Buffalo Comedy: The Comedy Buzz is your guide to comedy happening in the Queen City

(Above: Dale Elliott Jr. Image via daleelliottjr.com).

By Jason Pomietlasz

The great escape artist Harry Houdini died on Halloween in 1926. While most of us will probably not reach his level of skill, you don’t have to be a “Houdini” to escape your home and go see live comedy. Just don’t invite any college students to punch you in the stomach.

Thursday, Oct 29

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 6:45 p.m., 7 p.m. start. $5 suggested or pay what you can.

Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, 8 p.m. Free.
Open mic comedy on the second floor. Sign-ups at 7 p.m, hosted by the above average height Bennett Solowski.

The Wood and Wine’s Comic Strip, 25 N. Johnson Parkway, Buffalo. 7 p.m., free.

A biweekly open mic in the Elmwood area hosted by Mamudu Kargbo. Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m.

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $10.

A special Halloween musical show with a variety of short form improv games that all lead to songs made up on the spot.

Friday – Saturday, Oct 30 – 31

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $43.99 – 204.99.

Tony Baker is a stand-up, actor, and social media personality from Chicago. His debut special “Scaredy Cat” is available on Tubi for free and Baker’s last special “Tony Baker and Friends” is available on his website http://www.tonybakercomedy.com.

Friday, Oct 30

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo.

Comedy Sportz Halloween match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games, in costume, with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. Patrons dressed in costumes get a free popcorn. 7 p.m., tickets $18.

BCC’s “Script Tease” troupe will improvise an entire movie inspired by audience suggestions. 9 p.m., tickets $18.

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo.

The Happy Hour Improv Jam. Try improv for the first time with experienced improvisers or practice what you have already learned. 6:30 p.m., tickets $5 or pay what you can.

Improv Collider. An hour of long-form improv from two of the BIH’s Collider ensembles. 7:30 p.m., tickets $8 presale or $10 general admission.

The Mahogany, 190 Minerva Street, Tonawanda. 7 p.m., tickets starting at $13.

Halloween Comedy Showcase hosted by Trebor Finnegan, with sets from Owen Szantor, Mike Shanks, Josh Prygon, Katarina Valentine and Jacob Morrison. Costumes are encouraged.

Saturday, Oct 31

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo.

ComedySportz Saturday Halloween Matinee match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games, in costume, with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. Patrons in costume get a free popcorn. 2 p.m., tickets $18.

Sunday, Nov 1

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $43.99 – 204.99.

Dale Elliott Jr. is a Jamaican-American comic and has had three successful comedy tours, “Problem Child,” “No Hard Feelings” and “Son of an Immigrant,” one for each year he has been a full time standup.

Monday, Nov 2

Hen House, 690 Hertel Street, Buffalo, 7 p.m.

The Bird Soup Comedy Open Mic. A new open mic hosted by Brody Walsh and Connor Mink who love a good bird pun. Sign-ups start at 6 p.m. Free.

Tudor Lounge, 335 Franklin Street, Buffalo, 8:30 p.m.

Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Start your week by hearing new premises and jokes. Once again hosted by the venerable Don Johnson with a bucket draw. Sign-ups at 7 p.m. Free.

Tuesday, Nov 3

Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m., free.

Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy show hosted by Jake Samson and Jake Piskor, also known as the two Jakes. Sign-ups at rustbeltcomedy.weebly.com. Free.

Sweets Lounge, 2 Schreck Ave., Buffalo.

Comedy open mic hosted by Mingo and Erica Aceti, who promise good vibes. Sign-ups at 8:45, show at 9:15. Free.

Wednesday, Nov 4

Milkie’s Elmwood Lounge, 522 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo.

Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Sign-ups at 7 p.m. or online, show starts at 9-ish p.m. Hosted by the super funny Jesse Winterhalter. Free.

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $13 – $180.99

Dan Docimo (they/them) was listed as a comic to watch as part of Time Out’s 2025 Comics on the Rise. Docimo is a member of the Prime Time Cast at the Lincoln Lodge and producer-drummer of Dumb and Drummer and they have performed at the Limestone Comedy Festival, 10,000 Laughs Festival, Altercation Comedy Festival, and Art Basel.

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