It was a stellar night at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Chelsea last Monday for their weekly stand-up showcase "Whiplash," hosted by 2008 ECNY Award winner Leo Allen. If you're out-and-about town at 11pm on a Monday night and eager to watch some of the city's funniest comedians performing for free, this is definitely the room to be in.

The bookish Allen performs new material every showcase, so even if you're only going to Whiplash to watch the host crack jokes, you will never get bored with what he's serving up. And because this show's host has been performing comedy for years, he has plenty of talented friends to fill the slots with different acts every week.

On a given night I've seen everybody from Jim Gaffigan, Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Mirman, Kristin Schaal, Todd Barry, and John Mulaney performing there, for free. And the list continues to grow and grow. There is a different vibe in the UCB than say a club like Caroline's. This venue is packed with a younger college-mid 20's type crowd than say the wealthier New York audiences that pack clubs uptown. Although there is no drink minimum, there are also no tables to spread out at. The theater-style seating arrangement holds more than 150 people with room to spare for standing. When it gets really packed in there don't be surprised to see eager fans sitting on the ground around the edges of the actually stage!

This night featured comedy duo Team Submarine, Ahna Tessler, Ted Alexandro and Tom Shillue. The highlight of the evening was Ted Alexandro's set, who will soon be performing in the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival. It was interesting to see how his edgier material played with the hipster audience and his more comedy club style writing fall just a bit flatter, yet still getting laughter. It's always fun to watch a comedian who captures the attention of an old and young audience. Watch out for more Ted Alexandro in the near future.

As always, I'll also let you know what you'll be forking over for a night out on the town at UCB. PBR's are $2, domestics are $3, imports and the vino coming in at $4. And don't forget to get there early to line up if a big act is coming through, because it's free there are no reservations. To keep you abreast on who the acts are you can always check the UCB website or join the Whiplash group on Facebook and Leo will send you a message every week letting you know who's on the show. You'll understand the name Whiplash once you go, enjoy.

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