Buffalo Comedy: This weekend’s comedy events in WNY can be found here.

(Above: Sam Tallent. Image via @HeliumComedyBUF on X).

By Jason Pomietlasz

This day in history, the Chunnel opened, and while not as impressive as the Buffalo Rail which runs almost the entire length of Main Street, they do have some things in common. They connect things and help transport people to see live comedy. 

Thursday, May 7

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.

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $38.99 – 50.99 

Sarper Guven appeared on 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way, where he cultivated a bad boy image. As a native of Turkey he brings his non-American takes to the stage, ironically some of them are anti-marriage, and other things people not born here find ludicious. 

Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $47.

Jim Norton isn’t afraid to dig into uncomfortable truths and may be one of the most honest comics working at the moment. Norton hosts the podcast ‘Jim Norton Can’t Save You’ and “Sword Fight” which he co-hosts with his wife Nikki.

Friday – Saturday, May 8 – 9

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $20 – 190.99 (Couples package).

Sam Tallent has performed more than 45 weekends per year in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe for the last decade. His debut novel, “Running the Light” is soon to be a major motion picture. Tallent’s latest special “The Toad’s Morale” is free on his website https://www.samtallent.com/. 

Friday, May 8 

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. 

Stand-Up Open Mic night, every second Friday of the month. Comics get five minutes and must sign up here: virtual sign-up sheet for a chance to perform. You can sign up in person but there is no guarantee that you’ll make the list. 9 p.m., tickets $5. 

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

Duet! The Improvised Musical. Annie Moor and Todd Benzin will improvise a one-act musical, weaving together multiple characters and plot lines all while creating lyrics, melodies and choreography. 8:30 p.m., tickets $15 presale or $20 general admission.

Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., downstairs, Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting $18.54.

“That Comedy Show at Babeville,” a monthly showcase of different comics from Buffalo and surrounding areas. The lineup is Trebor Finnegan, Bill Squire, Rachel Daze, John Lockwood, Anthony Sundquist and hosted by Jacob Morrison.

Buffalo RiverWorks, 359 Ganson Street, Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $14.

The Crowd Work Show. Terre King is going to do a lot of talking to the audience, so don’t bring your mistress or manstress.

Electric City, 433 Pearl St., Buffalo, 8 p.m., tickets starting at $52.

Illusionist Leon Etienne has appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” Jimmy Fallon, and Penn & Teller: Etienne’s “Magic Rocks” is an award winning show featuring magic, illusion and comedy. 

Saturday, May 9 

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. 

BCC’s “Script Tease” troupe will improvise an entire movie inspired by audience suggestions. 9 p.m., tickets $18.

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

The Level 2 Student Showcase will show off what they learned followed by “Unicorn Parade,” who will create an improvised play, weaving a narrative tale through one location, and exploring different characters. 7 p.m., tickets $12 presale or $15 general admission. 

“Buffalo Cursebreakers” is an improvised journey through Buffalo’s alternative past and possible future, with the goal being that one day it will create the right scene to break the sports curse on Buffalo. Following that is “Down the Rabbit Hole,” with investigative journalists Joseph Frost, Rocky Colorada, their producer Ellie Wick and a special guest for an improvised chat show about personal encounters with cryptids and conspiracies. 8:30 p.m., tickets $12 presale or $15 general admission.

Santora’s Pizza Pub, 7800 Transit Road, Williamsville. 8 p.m., tickets $27.

Stand Up Comedy presented by Next Stop Comedy. This month’s installment has yet to be announced. 

Ismailia Shriners, 1600 Southwestern Blvd., Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $25. 

Comedy show featuring Rob Lederman and Andy Pitz to benefit the Shriners. Ticket price includes 2 free drink coupons. There will be a cash bar, basket raffles, 50/50 split and snacks are allowed. Call 716-674-8666 for tickets.

Rob’s Playhouse Theater, 3200 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 8 p.m, tickets starting at $28.50.

Jim Florentine has six stand-up albums and four full-length specials. Florentino hosted 7 seasons of VH1 Classic’s “That Metal Show” and currently has his own program on Sirius XM.  His prank phone calls were acted out by Puppets “Crank Yankers”. 

Monday, May 11

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 12

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, May 13

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. 

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 is Bobby Cooke who joins the resident cast of Kevin Di Lucente, Todd Benzin, Don Gervasi, Annie Moor and Jimmie Byrd.

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