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[title]You may now kiss the comic
The trio of babes behind weekly joke fest Riot Comedy bring you Kiss Me, I’m a Comedian ([node:148031 link=Chicago Joe's;], Thursday, 9:30pm; $8, with guest $4), a Cupid-esque night of stand-up featuring the city’s most eligible jokesters including Joe Fernandez, Danny Kallas, Matty Ryan, Lauren Vino and host Jeannie Doogan, and culminating in a raffle in which one (presumably female) winner gets a date with bachelor Ryan. Join the comics at the bar afterward for further canoodling.
Love Buzz Comedians aren’t exactly runway models, but if you’re single and at a comedy show on Valentine’s Day we’re guessing that’s a non-issue.
Good vibrations
The Lincoln Lodge, an eleven-year-old night of alt stand-up, always has a few holiday tricks up its sleeve. For the Lincoln Lodge Lovefest ([node:33186 link=Lincoln Lodge;], Friday, 9pm; $10), comedian Kent Haines (Live at Gotham) joins local joke throwers Cameron Esposito and Derek Smith for a special relationship-themed show that also includes a live demonstration and Q&A session with Searah Deysach, owner of Edgewater’s adult toy gallery Early 2 Bed.
Love Buzz Assuming that Deysach brings along a few battery-operated favorites, deafening.
Titanic love affair
On the heels of an extended run at ComedySportz, energetic indie improvisers Octavarius return with Octavarius: A Titanic of a Heartbreak ([node:32238 link=The ComedySportz Theatre;], Sunday, 7pm; $10, for couples who kiss at the door $7), a Valentine’s-themed comedy show featuring a smorgasbord of horny high jinks, including improvised segments, a live dating auction for a romantic dinner cruise with a single member of Octavarius, and icebreaker games for singles at the flirty after party.
Love Buzz If you visit octavarius.com you can join the Octavarius Dating Community by uploading your own video and also catch a glimpse of other singles attending the show. Plus, posting a video discounts your admission to $7.
Love TBD
The creators behind amore-inspired fare such as Him + Her and A Valentine’s Show offer audiences the chance to watch their own relationship dramas unfold onstage with An Unscripted Romance ([node:33466 link=Annoyance;], Sunday, 8pm; $10), a show in which actors Derrick Aguis and Lindsey Finn improvise a two-act story based on the actual romantic ups and downs of the crowd.
Love Buzz We wish Aguis and Finn were a real-life couple (not the case); nevertheless, two-person relationship scenes and improvisation go together like comedians and booze.
Who hearted?
Captain Smiles Nursing Home Theater Company, a newbie troupe stitched together with graduates from the Second City Writing Program, present their debut production Oops! I Hearted ([node:136613 link=Gorilla Tango Theatre Chicago;], opens Monday, 8pm; $10), a collection of sketches that put love, sex and romance front and center. Think hot yoga instructors and super models.
Love Buzz We’re never fans of the phrase “debut production,” but given that love-themed sketches are well-trodden territory, we can’t imagine they’ll screw this up too badly.
My bloody Valentine
Every week, ComedySportz breaks from its improv-heavy format to bring you 100 Proof, a night of stand-up followed by The Chaser, an open-mic night. This week’s St. Valentine’s Day Stand-up Massacre ([node:32238 link=The ComedySportz Theatre;], Monday, 8pm; $10) features some of the city’s oddest comedians including Jamie Campbell, Chris Condren and Michael Sanchez with guest host Kelsie Huff.
Love Buzz Don’t cancel your reservations for a fondue dinner at Geja’s just yet. Aside from the fact that this happens to land on Valentine’s Day, nothing about this event screams a visit from Cupid.