87%
(15 Ratings)
Positive
93%
Mixed
7%
Negative
0%
Members say
Funny, Clever, Resonant, Ambitious, Entertaining

About the Show

John Legend and Get Lifted Film Co. present Neal Brennan in a new take on a comedy show: one mic for traditional stand-up, one for one-liners, and one for short confessional monologues.

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Critic Reviews (9)

The New York Times
March 4th, 2016

"Neal Brennan’s three-cornered show doesn’t quite add up to a play; it’s more like listening to a decent comedy album while eavesdropping on someone’s therapy sessions...He switches from one microphone to another repeatedly, boldly changing the mood in a way that seems as if it should be intrusive but works just fine...The show lacks a through line that would tie the disparate elements together, but the depression segment is full of valuable, heartfelt insights."
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The Hollywood Reporter
March 3rd, 2016

"The concept for Neal Brennan's one-man show admittedly sounds gimmicky...But it somehow works, making the evening considerably more than the sum of its parts. He may need three microphones to do it, but Brennan manages to be wildly funny and deeply moving at the same time...Getting a glimpse of the inner man behind the comic façade adds an unexpected depth to even the more conventional routines."
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Broadway Blog
March 4th, 2016

"Blending heavy emotional drama with irreverent stand-up comedy is no easy task. Brennan has mastered that art in his solo show...He dives deep into issues that include an alcoholic father and his own battle with depression. What makes it so effective is the fact that there is a clarity of tone with blackouts between each set...He also does an excellent job of interspersing the serious stuff with liberal doses of laughs. The piece, under Drew Barr’s tight direction, never feels heavy laden."
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The Huffington Post
April 14th, 2016

"There’s no need to quote any of the jokes he tells...What’s more pertinent is the overall effect of the unusual outing. As he does his three-way process, he’s really sketching in a comic’s existence...With '3 Mics,' Brennan is not just being the life of the party. He’s making a bold gesture. He’s confessing that a comic’s fun very possibly emanates from a much darker place. If the best comedy is comedy based on truth about the human condition, Brennan is up there with the best."
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Z
March 9th, 2016

"3 Mics' is quite simply the the most innovative comedy show I’ve seen in years...It’s a sobering transition from the hilarious stand-up, and successfully compelling...'3 Mics' is a must-see that delivers everything often lacking in stand-up."
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NY Theatre Guide
March 5th, 2016

"Neal Brennan brings his sardonic biting humor to life in his first theatrical production...He truly opened up in a way we rarely get from celebrities. It was from the heart...If Disneyworld had a ride based on comedy this is what the ride would be like. . . with less cursing. Making stand up into a new format is not an easy task. Neal does just that...'3 Mics' has the potential to bring life to an art form that is in much need of a jump start."
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The Comic's Comic
March 4th, 2016

"'3 Mics' puts all of Brennan before us, which it turns out, is something that goes against his previous self-interest, as he acknowledges he's always looked for personal or professional cover, for someone to hide him from the spotlight...Be sure to pay attention to what he's telling you from that middle mic. That's where the heart of the show is. That's where the heart of any comedian is, really. And Brennan has a good heart."
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S
March 4th, 2016

"The danger of a show like this is that it could end up being embarrassing to watch...This could easily be awkward if the stand-up material is shitty. But no need to worry. It’s good...Brennan himself is the rare personality that is both fastidious and fully candid at all times...The third mic is for one-liners. At first this seems extraneous—he’s basically reading tweets up there! But as the loose narrative goes on you realize: that might just be the key to the whole thing."
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