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10 must-see comedy shows coming to Greater Boston in spring 2024
"Daily Show" stalwarts, famous podcasters, and some of stand-up's biggest hitters are all on Boston's comedy calendar this March-May.
Spring is almost here, and what better way to come out of hibernation than with a few laughs? OK, maybe more than a few: Boston has a ton of heavy comedy hitters coming to the area over the next few months, including such big names as D.L. Hugley at City Winery, Jim Gaffigan at The Wilbur, Jay Leno at The Cabot in Beverly, and even “A Conversation with Larry David” at MGM Music Hall. Of course, those guys probably don’t need any extra publicity, and in cranky Larry David’s case he’d probably be fine if you didn’t come at all.
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With that in mind, below are some other stellar comedy options worth adding to your calendar as the weather turns warmer this March-May. Note on the videos: Some of these folks are no stranger to the F-bomb, so better watch your volume.
(Note: All prices listed are face value; for some shows only verified resale tickets may be available.)
Jo Koy at TD Garden
Poor Jo Koy. The Tacoma, Washington, native has been killing it as a stand-up comedian since the ’90s, was usually the best thing about “Chelsea Lately,” and has six Netflix and Comedy Central specials under his belt. But he has one off night at the Golden Globes and suddenly he’s persona non grata. You can find out why they gave him the gig in the first place — i.e. his highly respected stand-up chops, lauded by the likes of Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg — when he brings his raucous personal stories about his family and Filipino culture (and probably zero “Barbie” jokes) to TD Garden. Friday, March 8, 8 p.m., TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, $46-$66
Marc Maron at the Chevalier Theatre
Although for most people starting a podcast is not a good idea — if you’re considering it, please, just don’t — for Marc Maron it was the best thing he could have done. With his standup career slowing down, the 1986 Boston University grad launched “WTF with Marc Maron” in 2009 and, more than 1,000 episodes later, has wound up basically revolutionizing the long-form podcast interview format. Not only that, he revived his comedy career, churning out five well-received comedy specials since 2013, including last year’s adventurous “From Bleak to Dark” on HBO. Plus he was the standout co-star of Netflix’s “GLOW,” which we will never forgive them for canceling. Friday, March 8, 7:30 p.m., Chevalier Theatre, 30 Forest St., Medford, $49.50-$69.50
Catherine Cohen at Crystal Ballroom and Arts at the Armory
One thing we can all agree about regarding most comedians: There’s not nearly enough singing going on. Not so with Catherine Cohen, who — as showcased in her 2022 Netflix special “The Twist…? She’s Gorgeous” — has practically cornered the market on comedy cabaret. (And comedy poetry too, apparently: The New York City native’s “God I Feel Modern Tonight,” subtitled “Poems from a Gal About Town,” was released in 2021.) You also may know her from her appearances on “Broad City,” “Search Party,” and “What We Do in the Shadows,” where there was less singing. Cohen will be all over Somerville with back-to-back shows at Crystal Ballroom and Arts at the Armory. Saturday, March 9, 7:30 p.m., Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, $36; Sunday, March 10, 7 p.m., Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville, currently sold out
Roy Wood Jr. at The Wilbur
We’re as happy as anyone to see Jon Stewart back on “The Daily Show” (for one day a week, at least). But it really feels like a missed opportunity not to have given the host’s chair over to Roy Wood Jr., who had been one of the show’s most celebrated (and sharpest) correspondents since he joined in 2015. Plus he brought down the house as a post-Trevor Noah guest host, and even managed to win over maybe the toughest crowd going when he hosted the White House Correspondents Dinner last April. Sadly he didn’t get the job and parted ways with the show, but you can see him in his full topical comedy glory when he hits The Wilbur. Friday, March 15, 7:30 p.m., The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $29-$49
Nate Bargatze at TD Garden
Nashville comedian Nate Bargatze could retire tomorrow safe in the knowledge that he headlined possibly the funniest “Saturday Night Live” sketch in decades, the already classic “Washington’s Dream” from last October. But fortunately for us he isn’t going anywhere, except on the road with “The Be Funny Tour,” which is selling out dates around the country thanks to Bargatze’s self-deprecating — and clean! — storytelling style of humor that is relatable to basically anybody who’s a human. He’ll be at TD Garden for two shows, including one at 3 p.m., for which we (and no doubt Jamie Lee Curtis) offer our full thanks and support. Sunday, March 24, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, $46-$96
‘Whose Live Anyway?’ at The Wilbur and Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood in Plymouth and Lexington
