Buffalo Comedy: Standup and improv aplenty

By Jason Pomietlasz
(Image above: Trevor Noah)

The equinox is coming and if you want bountiful fall crops, do as our ancestors did and go see live comedy. 

Friday – Sunday, Sept 19 – 21

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Tickets $26.99 – 36.99.

Guy Torry will spend his weekend in the cobblestone district. Torry has had a storied career. He made his debut on Def Comedy Jam, then made the leap to the big screen and has worked with Janet Jackson, Tupac and John Singleton. He also may have been one of the first comics to be jacked.

Saturday – Sunday, Sept 20 – 21 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 4 p.m., tickets $13 – 44.99.
Vic Dibitetto will have two afternoon shows at Helium. Dibitetto has created a stable of characters that have earned him over a billion online views. And his humor transfers to the stage as well which is a plus.

Friday, Sept 19 

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. 7:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Paper Team Night. A monthly event (improv mixer) where improvisers are divided into groups to perform a set together for one night only, with different improv styles. Registration is required for those interested in performing. 9:30 p.m., tickets $5. 

www.buffalocomedycollective.com

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 
Improv Collider, several BIH house teams perform different long-form improv styles. 7 p.m., tickets $10 presale or $15 general admission. 

Good Neighbors, a monthly show featuring notable Buffalonians, telling stories which the cast use to craft scenes, with proceeds going to charity. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $13.83. 

The New Friday Mixer, same as Thursday’s mixer, just a later time. 9:30 p.m., tickets $5. 

Magic Beer Bear Cellar, 799 Seneca St., Suite B, Buffalo. 8 p.m., free.
Comedy in the Bear’s Den, six local comics will perform in the heart of Larkinville for free. 

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, 310 4th St Niagara Falls. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $90.
Trevor Noah took over for John Stewart as host of “The Daily Show,” which is like taking over for Tom Brady but Noah established himself, won an Emmy and quietly became one most successful comedians in the world. 

Kenan Center, 433 Locust St., Lockport. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $16.30.
Kenan After Dark. Lockport’s stand up comedy show with local comedians, a bar, and a free drink with each ticket. Hosted by Nicky Spin and features local comedians Tyrone Maclin, Brian Brady, and Rick Matthews.

Saturday, Sept 20

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. 6 p.m., tickets $18. 

Improv Royale, a competition based format with three improv teams performing sets for an audience of judges, who will vote for who they think should make it to the next round. 8:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 
“Three Little Chairs” a musical improv team from New York City featuring Kathleen Armenti, Curry Whitmire and Annie. The songs, characters, dialogue will all be made up on the spot. 7 p.m., tickets start at $20. 

“Musical Improv Mixer,” sign-up to try musical improv, maybe for the first time. You will be paired with a fellow improviser and the scene will lead into song, facilitated by the host. 8:30 p.m., tickets $10.

Cagematch (New Night). 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. 10 p.m., tickets $8 presale, $10 general admission. 

Rob’s Playhouse Theater, 3200 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 7:30 p.m, tickets starting at $23.50.
John Valby, “Dr. Dirty” brings his raunchy but catchy songs to Rob’s. No one will judge you for singing along with the local legend as he belts out tunes you wouldn’t sing in front of your grandmother, I’m assuming. 

Sunday, Sept 21

Keybank Center, 1 Seymour H Knox III Plaza, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets starting at $51.
Adam Sandler: You’re My Best Friend Tour. It’s hard to hate Adam Sandler even if you’re not a fan. He’s just a regular guy who likes to play basketball with the boys and sing funny songs. Ever since he joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1990, he’s been making people laugh and taking names. And timing words with Hanukkah isn’t easy.

Monday, Sept 22

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, Sept 23

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, 7:30 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. 

Third Space Cafe & Entertainment, 777 Main St., Buffalo, 6:30 p.m.
The Early Bird Comedy Open Mic. Brand new open mic hosted by Brody Walsh and Connor Mink. Signups start at 5:30 p.m. Free.

Wednesday, Sept 24

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. 

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.

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