TONY Approved, our Comedy Festival show, stars…

Photographs: (Glover) Seth Olenick; (Shillue) Joyce Davis

Donald Glover

Who he is
A skyrocketing TV and film star and former 30 Rock writer—who was hired while still in college, and had to bring his RA pager to work.

What he does
Stars alongside Chevy Chase in NBC’s Community; cowrote, -directed and -stars in the forthcoming Lions Gate movie Mystery Team; executes dead-on impressions of Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock and Obama.

Why we love him
He’s crazy prolific. Not long after deciding to try stand-up, Glover had a full hour of material—and it was good, not just jokey but full of heart and personality. Rarely does someone so young have such wisdom.

Donald Glover plays TONY Approved Fri 6.

Tom Shillue

Who he is
A seasoned stand-up, Comedy Central staple and total pro; an unashamedly white-bread, self-described “pathologically positive” Norman Rockwell–kid–look-alike.

What he does
Tours, records albums and specials, yet still focuses on what hasn’t earned him money, i.e., storytelling; makes mountains out of molehills, turning small memories from his Catholic Massachusetts childhood into beautifully crafted tales.

Why we love him
His stories are both sidesplitting and touching, deliciously specific and universally true. He’s the only conservative Republican comedian who’s actually funny. He was in an a cappella group—and isn’t ashamed.

Tom Shillue plays TONY Approved Fri 6.

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