Arts Agenda: Comedy

Each week, ArtsATL delivers a critic’s short list of the shows, exhibitions, concerts and events we recommend for the coming weeks within one area in the kaleidoscope of Atlanta arts and culture. This week, we offer a look at a few of the biggest comedy shows of the spring. Many of the venues below offer a large roster of comedy shows, including the Punchline, Helium Comedy Club, Atlanta Comedy Theater, City Winery, Dad’s Garage and even Symphony Hall.

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March 27-28

Tisha Campbell began her career at the age of 3 and is best known for her role opposite Damon Wayans on the ABC hit series My Wife and Kids, and as Gina on Martin. See her perform at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. March 27 and 7 p.m. March 28 at Helium Comedy Club.

April 1

Jacqueline Novak’s solo show Get On Your Knees sold out major New York runs at the Cherry Lane Theatre and the Lucille Lortel Theatre, and she toured nationally and internationally and is now streaming on Netflix. The special, directed by Natasha Lyonne, received an Emmy nomination. Novak performs at 8 p.m. April 1 at Variety Playhouse.

April 3

Chris Kattan was one of the longest-serving cast members on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. In his eight years on the show, Kattan became best known for his characters Mango, Mr. Peepers and one of the Butabi Brothers opposite Will Ferrell, which was adapted into the 1998 film A Night at the Roxbury. He’ll appear at Helium Comedy Club at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on April 3.

April 4

See Gabriel Iglesias on The 1976 Tour: A Fluffy Celebration at State Farm Arena at 8 p.m. on April 4.

April 5

See the We Them One’s Comedy Tour with Mike Epps, Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly, Chico Bean, Mojo Brookzz, Tony Roberts and Jayski live at State Farm Arena at 7 p.m. on April 5.

April 10

Legends of Laughter brings together Earthquake, Sommore, Lavell Crawford, Gary Owen and Don DC Curry at 8 p.m. on April 10 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

April 11

Emmy-winning actress and comedian Ali Wong brings her stand-up comedy tour to the Tabernacle at 7 p.m. on April 11.

April 16

Chris Brown is a New York-based comedian originally from Atlanta with more than 10 years of experience in the business. Chris recently released his first half-hour comedy special, I just look like this, which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. He’ll perform at The Punchline at 7:30 p.m. on April 16.

April 18

Jeremy Piven is best known for his award-winning portrayal of the iconic Ari Gold on HBO’s Entourage, but he’s successfully transitioned to stand-up comedy in recent years. He’ll be at City Winery for shows at 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. April 18.

April 19-20

Marlon Wayans is an actor, producer, comedian, writer and film director. His films have grossed $1.14 billion in domestic box office and nearly $1.8 billion in global box office. Marlon and his brothers, Keenen and Shawn, recently completed production on the new film Scary Movie 6. He’ll bring his stand-up show to Helium Comedy Club at 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. April 19 and 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. April 20.

April 24-26

Emmy and SAG-nominated actor, comedian and author Kevin Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Catch him at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. April 24; 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. April 25; and 6 p.m. April 26 at Helium Comedy Club.

April 30

Stand-up comedian and lifelong cynic Gianmarco Soresi and co-host Russell Daniels interview people more famous than him about all the downsides to their lives on The Downside With Gianmarco Soresi. This is a podcast where complaining is encouraged, negativity is celebrated and silver linings are debunked. See it live at 8 p.m. on April 30 at Variety Playhouse.

May 1-2

George Lopez is best known as the star of his eponymous sitcom, which originally aired for six seasons on ABC from 2002 until 2007. He’ll perform at City Winery at 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on May 1 and May 2.

May 8-9

With a career spanning more than 30 years, legendary comedian, actor, author, TV personality and award-winning radio host Rickey Smiley brings his stand-up comedy show to Helium Comedy Club at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. May 8 and 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. May 9.

May 16

Sherri Shepherd brings her Make It Make Sense Tour to the Buckhead Theatre at 7 p.m. on May 16.

May 19

David Sedaris, America’s best-selling humorist and social satirist, returns following the publication of his most recent book of short stories, Happy Go Lucky, and his first children’s book, Pretty Ugly. See him at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre at 7:30 p.m. on May 19.

May 23-24

Described by Jay Leno as the best joke writer in America, Emo Philips has performed more than 7,000 stand-up shows in comedy clubs, colleges and theaters since the 1980s. He’ll take the stage at The Punchline at 4 p.m. on May 23 and 5 p.m. on May 24

June 5

Morgan Jay is a musician and comedian based in Los Angeles who has made appearances on MTV’s Wild ’n Out and was a 2023 Just For Laughs New Face. He’ll perform at the Fox Theatre at 7 p.m. on June 5

Bert Kreischer’s career has evolved from being Rolling Stone’s 1997 “Number One Partier in the Nation” to one of the top-grossing stand-up comics in the business. In 2022, Pollstar listed him at No. 4 in the top-grossing comedy tours. Catch him at 7 p.m. on June 5 at the Gas South Arena.

June 6

John Crist is one of today’s fastest-rising stand-up comedians with sold-out shows from coast to coast that have landed him at No. 34 on the most recent Pollstar list of the top 100 comedy tours. His latest comedy special, John Crist: Emotional Support, was filmed less than six miles from his childhood home in Lilburn, and he’ll return to that venue, Gas South Arena, at 7 p.m. on June 6.

June 12-14

Rosebud Baker is a comedian, actor and Emmy-award winning writer who was named as one of Variety’s Top 10 Comics To Watch and Vulture’s Comedians You Should and Will Know. She’ll perform at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. June 12; 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. June 13; and 7 p.m. June 14 at The Punchline.

June 13

Comedian and actor Harland Williams is known for his roles in Dumb and Dumber, Something about Mary, Half Baked and more, but he’s also an accomplished stand-up and sketch comedian. He’ll be at Center Stage at 8 p.m. on June 13.