There was lots of grumbling about SXSW’s lacklustre comedy programming. NXNE shouldn’t have that problem, with five nights of solid acts (most at the Lower Ossington Theatre) that include first-rate local talents along with a few international performers like Swedish stand-up Magnus Betnér. Best of all, some super late-night shows keep the laughs going into the wee hours.
Apart from nightly Comedy Records sets stacked with talent (June 13, for instance, boasts among others Trevor Boris, Debra DiGiovanni, host K. Trevor Wilson, Dom Pare and headliner Ryan Belleville), there are novelty shows like June 15’s late-night edition of Strip Comedy (if a comic doesn’t get a laugh, they doff a piece of clothing), hosted by the series’ Georgea Brooks-Hancock and June 16’s 2 am Raw & Hard show headlined by faux Catholic school rappers Rick & Chuck features a sure-to-push-boundaries lineup of Darren Frost, Aaron Berg (fresh off his off-Broadway run of The Underbelly Diaries) and the Dick Mime. More info at NXNE.com.
Mark DeBonis headlines an early show June 15 and also co-hosts a Twitter Gong Show the next night, where non-comic contestants do random things for prizes and winners are determined via Twitter.
June 14 is sketch night, featuring a bunch of T.O.’s best acts, including the Boom (which spawned Rick & Chuck) and Mouth Congress, Kid in the Hall Scott Thompson’s new troupe.
Check nxne.com for prices, times and venues.
