Every week we highlight the best comedy of the coming weekend. Find more comedy events at dallasobserver.com/calendar.
Marc Ryan at Hyena's in Dallas From the backwoods of Louisiana, Marc Ryan is a hootin' and hollerin' ball of energy on stage. Constantly battling the "stupid hick" stereotype, Ryan is anything but. His observations are spot on, and his delivery is supercharged. He throws around deep questions of the universe, like: Why do people even bother to fancy up trailer park names? He grew up in one named Ocean View...430 miles from the ocean. You can see him on his new show for the Outdoor Channel, Outdoor Antics, and this Thursday through Saturday in Dallas.
Chris D'Elia at the Addison Improv With a healthy fear of Germans and a pretty great impression of black gangsters in Dora the Explorer threads, D'Elia has been featured on Showtime's Live Nude Comedy and Comedy Central's Live at Gotham and Comedy Central Presents. He currently stars opposite the fabulous Whitney Cummings on the hit TV show Whitney and recently signed a deal with Comedy Central to develop his own half-hour, single-camera sitcom called Nocturnal Mission. He'll be here this Thursday through Sunday.
Finesse Mitchell at the Arlington Improv Until he got married, Mitchell had no idea he was a vegetarian, or that he liked Yorkies. An SNL alum and reoccurring stand up favorite on Comedy Central, Mitchell's fighting the good fight against young black mothers naming their children alone. They need help, guys. He does speak from experience. Left with the options of hair dresser or stand up comedian (Where else could a "Finesse" make it?), he'll be here this Friday through Sunday.
Royal Comedy Tour at Verizon Theatre Featuring the comedy stylings of Sommore, Bruce Bruce, Earthquake and Arnez J., the Royal Comedy Tour is the longest-running, most successful urban comedy tour ever. This year's theme is "All Hail Stand-Up," honoring a time when stand up comedy was king. Sommore, the original "Queen of Comedy," is a New Jersey native with a razor-sharp tongue and is the proud winner of the prestigious Richard Pryor Award for "Comic Of The Year." Bruce Bruce is a master of improv and a regular on BET and Comedy Central. You might know Earthquake from his role as Uncle Mike on Everybody Hates Chris or his stand up CDs About Got Damn Time and From the Outhouse to the White House. Rounding out the group is Arnez J., who recently accomplished something no one else ever has -- The Artist Formerly Known As Prince has requested J. as his opening act. This should be a fun night. Tickets available online.
Late Night Improv at the Dallas Comedy House Everything great happens late at night, right? So by that logic, improv at the Dallas Comedy House at 10:30 p.m. this Saturday should be awesome. For just $10, you get to see two troupes take audience suggestions and create comedy magic. So come prepared with a zinger to yell out -- the more obscure, the better. Oh, did I mention the full bar? There's a full bar.
