Fall Comedy Preview: Where to find laughs this autumn in Metro Detroit

Melody Baetens
The Detroit News

Looking for some laughs? You're in luck.

The post-summer, pre-holiday touring season is here, and that means big name comedians will be rolling through town the next few months. 

Expect your stalwarts -- the comics who visit Metro Detroit stages regularly like D.L. Hughley, Eddie Griffin, Cedric the Entertainer and J.B. Smoove -- all scheduled this fall at the Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel. 

Local comedy fans will also see some unique billings. Actor Alec Baldwin, who was skewered earlier this month by the comedy community on his own Comedy Central Roast, will take the stage at the Fox Theatre Nov. 14. Detroit native Lily Tomlin and her "Grace & Frankie" co-star Jane Fonda take the same stage a few weeks earlier for an event billed as a "fun conversation" between the two legends. 

It's not all big theaters, either. Detroit's off-the-grid comedy scene continues to thrive with the new Independent Comedy Club, which is inside the Ant Hall in Hamtramck. They host live comedy every Friday and Saturday night, and occasionally get touring comics like Canadian-American comedian and writer DeAnne Smith who comes through on Oct. 5. 

One of the area's top comedy clubs, Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle has a stacked fall schedule, too, with returning veteran names like Kathleen Madigan and Dave Attell. 

Here's your guide to some of the funny folks coming through Metro Detroit's big theaters and small clubs this fall. 

Fox Theatre

2211 Woodward, Detroit. (313) 471-7000 or 313Presents.com

George Lopez, Oct. 18

Joe Rogan, Oct. 25 (two shows)

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, Oct. 30

Alec Baldwin, Nov. 14 

All-Star Comedy Festival with Lavell Crawford, Earthquake, Bruce Bruce and more, Dec. 7

Actor/comedian D.L. Hughley appears in the 90-minute “Def Comedy Jam 25” on Netflix.

Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel 

2901 Grand River, Detroit. 313Presents.com

DL Hughley, Thursday

Jim Breuer, Nov. 6

Eddie Griffin, Nov. 8

J.B. Smoove, Nov. 21

Cedric the Entertainer, Dec. 27

Fillmore Detroit

2115 Woodward, Detroit. (313) 961-5451 or livenation.com

Eric Andre, Friday

Theo Von, Oct. 11

Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Roadshow with Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, Oct. 22

Jonathan Van Ness, Nov. 7 (two shows)

Nick Offerman, Nov. 21

Franco Escamilla, Nov. 24

Brian Regan, Dec. 13

Detroit Opera House

1526 Broadway, Detroit

David Sedaris, Oct. 23

Majestic Theatre

4140 Woodward, Detroit. (313) 833-9700 or majesticdetroit.com 

Jason Nash, Friday

Tom Papa, Nov. 1

Heather McDonald, Nov. 21

Jeremy Piven, Nov. 22

Detroit Shipping Company

474 Peterboro, Detroit. (313) 462-4973 or detroitshippingcompany.com.

313 Comedy Night, Sunday and Oct. 13 and 27

Stavros Halkias, Oct. 20

Shane Torres, Nov. 17

The Independent Comedy Club

Inside Ant Hall, 2320 Caniff, Hamtramck. planetant.com. 

Patrick Hastie, Sept. 27-28

DeAnne Smith, Oct. 5

Dan Van Kirk, Oct. 20

Royal Oak Music Theatre

318 W. Fourth, Royal Oak. (248) 399-2980 or royaloakmusictheatre.com

Bruce Campbell, Sept. 26

Doughboys Podcast Live, Oct. 5

Nick Kroll, Oct. 11 (two shows)

Bianca Del Rio, Oct. 12

Sasha Velour, Oct. 30

Anjelah Johnson, Nov. 2

Chris D'elia, Nov. 5

Mo Amer, Nov. 30

Magic Bag

22920 Woodward, Ferndale. (248) 544-1991 or themagicbag.com

Ari Shaffir, Nov. 14

Stand-up comedian Deanne Smith comes to the Independent Comedy Club in Hamtramck on Oct. 5.

Go Comedy! Improv Theatre

261 E. Nine Mile, Ferndale. (248) 327-0575 or gocomedy.net

All-Star Showdown, Saturdays

Kevin McDonald, Oct. 5-6

We Wear Pink, Oct. 9

T.R.U.T.H., Oct. 17

Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle

310 S. Troy, Royal Oak. (248) 542-9900 or comedycastlecom. 

Kathleen Madigan, Oct. 10-12

Brad Williams, Oct. 13

Paul Mecurio, Oct. 17-19

John Heffron, Nov. 7-9

Dave Attell, Nov. 14-16

T.J. Miller, Nov. 24

Jamie Kennedy, Dec. 8

Debra DiGiovanni, Dec. 31

New York City comic Dave Attell is at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in November.

Andiamo Celebrity Showroom

7096 E. 14 Mile, Warren. (586) 268-3200

Andrew Dice Clay, Oct. 18

Jim Belushi, Nov. 23

Macomb Center for the Performing Arts

44575 Garfield, Clinton Township. (586) 286-2222 or macombcenter.com

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, Oct. 18

Crofoot Ballroom / Pike Room

1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac. (248) 858-9333 or thecrofoot.com

Randy's Cheeseburger Picnic, Sept. 29

Dan Cummins, Oct. 18 (two shows)

Michael Ian Black, Nov. 21-22

One Night Stan's

4761 Highland, Waterford. (248) 875-6524

Christine Stedman, Oct. 17-19

J. Chris Newberg, Nov. 1-2

Adam Burke, Nov. 3

Mike Green, Nov. 29-30

Dave Landau, Dec. 26-28 and Dec. 31

EMU Convocation Center

799 N. Hewitt, Ypsilanti. (734) 487-2282. 

Ken Jeong, Nov. 21

Michigan Theater

603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor. (734) 668-8397

Jim Gaffigan, Oct. 3

Kevin James, Oct. 6

Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase

212 S. Fourth, Ann Arbor. (734) 996-9080 or aacomedy.com. 

Tim Cavanagh, Sept. 27

Sklar Brothers, Sept. 28

Hari Kondabolu, Nov. 1-2

Dave Landau, Nov. 29-30

Blind Pig

208 S. First, Ann Arbor. (734) 996-8555 or blindpigmusic.com

Randy's Cheeseburger Picnic, Oct. 3

Jamie Kennedy, Dec. 7