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Pat Susmilch with Laura Thorne - March 9th 8 & 10pm - $9 adv, $10 door

Born on the mean streets of White Bear Lake Minnesota, Patrick Susmilch's comedy comes from a very real place. When not arguing with his pet cockatiel he can be seen performing all across the Midwest. From a recent interview with the City Pages:

"When you read memoirs about comedians, there really isn't ever that defining moment where they say to themselves, 'Next stop, Hollywood,'" he says. "For me, as long as I never have to get a real job again I'll be happy."

You can read the full interview here:

http://blogs.citypages.com/dressingroom/2012/03/standup_spotlight_who_the_f_is_pat_susmilch.php

Laura Thorne began working as a comic in 2007 at the suggestion of her former boss, who upon firing her, recommended she pursue standup comedy as it seemed a better fit than the corporate world. Devastated, broke, and deeply humbled, Laura began performing standup comedy in Washington, DC and throughout the East Coast. Laura now lives in Minneapolis where she regularly performs standup and improvisational comedy for corporate events, charities, and comedy clubs. She has been featured in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Rochester Post-Bullentin. No longer devastated or broke (but still humble- her mother is her manager), Laura is a rising star on the Minneapolis comedy scene.

Men with Hats - March 7th - 8pm - $2

We can't always promise what you'll see at the Men With Hats show, but we can guarantee what you WON'T see. The same old crap. Men Without Hats is an unconventional comedy show at the Twin Cities' most unconventional comedy club. The first Thursday of every month, some of the best stand-ups in town take the stage to perform anything but their regular acts. They may even do it sitting down. Or backwards. A guy actually did that once*it killed!

So why would a club dedicated to the art of stand-up promote a show featuring anything but?

Look at it this way. If you like the regulars you see at our weekly Friday and Saturday shows, then here's your chance to see them at their most original and creative best. If you've seen a show here and hated it, this one's guaranteed to be more to your liking!

And in the ultimate break from convention, it's absolutely free. Even hats are optional.

Because that's what Men With Hats is all about.**

Breaking all the rules. Exactly once a month.

The show is free, all seating is first come, first serve. The show starts promptly at 8pm and runs about 90 minutes.

*The guy was Chris Knutson. He did his whole act backwards, and won an award for it.***

**That, and to promote the Men With Hats podcast, also hosted by Jesse Towler and Justin Colucci.

***Okay, it was the Minneapolis Comedy Death Squad Award (aka the Reapie), but it still counts.

#men with hats #comedy #jokey jokes

Maggie Farris with Jenn Schaal - March 2nd - 8pm - $9 adv, $10 door

Maggie Faris was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Maggie began comedy in 1999, after hanging out in the comedy club her sister was a waitress at. After finding her voice and honing her craft, Maggie now brings to the stage an enormously likeable personality and confidence impossible not to take lightly. She prides herself on her unique and smart material, without being self-deprecating or tired. Maggie has proven to be universally liked by a diverse audience. Whether black or white, gay or straight, men or women, she proves to be a hit with her belief that we are all equally goofy human beings.

In 2003 after winning the Women's portion of the Twin-Cities laff off, she proceeded to win the five minute gender showdown and become the first woman in history to win the overall title in this premier Twin-Cities event which include Louie Anderson, Roseanne, and Dave Mordal as some of the featured alumni. In 2004 she won a comedy contest to become the Public Address Announcer for the Saint Paul Saints Professional Baseball Team and was introduced as such on ESPN's Cold Pizza.

Jenn's jokes and stories are hilariously derived from her "Oh My God, I can't believe that happened to you" real life experiences and have been described as "genuine, honest, and tell it like it is". Come on, people. She's a 30-something single gal with an East Coast personality in the land of Minnesota Nice, where she is still recovering from her mother making her take her high school senior pictures with her cat. Most recently, Jenn was a semifinalist in the 2012 Rooftop Comedy National College Competition and featured in the Pioneer Press.

#Jenn Schaal #Maggie Farris

Video Showdown - Feb 28th - 8pm - $4

Let's face it, everyone hates improv. If you're paying good money for a comedy show--even at our prices--you want material that's polished and proven. Or better yet, scripted and committed to film--or video, or TiVo, or whatever they're calling the latest gadget.

Introducing Video Attack. Four teams of comics shoot and star in original, five-minute sketches. The audience picks the best one, and the winners get the door money and close the show with some well-rehearsed standup. The losers go home with nothing.

Comedy, drama and, at the end, someone gets humiliated. This thing could go viral!

