Every weekend there's stand-up comedy happening across the Bay area, from theater shows featuring household names to comedy clubs offering nationally-touring headliners to the local bar or restaurant showcasing local talent. If you want to see comedians performing live, you have a lot of options.

Here are the biggest comedy shows happening Nov. 6-10.

Theaters

Frank Caliendo at The Mahaffey Theater. He's the impressions guy — John Madden, William Shatner, George W. Bush, etc. Odds are you've seen him on a television show or commercial at some point. When performing stand-up, he adds his own observations and perspectives, but you'll also be served a generous helping of the voices that helped make him famous.
Showtime is Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 First St. South in St. Petersburg. For more information, visit themahaffey.com or call 727-893-7832.

Cedric The Entertainer at The Mahaffey Theater. He's well-known from movies (Barbershop), television (The Steve Harvey Show) and touring comedy club stages for decades. But odds are you already know who he is. Cedric The Entertainer is a sharp dresser with sharp wit, and takes the stage with the confidence and swagger befitting one of the "Original Kings Of Comedy."
Showtime is Friday at 8 p.m. The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 First St. South in St. Petersburg. For more information, visit themahaffey.com or call 727-893-7832.

Mike Epps at Straz Center (Carol Morsani Hall). Epps has been seen in several movies (Hancock, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Resident Evil: Extinction) and featured in HBO specials and programs, but he also tours theaters around the country with successful comedy tours. Epps has a relaxed demeanor onstage, but there's plenty of cursing and a few voices to help him describe family, relationships and other personal scenarios.
Showtime is Sunday at 7 p.m. The Straz Center is located at 1010 N. MacInnes Place in Tampa. For more information, visit strazcenter.org or call 813-229-7827.

Comedy Clubs

Harland Williams at Tampa Improv. Williams has been on all the big late-night talk shows, HBO and Comedy Central. He's also been in several movies (Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary), written adult and children's books and hosts his own podcast. But he's in Tampa for his stand-up and his clever, often self-deprecating observations presented with a distinctive voice and unapologetic demeanor. Williams doesn't mind looking a little silly as long as you're following his stories and premises.
Showtimes are Thursday at 8:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. The Tampa Improv is located at 1600 E. Eighth Ave. in Ybor City. For more information, visit improvtampa.com or call 813-864-4000.

Colin Kane at Side Splitters. Kane, a previous winner of a Howard Stern comedy competition, has endured a bit of controversy online for comments considered to be rude, misogynistic and offensive — a perfect mix for some comedy fans. Expect unapologetic premises from a guy with clean-cut looks and a dirty mouth. He has two shows on Friday and two on Saturday.

Boomer Nichols, the Thursday headliner, serves up the standard family/male perspective/life observations, but with a clear tone and decisive wit.
The earliest Saturday show's headliner is J.B. Ball, a local favorite who brings his comedy talents to stages throughout the southeast. Ball prefers to focus on his personal experiences with a relaxed manner and likable stage presence.
Sunday's headliner is Pedro Lima, an Orlando-based comedy vet whose Hispanic-influenced observations have kept audiences in Florida laughing for years.
Showtimes are Thursday at 8:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., and Sunday at 7 p.m. Side Splitters is located at 12938 N. Dale Mabry in Tampa. For more information, visit sidesplitterscomedy.com or call 813-960-1197.

Cal Verduchi at Snappers. Verduchi has worked nearly a dozen colleges as well as various comedy clubs around the country — and a few outside the United States as well. The Massachusetts-based comedian uses a lot of impressions (often putting famous people in inappropriate situations) to augment a fast-paced, high-energy set.
Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Snappers is located at 36657 U.S. Highway 19 North in Palm Harbor. For more information, visit snappersgrill.com or call 727-938-2027.

JeROME at Coconuts Comedy Club. A veteran of comedy clubs and cruise ships, JeROME has opened up for Richard Pryor and appeared on several broadcast an cable networks. His animated personality allows him to use various voices and impressions to cover pop culture topics and everyday-life situations. He has clean material for family-friendly events, but don't expect too much of that in a comedy club setting.
Showtimes are Wednesday-Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Coconuts is located at 6200 Gulf Blvd. inside the Beachcomber Resort. For more information, visit coconutscomedyclubs.com or call 727-360-5653.

One-Nighters and Independent Shows

Dazed and Amused at Friday Morning Musicale Theater (presented by Cigar City Comedy). These benefit shows (a portion of proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation) feature established local comedians from Cigar City Comedy performing adult-oriented material. The early show will have Pedro Lima, Joe Riga, Catherine Maloney, Matt Fernandez, David Weingarten, Tarik Lewis and Krishna Reddy. The late show includes Pedro Lima, Law Smith, Mona Chiarizio, Johnny B, Sloan, John J Murray and Steve Miller. You'll see more than a half-dozen working comedians (with different lineups at each show) serving up bite-sized sets for a good cause.
Showtimes are Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The Friday Morning Musicale Theater is located at 809 W. Horatio St. in Tampa. For more information, visit cigarcitycomedy.com or call 813-419-1545.

This article appears in Oct 31 – Nov 6, 2013.