Jacqueline Novak/Photo by Mindy Tucker

Ticket alerts:

November 26: Jan Slavin’s High Fiber Comedy at The Skokie Theatre. Tickets available soon.

December 11: Pat Tomasulo Comedy Special Live Taping at Zanies Rosemont. Early show already sold out!

December 3-4: Ramy Youssef at The Den Theatre

January 22: Pat McGann at The Vic

Following is this next week’s Spotlight, at least through Wednesday, November 10. Just a small sample of all the original comedy happening in Chicagoland. Please confirm all details including Covid protocols. Comedy will help us get through these weird times … and beyond. Support Chicago comedy! It’s an investment with guaranteed returns in laughter and light!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4

Tuxedo Cat Comedy at Beauty Bar, 8:00 p.m. Sohrab Forouzesh, Tessa Orzech, Megan Brennan, Nick Ogle, Estephany Guzman, and Tuxedo Cat’s Casey Larwood.

Las Locas Comedy at Laugh Factory, 8:00 p.m. The Chingona Comedy Hour.

Congrats On Your Success at Uncharted Books, 7:30 p.m. The popular show is back in person and Free!

Jacqueline Novak at The Den Theatre, 7:00 p.m. Jacqueline Novak’s critically acclaimed “Get On Your Knees” was extended five times in New York City and tickets sold out for weeks on end. The show is now at the Den Theatre through Sunday, November 7. FOLLOW LINK FOR ALL SHOW TIMES

Fest & Furious Comedy Show at North Bar, 7:30 p.m. With Anna Valenzuela, Brandie Posey, Kevin Casey White.

Deck The Hallmark at Second City, 8:00 p.m. The Greeting Card Channel returns! Follow link for all show times.

Mike Birbiglia at The Chicago Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

Kevin James at Coronado Performing Arts Center, Rockford, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5

Drink Date Laugh at The Laugh Factory, 7:30 p.m. The interactive comedy showcase and game show created by Paul Farahvar and starring Chicago’s best comedians and you, the audience! Featuring Adam Burke, Paul Farahvar, Sarah Perry, Andy Fleming, Kyle Scanlan and more TBA.

Academy After Hours at The Laughing Academy, Glenview, 8:00 p.m. Laura Hugg hosts Joe Antonacci and headliner Anthony Bonazzo (Zanies, Laugh Factory, Stand-Up NBC.) A Funnier By the Lake Production.

Wisecrackin’ at Second City’s Judy’s Beat Lounge, 8:30 p.m. With special guest Stephen Tobolowsky.

Amir K at The Improv, 7:00 and 9:15 p.m. Through Sunday. Follow link for all show times.

Iliza Shlesinger at The Chicago Theatre, 7:00 p.m. The Back in Action Tour.

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood at Coronado Performing Arts Center, Rockford, 7:00 p.m. The Scared Scriptless Tour.

Eliot Chang at Zanies Chicago, 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights.

The Young Hustle Show at The Laugh Factory, 9:30 p.m. Featuring St James Jackson, Clay Hurlbut, Nick Ogle, Skyler Higley and more TBA.

Blackout Diaries at Lincoln Lodge, 10:00 p.m. Created by Sean Flannery, comedians and other folks tell their wildest drinking stories. There will be a Q&A. Featured on NPR and Comedy Central and acclaimed everywhere.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6

The Legend Series Presents: Messing with Cindy Caponera at The Annoyance, 8:00 p.m. Internationally acclaimed improv star Susan Messing with Cindy Caponera (Saturday Night Live, Nurse Jackie, At Home with Amy Sedaris)

Kal Penn at Harris Theater, 7:00 p.m. Kal Penn has played prominent roles everywhere from How I Met Your Mother and Harold and Kumar to White House advisor to President Obama. His new memoir is You Can’t Be Serious. He is joined in conversation by Suroosh Alvi, founder of VICE Media.

Kevin James at the Waukegan Theatre, 7:30 p.m. From King of Queens, Hotel Transylvania and Paul Blart: Mall Cop (my favorite).

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7

The Best Decision You Ever Made at Second City, 5:00 p.m. This tweet by the director caught my eye.

Felonious Munk at Zanies Chicago, 7:00 p.m. This comedian went from finance to comedy and is known for his work on ABC’s For Life and The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore and Windy City Live.

Amy Miller and Geoff Tate at North Bar, 8:00 p.m.

Deep Schwa at The Annoyance, 8:00 p.m. Chicago’s longest continuously running Harold team.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8

Fem Com Grad Show at Lincoln Lodge, 8:00 p.m. Up-and-coming women comedians of Chicago!

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9

Comedy on the Park at Avli, 6:00 p.m. Headliner Uncle Larry Reeb with Mike Toomey and Jeanie Doogan.

Em Brown at Zanies Chicago, 8:00 p.m. Em Brown can be seen on HBOMAX (Laff Tracks), LAUGHING IN COLOR (Pluto tv), and The Chi (Showtime). “Talking about family, marriage and life in general anyone and everyone wants to hear his insane yet understandable point of view.”

Welcome to the Party at Second City, 8:00 p.m. Presented by the Bob Curry fellows.

Chicago Underground Comedy at Beat Kitchen, 9:00 p.m. Mallory Bradford hosts Drew Soffer, Steve Hernandez, Lucia Whalen, Brad Wenzel,
Lauren Vino, Diya Basrai.

Modi at North Shore Center for Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. Voted one of the top ten comedians in New York.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10

Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O’Toole’s, 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Line up TBA. Always lives up to the show’s name.

Jeff Garlin at Zanies Chicago, 8:00 p.m. The Chicagoan from my two favorite shows, Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Goldbergs.

Will Smith at The Chicago Theatre, 7:00 p.m. An evening of true stories.