Watch CBS News

Boston's Best Local Standup Comics And Comedians

Boston has its fair share of funny people. Stand up and comedy powerhouses like Dane Cook, Steve Carell, Jay Leno and Dennis Leary made their starts in and around the city. Lucky for visitors and current residents, Boston has not become a stranger to comedy since these stars left the roost. Several comedy venues and venues that do not mind playing house to a stand-up act every now and then are keeping comedy alive in Boston. Some regulars stand out among the crowd.
Dan Crohn
(Photo Credit: Dick's Beantown Comedy Vault)

Dan Crohn

Dick's Beantown Comedy Vault
124 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 482-0110
www.beantowncomedy.com

Dan Crohn is a Boston-area comedian who draws his jokes from his motley group of family and friends. Like other good comics before him, he knows how to make life sound funny. He is definitely a recognizable face in Boston, having performed at the Boston Comedy Festival. Crohn is currently a regular at Dick's Beantown Comedy Vault, with nary a month going by without an appearance by the affable funny man.

Related: Best Comedy Clubs In Boston

joe devito
(Photo Credit: Nick's Comedy Stop)

Joe DeVito

Nick's Comedy Stop
100 Warrenton St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 482-0930
www.nickscomedystop.com

For the naughtier side of comedy, head to Nick's Comedy Stop to see Joe DeVito, an "R-rated Hypnotist." His brand of comedy is very interactive, so only those who will find being singled out funny should attend. Joe looks every bit the hokie hypnotist, but the laughs he delivers are not at his own expense. He has found a way to combine the questionable craft of hypnotism with jokes and improvisation.

ken reid
(Photo from The Comedy Studio)

Ken Reid

The Comedy Studio
1238 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-6507
www.thecomedystudio.com

Ken Reid is a familiar face all around Boston. He even has his own Wikipedia page, so he either has friends in middle places or has made something of a name for himself. Reid is a regular performer at The Comedy Studio, currently hosting "Ken Reid's Secret Menu" there every Thursday. He has been designated "The Best Comedian in Boston" twice by The Boston Phoenix. He has opened for such names as Bob Saget and Patton Oswalt.

Steve Macone
(Photo from SteveMacone.com)

Steve Macone

Comedy Night at The Burren
247 Elm St.
Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 776-6896
www.burren.com

Storyteller, enemy of cigarette butt-throwers, average Joe and self-professed liar, Steve Macone is a man seen on stages and in back rooms all over the city. This young, exuberant comic graces The Burren, a small Irish pub in Somerville, often. He is a resident of Somerville who draws cartoons with pithy lines in his spare time. Also, look out for his comedic essays in such publications as The New York Times.

Sean Sullivan
(Photo from comedy.SeanSullivan.com)

Sean Sullivan

Grandma's Basement at Tiki Hideaway
1271 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 267-8300
www.facebook.com/tikihideaway

Believe it or not, the Boston Howard Johnson is home to a hole in the wall lounge known as the Tiki Hideaway that plays host to comics. Sean Sullivan appears regularly at comedy nights they call "Grandma's Basement at Tiki Hideaway." Sullivan is a stellar performer who has made a name for himself well outside of Boston, but who still performs regularly in the city. You may recognize him from December 2009's "Live at Gotham" from Comedy Central.

Related: Best Activities You Wouldn't Think To Do In Boston

Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.