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10 must-see comedy shows coming to Greater Boston in summer 2024
A hip-hop comic, a renowned roaster, and a silly walker will all be on Greater Boston's comedy calendar.
It’s funny (or maybe not funny?): After a spring that saw local shows from the likes of Kumail Nanjiani, Jim Gaffigan, and Nate Bargatze — not to mention Larry David — there aren’t a ton of comedy superstars hitting the road this summer. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of laughs to be had.
See below for 10 big- and medium-name shows (and 10 more runners-up) that will provide more than their share of rib-tickling in Greater Boston during the warm summer months. Don’t know them? Check out the accompanying videos, keeping in mind that they may range from slightly off-color to downright dirty.
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(Note: All prices listed are face value; some shows have only verified resale tickets available.)
Desi Banks at The Wilbur
Is Desi Banks the next superstar comedian? That’s what Kevin Hart (you know, the Tom Brady roast host) thinks, and you’d be hard pressed to argue based on the Atlanta native’s track record. That includes thousands of hilarious satire videos that have delighted his social media audience of 15 million and counting, a bunch of movie roles, and sold-out tours hitting some of the hottest comedy spots in the U.S. (Oh, and he was a wide receiver for Morehead State, which doesn’t make him any funnier but probably means he’s got good hands.) You can see if Hart’s judgment is sound when Banks hits the Wilbur in June. Saturday, June 1, 8 p.m., The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $41-$81
John Cleese and the Holy Grail at the Chevalier Theatre
Let’s face it, a night out seeing 1975’s “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” on the Chevalier’s big screen would be a fun enough activity for a Saturday night. But accompanied by a talk and Q&A with Sir Lancelot the Brave himself, John Cleese? That’s a no-brainer. (Extra points for the first person to ask, “What … is your favourite colour?” complete with the extra U’s.) According to the Chevalier, the Monty Python veteran — not to mention “Fawlty Towers,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” and a personal favorite, “The Great Muppet Caper” — has requested “absurd and/or ridiculous questions only,” so please come prepared. Saturday, June 8, 7:30 p.m., Chevalier Theatre, 30 Forest St., Medford, $49-$254
Jimmy Tingle at Off Cabot
Off Cabot is promising “comedy, compassion and common sense” from Boston-based political comedian Jimmy Tingle, and if there was ever a time we needed all three of those, it’s right now. Tingle has been offering his thoughtful and gut-busting takes on the political scene for decades, and comes by his positions honestly, having received a master’s in public administration from The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard in 2010 and running for lieutenant governor in 2017. We know neither of those things sound particularly funny, but in Tingle’s hands even the thorniest of political issues become the source of heartfelt guffaws. (We laugh that we may not cry, as Roger Ebert and Abe Lincoln said.) Saturday, June 8, 6:30 p.m., Off Cabot, 9 Wallis St., Beverly, $30
Megan Gailey at Laugh Boston
Megan Gailey’s deadpan takes on life, love, marriage and — especially — being a new mom are relatable to the point of being almost painful, but in a decidedly funny way. (And realistic: We can actually picture her standing in front of the Aldi, asking poor parents if she should have a second kid.) It’s a subject she expands upon in her podcast, “I Love My Kid, But…” with Kurt Braunohler and Chris Garcia, but it’s on the standup stage where her material really shines. And if you think she’s funny now, just wait till she has that second kid! Wednesday, June 12, 8 p.m., Laugh Boston, 425 Summer St., Boston, $25
Jeremy Piven at Chevalier Theatre
Jeremy Piven may be best known for his Emmy-winning turn as Ari Gold in “Entourage,” but let’s face it: Even before that, the guy had been everywhere. For instance, he was the actor playing George in the sitcom-within-a-sitcom on “Seinfeld”; was a regular on the Ellen DeGeneres vehicle “Ellen”; and popped up in a whole bunch of movies with John Cusack, including “One Crazy Summer,” “Say Anything…,” and our personal favorite, “Grosse Pointe Blank.” (“TEN YEARS!”) But can he do stand-up? Head to the Chevalier and find out. Saturday, June 15, 7 p.m., Chevalier Theatre, 30 Forest St., Medford, $39-$75
TK Kirkland at The Shubert
You know a comedian must be fearless if he agreed to open up for N.W.A, whose audience presumably wasn’t there for jokes. (During the “Straight Outta Compton Tour,” no less!) But apparently it went well, because it cemented TK Kirkland’s rep in the rap world and started him off on a lauded career as “Hip Hop’s First Funnyman.” And amazingly, at age 63 the comedian (and actor/writer/producer/manager) seems to have garnered a whole new generation of fans for his uncensored material, with his breakout 2019 special “Who Raised You?” even providing him with his own comedy catchphrase. Saturday, June 15, 7:30 p.m., Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston, verified resale only
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Editor’s note: Since the initial publication of this article, the TK Kirkland show has been rescheduled to Friday, Nov. 15, at House of Blues Boston.
