by Lee Ann Brown
If you’re beginning to feel all depressed and glum because you have already fallen off of your New Year’s resolution to get in shape and lose weight, then you are in luck, because this week there are several opportunities for you to laugh your a** off.
We are so fortunate to have some of the funniest comedians in the business bringing their shows to Birmingham, and several of them are happening this week, two of them this weekend. The first one is Colin Quinn’s, Long Story Short, who I am dying to see! I happened to catch part of his show on HBO and thought it was brilliant, and then, voila! I see he is coming to the Alys Stephens Center, and my very smart and psychic husband somehow just knew that I would love tickets to this show, and got me some for Christmas. I am certain that all of the information circled with Christmas red pencil, and the subliminal messages I planted into his subconscious meant absolutely nothing to him.
Anyway, in case you don’t know, Colin Quinn’s show is the history of the world in 75 minutes, brilliantly acted as if the different countries are guys in a bar (at least, the part I caught on TV). You really will want to make sure and catch this show, which is directed by Jerry Seinfeld.
For tickets check it out at www.AlysStephens.org The second show that you will want to make sure to see is Craig Ferguson, of The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, on CBS. He will be at the Stardome Comedy Club on Sunday, January 22nd . Apparently, when he was on an earlier visit performing at the Comedy Club, he made a visit to Salem’s Diner and fell in love with their Philly Cheese Steak, as well as the city of Homewood itself. Go on to the Comedy Club’s website www.stardome.com to order your tickets to his show and make sure to click on the link to a video where you can see him on his show sharing his experience in Birmingham, and how much he enjoyed it. He lets everyone know how misunderstood our city is in the rest of the country. He is a fan of ours, and we should show him what a fan we are of his, so make plans to catch his show, which should provide several hundred calories worth of laughs.
One of the great things about laughter is that everybody does not laugh at the same things. What I might find funny, you might not, and vice-versa, and this week there is something for everyone, including another show coming to the Stardome Comedy Club next week, The Queer Queens of Comedy. Featuring Poppy Champlin, Vickie Shaw, and Barb Neligan, they are on their Southern Tour, sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign. Between them all they have been featured on Comedy Central, LOGO, and CMT. Not being familiar with them, myself, I took a peek at their website and swear I felt 2 pounds lighter by the time I finished watching their promotional video - I found them hysterical. You can check them out at www.queerqueensofcomedy.com. They will be here Wednesday, January 25th .
I hope that “adding more laughter into your life” is one of your resolutions for 2012, whether losing weight is, or not, and with these three top comedy acts in town, this week is sure to fit right in with your plans. Studies have shown that laughter releases all kinds of healthy chemicals into our systems, (I guess that’s why laughter is the best medicine!) and is a key to a longer, healthier life, so do yourself a favor and get the year off on the right start and by booking some tickets to a comedy show!