The Den Theatre today announced upcoming January 2026 shows at the theatre’s Wicker Park stages at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., including the 2025 Gazellies: A Comedy Award Show on January 7; Johnny Pemberton presents: Minnesota Reggae Colostomy Bag on January 8; Nick Colletti on January 11; Marcus Monroe on January 15; Doughboys January 21–24; Brad Upton on January 25; Stoke TED Talk by Chad Goes Deep on January 26; and Kevin Nealon January 30–31. Tickets are now on sale at www.thedentheatre.com or by calling (773) 697-3830.
The 2025 Gazellies: A Comedy Award Show
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: General Admission ($20)
The Comedy Gazelle Awards (The Gazellies) is an annual comedy awards show that highlights comedians’ achievements (and lack thereof) in the Chicago comedy scene. Think The Oscars, but more prestigious! Join us Thursday, January 9, as we crown: Best Chicago Comedian, Rookie of the Year, Hardest Working, Most Improved, Biggest Hack, and give out many more hilarious awards and superlatives! Plus, stand-up performances from some of Chicago’s favorite comedians!
Jerry Hamedi (@hamedicomedy) is a Chicago-based comedian and an all-around great guy. He recently attended the Milwauke, Asheville, and 10K Laughs Comedy Festivals in Minneapolis, where The Star Tribune named him one of five standups that could be the “next big thing.” He runs a regular show at Laugh Factory called VOUCH, as well as an online comedy magazine, The Comedy Gazelle, where he interviews local and national headliners!
About the Gazelle
Inspired by Judd Apatow’s Sick in the Head, Franklyn Ajaye’s Comic Insights, and a random journalism elective, Jerry launched The Comedy Gazelle (@comedygazelle) in 2020–mostly because he had nothing better to do. After moving to Chicago to pursue standup comedy, he quickly fell in love with the vibrant local scene and made it his mission to elevate the city’s local talent and circulate advice to his fellow aspiring comedians. Since its inception, Jerry has expanded the Gazelle’s reach, interviewing comedy heavyweights like Doug Stanhope, Mark Normand, Sam Morril, Sam Tallent, Eddie Pepitone, and Kyle Kinane, while also branching out into live events, such as a yearly award show at The Den Theatre, a monthly showcase at Laugh Factory, and pop-up open mics throughout the city.
Johnny Pemberton presents: Minnesota Reggae Colostomy Bag
Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 7:15 p.m.
Tickets: $22–$37
Johnny Pemberton was born and raised in Minnesota, developed ulcerative colitis as a child, got really, really into reggae, then somehow went on to have an actual career in the entertainment industry. The show marks his first foray into publicly sharing a series of highly personal stories that were previously kept hidden, deep in the shame vault. “Minnesota Reggae Colostomy Bag” is a celebration of those stories, transforming the embarrassing into the hilarious.
Johnny Pemberton is an actor and stand-up comedian, widely known for playing the character Bo on NBC’s Superstore. He appeared in the films 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, Neighbors 2, The Watch, Ant-Man, Action Point, This is 40, and Armando Iannucci’s Oscar-nominated film In The Loop. On the TV side, Johnny portrays Thaddeus in the hit series Fallout on Amazon Prime. He also played Max in FX’s You’re The Worst and the title character on the FOX series Son of Zorn.
Johnny regularly tours the country as a stand-up comedian, performing at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, the Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, and SXSW. He is also a voice artist featured on the animated shows Pickle and Peanut, Bob’s Burgers, Adventure Time, Middlemost Post, and most recently Netflix’s The Midnight Gospel, where he was also a contributing writer. Johnny hosts the podcast LIVE to TAPE with Johnny Pemberton (formerly known as Twisting the Wind), for which he has recorded over 300 episodes.
Nick Colletti
Sunday, January 11, 2026, at 7:15 p.m.
Tickets: $22 – $40
With his natural charm and raw talent, Nick Colletti is quickly emerging as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic and sought-after comedians and personalities.
As a stand-up, Colletti tours across the country performing at numerous sold-out venues.
In television, he stars alongside Jimmy Tatro, Cody Ko, and Getter in the comedy hit, The Real Bros of Simi Valley, which has developed a massive, dedicated following. Colletti stars as Duncan in the faux-reality show, which centers on four best friends as they navigate life in Simi Valley.
Online, Colletti has built a massive fan base, posting videos and interacting with his 1M+ combined followers across Instagram and TikTok.
Colletti currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA.
Marcus Monroe
Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 7:15 p.m.
Tickets: $22 – $37
Marcus Monroe is a New York City-based comedian. His show is a high-energy blend of in-your-face comedic banter riddled with awkwardness. He is the recipient of the prestigious Andy Kaufman Award and has recently appeared on The Late Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and ITV (London). Chances are, you’ve seen him in one of his many viral videos performing stand-up in the NYC subway as different characters. The New York Times has selected Marcus’s show as a NYT critics’ pick 4 times and calls Marcus, “one of the most entertaining performers to watch in New York City.” Marcus is a regular at the world-famous Comedy Cellar in New York and tours regularly. His one-man show, “The Rise and Fall of Marcus Monroe” debuted to rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, earning the Evening Standard’s ‘Pick of the Fringe.’ Currently, Marcus is the co-host of the Boy Friends Podcast along with comedians Corey B and Matt Lopes, and he is on tour playing comedy clubs and theaters.
Doughboys
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 7:15 p.m.
Friday, January 23, 2026 at 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 7:15 p.m.
Tickets: $45 – $65
Doughboys is the iHeartRadio award-winning Best Food Podcast on Good Morning America and The Simpsons. Hosts and longtime frenemies Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger review chain restaurants and bicker about absolutely everything. Past guests include Chris Pratt, Sarah Silverman, and Nicole Byer.
