The fifth annual Limestone Comedy Festival runs from Thursday to Saturday. Here are our picks for the must-see comedians this weekend.
W. Kamau Bell
The political provocateur behind CNN’s “United Shades of America,” W. Kamau Bell will open the fifth annual Limestone Comedy Festival. He first gained attention with the FX late night talkshow “Totally Biased,” for which Chris Rock was an executive producer. He currently is the co-host of the podcasts “Politically Re-Active” - which features Limestone co-headliner Hari Kondabolu - and “Denzel Washington Is the Greatest Actor of All Time Period.” The former deals with American politics and the ideologies that shape them, and the latter should explain itself.
Shows
7:30pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Thursday
4:00pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Friday
Colin Quinn
The essential New York comedian comes to Bloomington. A veteran in the worlds of stand-up and sketch comedy, Quinn has most notably spent six seasons on “Saturday Night Live,” three of which he spent behind the “Weekend Update” desk. Over the years, he’s also performed five one-man acts, a few of which were directed by sitcom guru and fellow New Yorker Jerry Seinfeld. Quinn has been named among the Top 100 best stand-up comedians of all time by Comedy Central and played Amy Schumer’s father in the Judd Apatow-directed – and aptly named – “Trainwreck.”
Shows
7:30pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Saturday
10:00pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Saturday
Hari Kondabolu
W. Kamau Bell’s go-to co-host, Kondabolu has come a long way since his early days of reading the U.S. citizenship application onstage in Seattle’s alt comedy scene. He launched his career writing for Bell’s “Totally Biased,” and his since appeared on “Conan,” “Fresh Air,” “Late Show with David Letterman” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” not to mention released two live comedy albums on spoken-word-turned-indie-rock label Kill Rock Stars. Remaining a steadfast figure in political comedy, Kondabolu is currently the host of “Politically Re-Active.”
Shows
10:00pm, The Comedy Attic, Thursday
4:00pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Friday
7:30pm, Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, Friday
10:00pm, Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, Friday
Fortune Feimster
Previously a member of Los Angeles improv comedy troupe “The Groundlings,” Feimster is best known for her writing roll on “Chelsea Lately” and her regular character Colette on “The Mindy Project.” She has also appeared on “Glee,” “Workaholics,” and “Drunk History.” Feimster recently worked with Tina Fey to create a sitcom pilot.
Shows
7:30pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Friday
10:00pm, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Friday
Billy Wayne Davis
Like many comedians performing as part of the Limestone Comedy Festival, Davis enjoyed a notable run on “Last Comic Standing.” Slightly more surprising, he gained some notable attention opening for psychedelic country artist Sturgill Simpson on his 2015 tour. The rock credentials don’t end there; Davis recently cut a live album on Jack White’s label Third Man Records. Beyond the glamorous world of rock and roll, last week Davis made his late night television debut on “Conan.”
Shows
10:00pm, The Back Door, Thursday
10:00pm, The Comedy Attic, Friday
7:30pm, Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, Saturday
10:00pm, The Bishop, Saturday
