Comedy in NYC This Week

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Our guide to stand-up, improv and variety shows.

BROOKLYN COMEDY FESTIVAL (Aug. 21-27). This annual festival returns for a fifth year with more than two dozen shows around Brooklyn. This year includes festival editions of popular existing shows like “Night Train,” “Cheap Date” and “Backfat,” as well as special shows like “Bob the Drag Queen: Queen for the People” and a series of film festival presentations. Scheduled performers include Sasheer Zamata, Ilana Glazer, T. J. Miller, Liza Treyger, Roy Wood Jr., Hari Kondabolu, Cocoon Central Dance Team, Aparna Nancherla, Matteo Lane, Dave Hill and Jo Firestone.
bkcomedyfestival.com

‘CAMOUFLAGE’ at Big Irv’s (Aug. 18, 9 p.m.). Lucas Connolly hosts this monthly stand-up-show-meets-pizza-party, which features some of the finest up-and-coming comics in New York. Comedians at this month’s show include Roy Wood Jr. of “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” and Jo Firestone, a writer and frequent performer on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Other performers include Alex English, Janelle James, Jenny Zigrino and Calvin Evans.
eventbrite.com

DAVE CHAPPELLE at Radio City Music Hall (through Aug. 24, 8 p.m.). For years withdrawn from public life, Mr. Chappelle is touring once again, bringing his insightful and often controversial comedy to his legion of fans. To close his three-week residency he will perform alongside comics including Trevor Noah and Ali Wong, as well as musical guests like Solange and Lauryn Hill.
800-745-3000, chappelleradiocity.com

‘DOPPELGANGER’ at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater East Village (Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m.). The former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Sasheer Zamata will reunite with her old improv teammate Keisha Zollar for a night of entirely impromptu comedy. Doppelganger has long been one of New York’s best improv troupes, with the rare ability to weave social issues deftly into absurdist scenes.
212-366-9176, east.ucbtheatre.com

‘JOSH SHARP SINGS! LIVE!’ at Joe’s Pub (Aug. 23, 9:30 p.m.). Mr. Sharp will mix stand-up, storytelling and song in this inventive night of downtown comedy. His new show is billed as “a one-man diversity showcase” set in “one long D’Angelo song.” The evening’s featured performers include Cole Escola of Hulu’s “Difficult People,” Christi Chiello of Comedy Central’s “Roast Battle,” and a frequent collaborator of Mr. Sharp’s, Aaron Jackson.
212-967-7555, publictheater.org

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