark! The next Retro Comedy Night is doubling as a fundraiser for contributions to the M.U.T.E.S. and Milwaukee Comedy. The M.U.T.E.S. is a Milwaukee-based comedy troupe that performs live theater as if it’s a silent movie. (See the video below featuring a M.U.T.E.S. performance and interview with cast member Michael Guthrie at the seventh annual Milwaukee

No holiday is as played out as Christmas. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exploit it for all the laughs you can milk from it. Starting Thursday, Dec. 6, and running every Thursday through Saturday through Dec. 22, a stage full of Milwaukee’s finest improvisers will be presenting “A Kick in the Dickens” at the