In our winter magazine we named a few acts to see at this month's 15th annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, but the full lineup had yet to be finalized when that issue went to print. With SketchFest 15 kicking off this Thursday, January 7, here are a few more recommendations from the complete slate of performers.
Awkward Spaceship Known for its web series Dentally Challenged and Day Drinking as well as standalone sketch videos, this Chicago-based group headed by Dave Urlakis makes its SketchFest debut. January 10 at 6pm.
Charles This Seattle duo aims for the sweet spot between highbrow and lowbrow, or as they call it, unibrow. January 8 and 9 at 8pm.
Damn, Gina! With an acclaimed revue, House Party, currently running Fridays at iO, this group with a reputation for high production values brings strong momentum into its second SketchFest appearance. January 9 at 7pm.
Gentlemen Party This sketch and improv troupe performs regularly at the PIT in New York; they return to SketchFest for their second year. January 8 and 9 at 11pm.
Marla Depew: Recovering Christian Chicago performer Depew, a highlight of past SketchFests when performing with groups like Cell Camp, employs monologues, music and puppets in this solo show about being raised Evangelical. January 10 at 7pm.
Matt Griffo Local comic-musician Griffo released a song in 2015 titled "Bruce Rauner's a Dick," which by itself is enough to get on our good side. But he has plenty more tunes up his sleeve, too. January 17 at 3pm.
Melcher & Hauser Cerebral Chicago comics Cody Melcher and Chris Hauser debuted their sketch show Janitors to Janitees, about the janitors who clean existence itself, at Stage 773 last summer; it's back for a single performance. January 17 at 4pm.