Being a teacher in the Dayton City Schools, however briefly, taught Ryan Singer at least one valuable skill that he took into his stand-up comedy career. “I think more than anything it taught me room control,” he says. These days Singer travels the Midwest, and is steadily building a following. He performs at Go Bananas Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.  

Jim Short was born in Australia and moved with his family to Texas when he was 12-years-old, yet he doesn’t feel like a native of either. This comic-without-a-country, has lately been talking to audiences about survival in these tough economic times, but not from any sort of political perspective. Thursday-Sunday at Funny Bone on the Levee.  

You’ll have to forgive comedian Robert Hawkins if he’s skeptical about the severity of the recent economic downturn. “This could be a record year [for me],” he says. “This could be 40 weeks or more on the road…which is both a blessing and a curse. Be careful what you wish for.” He performs Thursday-Sunday at Go Bananas.  

“The last time I was through Cincinnati, I was probably a much happier soul,” reports comedian Roy Wood Jr. “(My act now) is more about things that make me want to punch walls. It could be something as simple as paying for extra sauce when I order chicken nuggets. I still consider that to be one the greatest travesties in this country in terms of just extorting the workingman. It’s worse than the $50 for luggage.” Condiment issues aside, things are going well for the Houston native. Thursday-Sunday at The Funny Bone.  

John Henton, known to TV viewers as a cast member of both 'Living Single' and 'The Hughleys,' had never thought about becoming a professional stand-up comic. One day, though, in the early 1980s, his co-workers at a Cleveland-area warehouse dared him to take the stage on amateur night at a local comedy club. He's been doing it since. Henton performs Thursday-Sunday at the Funny Bone.  

What's this? Another Cincinnati comedian is appearing on national TV? It's becoming almost commonplace, as the Queen City's Dave Waite makes his television debut this week on Comedy Central's 'Live at Gotham,' debuting Friday night and repeating Saturday morning.  

What’s this? Another Cincinnati comedian is appearing on national TV? It’s becoming almost commonplace, as the Queen City’s Dave Waite makes his television debut this week on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham. Waite performs on Comedy Central at 11 p.m. Friday with a repeat at 8 a.m. Saturday.  

Kevin Nealon is paying it forward, having befriended a young comic named Rajiv Satyal, from Fairfield, Ohio. Satyal, who has lived in L.A. for the past few years, will headline Thursday and Sunday at The Funny Bone, and he’ll perform with Nealon Friday and Saturday.   

You can be forgiven if, for a moment, you wondered if '80s-era rocker Billy Squier and comedian Bill Squire were actually one and the same. "A few months ago Billy Squier was playing a show with Styxs or some other equally terrific ‘70s/’80s era glam rockers," says the Cleveland-based funnyman. "Some of my parents’ friends thought that I was opening for them. I haven't had anyone show up to a gig thinking they were going to see Billy Squier doing stand-up, and if anyone ever has they haven't said anything." Thursday-Sunday at Go Bananas.  

Comedian Adam Hunter, it seems, really wants to give you, the comedy fan, your money’s worth. “It’s definitely fast-paced,” he says describing his act. “As many jokes per minute as I can possibly fit into a set. It’s fun, a little edgy. You’re definitely going to laugh. A lot of sex, drugs and Rock & Roll. Some stories and a lot of crowd interaction.” His favorite subject out of that mish-mash? Sex of course. He performs at Go Bananas Thursday-Sunday.