Buffalo Comedy: The Comedy Buzz is your go-to guide for local, national and international comedy alike coming to the Queen City

(Above: Roy Wood Jr. in Conan (2010). Image via IMDB.com)

By Jason Pomietlasz

On this day in 1813, the U.S. Navy defeated the British in The Battle of Lake Erie, one of the biggest naval battles of the War of 1812, and kept the lake in American hands. Although the British probably would have had the decorum not to rename the Lake. They say if you go to the shore and listen closely, you can hear a voice say “attend a humorous outing.” Different time period but you get the point. 

Thursday, Sept 10

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.

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $5.

Open Mic comedy at the BCC. For seasoned performers or first-timers. Performers get 5 minute sets. Spots are limited and it’s first come, first serve. Sign-ups at 7 p.m.

Fallsview Casino, 6380 Fallsview Blvd. Niagara Falls, Ont.. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $92.

Jeff Dunham brings his “Artificial Intelligence” Tour back to the Fallsview Casino. Dunham’s act has been described as Jim Henson meets Don Rickles, which may be a tad generous but he is a master ventriloquist and has found success using puppets. He has the distinction of being “Billboard’s Top Comedy Tour” for three consecutive years, “America’s Favorite Comedian” via Slate and holds the Guinness World Record for “Most tickets sold for a stand-up comedy tour.” Some people just like puppets who say borderline offensive things. 

Thursday – Saturday, Sept 10 – 12

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $40 – 197. 

Akaash Singh has appeared on MTV’s “Guy Code” and “Wild’n Out,” Netflix’s “Brown Nation,” and HBO’s “The Leftovers.” Singh’s podcast “Flagrant” is available on Spotify and iTunes. He self-produced and directed his first stand up special, “Bring Back Apu” which is free on YouTube, and one month later, he released “The Crowdwork Special,” also free on YouTube. 

Friday, Sept 11

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 p.m., tickets $18. 

BCC’s long form house team “Yin Yang Necklace” will take you back to the 90s with unscripted scenes and characters based entirely on audience suggestions which may be related to the 1990s or not. 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. 

Teams “Bedelia” and “Hannah Montana” will perform their own style of long form improv. 7:30 p.m., tickets $12 presale or $15 general admission. 

Open mic comedy. Try out new material or sharpen existing jokes. Sign-up and go up for a 5 minute slot. 9 p.m., tickets $7. 

Taylor Theater at the Kenan Center, 433 Locust St., Lockport. 8 p.m., tickets $33.

Shaun Murphy headlines the first Kenan After Dark Comedy Series of the season. Murphy is originally from Buffalo and now living in NYC and has a self-deprecating style that plays off his appearance but belies sharp punchlines. Local comic Brian Brady will open the show.

Saturday, Sept 12 

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. 

The Widow Daredevil: Stage Performance. Rich Talarico, former Key & Peele Writer, brings his script to the stage about a 63-year old charm school teacher’s life takes an unexpected financial downturn, she attempts to reverse her fortunes by becoming a daredevil, inadvertently igniting a movement among her students that leads to women’s suffrage. 9 p.m., tickets $15.

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

“Partners in Crime” is a monthly mix-em up team featuring BIH students and community members who will perform a montage, followed by “Unicorn Parade,” that will perform a one-act improvised play that takes place in a single location. 7 p.m., tickets $12 presale or $15 general admission. 

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 Lorena James, raising money for the Buffalo Shapers. 8:30 p.m., tickets at multiple prices. 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 4 p.m., tickets $13 – 207.

Viral video star Troy Hawke brings his “Never Stop, Never Change,” Tour and his smoking jacket standup character to the Cobblestone district.

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, 310 4th St Niagara Falls. 6 & 9 p.m., tickets starting at $60. 

Roy Wood Jr. is an Emmy-nominated producer and WGA-nominated writer. He was a correspondent on The Daily Show for eight years and headlined the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2023. Wood’s latest stand-up special, “Lonely Flowers,” is available on Hulu and currently hosts CNN’s “Have I Got News for You,”

Monday, Sept 14

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, Sept 15

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. 

Sweets Lounge, 2 Schreck Ave., Buffalo.

Comedy open mic hosted by Mingo and Erica Aceti, who promise good vibes. Sign-ups at 8:45, show at 9:15. Free. 

Wednesday, Sept 16

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. 4 p.m., tickets $42 – 86.

Jane Don’t, a breakout star of RuPaul’s Drag Race, will bring drag numbers, lots of audience interaction and unplanned moments to the stage. 

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