December 12, 2023

Much of Alex Edelman’s comedy springs from his Jewish upbringing. He takes on Jewish identity, bigotry and ignorance–but there’s no malice in his material. Instead the Brookline native uses humor to process and even dismantle the complexities and the hate that plague our world. His recent Broadway hit, “Just for Us”--was inspired by his experience of attending a white nationalists meeting. Amid a surge in antisemitism and discrimination, “Just for Us” has a new urgency. But the laughs come just as hard–maybe even harder. He joins me ahead of his performances at the Emerson Colonial Theater. From there, we hit the pause button on the Santaland soundtrack to make room for Blue Heron. The vocal ensemble takes us back to 15th century England with medieval music that will put you in the holiday spirit of yore. Finally, ImprovBoston will literally be having the last laugh at the end of the month. After 40 years, the comedy colossus is closing up shop.