“Whose Line is it Anyway?” — both the Drew Carey-hosted version from the late ’90s and early 2000s and the more recent revival with Aisha Tyler — doesn’t get enough credit for the sheer number of belly laughs it’s generated, not to mention the number of randy sight gags it was able to get away with on network TV (thanks largely to a preponderance of giant styrofoam humor accouterments). Four “Whose Line” regulars, Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray will bring their unscripted shenanigans to The Wilbur, but if you’re more of a Colin Mochrie/Brad Sherwood type, never fear: That venerable “Whose Line” duo is coming to Plymouth Memorial Hall in Plymouth and Cary Memorial Hall in Lexington in May. “Whose Live Anyway?,” Wednesday, April 10, 7:30 p.m., The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $47-$57; “Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Looking for Trouble,” Friday, May 17, 7:30 p.m., Plymouth Memorial Hall, 83 Court St., Plymouth, and Saturday, May 18, 7:30 p.m., Cary Memorial Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, $39-$79
Ali Siddiq at The Shubert
You thought the comedy clubs were tough? Ali Siddiq really came upon his joke-telling skills by working a much rougher room: the prison laundry at Ruben M. Torres Unit state prison in Hondo, Texas, while serving six years for cocaine distribution. (Although as Siddiq himself likes to point out, a fledgeling comedian could do worse than to have a captive audience.) Since he got out he’s made finely honed stories of his time behind bars his stock in trade, as evidenced by his viral bit, “Mexican Got on Boots,” which is apparently a phrase that, if you hear it in prison and you’re not Mexican, means you should start running. Friday, April 12, 7 p.m., Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston, $30-$55
Kumail Nanjiani at The Wilbur
You never know where Kumail Nanjiani is going to show up! Since his stint on HBO’s “Silicon Valley,” the Pakistani-American comedian and actor has well established his nerd cred in Marvel’s “The Eternals” and on “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and he also flexed his dramedy chops in 2017’s “The Big Sick,” which earned him an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay. And now he’s back on the live stage, where he first broke out in 2007 in the autobiographical one-man show he staged in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. If you see him at The Wilbur, please, tell him that “The Eternals” was not as bad as they said. Sunday, April 14, 7 p.m., The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $37-$47
Corinne Fischer at Laugh Boston
Corrine Fischer is the co-host, with Krystyna Hutchinson, of an insanely popular podcast whose name we can’t repeat here, but which features discussions of and interviews with “real gents they’ve had their way with,” to quote their promotional material, along with a bevy of celebs and no shortage of comedy hijinks. You’re sure to get her typical unfiltered self when Fischer hits Laugh Boston by her lonesome, with a stand-up set honed at some of NYC’s hottest comedy clubs and whose vibe might be best captured by the title of her breakout one-woman show, “I Stalk You.” You’ll leave the venue looking over your shoulder. Thursday, May 2, 8 p.m., Laugh Boston, 425 Summer St., Boston, $33
Nate Jackson at The Shubert
Ah, people sitting up front for Nate Jackson at the Shubert: You have no idea what you’re in for. Well, if you’re a fan of the globally touring comedian, you actually probably do — spontaneous, hysterical riffs about any number of audience members lucky (or unfortunate?) enough not to blend into the background. But don’t worry, Jackson — TikTok superstar, a featured actor on the NBC comedy hit “Young Rock” (he’s Junkyard Dog), and owner of Super Funny Comedy Club in Tacoma, one of just four Black-owned comedy clubs in the U.S. — is never mean-spirited, only hilarious. Friday, May 10, 7 p.m., Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston, $43.50-$53.50
Also, don’t miss:
- MTV’s Remote Control (remember that?) sidekick Colin Quinn at The Wilbur, March 3
- Taylor Tomlinson’s ex-boyfriend (and a fine comic himself) Sam Morril taping his special at The Wilbur, March 7
- Longtime “Daily Show” curmudgeon Lewis Black at The Wilbur, March 22
- First female comic to win “NY’s Funniest Stand Up” at the NY Comedy Festival Jordan Jensen at Laugh Boston, March 23
- “Daily Show” senior correspondent Ronny Chieng at The Wilbur, March 29
- Fired cast member turned “SNL” host Shane Gillis at The Wang, March 29-30
- Comedy hunk Matt Rife at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, April 19-21
- “Weekend Update” anchor turned late-night host Seth Meyers at The Wilbur, May 3-4
- Odd dude from the ’80s Bobcat Goldthwait at Off Cabot in Beverly, May 8
- Wry and clever one-time Bostonian (and Wellesley grad) Wendy Liebman at Off Cabot in Beverly, May 10
- Viral “2020 Goals List” video star Robyn Schall at The Wilbur, May 18
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