By Peter Lindblad
2020 was no laughing matter for anybody, including stand-up comics and the people who love them. In Wisconsin, comedy clubs were either closed through the pandemic or opened to host a smattering of shows under heavy COVID-19 restrictions. After being cooped up for so long, the natives are getting restless, and so are the comedians.
Everybody is dying to go to see live entertainment and have a few laughs, or more than a few. A whole night of them would really hit the spot. So, let’s get out to the venues that are opening safely and see the best stand-up comedians scheduled to come to Wisconsin to perform. Here is our guide:
The Venues: Places to Go
Skyline Comedy Club – Situated “between the locks” in Appleton, as they say, the comfortable room where all the action takes place is on the third floor at 1004 S. Oneida St. Known for its great bar service, the place also has tons of parking and there is a two-drink minimum. Past headliners include Doug Benson, Nikki Glaser and TJ Miller, to name a few. Get tickets here.
Comedy on State – The name says it all, as the Madison comedy club sits on the world-famous State Street, having played host to some of the biggest names in comedy. Its doors were shut during the pandemic, but it is slowly coming back to life, with a grand reopening scheduled for April 22-24. Wisconsin’s own Kevin Boseman is headlining. For everything you need to plan your visit, call (608) 256-0099 or click here.
The Laughing Tap – Holding stand-up shows weekly, the Milwaukee comedy club is an intimate, cozy venue with no drink minimums and a full bar, featuring craft beers on tap and a big selection of spirits. In business for over a decade, The Laughing Tap hosts the annual Milwaukee Comedy Festival and is committed to promoting the local comedy scene. Buy tickets here.
The rest: North Star Casino, Bowler; Ho-Chunk Casino, Wisconsin Dells; Meyer Theatre, Green Bay; Resch Center, Green Bay; Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
The Comics: People to See (Dates are subject to being rescheduled, so check with the venue before heading out)
- Jeff Foxworthy (Aug. 20, North Star Casino)
– Rednecks rejoice! Foxworthy has been a game show host, best-selling author and comedy-recording artist, Grammy Award nominee and part of the massively successful “Blue Collar Comedy Tour.” His low-key, relatable, and clean sense of humor has made him one of the most respected comics on the planet. This show has been rescheduled multiple times. Read our profile of Foxworthy here
- Kathleen Madigan (Oct. 21, Meyer Theatre) – No less of an authority than Ron White said of the sly, wise-cracking Madigan, “There’s nobody better than Maddy. Smart and just crushes it every time. She’s not just one of the best ‘female’ comics, she’s one of the best comics, period.” Low-key and fun-loving, Madigan has done five stand-up specials for Netflix and loves Wisconsin. Read our profile on Madigan here
- Adam Carolla (May 7-8, Skyline Comedy Club) – Political correctness be damned. Adam Carolla is here to tell it like it is. The straight-shooting funny man, who used to co-host “The Man Show” with late-night talk show giant Jimmy Kimmel, will broadcast his podcast “The Adam Carolla Show Live” both nights at 7:30 p.m., followed by his stand-up performance “Adam Carolla is Unprepared.” Be a part of Carolla experience!
- Nikki Glaser (Sept. 4, Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo) – No subject is too taboo for the hilariously raunchy Glaser, who once hosted “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser” on Comedy Central. Unfiltered and uncompromising, Glaser is extraordinarily candid about her battles with depression, anorexia and anxiety and she’s a regular on late-night talk shows. Get ready to cringe.
- Brian Regan (July 1-3, Skyline Comedy Club, Appleton) – Unlike Rodney Dangerfield, Regan gets respect everywhere he goes, from critics, fans, and his comedian colleagues. Entertainment Weekly once described Regan as, “Your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian.” That is high praise, indeed. Read more about Regan in our story here
- Dan Soder (Aug. 19-21, Comedy on State) – Fans of the Showtime series “Billions” know Soder best as the idealistic Mafee, although others might be more familiar with his first HBO comedy Special, “Son of Gary.” Soder also hosts Sirius XM’s “The Bonfire” with Big Jay Oakerson.
- Damon Wayans (June 10-13, Skyline Comedy Club) – “Homey the Clown” is coming to Appleton. Wayans emerged as a star on the Emmy Award-winning sketch comedy series “In Living Color,” before taking on other TV and movie roles, appearing in such hilarious films as “Major Payne,” “Great White Hype,” “Mo Money” and “Blankman.”
- Taylor Tomlinson (June 24-26, Skyline Comedy Club; Aug. 26-28, Comedy on State) – Youth isn’t always wasted on the young, as Taylor Tomlinson proves. Still in her 20s, Tomlinson is proving to be wise beyond her years, mixing in perceptive commentary with sharp comedic chops. She debuted the Netflix special “Quarter Life Crisis” in 2020.
- Chris Porter (April 23-24, Skyline Comedy Club)
– Porter finished third on season 4 of “Last Comic Standing.” The Kansas City native is known for his rough-and-rowdy style and working himself into a lather over the stupidity he encounters every day. Take some time to view his “Ugly and Angry” special to get an idea of what Porter is all about. Or, better yet, check out our cover story on Porter in our April issue
- Chelsea Handler (Sept. 24-25, Skyline Comedy Club) – For seven years, Handler hosted E!’s highly rated “Chelsea Lately,” wrestling tough subjects with her razor-sharp witty repartee and inquiring comedic mind. She followed that with a new no-holds-barred talk show called “Chelsea” in 2016. Thought-provoking and outrageously funny, Handler is also a best-selling author, including “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea.” Don’t hide the liquor.
Honorable mention: Johnny Beehner, June 18-19, Skyline Comedy Club, Appleton (Here’s more on Beehner:); Bert Kreischer, Oct. 15, Resch Center in Green Bay; Dope City Comedy Tour featuring Matt Bellak and Tim Hanlon, April 16-17, Skyline Comedy Club, Appleton; John Crist, April 29-30 and May 1, Skyline Comedy Club, Appleton; Matteo Lane, May 13-15, Comedy on State, Madison; Ms. Pat, Aug. 5-7, Comedy on State, Madison; Matt Braunger, Nov. 18, The Laughing Tap, Milwaukee; Mick Foley, Sept. 16, Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee; Mike Birbiglia, Nov. 6, Overture Center, Madison; Dave Attell, Oct. 14-16, Skyline Comedy Club, Appleton; Harland Williams, July 15-17, Skyline Comedy Club, Appleton; Brad Williams, July 22-24, Skyline Comedy Club, Appleton.
There is more where that came from, of course. More shows are being scheduled all the time, with even bigger acts sure to go out on tour and theaters coming back online. Keep coming back for news on the comics heading Wisconsin’s way, as well as more fun lists, polls and in-depth content on everything comedy going on in the state. This blog will be your best source of information on everything that is funny from big cities like Milwaukee and Madison in the south to little Bowler up north and all the casinos in between. Be sure to bookmark it. It’ll be the perfect guide for finding the best stand-up shows anywhere … well, in the state that is.