Editor’s Note: As the temps begin to rise and the flowers begin to blossom, the top-tier selection of comedy shows to check out around Boston are also in full bloom as homegrown talent, national headliners, and open mics galore highlight the calendar. Live entertainment continues to make its way back into our social lives — mask up! stay safe! — and so we always want to make sure you know about cool stuff going on in the world of comedy. Enter Mic’d Up, our ongoing weekly series that details the best live comedy shows to consider as you head out and about. Below find our rundown for this week, through Sunday (April 24).
Jim Gaffigan at Chevalier Theatre & The Wilbur
In the best possible way, it feels like Jim Gaffigan is an unstoppable fountain of comedy material. Balancing a blindingly heavy touring schedule with family life, the all-too-friendly stand-up titan returns to the area as part of his “Fun” tour, with some brand new jokes ad stories following the premiere of his latest Netflix special, Comedy Monster, at the very tail end of 2021. If you can’t get to Medford to catch him midweek, fret not, as he splits his time in town with The Wilbur, as well, so you’ll have more than enough chances to catch him shine his pale and powerful comedy light throughout the week.
Wednesday, April 20 and Thursday, April 21 at Chevalier Theatre, 30 Forest St. in Medford, MA :: 8 p.m. :: Tickets are $59 to $79
Friday, April 22 to Sunday, April 24 at The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: Friday at 7:30 and 10 p.m.; Saturday at 7 and 9:45 p.m.; Sunday at 7 p.m. :: Tickets are $59 to $75
Letterkenny Live at Orpheum Theatre
A few of our favorite Letterkenny characters took a trip to the Theatre District the other dayyyyy… Join the likes of Wayne, Squirrely Dan, and rest of your favorite well-meaning hicks and hockey players as they bring the magic of that fake small town in Canada to the stage with a Texas-sized dose of never-before-seen skits, as well as stand-up from K. Trevor Wilson and Mark Forward. To be fair (to be faaaaaiiirrrrr…), if you didn’t get a chance to snag tickets, it’s been sold out for over two years, but if you were so lucky: grab yourself a Puppers, get together with the friends that you’s appreciates the most, and get ready for a donnybrook of a good time.
Friday, April 22 at Orpheum Theatre, 1 Hamilton Pl. in Boston, MA :: 7 p.m. :: Tickets are sold out
Dane Cook at Wang Theatre
It’s been a hot minute since Dane Cook officially set up shop on Tremont Street, but this weekend, he returns home to set his new hour in stone and record a new special at The Wang. With 30 years in comedy behind him, the Arlington native has done his best to evolve since the days of MySpace, and after two rescheduled dates since 2020, we’ll finally be able to see his latest form.
Saturday, April 23 at Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: 8 p.m. :: Tickets are $39.50 to $69.50
Greg Fitzsimmons at Plainridge Park Casino
Since his days in the trenches of the Boston comedy boom, Greg Fitzsimmons has remained consistent in not only delivering scorching and unwaveringly funny stand-up comedy, but also delivering it from a genuine place that truly reflects the person he is (hint: a real gent) and the passion that he holds for making hundreds of people laugh night after night. Don’t let to calm and collected demeanor fool you, there’s a fire at Fitzsimmons’ comedic core that burns brighter with every trip back to the Commonwealth, and we can’t wait to see what he has in store for us this time around.
Saturday, April 23 at Plainridge Park Casino, 301 Washington St. in Plainville, MA :: 7 p.m. :: Tickets are $30 to $45
Matt Braunger at Dreamland Theatre
As the classic nursery rhyme goes: “Matt Braunger once went to Nantucket…” Okay, it didn’t go exactly like that and he may not be equipped with a bucket, but nonetheless, catch the former MADtv cast member as he finally gets to cash in on a rescheduled date on the island and unleash his latest crusher of an hour (a normal occurrence for Braunger) in an intimate and uncommon comedy setting. The Oregon native has something to offer everyone, so any chance to see him make his way to the east coast is truly a chance that should be taken each and every time, and will not disappoint.
Saturday, April 23 at Dreamland Theatre, 17 S. Water St. St. in Nantucket, MA :: 7 p.m. :: Tickets are $50