Clean comedy is usually hard to find on club stages, but you have a couple of options this weekend. There's also comedy hypnotism, sketch comedy and the expected adult material, of course. So with variety in mind, here are your choices this week:
Theaters
Sketch Comedy Intensive at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Students of the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts show off their talents with a live sketch comedy show. It's one of the least-expensive tickets ($5) this week, too. Showtimes are Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. Info: rutheckerdhall.com or 727-791-7400.
Comedy Clubs
Bill Bellamy's Ladies Night Out at Tampa Improv. Bellamy is the biggest name in town this weekend, with a face recognizable from years of popular television credits. But the material isn't really suited for broadcast TV, as Bellamy and his fellow touring comedians, D'Lai, Jay Reid and Ali Siddiq, run through adult premises at a rapid fire pace. These are special engagement shows. Showtimes are 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. 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa. Info: improvtampa.com or 813-864-4000.
Cigar City Comedy's Set List at Tampa Improv. Cigar City Comedy is a group of local comedians who get together for shows throughout the city. For their Improv date they're adding something different to the mix: Audience suggestions, mixing their prepared material with off-the-cuff riffs on whatever the audience wants to hear.
Showtime is Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Jeff Dye at Side Splitters. Dye is a clean comedian, but don't think that means he can't keep up with the other comedians you'll find at comedy clubs. The third-place finisher on a previous season of Last Comic Standing [Editor's note: and total babe] has plenty of clever punchlines. They're just not laced with adult language and premises. If you like your jokes without the blue content, this is one to consider this weekend.
Note: Sunday's show benefits Solita's House, an organization which provides economic education to help people on the path to home-ownership. Additionally, several shows this weekend offer free admission with the donation of school supplies, diapers or baby wipes, which benefit Metropolitan Ministries. Those shows are:
Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
Friday at 10:15 p.m.
Saturday at 6 p.m.
Sunday at 7 p.m.
Regular 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. 12938 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa. Info: sidesplitterscomedy.com or 813-960-1197.
Jay Hewlett at Snappers. Hewlett is back in town for another weekend of shows. His likable stage presence meshes well with the witty story-telling of an experienced comedy vet. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 36657 U.S. 19 N., Palm Harbor. Info: snappersgrill.com or 727-938-2027.
Joby Saad at Coconuts Comedy Club (at MJ's). Saad kind of looks like Professor Snape's goofy nephew, and his high-energy, "village idiot" persona draws laughs from the moment he jumps on stage. But he's no idiot when he's writing his clean material; real thought goes into the jokes and setups. Showtimes are Wednesday-Saturday at 9:30 p.m. 5501 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. Info: coconutscomedyclubs.com or 727-360-5653.
Patrick McInnins at 2 Palms Bar & Bistro. McInnis, who is also known for his improv work, performs comedy hypnosis this weekend. He'll take audience volunteers and direct them through funny paces to entertain their friends, family and other crowd members. Showtime is Saturday at 8:30 p.m. 2950 Gulf To Bay Blvd., Clearwater. Info: tampabaycomedy.com or 727-741-8014.
