Appleton: Big names in stand-up comedy coming to Indianapolis in 2023

At 8 years old, I retired from a burgeoning career in stand-up comedy.

The year was 1997. My father owned a doomed comedy club, and I would hide in the back office of the 21-and-over establishment while he worked up front.

A comedian whose name I don't recall stumbled upon me, fed me a few punchlines and brought me up on stage during his act.

I told three jokes: Something silly about wearing glasses, one about the O.J. Simpson murder case that I do not recall and one about the killing of JonBenét Ramsey that I do remember but must never be repeated by me or anyone on this earth ever again. Seriously, my dad should have been put in jail for allowing that.

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My five minutes on stage drew laughs, but my third grade teacher was less enthused when I repeated my set on the playground on the following day. I'm still waiting for my pay as well, which I suppose is not unusual on the club scene.

No, better to leave it to the professionals. I've remained an ardent stand-up comedy fan ever since, and I'm grateful to have moved to a city that draws in both big names and local talent, due in no small part to the influence of the "Bob & Tom Show."

I've cobbled together this short list of comedy shows I've got my eye on in 2023, including two well-known women fresh off guest hosting duties at "The Daily Show."

Chelsea Handler

8 p.m. April 14 at The Palladium

Veteran TV host Chelsea Handler is bringing her spring stand-up tour, Little Big Bitch, to Carmel. Handler took her turn on "The Daily Show" in February, filling in after the departure of Trevor Noah — who was also slated to perform in Indy this year but postponed.

Although Handler is also a best-selling author, documentarian and political activist, her bread and butter remains stand-up comedy. Tickets are officially sold out, so you better know someone or be willing to brave the secondary market if you haven't already made plans.

Bruce-O-Rama starring Bruce Campbell

8 p.m. April 24 Clowes Memorial Hall

It's not stand-up comedy, per se, but I'm betting cult film favorite Bruce Campbell's combination game show/film Q&A will be hilarious.

The evening will begin with the Campbell-hosted "Last Fan Standing," a pop culture trivia show that involves the audience. He will then take questions ahead of a screening of "Army of Darkness."

Campbell introduces a different movie each time, so we in Indianapolis should count ourselves pretty lucky that we're getting a pretty good one in the third "Evil Dead" film.

Tickets start at $31 plus fees.

Mike Birbiglia

May 18-20 at Helium Comedy Club

After finishing up a run on Broadway earlier this year, Mike Birbiglia will be performing new material and taking questions from the audience at five Helium shows in May.

If you've never been, Birbiglia's shows can be a bit different. There are jokes, but there are also stories told with lots of shouting, voices and character work. He is sometimes performing a bit of a play up there, but with personal themes and punchlines.

These are pretty intimate shows for Birbiglia. Helium's showroom holds about 275 people. Last year, he performed at Clowes Memorial Hall, which fits about 2,150 people. Tickets are still available, starting at $43.40, and I imagine they will sell out.

Jeff Foxworthy

9:15 p.m. June 24 at Clowes Memorial Hall

If redneck jokes are more your thing, Jeff Foxworthy will headline Cancer Support Community Indiana's annual Laughing Matters Comedy Gala.

The event's mission, raising money used for providing support services to Hoosiers impacted by cancer, typically draws from some of the biggest names in comedy. This year is no different, as Foxworthy is among the most successful stand-ups of the past 30 years.

Tickets start at $35.50 plus fees.

Leslie Jones

7 p.m. June 25 at Old National Centre

"Saturday Night Live" alum Leslie Jones will be the second recent "Daily Show" guest host to visit Indianapolis, having helmed the talk show in January.

I have not seen Jones do stand-up, but she's solid on TV and pretty funny in "Our Flag Means Death," the HBO Max pirate comedy series.

Tickets start at $39 plus fees.

85 South Show Live

7 p.m. Sep. 23 Gainbridge Fieldhouse

I am not familiar with the 85 South Comedy Show, which has some 2.33 million YouTube subscribers. But one of the comedy group's members, DC Young Fly, recently performed at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as part of Mike Epps's new stand-up tour.

More:Mike Epps' raucous Indy comedy night probes Oscar slaps, potholes, R. Kelly and more

DC Young Fly was funny enough on his own to warrant a look at this group.

Tickets start at $35.50 plus fees.

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Rory Appleton is the pop culture reporter and columnist at IndyStar. Contact him at 317-552-9044 and rappleton@indystar.com, or follow him on Twitter at @RoryDoesPhonics.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Six big names in stand-up comedy coming to Indianapolis in 2023