September

thursday23

Gilbert Gottfried  9/23-9/25, Zanies, Chicago (312-337-4027), Saint Charles (630-584-6342) and Vernon Hills (847-549-6030), $25 plus minimum.

Amy Schumer  9/23-9/25, the Improv, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 847-240-2001, $17-$19, 18+.

friday24

The Apocalypse: Now in 3D The world ends and only the gay survive in this sketch comedy show by Quixotic.  9/23-10/23, Hydrate Nightclub, 3458 N. Halsted, 312-804-3681, $10.

Dennis Miller   8 PM, Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State, 312-902-1500, $35-$45.

Super Fun Comedy Extravaganza II Tim O'Malley emcees a comedy variety show featuring Burning Desires, Sketch and Sniff, and Beth Stelling.   8 PM, Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th, 773-445-3838, $15-$18.

saturday25

Chelsea Handler  9/25-9/26, Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State, 800-745-3000, $52-$72.

sunday26

The Nairobi Project See Best Bet.  9/26-10/24, Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway, 773-561-4665, thenairobiproject.com, $10.

thursday30

Greg Warren  9/30-10/3, the Improv, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 847-240-2001, $17, 18+.

October

friday1

Big Gay Pudding Show by gay sketch comedy group White Rainbows.   10/1-10/23, the Call Bar, 1547 W. Bryn Mawr, 800-838-3006, $10.

Steve Cochran The WGN radio personality leads a "team of comedy greats."  10/1, Zanies, Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main, Saint Charles, 630-584-6342, $25 plus minimum; also 10/2, 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills, 847-549-6030, $25 plus minimum.

Nightmares on Lincoln Avenue Too: Totally Tubular Tales of Terror Corn Productions parodies scary kids shows from the 1990s.   10/1-10/30, Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln, 312-409-6435, $7-$15.

saturday2

After Dusk but Before Daylight: A Parody of a Very Famous Vampire Series Improv comedy skewering Twilight. 10/2-11/13, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights, 847-577-2121, $18.

sunday3

Doug Benson  4:20 PM, Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 312-337-4027, $20 plus minimum.

tuesday5

Billy Connolly  10/5-10/9, Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, 312-988-9000, $45.

Owen Smith  10/5-10/10, Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 312-337-4027, $23 plus minimum.

thursday7

Kevin Pollak  10/7-10/9, the Improv, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 847-240-2001, $25, 18+.

Heather McDonald  10/7-10/9, Zanies, Chicago (312-337-4027), Saint Charles (630-584-6342) and Vernon Hills (847-549-6030), $25 plus minimum.

thursday14

Mark Curry  10/14-10/17, the Improv, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 847-240-2001, $19, 18+.

Jeffrey Ross  10/14-10/16, Zanies, Chicago (312-337-4027), Saint Charles (630-584-6342) and Vernon Hills (847-549-6030), $30 plus minimum.

friday15

Death Toll: A Drinking Game Performance The audience drinks whenever someone dies in this horror improv/sketch comedy.  10/15-10/31, Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln, 312-409-6435, cornservatory.org, $10.

Josh Wolf 10/15-10/17, Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 312-337-4027, $25 plus minimum.

thursday21

Louie Anderson  10/21-10/24,the Improv, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 847-240-2001, $22, 18+.

Josh Blue  10/21-10/23, Zanies, Chicago (312-337-4027), Saint Charles (630-584-6342) and Vernon Hills (847-549-6030), $25 plus minimum.

friday22

The Capitol Steps Songs, skits, and parodies by bipartisan political satirists.  8 PM, Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University, University Park, 708-235-2222, $29-$44.

saturday23

Fair and Unbalanced The Second City creates comedy out of today's headlines. 8 PM, McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell, Glen Ellyn, 630-942-4200, $20-$30.

monday25

Donnell Rawlings 10/25-10/27, Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, 312-337-4027, $25 plus minimum.

friday29

Sketch Cagematch Becky Poole hosts the second-round opener of this sketch group showdown. The audience determines the winner. Midnight, iO, 2541 N. Clark, 773-880-0199, $5.

November

monday1

Hobo Robo New Comedy Festival A staging of the seven winning comedies in Hobo Junction Productions' second annual battle of the playwrights. 11/1-11/3, Strawdog Theatre Company, 3839 N. Broadway, 773-528-9696, $7.

thursday4

Nick Cannon  11/4-11/6, the Improv, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 847-240-2001, $22, 18+.

thursday11

Al Madrigal  11/11-11/14, the Improv, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 847-240-2001, $17, 18+.

friday12

Jamie Kilstein and Glenn Wool 11/12-11/13, Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse, 773-381-4554, $10.

friday19

Dave Attell  11/19-11/20, the Improv, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 847-240-2001, $32, 18+.

Listings compiled by Robin Peterson

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