The fourth annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, presented by Lukaba Productions, features more than 80 local and out-of-town ensembles, including folks from Toronto, Vancouver, New York, LA, Seattle, Cleveland, Portland, Dallas, Denver, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Some well established, some new to the scene, they represent a remarkable range of styles and viewpoints. SketchFest runs through 1/16 at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, in the venue’s west, south, and north theaters. (In addition to the schedule below, comic puppeteer Harvey Finklestein entertains in the lobby before shows.) Admission is $12 per show except where otherwise noted; $30 provides admission to all performances any single Friday or Saturday evening; and a festival pass costs $75. For reservations, call 773-327-5252; tickets are also available through Ticketmaster at Hot Tix booths (www.hottix.org for information) or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For updated fest info, visit www.chicagosketchfest.com.
Flambango and Big Kids Comedy Hour
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“Our shows range from smart to silly, realistic to absurd, fat to very fat,” says a mission statement from Flambango. Big Kids Comedy Hour offers “a children’s television show that’s adult-themed,” hosted by ventriloquist John Baptista Jr. and his dummy, the Amazing Luggah (played by Marz Timms). 8 PM, south theater.
Two local groups perform. 9:30 PM, west theater.
Friday 14
The Traveling Susans
This self-described “Iranian-Jewish combo” performs Weapons of Pants Destruction. 9 PM, south theater.