#video showdown

Bryan Morris with Bryon Schmear - Feb 23 - 8pm - $9 adv, $10 door

Plain and simple, Bryan Morris is a charm machine.

He doesn’t rehash the standard joke sets, but rather tickles audiences’ brains (not literally) with original, clever material. Hilarious jokes coupled with his ability to play with his audience won Bryan 2012’s Madison’s Funniest Comic Competition. As a stand up comedian, Bryan harnesses the quick wit and adaptability he honed as an improv comedy performer and teacher with Atlas Improv Company. With Bryan behind the microphone, Audiences will leave laughing and wanting to buy that comedian a drink.

Bryon Schmear is a comedian who, like many other comedians, writes jokes. These jokes are then told into an amplifying device of some sort. Immediately following these jokes being told, people, lots of people, laugh at them. Come take part in the magic.

#Bryan Morris #Bryon Schmere #Comedy #comedy corner underground #jokes

Black History Month, A Comedy Show - Feb 22nd - 8pm - $10

We here at The Comedy Corner Underground are playing our small part in honoring Black History Month, by continuing to shine a spotlight on the Twin Cities burgeoning, black comedy scene!

The Comedy Corner Underground & Wade 'N The Water Entertainment presents... "It's February... They had to give us a show!!"

Featuring the talents of, Samelia Quioh, Sherlonda Sharp, Pierre Douglas, Bruce Leroy, Earl Elliott, John Gebretatose, Art Roseman and "Big Will" Sawyer.

Hosted by Trevor Wade, this show will pay homage to the lineage of great, black comedians such as Burt Williams, Lincoln Perry, Moms Mabley, Whoopi Goldberg, Dick Gregory, Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor, who paved the way for so many to follow in their footsteps!

Don't miss what is sure to be a great night of laughter, from black folks point of view!!

Think Fast - Feb 21st - 8pm - $5

Comedians are constantly asked where they get their ideas. The answer, of course, is that they're handed a list of topics as they go on stage and think up their jokes on the spot.

At least, that's how it works in Think Fast!--the comedy show that combines intellectual effort with speed. Each comic improviser (Comproviser) must perform a 3-5 minute set based on randomly-assigned topics. Those best meeting the challenge get a full ten minutes.

In other words, assuming you're a typical comedy fan, in the time takes you to read this--or about twice as long as it took to write it--you will witness the creation of a brand-new comedy routine. It's like the miracle of childbirth, without the disgusting parts.

Think Fast! The Improvised Standup Showcase. It's not improv. It's standup, improvised.

New Kids On The Corner (Jan 10th - 8pm - $5)

Get in line.

That's the advice we could give newbies hoping to make it in the cutthroat world of stand-up comedy.

But instead of crushing their dreams, we actually encourage them.

New Kids on the Corner, our monthly showcase of new talent, traces its origins to the mid-1980s, when host Corey Adam, having guided R&B/Pop quintet New Edition to their early success, auditioned hundreds of teenage boys around Boston in hopes of creating a white counterpart act.

Okay, that might not be accurateblame Wikipediaexcept for the part about the teenage boys.

The truth is, of the hordes of would-be comics who who show up for our weekly open mics, only the most diligent are granted precious stage time. Of those, only a select few earn a regular spot in the lineup. Of those, an even selecter few are handpicked, nurtured and unveiled once a month in a little extravaganza we like to think represents the future of comedy.

Throw in a special guest headliner, and you have a cultural event on par with an Indiana Jones sequel or the release of the newest Air Jordans.

Five years from now, some of these people are going to be big, and you're going to want to be able to say you called it. From the beginning. This is your chance.

Take My Wife... Instead - Feb 16th - 8pm - $10

If turnabout was fair play, we'd have to do this show every week. More than anything else, the wives and girlfriends are often the inspiration for (or the target of) their jokes. Since giving them equal time would be impossible--or at least ill advised--we figure why not at least give them a chance one or year or so to get their licks in? It's Take My Wife ... Instead, when comics are forced watch their wives and girlfriends (or, in the case of female comics, THEIR wives and girlfriends) take the stage to perform their partners' material, to the uproarious approval of a paying crowd. Not so funny, is it, when the shoe's on the other foot? Especially when the one wearing it is kicking your ass with it. This great show is hosted by Andy Erikson and Alex Stein! The Wives Are: Carter Staaf performing Julie Bane's jokes! James Wells's girlfriend - Amanda Mann is going to rock his comedy Raque Devitol - Performing the styling of Nick Piontek Catherine Cuddy - Performing the comedy of Sam Harriman Alissa Peterson - Performing jokes by Justin Colucci Molly McMahon - Performing some funny stuff from Brandon Reynoso

