Arts Calendar: Comedy Listings

COMEDY

ABBY NOVEMBER'S COMEDY ANGELS are flying again, and they're swooping down on the Rio Grande Coffee House for a Saturday night special. Terrell Fisher emcees an evening featuring Kaye Ahtic, Amanda Doan, Weldon Gaines, Jody Kelly, Bernadette Nason, Corky, and Abby herself. ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY! Feb 15, Sat, 8pm, at Rio Grande Coffee House, 2222 Rio Grande. 458-2605.
COMEDY TONIGHT is an evening with local jokers that benefits the Austin Circle of Theatres. Abby November's Comedy Angels (with Boys) give it up for the arts umbrella. On hand will be 1991's "Funniest Person in Austin" Tom Hester, Bernadette Nason (Educating Rita), Laura House, Corky, Jody Kelly, and Kaye Ahtic. ONE SHOW ONLY! Feb 16, Sun, 7pm, at Zachary Scott Theatre Center, Kleberg Stage, 1421 Riverside. Tickets: $5 in advance/$7 at door. 454-TIXS.
KIDS DO COMEDY this Sunday and it's no joke. Some of the area's funniest youngsters have spent the last three Sundays learning stand-up from Sam Cox of the Comedy Gym. Now, they're getting the chance to put what they've learned to the test on a professional stage - and you have a chance to spot the next DeGeneres or Seinfeld or Poundstone. ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY! Feb 16, Sun, 3pm, at the Capitol City Comedy Club, 8120 Research Blvd. Tickets: $5. 467-2333.
CAPITOL CITY COMEDY CLUB welcomes the weird, the wacky, the trembly Milo Tremley. Sharing the bill are Scott Kennedy as feature and a secret emcee. Through Sun, Feb 16. Sun, kids take over the CCCC stage for a Comedy Kids Showcase (see listing). Feb 16 only, 3pm. $5. Mon, see Comedy Gym comics doing witty workouts at a Comedy Gym Showcase! Feb 17 only, 8:30pm. $2. Beginning Feb 18, the club features comic Jerry "Red" Wilson. Weekly schedule: Tue-Sun, 8pm, second shows Fri & Sat, 10:30pm, at 8120 Research Blvd. Tickets: $7 Tue/Wed/Thu/Sun; $10 Fri/Sat. 467-2333.
COMEDY GYM is an ongoing comedy workshop open to anyone interested in stand-up. Classes: Sundays, 7-10pm, at Comedy Defensive Driving School, 2700 W. Anderson, Ste 227. 467-0886.
COMEDYSPORTZ PLAYHOUSE is home to the ComedySportz Players, 10-year veterans of improvisational comedy. Their club-cafe boasts Electrolux vacuum light fixtures, real Dart Bowl tables, a bank vault lounge, full menu, and lots of improv. In addition to this week's CSz rounds, the Playhouse features sketch comedy troupe the Skinnies (Feb 20, 9:30pm; see listing). Fri & Sat, 7:30 & 10pm, at ComedySportz Playhouse, 2525 W. Anderson. Tickets: $6-$10. 266-3397.
ESTHER'S FOLLIES gets in the spirit of Cupid's holiday by shooting a few arrows - only instead of love juice, theirs are tipped with laugh juice. Among their targets this Valentine's month: basketball bad boy Dennis Rodman; singles cruising the Whole Foods aisles; Baby Boomers who still have baby fat; and coffee lovers quoting bad ads as they pitch woo across a cappuccino. Thu, 8pm, Fri & Sat, 8 & 10pm, at Esther's Pool, 525 E. Sixth. Tickets: $12 Thu & Fri/$14 Sat. 320-0553.
MONKS' NIGHT OUT is two years old, and the funny friars are having more fun than ever. They offer sketches, music, and improv every week at the Velveeta Room. And for 1997, they've added a third show at the Cheese Palace - Saturday, at the early-bird hour of 8pm - and a monthly gig at Borders Books & Music. Thu, 9pm, Fri, 9:30pm, Sat, 8pm, at the Velveeta Room, 521 E. Sixth. $5 Thu/$7 Fri/$9 Sat. 453-MONK.
ONLY 90% EFFECTIVE isn't just for campus anymore. The UT improv troupe, which has been performing at the Metro coffeehouse on the Drag, is now on Sixth Street, too. The company has added a show at the Velveeta Room every Wednesday. The Percenters haven't abandoned the 40 Acres, though; you can still see them at Metro every Saturday night. Wed, 8pm, at the Velveeta Room, 521 E. Sixth. Tickets: $3. Sat, 8pm, at Metro Espresso Bar, 2222 Guadalupe. Free!
THE SKINNIES are purveyors of sketch comedy and comic songs who have been tickling the ribs of Texans in San Antonio and San Marcos for a few years. Now they want to tickle Austinites, too, so they're hitting the ComedySportz Playhouse for what will be a monthly gig, crooning "The Unhealthy Obsession Blues," showing you the troll in the men's room, and just being weird. Feb 20, Thu, 9:30pm, at ComedySportz Playhouse, 2525 W. Anderson. Tickets: $5. 266-3397.
THE VELVEETA ROOM hosts a variety of comic fun every week. Wednesday, Only 90% Effective serves fresh, hot improv (see listing). Wed, 8pm. $3. Thursday, Monks' Night Out offers an energized mix of sketch comedy and improv (see listing). Thu, 9pm. $5. After the Monks, the Comedy Open Mike lets comics go wild with new material. Thu, 10:30pm. $3 (free for Esther's & Monks' patrons). Weekends offer the Monks again (Fri, 10pm; $7/Sat, 8pm; $9) and tops in stand-up. This week, James Pineapple fires a few arrows at Cupid in a look at the light and dark sides of the whole love thang. Fri, 11:30pm; Sat, 9:30 & 11:30pm. $5. 521 E. Sixth. 469-9116.