The Just For Laughs Chicago comedy festival hits the Windy City on June 12-17 this summer, and they’ve just announced the initial lineup. It’s pretty stacked, with acts that include Vince Vaughn, Aziz Ansari, Stephen Merchant, Bill Engvall, Billy Gardell, John Pinette, Patton Oswalt, John Oliver, Kevin Smith, Mike Birbiglia, Jeff Ross, Amy Schumer, The Dan Band and Henson Alternative’s Stuffed and Unstrung. More comedians are set to be announced in the near future, but if you’re in Chicago or will be there this summer, this looks pretty awesome already. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10am. The full press release is after the jump.
4th Annual TBS Just For Laughs Chicago, Biggest Comedy Festival in the U.S.A.,To Feature Spectacular Line-up of Comics, with More Surprises to be Announced SoonVince Vaughn, Aziz Ansari, Stephen Merchant, Bill Engvall, Billy Gardell, John Pinette, Patton Oswalt, John Oliver,Kevin Smith, Mike Birbiglia, Jeff Ross, Amy Schumer, The Dan Band and Henson Alternative’s Stuffed and UnstrungTickets for the June 12-17 Festival Go On Sale this Saturday, April 14, at 10:00 a.m.TBS Just For Laughs Chicago, the nation’s biggest comedy festival, kicks off its fourth year by announcing some very big names, with more surprises still to come. From June 12-17, an astonishing array of comedians, sketch shows, specialty acts and films will keep Chicago in stitches from some of its finest and most iconic venues.Parks and Recreation star Aziz Ansari headlines two sold-out performances at the Chicago Theatre, before megastar and Chicago native Vince Vaughn hosts a special evening of surprises and hilarity that’ll see him perform alongside a group of his funniest friends. Over at the Park West, English superstar Stephen Merchant, Co-Creator and Executive Producer of the U.K. version of The Office, will give a rare stand-up performance for three nights, while peerless comedic genius Patton Oswalt, star of Jason Reitman’s recent feature Young Adult, and Emmy Award-winning Daily Show with Jon Stewart correspondent John Oliver, headline shows at The Vic.A trio of fan favorites, Blue Collar Comedy star Bill Engvall, Billy Gardell of Mike and Molly, and the always hilarious John Pinette join forces to offer fans a night of triple-threat comedy at the Akoo Theatre (formerly the Rosemont Theatre), while the critically-acclaimed Mike Birbiglia brings his hit show “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend,†fresh off its 15-week run in New York City, to Chicago for an extended stay at the Victory Gardens Theatre.The festivities continue with film icon Kevin Smith treating fans to a special evening and Q&A, and Roastmaster General Jeff Ross returning to the Festival for a second time to give the people of Chicago our yearly reckoning. Meanwhile, Amy Schumer, breakout star of this year’s Roast of Charlie Sheen on Comedy Central, headlines her own night of comedic reckoning at the Park West. Rounding out the announcement, The Dan Band takes up residence at the House of Blues for a night of comedy and music, while Henson Alternative’s Stuffed & Unstrung (Puppets Behaving Badly) will perform a live, uncensored improv show at The Bank Of America Theatre. Featuring the Miskreant Puppets and The Jim Henson Company’s renowned puppeteers, Stuffed & Unstrung is an unpredictable and irreverent show that’s never the same twice.Tickets go on-sale Saturday, April 14, at 10:00 a.m. (CT).For the past three summers, the TBS JUST FOR LAUGHS comedy festival has been a landmark event for Chicago, which is home to a rich comedy heritage, from improv and sketch troupes to some of the most familiar names in the business. TBS and Just For Laughs are also working with one of the largest independent promoters in the United States, Chicago-based Jam Productions, LTD, as well as Outback Concerts. For all the latest news on TBS Just For Laughs Chicago, visit www.justforlaughschicago.com, become a fan of TBSveryfunny on Facebook, follow @TBSVeryFunny on Twitter, or search for hashtag #JFLChicago.Festival Venue and Ticket InformationThe 2012 edition of TBS Just For Laughs Chicago will take place across 15 locations, including such high-profile Chicago venues as The Chicago Theatre, Akoo Theatre (formerly The Rosemont Theatre), Bank of America Theatre, Park West, The Vic Theatre and Victory Gardens plus many more. Tickets for the shows announced above go on sale Saturday, April 14, at 10 a.m. (CT). Additional shows and venues will be announced soon. Festival information is available at www.justforlaughschicago.com.• Tickets for The Chicago Theatre, Bank of America and Akoo Theatre will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.• Tickets for The Vic Theatre and Park West will be available at etix.com or by phone at 800-514-etix.• Tickets for the Victory Gardens will be available at victorygardens.org or 773-871-3000.• Tickets for most festival events will also be available at respective venue box offices.