You Can Be the Comedian

Todd Barry. The Crowd Work Tour.

Todd Barry doesn’t lack for material. He creates sarcastic, perfectly crafted jokes. Yet he decided to do a comedy tour naked, without any of that prepared material.

It’s a bold move and the results can be seen in his in his newly released documentary, “Todd Barry: The Crowd Work Tour,” directed by Lance Bangs and produced by Louie CK.  It’s a road documentary, capturing him working in seven west coast cities, relying solely on his ability to banter and interact with audiences.

Barry is the king of conversational crowd work, with a soft yet dominant stage presence, and effortless, slow-paced style. But the real stars of this documentary won’t getting royalties from the project.  Early on in the film, it’s easy to see if you have a packed room and give a random crowd member a microphone and undivided attention, you will have easy work. At least if you’re a pro like Barry.

Highlights from the crowd feature the woman in Portland regaling the crowd, as well as Barry, about organic eggs and owning chickens, as well as the bassist and drummer from the hilariously-named “Avant Abstract” – who were quick to point out you could find their music on MySpace.

Overall the documentary is enjoyable. Barry is as sharp as ever, and his interactions with the crowd, in terms of pulling a funny story or quality about them, put him in a league alone. You can purchase Todd Barry’s “The Crowd Work Tour” on Louis CK’s website for only $5.

And if you’re a Todd Barry fan and want to be a part of this special, you do have one last chance. Barry will be appearing in Madison at the High Noon Saloon, 701A E. Washington Ave. on Thursday, April 17 as apart of his “The Final Crowd Work Tour.” Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Upcoming Events:

If you’ve been meaning to enjoy one of Milwaukee’s open mics, this may be the one to try. The open mic at Art Bar is one of the best in the city, and for this one the always-hilarious Josh Ballew will lead the tribute to fellow comedian, Chao Feng, before he moves away from Milwaukee. There’s a tradition in Milwaukee comedy. If you leave, you get roasted on the way out. So stop down to see local comedians bid farewell to Feng with some of their hardest hitting jokes and stories. The Art Bar Comedy Open Mic, located at 722 East Burleigh Street, begins at 9 PM. And don’t forget that sign up starts at 8:30 PM, if you want to test your craft.

Ron White, Live at the Riverside Theatre – Saturday, April 12

One of the biggest touring names in comedy makes two stops in Milwaukee. White is likely best-known as a “Blue Collar Comedian,” along the lines of Jeff Foxworthy and Larry “The Cable Guy.” He’ll bring his scotch, cigars and stories to Milwaukee for two shows on Saturday, April 12 at 6 PM and 8 PM at the Riverside Theatre, located at 116 W. Wisconsin Avenue.

“Intro to Long-Form Improv!” – Monday, April 14

Learn how to perform comedy with this improv class! Learn the long-form improvisation style known as “The Harold” while focusing on scene and character building. Let your instructor Amanda Eaton of Sketch Marks Comedy help you through your comedic journey, or just have a fun night out! “Intro to Long-Form Improv!” takes place Monday, April 14 at 6:30 PM at the Underground Collaborative, located at 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. in the lower level of the Grand Avenue Mall. Tickets are available for $10 at MilwaukeeComedy.com.

Podcast Pick of the Week: 

“Comedy Bang! Bang!” Episode 280: ‘DuALity’
Scott Aukerman hosts “Weird” Al Yankovic and Alan Thicke (Paul F. Tompkins) as “Weird Al” talks about what to expect on his new album.  There’s also a delightful “Diff’rent Strokes” sing-a-long, a conversation about religion, and an unprecedented game of “Riddle Me This.” Lots of laughs in an hour and a half.

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