Stumptown Improv Festival
If you’re not paying attention to Portland’s improv scene, you’re doing it wrong—it’s one of the city’s most uniquely delightful and quickly growing arts communities, and the Stumptown Improv Festival is one of your best chances to see as much improv as you can handle—both local and imported—in one jam-packed weekend. After last year’s sold-out shows and packed performances, this summer the fest has a shiny, new, (and importantly, bigger) venue—Artists Repertory Theatre—and a stacked lineup. There shouldn’t be any duds on the docket, but you especially can’t go wrong with up-and-coming local jokesters Tunnel, Bang + Burn’s relentlessly hilarious mini-action-movies on demand, the improbably named and consistently great J Names Improv, local legends the Liberators, and the clever Canadian ladies of Virginia Jack, whose performance style is less comedy bro, more bookish cat enthusiast. MEGAN BURBANK
Aug 4-Aug 6, Artists Repertory Theatre, 7pm, $14-17 single shows, $37-40 fest pass
Jon Rudnitsky
Recently named as one of the New Faces at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Jon Rudnitsky became a featured cast member on Saturday Night Live in 2015. Catch the rising star tonight when he brings his stand-up show to Helium Comedy Club.
Aug 4-Aug 6, Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th, 7:30pm, $15-25
Barbara Holm Believes in You
A stand-up showcase hosted by Barbara Holm, bringing in quality comedians from all over the country, focused on intelligent and unique humor. With stand-up sets from Yogi Paliwal, Katie Nguyen, Caitlin Weierhauser, and Kevin Arnold
Thurs Aug 4, 722 E Burnside, Bossanova Ballroom, 8pm, free
Stand Up for Art
Equal Mics and Triada collaborate to bring you this comedy show for a cause, benefitting p:ear, with stand-up sets from Adam Pasi, Jason Traeger, Ali Reingold, Sarah Everett, Molly Elwood, and Brittany Osland.
Aug 6, Triada, 222 N Fremont, 4pm, free
Throwing Shade
Mississippi Studios hosts a pair of live tapings for the popular Maximum Fun podcast that covers headlines in women's rights, gay rights, and pop culture. Hosted by Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi.
Aug 10, Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 8pm, 10pm, $20
Show/Show, The Hoofnagle Tapes
Show/Show combines the world of stand-up comedy with the art of animation, with Portland's top comedians performing their material alongside animation created for the event by Erik Hoofnagle. Featuring stand-up from Jason Traeger, Bri Pruett, Curtis Cook, and Gabe Dinger, as well as a performance of Erik Hoofnagle's own show, The Hoofnagle Tapes.
Aug 11, Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta, 8pm, $12-15
Todd Glass
It's always a banner day when comedian Todd Glass comes to town. The man's one of the best working stand-ups out there—he's smart, affable, witty, and delightful. And now that he's out of the closet, all of those girlfriend jokes have been radically retooled, and he's funnier than ever before. Seriously, he's the best! COURTNEY FERGUSON
Aug 11-13, Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th, 7:30pm, $15-23
Ian Karmel
You know him from the Everything as Fuck column that graces (and okay, occasionally tarnishes) these pages, as well as his appearances on Chelsea Lately and Portlandia, but erstwhile Portlander Ian Karmel is at his best in person, especially when he gets to perform for his hometown. MARJORIE SKINNER
Aug 12-13, Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark #110, 7pm, 9:30pm, $22-25
Howard Kremer
I feel weird about Howard Kremer. The stand-up comedian/podcaster/rapper is undeniably hysterical, with his shouty bit about the perils of summer and punching an octopus in all eight of its armpits. But he's like an eye puzzle, a hot man combined with an old man with a stuffy nose, a peculiar combo that somehow works. COURTNEY FERGUSON
Aug 12, 1028 SE Water, Bunk Bar, 9pm, $12
Chris Fairbanks
Curious Comedy Theater hosts a night of quirky, fast paced stand-up from the Last Comic Standing season 6 contestant, and the co-host of Almost Genius on truTV.
Aug 12, Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE Martin Luther King Jr., 7:30pm, $15-20
Wendy Liebman, Cathy Ladman
Wendy Liebman has appeared on The Larry Sanders Show, Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist, and numerous late night talk shows. Tonight she brings her 30 plus years of stand-up experience to the Harvey's Comedy Club stage.
Aug 12-13, Harvey's Comedy Club, 436 NW 6th, 5pm, 7:30pm, 10pm, $20
It's Not Me; It's Me
A live episode of JoAnn Schinderle and Barbara Holm's podcast about navigating Portland's dating scene and debunking all the bullshit you heard about how love works. With special guest Leon Anderson, and speed dating rounds for the audience.Aug 12, Alberta Street Pub, 1036 NE Alberta, 8pm, $7