Many comedians first take the stage to satisfy a long-burning desire to perform stand-up. Others are encouraged by friends to try an open mic night. Cowboy Bill Martin started telling jokes to save his life — literally. At the time he was working in advertising. At night he worked on a book, basically a survival guide for men going through a divorce, as he was. "There was some tongue-in-cheek (humor), some motivational thoughts and as things progressed people started telling me 'This reads like stand-up.' That was the beginning of the act." Bill performs at Funny Bone on the Levee Thursday-Sunday.  

Some comedians pursue acting roles, others have acting thrust upon them. Such is the case with Tig Notaro, who just completed work on a film about the life of rocker Joan Jett. Tig was cast as Jett’s mum after her managers submitted her for the part. “It was really fun,” she says. “It was bizarre. It was my first time doing a feature, and a drama, and the first time wearing a dress since I was 5.” Not a complete stranger to acting, she returns to work soon on the upcoming season of The Sarah Silverman Program. Notaro performs at Go Bananas Thursday-Sunday.  

Being in a TV show about being in a Rock band presents some problems, especially if you really are a musician. Such is the predicament of The Naked Brothers Band, whose Nickelodeon series is a favorite of the tween set and that demographic’s parental units. The program is shot documentary style (a la The Office), and follows the exploits of the Wolff brothers, Nat (14) and Alex (11), along with their band. They take their real tour to the Timberwolf Amphitheatre at King's Island at 6:30 p.m.  

Adopted from Korea, Kevin Shea felt compelled to develop a sense of humor as a kid, especially growing up in Bethlehem, Pa. “I wasn’t like I was going to be hung by a noose or anything,” he insists, “but…it’s very different being the only Asian kid in an all white elementary school.” He wasn’t exactly the class cutup, though. “Most people that know me from high school are surprised that I’m actually a comedian.” He decided to try stand up after being laid off, thankfully, from an Internet job in California. He performs Thursday-Sunday at Go Bananas.  

Rene Bray, the Wilmington High graduate, returns to her hometown to perform two benefit shows. Proceeds will go to the Wilmington schools’ foundation to provide school supplies for children in need. She will be joined by fellow female comics Stephanie Hodge and Kay Frances Brewer, who also graduated from WHS. “How weird is it,” asks Brey, “to have three successful comedians from any city, let alone a town of 12,000?” The comediennes perform Saturday at the Hugh G. Heiland Theatre at Wilmington College. Showimes are 4 p.m. (PG-13) and 8 p.m. (R-rated). Tickets are $10.  

Bobcat Goldthwait rose to prominence in the ’80s with his odd stage persona, which was punctuated by a voice that oscillated wildly between gruff and squeally. These days he can usually be found directing various TV shows or independent films that he has written. He does stand-up at Go Bananas at 8 p.m.  

Comedian Danny Bevins has a hard time following current events, at least on cable news. “When I get my news, I’ve got to read it,” he explains. He also thinks having a job is the worst. “You gotta know everything about your job. And you have to know everybody else’s job around you. Not so you can be a better employee, but so you can say, ‘Hey, that’s not my fucking job! I don’t do that.'" He performs at Go Bananas Thursday-Sunday.  

“I’m working on a new album,” says one of America’s favorite comedy-troubadours Henry Phillips. “I might even record a few tunes in Cincinnati. At the very least I’ll be working out all the new stuff.” Phillips is hitting the road after completing a film he co-wrote called Punching the Clown. “We’ve been doing the festival circuit,” he says, “and we won the Audience Award at the Slamdance Film Festival, which was really exciting.” Phillips describes it as the tale of a singer/songwriter who makes it big, only to be undone by a Michael Richards-esque misunderstanding. Thursday-Sunday at Go Bananas.  

“I describe myself as an observational comic,” says Tulsa-native Isaac Witty, “but I’m more self-observational. I pretty much talk about myself, the situations I put myself into. It’s always about me and human interactions that are awkward.” That can go back quite a ways. “Remember back in middle school the gym teacher would say ‘OK. Everybody get into groups of two?’ ” he asks an audience. “Some people couldn’t find a partner, so they had to settle for who was left. I think that’s how I’m going to get married." Witty performs at Go Bananas Thursday-Sunday.  

Al Jackson has been doing stand-up comedy for about six years, and he’s played some tough rooms. None were tougher than the classroom where he taught seventh graders in Miami. “You think you’re the funny teacher,” he says, “but when you’re 26 and they are 12-year-olds, they think you’re old and washed up. They don’t think you’re funny at all and they do a lot to undermine your confidence. They’re like, ‘Whatever old man!’” Despite the response from his students, Jackson started looking into open mics. He performs at the Funny Bone Thursday-Sunday.