Nikki Glaser at Cape Cod Melody Tent
You saw and loved her at the aforementioned Tom Brady roast (we can’t repeat any of it here, but trust us, it was funny, in a turn-the-volume-down-so-nobody-overhears-you-watching-it kind of way). But now the queen of shockingly honest comedy is on the road, where no subject is too uncomfortable and no phrase too filthy, to paraphrase the title of her HBO comedy special “Good Clean Filth.” Oh, and she’s also the host and executive producer of the HBO Max reality series “FBoy Island,” with the F standing for “friendly,” probably. Friday, July 12, 8 p.m., Cape Cod Melody Tent, 41 W. Main St, Hyannis, verified resale only
Jackie Fabulous at Off Cabot
Jackie Fabulous has a lot going for her. First, that great stage name (although her real name, Jacqueline J. Champagnie, is pretty awesome in and of itself). Second, she’s a law school graduate, a rarity for comedians (we’re assuming). Third, she was a semifinalist on “America’s Got Talent,” which means she tossed jokes at Simon Cowell and survived to tell the tale. But beyond all that, she’s quickly becoming a quintessential example of a late-blooming all-star comedian, as evidenced by her performance in, and the title of, her 2022 comedy special, “Menoplause.” Women of a Certain Age will relate. Friday-Saturday, July 19-20, 8 p.m., Off Cabot, 9 Wallis Street, Beverly, $30
SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT:
Al Franken at City Winery
So Al Franken, the former “Saturday Night Live” writer and performer turned U.S. senator, had to resign from the Senate a few years ago, because … Well, no one remembers why, but we’re sure it was nothing compared to what some of our current elected officials are getting away with. But even if he’s no longer a senator, Franken remains a sharp-witted comic savant whose insights into topics political (and beyond) are more than worth your time and hard-earned tax dollars. And he’s doing four shows at City Winery, so you have no excuse for missing it. Saturday-Sunday, July 20-21, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., City Winery, 80 Beverly St., Boston, $45-$65
Shawn Wayans at Laugh Boston
If you were around in the ’90s and not watching “In Living Color” … it means you were probably either watching “America’s Funniest Home Videos” or “Murder, She Wrote.” But if you did partake of that seminal sketch comedy series — not to mention movies like “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood” and “Scary Movie” — then here’s your chance to see a Wayans in the flesh. Shawn Wayans (the ninth of 10 Wayanses, in case you were wondering) will be bringing his comedy stylings to the intimate confines of Laugh Boston for a rare stand-up session, and if you ask nicely, maybe he’ll explain the thinking behind “White Chicks.” Friday, Aug. 16, 7 p.m., Laugh Boston, 425 Summer St., Boston, verified resale only
ALSO OF NOTE:
- Funny, poignant, and sometimes shocking storytelling show The Moth, June 6 at Somerville Theatre
- Head-scratchingly hilarious “talk show”/podcast Comedy Bang! Bang!, June 13 at The Wilbur
- Social media superstar and barbecue sauce entrepreneur Corey B, June 18 at Laugh Boston
- “The African King of Comedy” Michael Blackson, June 22 at The Wilbur
- “Dead People Suck” and “Sh—y Mom” author Laurie Kilmartin, June 28-29, at Off Cabot
- “MTV’s Remote Control” sidekick Colin Quinn, July 12 at The Cabot
- The funny (and sexy?) liberals of Stephanie Miller’s Sexy Liberal Save The World Comedy Tour, July 13 at the Shubert
- Smarmy libertarian Bill Maher, July 26 at MGM Music Hall
- Comedian, actor, and voice-over guy (he was Slimer in the last “Ghostbusters” movie) Adam Ray, July 27 at Laugh Boston
- Just added: Ellen DeGeneres brings her “Last Stand … Up” to Boston, July 27 at the Wang
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