Thank God for Jokes

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Thank God for Jokes

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  1m

This hilarious one-man show from comedian Mike Birbiglia hits on hard truths about puppets, late people and the very real dangers of being funny.

Image: 2016 Off-Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    75 Minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: 2016 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Solo Show
    Nominee: 2016 Off Broadway Alliance Award, Best Solo Performance
    Nominee: 2016 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Solo Performance

Details

Summary
Mike Birbiglia declares that a joke should never end with “I’m joking.” In his all-new comedy, Birbiglia tiptoes hilariously through the minefield that is modern-day joke-telling. Join Mike as he learns that the same jokes that elicit laughter have the power to produce tears, rage and a whole lot of getting yelled at. Ultimately it's a show that asks, “How far should we go for the laugh?”
History
Thank God for Jokes premiered off-Broadway at the Lynn Redgrave Theatre on February 11, 2016. Directed by Seth Barrish, the production featured playwright Mike Birbiglia.
MIKE
  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting A bare stage with a stool.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No intermission
  • Duration 75 Minutes
  • Cautions
    • Strong Language
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Indescribably ridiculous... so funny and yet so smart.” – The New York Times

“Uproariously funny, marvelously absurd, and intellectually satisfying. The central premise – of comedy's consequences in an interconnected world – is a sturdy hook on which Birbiglia hangs his whimsical array of hilarious stories, and by the end my face was sore from laughing.” – Gothamist

“There is not an ounce of pedantry in [Birbiglia's] 85-minute monologue, an indescribably ridiculous collection of anecdotes and asides that miraculously blend into a whole... an admirable piece of writing, so funny and yet so smart.” – The New York Times

“Sly, subversive and introspective... an easygoing yet often hysterically funny examination of what a joke is and what makes it funny – or not.” – Variety

”Irresistibly infectious.” – The Hollywood Reporter

“A carefully crafted ramble where every destination is appealing and all roads eventually converge and lead to a satisfying destination... In this consistently funny and smart show [Birbiglia] seems to tangentially wander topic to topic, but this is a very carefully mapped out journey — one where the various stories all tie together to make a point about the sanctity of the free speech that are jokes.” – New York Theatre Guide

“A trenchant portrayal of what it’s like to be a comedian, think like a comedian, live like a comedian.” – Vulture

Videos

  • Thank God For Jokes – Netflix Trailer youtube thumbnail

    Thank God For Jokes – Netflix Trailer

  • "I'm Joking" – Thank God For Jokes youtube thumbnail

    "I'm Joking" – Thank God For Jokes

Photos

  • Thank God for Jokes

    Image: 2016 Off-Broadway Production (Joan Marcus)

Music

Music Samples

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $120 per performance

Add-Ons

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Authors

Mike Birbiglia

Mike Birbiglia is a comedian, storyteller, director and actor who has performed in front of audiences worldwide, from the Sydney Opera House to Broadway. His repertoire of one-man shows, including What I Should Have Said Was Nothing: Tales from My Secret Public Journal, My Gi ...

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