July 31-Aug. 6

By Jason Pomietlasz

August is named after a Roman emperor who developed their infrastructure, helping Romans safely walk to see live comedy.

Thursday, July 31

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 start. $5 suggested or pay what you can. 

Cagematch, an improv tradition, comes to Buffalo Improv House. Two teams perform for audience laughs and votes to be crowned winner for the night. Then the winning team returns the next week to defend their title against a new team. 9 p.m., tickets $5. 

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. 8 p.m., tickets $15. 

Comedy at the Caz, local and out of town comics come together for comedy in the heart of South Buffalo. This week’s lineup is home grown and features Allie Brady, Rick Matthews and Shaun Murphy.

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7:15 p.m., tickets $32.99 – 42.99.

Mark Brucato, also known as Lil Mo Mozzarella, is an Internet personality, comedian and food critic is back in Buffalo for the second time this year. Lil Mo Mozzarella uses Italian-American tropes with a humorous twist for comedic effect.

Friday – Sunday, August 1 – 3

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7:15 p.m., tickets $32.99 – 42.99.
Ian Fidance can be seen nightly at the Comedy Cellar (NYC) when not on the road. Fidance has been featured on NPR’s “This American Life” and co-starred in multiple sketches on the latest season of the “Gilly and Keeves” sketch show, “The Last OG” with Tracy Morgan, and was featured on “This Week at the Comedy Cellar” on Comedy Central. He also did punch up work on Michelle Obama’s children’s cooking show “Waffles + Mochi” on Netflix.  His podcast “Bein’ Ian with Jordan” is available on all platforms.

Friday, Aug 1 

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 decide the winner. 7:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

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 $8 presale or $10 general admission. 

Duet, a two-prove (improv where two improvisers play multiple characters) musical with Annie Moor and Todd Benzin. 8 p.m., tickets $15 presale or $20 general admission. 

The New Friday Mixer, same as Thursday’s mixer, just a later time. 9:30 p.m., $5 suggested/pay what you can. 

Forbes Theater, 512 Pearl Street, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets starting at $33.85.
Zach Rushing brings his southern outlook and “no filter” comedy to Buffalo for one night. 

Saturday, Aug 2

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 4 p.m., tickets $32.99 – 42.99.
Chris Munch brings his “Bleshings” tour to the cobblestone district. Munch is an actor, comedian and writer and created the personas “Stephen Stephens”, “MLM Chad” and the good hearted southern minister “Pastor Bobby”. Fellow comedian Adam Bush is also featured in the tour.

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo.  
Death at the Disco: A 1970’s themed murder mystery. The event starts out at BCC and then you board a double-decker bus and proceed to RiverWorks and the Hofbrauhaus for stops and drinks. Guests interview the actor suspects at each location. 5:30 p.m., tickets $35

ComedySportz Saturday match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decide the winner. 6 p.m., tickets $18. 

Same Game, an interactive improvised game show inspired by shows such as Match Game and Family Feud. 8:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 
Musical Improv Comedy Student Showcase. Graduates of the musical improv class study will show off what they learned. 6 p.m., tickets $8 online, $10 general admission or pay what you can.  

“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. Following the show is live piano karaoke. 7 p.m., tickets $20 online, $25 general admission or $12 for students or people who appreciate a discount. 

Rob’s Playhouse Theater, 3200 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 8 p.m, tickets starting at $18.50.
Matt Bergman is a native Buffaloian and arguably in the top ten of most successful comics from the Queen City. Bergman toured with John Heffron, winner of season two of “Last Comic Standing,” has a Dry Bar comedy special and his Amazon Prime half-hour special will debut this fall.

Sunday, Aug 3

Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 7 p.m., free.
Sunday comedy at Revolver Records. Along with comedians, there will be live DJs and the bar and store will be open. Hosted by the four horsemen of hilariousness; Kevin Thomas Jr. (2016 Buffalo Funniest winner), Jameel Key (2017 Buffalo Funniest winner), Tyrone Macline and Phil Machemer.

Monday, Aug 4

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

Tuesday, Aug 5

Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m. 
Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy open mic hosted by Jake Samson (2022 Buffalo Funniest winner) and Jake Piskor (2025 Buffalo Funniest top three finalist). Free. 

Matinee, 698 Main St., Buffalo, 8 p.m.
Train Stop Comedy, a new comedy open mic on Main Street with host Mamudu Kargbo. For all levels of comics and audiences. Free. 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $32.99 – 43.99.
Michelle Rider, also known as Shelly Belly, started doing comedy routines from her front porch to South Carolina and now to stages across the country. Rider’s comedy skits on “Shelly Belly Comedy” online helped launch her career and earned her millions of views on social media and helped her get cast on season three of “The Circle” on Netflix. 

Wednesday, Aug 6 

Milkies, 522 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo. 
Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Sign-ups at 7 or online, show starts at 9ish p.m. Hosted by Jesse Winterhalter. Free. 

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Have a comedy event you want to add? Email lakeeffectcomedy@gmail.com.