Plus comedy events for Feb. 26-March 5, 2025

By Jason Pomietlasz

Fusion in cuisine combines elements of different culinary styles to produce something innovative and that’s what The Road Less Traveled Theater does with their “Unscripted” series, combining grounded theater with improv comedy. 

Starting this Wednesday and running through May, the resident cast and a special guest artist will perform a completely improvised two-act play using the set of whatever play is currently running at RLTP every Wednesday evening.  

The idea of improvising an entire play was invented by the improv troupe “Stolen Houses,” but Kevin Di Lucente brought it to RLTP. Di Lucente has been performing improv since high school and has trained at the Second City Conservatory and Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City, to name a few. 

Resident cast members include Di Lucente, Annie Moor, Meghan Joyce, Don Gervasi, Todd Benzin and Jimmie Byrd, who combined have over 60 years improv experience. Visit www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org for the full schedule and line-up of guests. 

The theater scene has always been strong in Buffalo but the improv scene is on the rise. I asked Di Lucente what is Buffalo’s improv scene compared to what it was when he started improv. 

“Having been around for a minute, I can tell you that Buffalo is currently experiencing its best era of improv yet. The Buffalo Comedy Collective and the Buffalo Improv House are doing good things to create homes for improvisers. 

“Previously, there has never really been a scene like there was in many other cities. I used to spend a lot of time in Toronto just to be around a scene that was seemingly lacking in Buffalo. Things are different now and hopefully keep improving as more people catch the improv bug and fill up classes and shows at the local theaters.”

I feel being able to improv a play, doing it well at least, is an ability that should be more regarded in society, and Di Lucente said, “Life is improv! I’m improvising all day everyday.

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The month of March originally got its name from people marching to see live comedy.

Wednesday, February 26

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, using the set of the current play running at the RLTP. 

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

Buffalo Comedysportz, 155 Chandler St., Buffalo, 7 p.m. Tickets $10. 
BCC’s shortform roster will perform a game-oriented show led by their instructor. Visit www.buffalocomedycollective.com for further details.  

Hartman’s Distilling Company, 55 Chicago St., Buffalo, 8 p.m., free.
Comedy Night at the Distilling Co., five local comics perform for free. 

Thursday, February 27

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 7:15 p.m., 7:30 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. 

Asbury Hall at Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, 8 p.m., tickets starting $43.
Gary Gulman brings his “Misfit” tour and 25 years of comedy experience to Buffalo. Gulman’s fifth special, “Born on 3rd Base,” recently premiered on MAX and his memoir “Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the ’80s,” based on his life from Kindergarten through twelfth grade, was released in 2023.

Thursday – Saturday, February 27 – March 1

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Tickets $13 – $48.99.
Steph Tolev, winner of the Canadian Comedy Award for “Best Female Stand-Up,” will perform five shows this weekend. Tolev has appeared at “Just For Laughs Comedy Festival” in Montreal,  recently filmed her first half-hour stand-up special for season two of “Unprotected Sets,” and can be seen in Amazon’s “Please Understand Me.”

Saturday, March 1 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets starting at $12. 
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.

Rob’s Playhouse Theater, 3200 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $15.
Dan Altano is a New York City-based comic and performs all over the U.S. with his observational style of humor.  

Monday, March 3

Tudor Lounge, 335 Franklin Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m. 
Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Sign-ups at 8. 

Tuesday, March 4

Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m. 
Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy open mic. Free. Stop in and see the newly renovated Nietzsche’s and stay for the comedy.

Steel Leaf Brewing, 1488 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Open Mic Night, a mixed open mic for music, comedy and poetry. Sign-ups 6:30 p.m. Free. 

Wednesday, March 5

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

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.