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Home / Is This Thing On? / Five for Fighting … and Laughing: July’s Best Bets for Stand-up Comedy in Wisconsin

Five for Fighting … and Laughing: July’s Best Bets for Stand-up Comedy in Wisconsin

By Peter Lindblad

Dogs and cats, and all animals sensitive to blasts of loud noise, can rest easy. The Fourth of July has come and gone, and booming fireworks displays have faded away.

Now comes the heat … oppressive, sweltering heat. The dog days of summer are here, and it’ll be a while before fall arrives to cool things off. Those seeking air-conditioned refuge and laughter therapy might want to duck inside the many comedy clubs and theaters around the state. Big-name comics are coming. Get a load of these upcoming headliners.

Everybody’s limbs still intact? Let’s go!

Skyline Comedy Club – Appleton

Brian Posehn (July 14-15) – Fans of “The Big Bang Theory” know him best as the lethargic geologist Bert Kibbler, but the Emmy-nominated Posehn has a list of acting, music, writing and stand-up credits a mile long. That might be selling him short, as it extends all the way back to the mid-90s with the groundbreaking sketch comedy production “Mr. Show” and the early- to mid-2000s with memorable roles on “Reno 911!” and “The Sarah Silverman Show.” There’s not enough time to go through it all. And nobody – at least in comedy – is a bigger metalhead. The self-deprecating, gentle giant is tougher than he looks. He goes hard on subjects ranging from “Star Wars” to weed, dating, “Dungeons and Dragons,” and just about every nerdy subject under the sun. https://brianposehn.com/

Here’s a taste of his unique brand of dorky comedy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkLgUmkBxKU

Milwaukee Improv – Milwaukee

D.L. Hughley (July 29-31) – Don’t mess with D.L. Well-informed and sharp-witted, the charming, yet provocative, Hughley is a mischievous jester – or warrior, depending on the circumstances – in the royal court of political comedy. A critically acclaimed author with four books to his credit and a nationally syndicated radio show, “The D.L. Hughley Show,” that skewers pop culture and tackles socio-political issues and matters of race head on, Hughley is unpredictably funny, quick on his feet and devastatingly insightful whether onstage or off. He was also once on “Dancing with the Stars,” along with being one of “The Original Kings of Comedy,” so there’s plenty of lewd levity to balance out the serious stuff. http://realdlhughley.com/. Check him out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trDrxgC6Ju8

Comedy on State – Madison

Sam Jay (July 14-16) – Take a “Pause with Sam Jay,” as season two of her innovative, weekly late-night HBO show is out to shake things up. It’s a party that sparks conversations about culture and controversial subjects, seamlessly combining animation, interviews, and sketches in an entertaining and artful collage of situations both comfortable and uncomfortable. Nominated for an Emmy twice for her writing on “Saturday Night Live,” Jay was picked as one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch in 2018 and a Comedy Central Comic to Watch in 2018, appearing this year on Netflix’s Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration – an event that also featured Billy Eichner, Margaret Cho, Eddie Izzard, and Sandra Bernhard. She also has a one-hour Netflix stand-up special “Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning.” Sexuality, gender, and race are all topics on the table for Jay, and she has a lot of interesting and funny things to say about all of them. She is having a moment. https://samjaycomic.com/

Go here to see Jay in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xj6MrvmxrY

Laughing Tap – Milwaukee

Amy Shanker (July 15-16) – Hecklers might want to steer clear of Amy Shanker, who began her comedy career in Chicago. She used to be an inner-city teacher. Chances are she’s heard it all before and nothing’s going to faze her. Kevin Hart thinks she’s funny, with her dry sarcasm and hilarious, edgy cynicism that goes down easily. Shanker’s been on his LOL Network, having also opened for the likes of Kyle Kinane, Gary Gulman and Chad Daniels, among other comic heavyweights. An actress as well, Shanker comes from a family that her friends called “the Jewish Griswalds.” Take that for what it’s worth. https://www.facebook.com/amyrshanker/

Here’s Shanker in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdbrp0VoCVw

Crystal Grand Music Theatre – Wisconsin Dells

Michael Palascak (July 28) – Let’s go with something positive to finish off the month, shall we? Chicago Reader writer Drew Hunt said this about the likeable, easygoing Palascak: “In a lot of ways, he represents the ideal antidote to the sort of unbridled cynicism that pervades much of contemporary stand-up.” Once a top five finalist on “Last Comic Standing,” Palascak’s also been on “Letterman,” “Conan,” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” coaxing smiles and hearty guffaws with sunny optimism and relatable material culled from his personal life. He has new album out on 800 Pound Gorilla and a Dry Bar special. http://www.michaelpalascak.com/

Get you some Palascak slacker humor here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WXAChyZSAc

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