After a long day, it can be nice to unwind with a little comedy to laugh away the stress of life. If you are looking for some nightlife adventures and have a craving for a good laugh, here’s a look at some of what is happening this month in the Dallas comedy scene.
Located right next door to the Angelika at Mockingbird Station, Hyena’s is a great spot for local and touring stand-up comedians. The club hosts an open mic night every Wednesday from 8 pm to 1 am. Comics from across North Texas are frequent performers, and national acts make regular appearances. This month in particular, some prominent names are going to pop by for a visit.
Kevin Farley, the late Chris Farley’s brother, has starred in his share of radio and television shows, as well as films with the likes of Adam Sandler. Farley is in town this weekend, starting with a free kickoff show June 9 at 8:30 pm, two shows on June 10, and two more shows on June 11. (Pre-teen comedian Saffron Herndon opens.)
Kansas City native Mike Baldwin comes to Hyena’s for several shows the following weekend — Baldwin won the 2010 Trial by Laughter Comedy Competition and has been a finalist in other comedy competitions around the country. His comedy album, Bees Can Taste With Their Feet, reached No. 8 in the comedy category on iTunes.
With bits that cover everything from biracial relationships to a 10-year stint of community college, Corpus Christi comedian CJ Starr will be at the club to talk about anything “that can happen to a mid-30s man as he tries to figure out what he wants to do when he grows up.” Starr has several shows on June 23 and 24.
Those who watched MTV in its heyday will remember Pauly Shore, who will be in Dallas to perform and debut the video part of his podcast, the “Pauly Shore Podcast Show,” which features Netflix’s Chief of Content Officer Ted Sarandos, reggae star Ziggy Marley and a few other guests. This special show is on June 30.
Tickets and more information can be found here.
Backdoor hosts its “Best Of” showcase at 9 pm Fridays, and 8 and 10:15 pm Saturdays. Open mic night begins at 7 pm every Thursday. Backdoor also has an introductory comedy course for those interested in performing and writing stand-up. Besides these events, Backdoor has also hosted comedians from Comedy Central, BET and Last Comic Standing. The 18-and-up comedy club is off N. Central Expressway in the Doubletree Hotel. Tickets are $14 for the “Best Of” showcases and $7 for the open mic nights. Reservations are recommended.
“Wow, Julia, all this stand-up comedy is great, but I want to get in on the action.” Say no more, fellow comedy-lover.
The Dallas Comedy House in Deep Ellum hosts a free improv comedy jam session at 8 pm every Tuesday. The attendees range from experienced performers to first-time improvisers – everyone is welcome and no pre-registration is required. Just show up Tuesday nights and get ready to “yes and” your way through the night.
If you are not sure about improvised scenes and performing off the top of your head, the Comedy House also hosts open mic nights the same night as the improv jam sessions, so you have options. It’s free, casual, and open to all comedians young and old, new and seasoned. And bonus: before the show at 8 pm, Happy Hour starts at 7. So before you try out your material, you can indulge in some appetizers and bevies. Although it’s open to all, there are some rules involved, which can be found here — just to make sure you have everything covered.
“Gee, this all sounds like fun, but what if I actually want to learn a little something? I’m not quite there yet — you know, performing in front of people.” You are in luck: Dallas Comedy House hosts a free improv class from 7 to 8 pm the last Wednesday of every month.
The first class in the intro series starts at $265. Various workshops are also offered each term. “Finding Your Voice with Sarah Wyatt” is $30 to register and will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm June 21. Registration is still open but is first-come-first-serve. More information about improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy classes can be found at the venue’s website.