Mike Mitchell is an actor, comedian, and cat dad of Wolly and Irma originally from Quincy, Massachusetts, the birthplace of Dunkin’ Donuts. His credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Tomorrow War, and Twisted Metal.
Nick Wiger (rhymes with “tiger”) is a writer, director, and game designer originally from Lakewood, California, the birthplace of Denny’s. He also co-hosts the video game podcast Get Played.
Brad Upton
Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $22 – $40
With a career spanning over 37 years, comedy veteran Brad Upton is just getting started. The former fourth-grade teacher and part-time track coach is seeing a resurgence unlike anyone else. His 2019 Dry Bar comedy special, Boomer Triggers Gen-Z Snowflakes, with 16.1 million views on YouTube, is the 2nd most viewed comedy special on the planet. The viral phenomenon sent the album to #1 on the iTunes Charts and drove his ensuing special, I’m Not Done Yet, to new heights. Collectively, the clips and full specials have garnered well over 200 million views across all platforms and continue to build momentum from newfound fans all across the country.
Over his storied career, Brad has appeared with legendary acts like Jeff Foxworthy, Neal McCoy, Kenny Rogers, Lewis Black, Dolly Parton, George Jones, and, even now, continues to tour with music icon Johnny Mathis. In 2019, he drew the attention of the iconic Grand Ole Opry where he’s had the honor to step into the circle multiple times, becoming a regular guest.
Stoke TED Talk by Chad Goes Deep
Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 7:15 p.m.
Tickets: $22 – $40
Chad will be bringing his new one-man show, Chill Towards Enlightenment, to the stage. A satirical TED talk seminar on his Stoke philosophy where he tackles the question: “Why is bummer so prevalent in our society and how do we transcend it?” Join us on this beautiful journey and learn Chad’s transformative technique, The Chill Method, which will help you reclaim your inner joy and set you on a new path to enjoy this radical adventure we call life.
Kevin Nealon
Friday, January 30, 2026 at 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $30 – $65
Kevin Nealon is an Emmy and SAG-nominated actor and comedian who sets himself apart from other comedic performers with his unique sense of humor, dry wit, and likable demeanor. Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, and received critical acclaim for his role in the hit Showtime series Weeds. Kevin currently produces and hosts his digital series Hiking with Kevin, and tours his stand-up globally. He will be releasing his latest book, I Exaggerate: My Brushes with Fame (Abrams), on October 25, 2022. Part art book, part memoir -- the book is full of original full-color caricatures Kevin has created along with funny, endearing personal essays about his famous friends.
Nealon’s extensive television credits include the CBS sitcom Man With a Plan, in which he starred alongside Matt LeBlanc; Showtime’s Weeds, which ran for eight seasons and was honored at the 2006, 2007 and 2009 Golden Globes with nominations for “Best Television Series Comedy or Musical.” In 2007 and 2009, Weeds was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.” Additional television roles include two critically acclaimed stand-up specials for Showtime, and a number of appearances on Hot In Cleveland, Franklin & Bash, Monk, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Still Standing.
Nealon’s self-produced, edited, and hosted web series Hiking with Kevin is exclusively available on his YouTube channel of the same name. In the series, Kevin interviews his A-list celebrity friends on hikes throughout the country. Past guests include Michael Keaton, Jimmy Kimmel, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Cheryl Hines, Ray Romano, Al Franken, Hilary Swank, Kumail Nanjiani, Kate Beckinsale, Conan O’Brien, Adam Sandler, and more.
Nealon has found great comedic success in his extensive film career. In Anger Management, he played opposite Jack Nicholson and fellow SNL comedian, Adam Sandler. He and Sandler also teamed up in Eight Crazy Nights, The Wedding Singer, Happy Gilmore, Just Go With It, Blended, and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, the latter of which grossed over $200 million worldwide. In Joe Dirt, Nealon joined another SNL alumnus, David Spade. Additional film credits include Daddy Day Care with Eddie Murphy, Good Boy with Molly Shannon, Bucky Larsen: Born to be a Star with Nick Swardson, Roxanne with Steve Martin, and the cult hit Grandma’s Boy, also with Nick Swardson and Jonah Hill.
As one of the longest-running cast members on NBC’s Saturday Night Live (1986-1995), Nealon created some of the show’s most memorable characters, including “The Subliminal Man” and “Hans and Franz.” Nealon’s recurring role as an anchor on Weekend Update helped make the sketch a show staple. In 1988, he earned an Emmy nomination as part of the SNL writing team.
In 2008, Nealon released his first book, Yes, You’re Pregnant, But What About Me? — a comical look at the male perspective of pregnancy.
Currently, Kevin resides in Los Angeles with his wife and son.
About The Den Theatre
The Den Theatre opened in 2010 in the Wicker Park neighborhood with just a single theatre space. Now celebrating its thirteenth year, Co-owners Ryan Martin and Carol Cohen, along with their talented and dynamic staff, have developed The Den into a multi-level, live entertainment venue that boasts five intimate and unique theaters ranging from 50–300 seats. In addition, the first floor houses The Den Bar & Lounge – a full-service bar where audiences gather before and after performances to share a drink and commune with like-minded culture-hounds. Today, The Den is focused on providing world-class stand-up comedy and cultivating its first love – the theatre. The Den is home to four resident theatre companies including About Face Theatre, The Artistic Home, First Floor Theater and Haven. Hundreds of other companies, artists and comedians from Chicago and beyond have called The Den home – from national names to local stars, and The Den consistently plays host to a lineup of exciting and diverse talent. As a building created for interdisciplinary arts, The Den has accommodated a wide variety of programming, including plays, musicals, stand-up comedy, improv, dance, film screenings, seminars and speaking engagements. For additional information, visit www.thedentheatre.com.
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