We made it, Chicago. (And anyone who visited, including two dudes who came all the way from France!) The second annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival is in the history books, and I’d call it a rousing success. Thanks so much for coming out to the various shows and helping us celebrate. Hopefully we’ll be back next year with something even bigger and possibly even better. (That might be tough.) Some photos are below. Except where noted, they were shot by Matt Lief Anderson. Thanks also to everyone who performed, all the venues that hosted shows, and all of our sponsors: Silvercar, Groupon, Lagunitas, MailChimp, GrubHub, and 1871.
Adam Resnick—who wrote and directed the movie—didn’t have too many nice things to say about Cabin Boy, but the audience seemed to appreciate the movie (and his candor). Also, you should buy his book.
In the darkened Music Box Theatre, prior to our two screenings of UHF, the organist set the mood.
UHF director Jay Levey and star “Weird Al” Yankovic answer audience questions moderated by our own Sean O’Neal. The movie was shown in a lovely 35mm print that Levey didn’t even know existed until we booked these screenings.
That’s the crowd watching UHF.
Kyle Kinane returned to his hometown for a triumphant sold-out gig at Thalia Hall, though without his beard.
Ian Abramson runs Seven Minutes In Purgatory, a show in which the comics can’t see or hear the audience they’re performing for. For the fest, they were performing to a camera on the roof of the Hideout while the audience watched inside; luckily, we got a beautiful day for it. (Abramson also opened for Kyle Kinane at Thalia Hall and Eric Andre at the Virgin Hotel, and killed both times.)
Sonia Denis, rocking the roof.
Not long after this photo was taken, Eric Andre—the secret guest for the Seven Minutes show—got naked and peed on the roof. I wish I was joking.
Mike Lebovitz!
Brody Stevens used his Purgatory time to play some bongos.
Eric Andre backstage at Thalia Hall, wearing the shirt of his spirit animal, GG Allin.
Eric Andre onstage at the gorgeous Thalia Hall.
Ellie Kemper, improvising. (With friends.)
Ellie Kemper in the old-school Second City booth.
Vanessa Bayer onstage at Thalia Hall.
Jen Kirkman made this sign after a fan burst into the not-so-secret side stage area. She asked me to make sure her bracelet was in the frame.
Jen Kirkman and Jenn Wasner, pre-after-party.
Jenn Wasner, in GIF form, discovering that she’s being photographed.
Brian Babylon opened for Eric Andre and did an after-party set in which he referred to a heckler as “Martin Gore.”
Jen Kirkman dreamed a dream of ALF, and she shared it with everyone.
The same drunk fan that burst into the side-stage area and was called “Martin Gore” by Brian Babylon.
The geniuses behind The Onion (Cole Bolton, Chad Nackers, Jason Roeder, Jocelyn Richard, and Django Gold) and ClickHole (Jermaine Affonso).
Have you ever heard of this place?
Banners are way cooler than actually seeing John Mulaney on stage. (They were filming his Netflix special and didn’t let us shoot.)
Joe Mande went from opening for John Mulaney to a headlining set at the Hideout to ending the entire fest at the Virgin Hotel, where he did a bit about how mean (and sometimes right) A.V. Club commenters are.
Mac McCaughan of Superchunk ripped through songs from his new album Non-Believers as well as “Driveway To Driveway,” “Detroit Has A Skyline” and lots more.
And those are Mac’s feet.
And once again, Joe Mande. His Sega Genesis story will break your heart.