The week of July 3-9, 2025

By Jason Pomietlasz

Always remember we revolted against Britain because of taxation without representation and also because they tried to stop colonists from seeing live comedy. 

Thursday, July 3

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. 

Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, 8 p.m.
Open mic comedy on the second floor. Sign-ups at 7 p.m,  Free.

Misuta Chow’s, 521 Main St., Buffalo, 7 p.m., free. 
Comedy and Drag open mic. A new alternative open mic for comics, drag artists, burlesque dancers, magicians, or anything that requires an audience. 

Chautauqua Institution, One Ames Ave., Chautauqua. 8:15 p.m., tickets starting at $25.
It may be a bit of a drive, but I do recommend seeing Roy Wood Jr. at the Chautauqua Institution, which is a jewel of the Southern Tier. Wood Jr. is an Emmy-nominated documentary producer, and had a eight-year stint as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy-winning “The Daily Show” (2015-2023). In 2023, he headlined the White House Correspondents’ Dinner to its highest ratings since 2017 and his fourth stand-up special, “Lonely Flowers,” premiered on Hulu earlier this year. Currently Wood Jr. is the host of ClNN’s “Have I Got News for You,”

Thursday – Saturday, July 3 – 5

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo, tickets $13 – 46.99.
Rod Man comes to Helium for Independence Weekend. Rod Man’s first stand-up experience was in 1995, inspired by Def Comedy Jam, he signed up for “open mic” at Atlanta’s Uptown Comedy Club and has since performed at The World Famous Apollo Theater, The Comedy Store in LA and won season eight of “Last Comic Standing,” 

Friday, July 4

“It’s Fourth of July weekend, or, as I call it, exploding Christmas.”
— Stephen Colbert.

Saturday, July 5

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 decides the winner. 6 p.m., tickets $18. 
• Improv Jam, improvisers of all experience levels are welcome for a $5 bucket jam. Just show up, put your name in the bucket for a chance to perform multiple times. 8:30 p.m.

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $20 presale, $25 at the door or $12 for students or people who need a discount.
“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. 

Sunday, July 6

Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 7 p.m., free.
Sunday comedy at Revolver Records. Along with comedians, there will be live DJ’s and the bar and store will be open.  

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $37.99 – 47.99.
Lavelle Dontae comes to Buffalo for one night. Dontae has been touring the country almost non-stop and posts new content on Instagram and TikTok regularly.

Monday, July 7

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

Tuesday, July 8

Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m. 
Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy open mic. 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. 

Wednesday, July 9 

Milkies, 522 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo. 
Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Sign-ups at 7, show starts at 9ish p.m. Free. 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $13 – 42.99.
You have one chance to see Joe Fenti, a standup comedian based in Boston, which is a cradle for standup. Check out Fenti’s Instagram and Tik Tok (@FentiFriedChicken), where he posts multiple comedy sketches weekly.

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