Buffalo Comedy: The Comedy Buzz is your guide to comedy happening this weekend in Buffalo.

(Above: Dustin Nickerson. Image via @dustinnickersoncomedy on Facebook).

By Jason Pomietlasz

Today in 1825, French General Lafayette, who fought with us in the Revolutionary War, arrived in Buffalo and gave a well received speech to the public at what is now known as Lafayette Square. He then went out for pizza and saw live comedy. 

Thursday, June 4

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.

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $32.99 – 184.99 (Couples package).  

Dustin Nickerson’s 2020 debut comedy special “Overwhelmed” was one of the highest rated specials on Amazon Prime. He’s appeared on Comedy Central and Netflix by Kevin Hart and his podcast, “Don’t Make Me Come Back There,” has reached over a million downloads. Nickerson has been married for almost half his life so he has plenty of relationship material.

Friday – Sunday, June 5 – 7 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $20 – 190.99 (Couples package).

You may have seen Rhys Darby as an actor before you knew he was a comic. He appeared in “Flight of the Concords,” back when HBO was a luxury. Darby is part of the New Zealand invasion which is like the Australian comic actor invasion of the 90s, only better. He nearly stole scenes from Jim Carrey in Yes Man. Rhys has five stand-up specials’, Imagine That! (2008), It’s Rhys Darby Night! (2011) and This Way to Spaceship, (2012), I’m a Fighter Jet (2017) and Mystic Time Bird (2021). And like Dan Aykroyd, he believes in aliens and hosts a podcast called “Aliens Like Us.”

Friday, June 5 

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 p.m., tickets $18. 

BCC’s long form house team “Yin Yang Necklace” will take you back to the 90’s with unscripted scenes and characters based entirely on audience suggestions which may be related to the 1990s. 9 p.m., tickets $12. 

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. 

Indie Summer. Independent improv teams from all over Buffalo will hit the BIH stage for the summer. “Buffalo Cursebreakers,” and “Channel Surf” are up this Friday. 9 p.m., tickets $7. 

Kenan Center, 433 Locust St., Lockport. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $20.

Kenan After Dark. Lockport’s stand up comedy show with local comedians, a bar, and a free drink with each ticket. Hosted by Nicky Spin and featuring Keven Thomas Jr. and Jameel Key.

Saturday, June 6 

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. 7 p.m., tickets $18. 

Dynamic Duos, six roster members from CSz Pros and BCC Shorties Program are paired up for two-person scenes. After each pair performs, the audience votes for their favorite scene and the pairs switch to do it all again, twice. The performer with the most points by the end wins. 9 p.m., tickets $18. 

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

“Various Factors,” a broadway-esque improv musical comedy show where everything is made up on the spot, including lyrics, melodies and choreography. All inspired from audience suggestions. 7 p.m., tickets $20 presale or $25 general admission.

Piano Karaoke. Sign up to sing a song with a live piano player, or just hang out and watch people butcher your favorite song. A ticket from Various Factors gets you in for free, otherwise $6.54. 8:30 p.m.

Rob’s Playhouse Theater, 3200 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 8 p.m, tickets starting at $28.50.

“The Benjamin Jackson Comedy Hypnotist Show” is a different experience every time. Jackson is an accomplished hypnotist who has turned audience participation into comedy for over three decades. 

Hallwalls Arts Center, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting $18.54.

New York City comic Jamal Harrington comes to Buffalo. Also performing is Sherman Webb-Middlebrooks, Michelle Rose Hall, Anthony Sundquist, Jonathan Ziegel and hosted by Terre King.

Sunday, June 7

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 4 p.m., tickets $13 – 180.99 (Couples package).

Kel Perez has used the power of social media to share content and it has connected with people from all backgrounds. He brings his point of view, growing up Hispanic, to the stage and at the end of the day, funny is funny and everyone can relate to that. 

Monday, June 8

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, June 9

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. 

Wednesday, June 10

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 $32.99 – 184.99 (Couples package).

Corey O’Brien’s Red Tour attempts one of the more difficult comedy feats, to make people laugh and think, by challenging divides while creating a space where everyone, left, right, and in between, can laugh together. O’Brien is LGBTQ+ advocate and social media creator with over 2 million followers across social media, he spent years as a professional dancer, appearing on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

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

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