Weekend: It's all about laughs and Oktoberfest

Laughs for sale in the East Valley

By Albert Ching

Everyone loves to laugh. Well, maybe not everyone, but those who don’t are probably not worth knowing. It’s the best medicine, after all.

So with that in mind, here are three events hitting the East Valley this weekend where you can most definitely get your laugh on. Beware of fractured funny bones.

REALITY LAUGHS

NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” has introduced comedians like Dat Phan, Ralphie May and Alonzo Bodden to the national stage in its six seasons. Comics from the sixth and most recent edition, which wrapped up this summer, are coming to the Mesa Arts Center this weekend. 

>> The “Last Comic Standing” comedians will perform 8 p.m. Saturday at the Ikeda Theater of Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $32-$47. (480) 644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com.

THEATER LAUGHS

If you like your guffaws slightly classier, check out “Lend Me a Tenor.” The comedy, staged by Mesa Encore Theatre depicts an orchestra missing a famous tenor just before the curtain is scheduled to rise. 

>> “Lend Me a Tenor” will be staged 7 p.m. today and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse, Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $20-$25. (480) 644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com.

Jimmy Fallon. The Associated Press

FUTURE TALK SHOW LAUGHS

Jimmy Fallon left “Saturday Night Live” in 2004 to pursue a film career, which never really blossomed after mostly-forgettable pictures like “Fever Pitch” and “Taxi.” But his visibility is going up in a big way come summer 2009, when he’ll take over “Late Night” on NBC from Conan O’Brien. Before that, he’s sharpening his comic skills with a stand-up tour, which comes to Tempe Improv this weekend.

>> Jimmy Fallon will perform 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. today and Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday at Tempe Improv, 930 E. University Drive. $30. (480) 921-9877 or tempeimprov.com.

Grab a schnitzel, heft a stein

By Craig Outhier

Achtung, Valley volk! The seasonal German tradition of beer-soaked debauchery known as Oktoberfest is officially in full, polka-fueled swing. Several venues are hosting Oktoberfest parties, which means you can drink, dance and discuss the merits of Nietzsche’s master-slave morality all weekend long, and never in the same place twice. All events are lederhosen optional.

'DuoWest', Ian Ginsburg and Sherry Lenich. Four Seasons Orchestra

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Polka is kind of like sauerkraut — sensitive American palates like ours can only tolerate so much of it in one sitting. Which is why polka-addled Oktoberfest revelers might want to visit Trinity Cathedral Center for the Arts in Phoenix, where the classical two-piece known as DuoWest (Ian Ginsburg plays cello, Sherry Lenich plays piano) will perform a special Oktoberfest program made up of German and Austrian composers such as Bach, Beethoven and Schumann. Most sobering.

>> DuoWest perform  at 7 p.m. today at Trinity Cathedral, 100 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. Tickets are $15 to $18. Visit fourseasonsorchestra.com or call (602) 923-0300 for more information.

SAM ADAMS’ OCTOBERFEST DINNER

Morton’s the Steakhouse is putting a distinctly American spin on Octoberfest (note the missing “k”). Tonight, the upscale restaurant chain is offering four courses of its carnivore-pleasing vittles to go along with a flight of seasonal beers from Sam Adams and a trio of premium cigars. If you ask really nice, maybe they’ll even pour you a glass of Sam Adams’ celebrated cognac-style Utopias. Prost!

>> The Sam Adams’ Octoberfest Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. today at Morton’s, 15233 N. Kierland Blvd., Phoenix. Cost is $115 per person. For reservations, call (480) 951-4440 or visit mortons.com.

BLACK FOREST MILL

Sure, oom-pah-pah bands and towering steins of Spaten are pretty much regular fixtures at this Arcadia-area German eatery, but the owners turn it up a notch come Oktoberfest. Kick up your clogs to the tuba-riffic tunes of Fritz and Gang during the afternoon, followed by Guggenbach Trio from Germany. You see? It’s just like the ubiquitous parking lot parties of St. Patrick’s Day, only more mercilessly efficient. There’s also an inflatable castle for the kids and tasty schnitzels and sauer-whatevers from executive chef Stephan Murst.

>> Black Forest Mill is located at 4900 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Cover is $10 today and Saturday, $5 on Sunday. Kids 10 and under are free. Call (602) 840-4000 or visit bfmrestaurant.com for more information.