Buffalo Comedy: Eddie Griffin, Delta Work and more comedians perform live in Buffalo soon

(Above: Eddie Griffin. Image via @EddieGriffinOfficial on Facebook.)

By Jason Pomietlasz

There are no official holidays in the U.S. during August but a fair amount of inventions happened during the eighth month. So there might be a correlation. Even if you are close to a breakthrough on the next great “widget,” take a step away from the dry erase board and treat yourself to some live comedy. 

Thursday, July 30

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. 

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

A brand newish open mic in the Elmwood area hosted by Mamudu Kargbo. With “comic” in the name of the venue, how could they not have an open mic? Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m.

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 $36.99 – 190.99. 

Delta Work is an Emmy Award-winning drag queen, as seen on RuPaul’s Drag Race and will host a live version of her podcast “Very Delta.” Work will interview Daphne York who will also perform for the crowd.  

Friday – Saturday, July 31 – Aug 1

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $50.39 – 218.79. 

Eddie Griffin started his comedy career on a dare and became a successful standup, then transitioned to a successful movie career. But he may be best known for the time he crashed a rare Enzo Ferrari and a slightly demanding tour rider. 

Friday, July 31

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. 

Lady Bits: Standup. An all woman, fem-identifying and non-binary show featuring Sarah Comfort, Jodi Cook, Melissa Cross, Sara Emhof, Brittany Gray, Sandra Kay, Sparkle, Bree Webb and hosted by Nichole Meier and Karen Coen. 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. 

Good Neighbors, a monthly show featuring notable Buffalonians telling stories which improvisers use to craft scenes, with proceeds going to charity. This month’s monologist is former News 4 meteorologist Don Paul, raising money for SPCA. 7:30 p.m., tickets $22.15 presale, $27.35 general admission or pay-what-you-can at the door. 

Indie Summer marches on with “Superstars Anonymous” and “Wizard Fight,” performing their own special brand of improv. 9 p.m., tickets $6.54. 

Saturday, Aug 1 

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 house roster members 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 $12. 

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 $22.14 presale or $27.34 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.

The Mahogany, 190 Minerva Street, Tonawanda. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $15. 

Comedy show hosted by Trebor Finnegan with Devin Hogan, Dion Lewis and headliner Jesse Winterhalter.

Sunday, Aug 2 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $32.99 – 184.99. 

Gigi LeFlair brings her southern charm and a bunch of social media followers to Helium for a Sunday funday show.

Keybank Center, 1 Seymour H Knox III Plaza, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets starting at $25.

Nate Bargatze’s “Big Dumb Eyes” World Tour comes to Buffalo. Bargatze may be one the biggest comics on tour right now. He was dubbed the “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up,” by The Atlantic, he hosted, possibly, one of the funniest SNL shows in recent history and has a record breaking arena tour. But Bargatze and his big eyes were photographed at the White House MMA event, so take it for whatever that means to you. 

Monday, Aug 3

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, Aug 4

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, Aug 5

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. 

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