White, Black, Brown - Feb 15th - 8pm - $

Friday, February 15th, they're at it again! The Black, White and Brown Comedy Show returns with a new lineup of hilarious comedians from very different backgrounds. This diverse group now includes the one and only Mike Lester, as well as Cringe Humorist Joey Vincent. Returning are Angelo Vescio, the white rapping comic (who really probably wishes he was Black); James King, who just recently survived the plague and Ali Sultan whose a terrorist, I mean a terribly funny comic from Yemen. Make sure to order your tickets as soon as possible as the last show was a sell out! Doors open at 7:30pm Show starts at 8:00pm and ends at 9:30pm Tickets are $10 at the door and available for only $8 online here:

Comedian's Bio: Mike Lester Edgy, Rude, Awkward, Dorky, and some may even say Decadent. Young Mike Lester's comedy will grab you by your high school memories and flip you upside down. (metaphorically)

Angelo Vescio: Angelo Vescio, also known by his rap moniker The Vesh, puts his own unique stamp on stand up by channeling his roots as a rap artist. A well known battle MC who has competed nationally at the legendary Scribble Jam Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio, performing in the Grindtime and Loud Mouth battle leagues while moonlighting in comedy clubs all over the Midwest. He was recently a semi-finalist in the ACME Comedy Club's Funniest Person in the Twin Cities Contest. Angelo's comedy fuses traditional jokes with humorous rap songs which sets his act apart from the norm. Whether you are an avid fan of Hip-Hop or new to the genre, Angelo's fast paced rapping style and off-the-wall lyrics will have you both bobbing your head and convulsing with laughter!

James King When James finished the twin cities marathon in 2007, he said to himself" I need a new challenge". So in 2008 after the urging of an old woman, James tried out comedy. He told everyone he was doing comedy even his neurologist (who specifically said "you shouldn't do comedy "), but it's a good thing he didn't listen. James was a finalist in the house of comedy's funniest person with a day job in 2012, he also performed in the very first 10,000 lakes comedy festival. He's emceed and featured throughout the state of MN , James' comedy is a snapshot of life from his point of view. James has a dream to do stand up comedy at the academy awards one day. James will personally thank his neurologist when his dream comes true, but even if his dream never happens ,it's still a nice dream.

Joey Vincent What do you do with years of bad life decisions and a jaded view of world? In Joey Vincent's case you take it all on the stage and make people laugh at it. Joey's material is dark at times, but it's always funny and brings audiences to explosive laughter at all the subjects most human resources departments would frown upon. His comedy is full of honesty about himself and how he sees the world around him.

Ali Sultan Tells jokes and shit. Special Guest Earl Elliot Smith: "He tells jokes and shit." Ali Sultan

Men with Hats - Feb 7th - 8pm - $2

So why would a club dedicated to the art of stand-up promote a show featuring anything but?

And in the ultimate break from convention, it's absolutely free. Even hats are optional.

Because that's what Men With Hats is all about.**

Breaking all the rules. Exactly once a month.

The show is free, all seating is first come, first serve. The show starts promptly at 8pm and runs about 90 minutes.

*The guy was Chris Knutson. He did his whole act backwards, and won an award for it.***

**That, and to promote the Men With Hats podcast, also hosted by Jesse Towler and Justin Colucci.

***Okay, it was the Minneapolis Comedy Death Squad Award (aka the Reapie), but it still counts.

#men with hats

The Turkeys with special guest Jeff Pfoser (hosted by Jakey Emmret) - Feb 9th - 8 & 10pm - $9 adv, $10 door.

COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO! You hear that? The Turkeys are calling. Who are they? The Turkeys are some of the area's top stand-up comedians. They have appeared nationally on shows like Premium Blend, Last Comic Standing, Live At Gotham, Late Night with David Letterman. The Turkeys came together to write and produce their own comedy shorts and sketches. The idea took on extra momentum when LA based (but Wisconsin native) director Matt Olson (2 time winner MN 48 Hour Film Festival, Co-Founder of the Akumal comedy festival in Mexico) came on board to direct. This show will have a smattering of members of the Turkeys, along with two locals who also happen to be really funny. Get tickets here:

#the turkeys #gabe noah #matt olsen #isaac witty #funny shit #live comed

Punchline Punchout - Jan 31st - 8pm - $5

It's the ultimate comedy challenge. The morning of the show, comedians are given a topic and have a scant twelve hours to write a brand-new routine to be performed that night. Works out to about an hour a joke. To put that in perspective, it's taken me three solid days just to write this paragraph. Pressure, you say? The word is "incentive." For you see, in addition to the creative challenge, we've added the element of competition. The comics are divided into teams to compete head-to-head on their assigned topics. The object is to get the biggest possible laughs and, more importantly, completely embarrass your opponent. The winner ... is the audience. The performance starts at 8 p.m., but for the comics it's a daylong battle. Punchline Punchout: Reserve a ringside seat.

