Boston has had a rough spring. The MBTA is running its now-traditional May shutdown festival: Red Line suspended here, Green Line suspended there, shuttle buses that show up with the same frequency as a Boston spring day without road construction. The Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead to the Sixers in the first round and got bounced into the offseason. Even Pedro Martinez is out there giving pep talks to the Red Sox like it’s 2004 again.
A comedy show will not fix any of that. But at least the only thing at risk of collapsing is the comedian’s marriage, not your playoff bracket.
The Wilbur Is Having a Season
The Wilbur on Tremont Street is quietly having one of the most stacked booking runs of any mid-size room in the country right now. The lineup reads like someone asked a comedy nerd to spec out a fantasy draft and then just… did it.
Robby Hoffman, Emmy Award-winning and gloriously weird, opens things on May 15. One night later, Dave Attell takes the same stage on May 16. Attell is one of those guys where you go in planning to catch an hour and somehow it’s 11:30 PM and you’ve started reconsidering his take on public transportation.
Then on May 17, Zarna Garg: Million Dollar Excuses arrives. Garg is one of the most talked-about voices in stand-up right now, a South Asian mom whose material feels specific and universal at the same time. This one sells out.
If your pop culture diet skews chaotic, Billy Eichner rolls in on May 21 with Billy on Billy, an Audio Memoir. He’ll be loud. You’ll love it.
The Big Rooms Are Filling Up
Over at Boch Center Wang Theatre, Zakir Khan, the Indian stand-up who went from household name in South Asia to selling out theaters across North America, plays on May 22. Block the calendar now.
Same night, back at The Wilbur: Colin Quinn. This is the rare comedian who can riff about the Roman Empire collapsing and make it feel like a bit about Dunkin’. Technically a New York guy, but Boston has always claimed him.
Chelsea Handler brings The High and Mighty Tour to Boch Center Wang Theatre on June 5. Handler in a room that size, with that title, during a summer that makes no sense? That tracks.
The Summer Stretch Does Not Let Up
Daniel Tosh brings his My First Farewell Tour to MGM Music Hall at Fenway on June 13. Yes, “farewell tour.” We’ll see about that.
Jim Gaffigan, a man who has made more people laugh about food than anyone alive, brings Everything is Wonderful! to Boch Center Wang Theatre on October 23. And closing out the year, Nikki Glaser does back-to-back nights at MGM Music Hall at Fenway on December 2 and December 3 with The Stunning Tour. After a year like this one, that feels about right for Boston.
The Bottom Line
The T will sort itself out eventually. Probably. In the meantime, the comedy scene is not waiting. Boston has more live stand-up coming through this spring and summer than most cities twice its size, and unlike the commuter rail, these shows will actually show up on time.
Check the full Boston comedy calendar and grab tickets before your show sells out at ComedyCalendar.com.
