(Above: Phil Hanley. Image via @PhilHanley on Facebook).

By Jason Pomietlasz

Learning to read between the lines is a skill that can help you in most facets of life. For example, if someone tells you that their father was a traveling salesman, you can assume they have half-siblings they may or may not know about. Or if someone says “I’m a fan of Buffalo sports teams,” take that person to see live comedy. 

Thursday, April 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. 

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 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.

Fallsview Casino, 6380 Fallsview Blvd. Niagara Falls, Ontario. 8:30 p.m., tickets starting at $66.

Brad Garrett comes to the Avalon Theater. He is best known as “Robert Barone” from Everybody Loves Raymond and I’m sure he and Ray Romano are still friends. Garrett is leaving the sleepy town of Vegas, where he owns a comedy club, for the hustle and bustle of the Falls to perform. Also on the bill is Dave Burleigh and Buffalo native Andy Pitz. 

Thursday – Saturday, April 30 – May 2

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $18 – 194.99 (Couples package).

Phil Hanley is a Canadian by birth but is now embedded in the NYC comedy scene, performing regularly at the Comedy Cellar. Hanley’s memoir, “Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic,” chronicles his lifelong struggle with dyslexia and how comedy became his saving grace. His stand-up special, “Ooh La La,” is available on YouTube for free.

Friday, May 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 decides the winner. 7 p.m., tickets $18. 

BCC’s 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. 

Collider Night. Collider teams “Bedelia” and “Hannah Montana” will perform different long form styles. 7:30 p.m., tickets $8 presale or $10 general admission. 

The Faculty Lottery. The teachers of the BIH will perform and current or former students will have two chances to perform with them via a bucket draw. 8:30 p.m., tickets $12 presale or $15 general admission. 

Saturday, May 2 

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. 

Park’ed: A Stage Reading. Park’ed is a television pilot based on the short film “Something There,” which was named Best Film at the 2025 Buffalo 48 Hour Film Project and a Top 10 Film at Filmapalooza 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal and will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner in France. Park’ed is a mockumentary about the inaugural summer season of a high-end, IP-centered theme park. It’s “The Office” set in Disney World, centered around Ben Rodgers, the park’s lead puppet-costume performer, a fearless performer who lacks confidence everywhere else in life. 9 p.m., tickets $15. 

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.

Sunday, May 3

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $33.86.

Christopher Titus has been performing for over 40 years, which means he has seen three comedy booms, two busts and a golden age. Titus is working on his 11th special “Doomed to Repeat,” and starred in “Titus,” a sitom based on his early standup about family dsyfunction. He wrote, produced, directed and starred in the movie “Special Unit,” about a team of special needs people who form an undercover police unit. 

Tickets are moving fast, with only general admission left. 

Monday, May 4

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, May 5

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. 

Penny Lane, 10255 Main Street, Clarence. 7 p.m., tickets starting at $15.

Cino De Mayo Comedy Night. Six local comics take the stage at the Lane to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. 

Wednesday, May 6

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. 

Open Mic, where over twenty comics will perform their best 3 minutes, 7 p.m., free with two-item minimum.

Road Less Traveled Productions, 456 Main St., Buffalo, 7:30 p.m., tickets $20.

An improvised two-act play with a cast of experienced improvisers and a special guest, usually a local actor, using the set of the current play running at the RLTP, ensuring the show is a blend of grounded theater and comedy. This week’s guest who joins the resident cast of Kevin Di Lucente, Todd Benzin, Don Gervasi, Annie Moor and Jimmie Byrd is to be announced.

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

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