#punchline punchout

Denson & Young - Jan 26 - 8pm - $9 adv, $10 door.

Long ago King Boreas, lord of the four winds, stumbled on a charming little town in Minnesota. The street layout made no sense and almost everything shut down at 8PM. Their downtown was a barren wasteland, devoid of any activity which was probably a blessing because if more than 12 people were there it was almost impossible to find parking. Boreas took pity upon the little hamlet, with it's statues of Snoopy and pathetic attempt to make LaCrosse look like a professional sport people care about. "I shall make a carnival in Old Saint Paul!" Boreas exclaimed. "There will be ice carvings and a parade and buttons. People like buttons, right?" Year after year Saint Paul was temporarily revitalized by Boreas' generosity. The streets were filled with dozens of people as they frolicked in a winter wonderland and all was good. Eventually, though, Boreas grew bored at the late hour of 8 PM when everybody would go to sleep. He wandered up to St. Paul's highest hill and cried "Isn't there anything to do around here?!?" He then looked to the west for the first time and saw a bustling metropolis filled with skycrapers, lights and activity. He crossed the river into Minneapolis and declared "THIS! This shall be the site of my new Winter Carnival! The Minneapolis Winter Carnival!" King Boreas planted his flag into the frozen ground and proclaimed "and Denson & Young shall headline our first carnival!" Get tickets to this grand show here:

Will Spottedbear with Josh Webster - Jan 25th - 8pm - $9 adv, $10 door

Will Spottedbear

Will Spottedbear takes a no-holds-barred approach to comedy, tackling serious issues while keeping it both insightful and hilarious. His perspective, which comes from living in cultures ranging from the Middle East tot he Midwest provides for a side aching monolog about the world we live in.Spottedbear's work covers topics that can at times be shocking, yet when delivered in his casual disarming manner audiences are left roaring. His brand of humor is always well received.

Josh Webster

"Josh Webster does stand-up, writes fiction and consumes vital natural resources in Fargo, North Dakota. He collects degrees and comics; the comics are often valued higher (most of the degrees are far from "near-mint" condition, bordering on "worn"). He cites William Blake, Francisco Goyaand Nicola Tesla as key comedic influences.

"The Inappropriate Gentleman" Jon Shultz

Comedian Jon Schulz is the reason why most laws are in place today. His mind and outlook on life will bring you down a path of darkness and malicious intent. He will stand before you and tell jokes up hill until your eyes tear up from laughter and leave you to give up on humanity. His comedic mind will take you on a ride thats definitely not meant for everyone, but once he grabs the mic there's no turning back.

Video Showdown - Jan 24 - 8pm - $4

Think of history's great teams: Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese. Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese. Basically, whoever and Martin Scorsese.

The point is, truly great cinematic pairings come along only one to three times in a lifetime. But if it can happen to Martin Scorsese, it can happen to us.

Three teams of comedians are tasked to write and produce an original video sketch. The videos all premier the night of the show, and are voted on by the audience. The winning team of comedians wins a cash prize, along with the rights to close out the show with their standup acts.

See what happens when talent meets talent in a multimedia, multidimensional comedy event times three. If history is any indication, you might even witness some.

History, that is.

Tom Steffen with Andrew Cahak - Jan 19th - 8pm - $9 adv, $10 door

Tom Steffen looks like a sane person, but don't judge a book by its cover. His off-kilter outlook on life keeps audiences laughing for more. After nearly two decades as a successful radio personality and total theatre geek, Tom decided to plunge into a new area of show business. He began his comedy career in 2002 in Minneapolis, MN, and is now based in New York. He performs in clubs and other venues around the country, was a 2007 regional contender in Comedy Central's Open Mic Fight Contest, and more recently, he was a featured performer at the 2009 CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival and the 2009 Great American Comedy Festival. On stage, Tom shares the goofy adventures he finds in everyday living, from his days spent in a call-center cubicle as a customer service representative at a health insurance company (the most fun job in the world!), to the absurd and bizarre things to be found in the seemingly ordinary art of conversation. All the while, Tom always manages to find a fresh take on the world around us that is sure to entertain any audience.

Andrew Cahak is an exhausted man living in a world of illusions. He is also a comedian.

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