Comic’s weekly roundup: Laughing Skull Comedy Fest, ‘MY NEIGHBOR ATLANTOTORO,’ and more

Atlanta has one of the best comedy scenes in the country, and each week is filled with plenty of opportunities to see some of Atlanta’s best local comics and visiting national touring acts. He’s your best bets for getting into some funny business.
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? Wed., March 25
======?embed-1In addition to the Atlanta Film Festival, this week is the return of the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival. Back for it’s sixth year, the fest will host 72 comedians from Atlanta, Portland, Los Angeles, New York, and beyond, competing for the first place prize. Shows actually start on Wednesday and run through Sunday. This year, the fest will feature showcases at five local venues: Laughing Skull Lounge, the Atlanta Improv, Smith’s Olde Bar, Eddie’s Attic, and the Hard Rock Cafe. Shows tend to sell out so be sure to get your tickets ahead of time. The last two years, a local comic has placed in the top four. With six very funny locals in the mix this year, I’m betting the streak continues.
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====== Lately, Atlanta has seen a surge in concept comedy shows and this week is especially packed with them. This Wednesday marks the return of one of the Atlanta’s most unique and fun shows, Scene Missing. Produced by Scene Missing Magazine, this monthly show held at the Highland Ballroom invites comedians, writers, musicians, and other creatives to deliver performances based on movies. Past shows had performers base their sets around the works of the Coen Brothers, Wes Anderson, the Star Wars sag,a and more. This month’s edition, Scene Missing Presents: MY NEIGHBOR ATLANTOTORO, will be part of the Atlanta Film Festival and will revolve around films of Studio Ghibli. Hosted by Jason Pierce Mallory, this month’s line-up features Chris Ledford, Ismael Loutfi, Will Copeland, Ellaree Yeagley, Brooke Hatfield, Nicolette Emanuelle, and Jenny Nichols of the World Belly Dance Alliance. Doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 9 p.m. Price of admission is $10 but, it’s free with an Atlanta Film Festival filmmaker or all-access badge.
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? Thurs., March 26
? Another comedy show this week that falls under the “unique” column is Ladie’s Night. Hosts, filmmakers, and comedians Zach Lamplugh, Brian Emond, and Joel Ruiz’s new show aims to bring together the stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy community. This will be just the third show the trio has put together, but the previous two wildly exceeded expectations. Held the last Thursday of the month at the Village Theatre, the first two editions of Ladie’s Night were meet with standing-room-only turnouts. The show is structured around screening sketches and shorts from sketch groups “Secret Grampuh” (Lamplugh and Emond) and “Evatt and Bloom” (Ruiz). In addition, four unreleased sketches from submitting groups are screened that the crowd then gets to vote on. The crowd favorite gets to come back next month to show a brand new sketch. In between sketches, the hosts invite some of their favorite stand-ups and improv groups to perform. This month will include stand-up from John-Michael Bond, Gilbert Lawand, Taylor Ketchum, and Katie Hannigan. Show starts at 10:30 p.m. and it’s free (and yes, it’s spelled “Ladie’s” on purpose. Semi-long story.)
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? Fri., March 27
? Friday night marks the return of another monthly stand-up showcase, one that’s a little more … NSFW. The last Friday of the month is always reserved for the Underwear Comedy Party at the Village Theatre. This show is exactly like it sounds. Joe Pettis hosts a line-up of comics who all must perform for the crowd in nothing but their undies. The show has been hugely popular since it’s start in 2013. Since then, Pettis has taken the show on the road all over the country and to a few comedy festivals. Show starts at 11 p.m. and cost $10 … that is unless you show up in your underwear. In that case, admission is free. So just how confident/frugal are you?
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? The Weekend (March 28-29)
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?>> While the Improv and Skull have their hands full this week, two amazing national touring headliners will be doing shows elsewhere. Master of the one-liner, Demetri Martin headlines four shows this Friday and Saturday at the Punchline. Martin unconventional style, often using drawings on a large legal pad to punctuate or set-up surreal jokes, makes him one of the most unique and most fun comics to watch.
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? >> Brian Regan will be making his way through Atlanta on Saturday with a stop at the Fox Theatre. It’s a great opportunity to see one of the hardest working comics today in one of the most beautiful Atlanta venues. I wouldn’t wait till the last minute to get your tickets for this one.
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? All of this is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s so many options this week, so pre-set the DVR and get out of the house.
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? ALSO THIS WEEK
? - Share A Laugh: Shepherd Center Share Military Benefit at the Punchline (March 25, at 8 p.m.)
? - Jamie Bendall at the Punchline (March 26, at 8 p.m.)
? - The Roast of Macho Man Randy Savage at 529 Bar (March 26, at 9 p.m.)
? - Paul Mooney & Dick Gregory at Uptown Comedy Corner (March 27-28/Four shows)
? - Underwear Comedy Party at the Village Theatre (March 27, at 11 p.m.)
? - Jane Lynch at Atlanta Symphony Hall (March 28, at 8 p.m.)
? - Ron White: Nutcracker at Cobb Energy Centre (March 28/Two shows)
? - 1AM Secret Show at Smith’s Olde Bar (March 28, at 1 a.m.)
? - NBC’s “Undateable” Tour at the Atlanta Improv (March 29, at 7 p.m.)
? - Fresh Comedy at Highwire Comedy Co. (March 29, at 9 p.m.)
? - Craig Robinson at The Punchline (March 29, at 9 p.m.)