After the past year, we are all definitely in need of a good laugh. If your favorite shows haven’t been cutting it, grab a ticket for a live stand-up performance. From Tom Papa to The Daily Show‘s Trevor Noah these are the acts to hit up this season.
Jim Gaffigan
9/10–9/12
After the year-plus we’ve had, we all deserve to have some fun. That’s what Jim Gaffigan says, anyway, and it’s what he’s promoting in his latest series of stand-up comedy gigs, The Fun Tour. Gaffigan’s hitting up the Daughters of the American Revolution at Constitution Hall to share hilarious new content.
Patton Oswalt
9/17
Award-winning comedian (and NoVA native—see back page) Patton Oswalt is ready to spread the joy in his latest live show, Who’s Ready to Laugh? He’s known for cracking jokes on TV series like Parks and Recreation and bringing home Emmys and Grammys for his stand-up specials and comedy albums. Binge Talking for Clapping, Annihilation, and I Love Everything on Netflix (they’re all worth it), then see this one in the flesh.
Trevor Noah
10/15
Comedy king Trevor Noah is taking his newest stand-up routine all around the globe, starting in the U.S. The Daily Show host is not only Africa’s most successful comedian, but also a New York Times best-selling author and Emmy Award winner.
Justin Willman
11/6
Part comedian, part magician, and 100 percent entertaining, Justin Willman will soon be amazing audiences at the Kennedy Center. Best known for his Netflix series Magic for Humans, Willman excels at blending astonishing magic with rip-roaring comedy guaranteed to shock and delight.
Paula Poundstone
11/19–11/21
One of stand-up comedy’s most iconic performers will hit the stage at The Birchmere this fall. Paula Poundstone has dabbled in stand-up, television, and radio shows, but no matter what she tries out, it’s probably going to be hilarious.
Ginger Billy
12/1
He’s shirtless, he’s tattooed, and, yes, he’s got a big red beard. South Carolina native Ginger Billy is back with his Backwoods Comedy Tour, turning his hilarious YouTube videos into a tear-jerking stand-up routine at Jammin Java.
Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas
12/5
Jane Lynch (known for her roles on Glee and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) partners up with fellow comedian Kate Flannery (Meredith on The Office) for a musical comedy performance. The two will put a holiday twist on their classic cabaret show Two Lost Souls, guaranteeing plenty of laughs and tears.
Tom Papa
12/18
Tom Papa has left his comedy mark on the stage, television, radio, podcast, and publishing industries. Now, he’s taking his latest show, the Family Reunion Tour, on the road with a pit stop at The Birchmere. Papa’s show is sure to be as relatable as it is uproarious.
Feature image by Shannon Greer
This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
