May 15-21, 2025

By Jason Pomietlasz
(Image above: Arnez J)

May is the only month that a U.S. president hasn’t died in, which means it’s all the more important to go see live comedy. 

Thursday, May 15

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo.
Improv Mixer, a relaxed environment to try out improv or just to watch. Sign-ups at 7:15 p.m., 7:30 start. $5 suggested or pay what you can. 

Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, 8 p.m.
Open mic comedy on the second floor. Sign-ups at 7 p.m,  Free. 

The Caz, 2221 Seneca St., Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets starting at $20. 
Comedy at the Caz, local and out of town comics come together for comedy in the heart of South Buffalo. 

Fallsview Casino Resort, 6380 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls, 8 p.m., tickets starting at $60.
Paul Reiser is an actor, television writer, author, musician and foremost; a comic. Reiser was voted as one of the Top 100 Comedians of All Time by Comedy Central and created and starred in “Mad About You,”  the long-running Emmy, Peabody, and Golden Globe-winning comedy. 

Friday – Sunday, May 16 – 18 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo, tickets $35.99 – 46.99.
Arnez J headlines Helium this weekend for five shows. Arnez hosted BET’s longest-running comedy series “Comic View” for two seasons and his latest comedy special “Racially Motivated” is available on Netflix. He had a brief stint as a Harlem Globetrotter before a knee injury ended his basketball career, and he devoted himself full-time to standup.

Friday, May 16

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 
Improv Collider, two of the BIH’s house teams perform on a double bill. 7 p.m., tickets $10. 

Good Neighbors, a monthly show featuring notable Buffalonians, this month features a special out-of-town guest, telling stories which the cast use to craft scenes, with proceeds going to charity. 8 p.m., tickets $25.27. 

The New Friday Mixer, same as Thursday’s mixer, just a later time. 9:30 p.m., $10 suggested. 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo.  
Comedy Sportz match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. 7:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Improv Jam, improvisers of all experience levels are welcome for a $5 bucket jam. Just show up, put your name in the bucket for a chance to perform multiple times. 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 17

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo.  
ComedySportz Saturday match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. 6 p.m., tickets $18.

Improv Royale, a competition based format with three improv teams performing sets for an audience of judges, who will vote for who they think should make it to the next round. 8:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 7 p.m., $47.10.

Kevin McDonald Superstar! Kevin McDonald of “The Kids in the Hall”  presents his comic rock opera based on true events of one evening from the 1990s. 

Sunday, May 18

Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 7 p.m., free.
Sunday comedy at Revolver Records. Along with comedians, there will be live DJ’s and the bar and store will be open.  

Monday, May 19

Tudor Lounge, 335 Franklin Street, Buffalo, 8 p.m. 
Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Start your week by hearing new premises and jokes. Sign-ups at 7. Free.

Tuesday, May 20

Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m. 
Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy open mic. Free. 

Wednesday, May 21 

Milkies, 522 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo. 
Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Sign-ups at 7, show starts at 9 p.m. Free. 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $36.99 – 48.99 
Sarah Sherman, also known as Sarah Squirm and current Saturday Night Live cast member, brings her body horror comedy to Helium. Sherman co-stars with Adam Sandler in the upcoming Netflix film, “You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!” and was selected as a “New Face,” at the “Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival” in 2021 for her popular live show, Helltrap Nightmare. 

Have a comedy event you want to add, email lakeeffectcomedy@gmail.com.