NYC Comedy Calendar

Arts & Entertainment

by nycgo.com staff

 
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We all know the famous line "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" A more fitting exclamation, however, might be "Live from New York, it's every single night!" Seven days a week, you can find famous, soon-to-be-famous and hilarious-but-will-never-be-famous comedians performing stand-up, sketch and improv comedy throughout the five boroughs.

The City's burgeoning scene includes traditional comedy clubs like Comic Strip Live, Gotham Comedy Club and Carolines on Broadway; improv and sketch incubators like the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and The PIT (Peoples Improv Theater); and entertaining weekly shows at bars and music venues, including Union Hall and the Knitting Factory. If you'd like to get into the action yourself, some of the City's comedy locales also offer stand-up, sketch and improv classes. For a rundown of some popular recurring comedy events, along with upcoming appearances by headline performers, see below.

Shows
Bayside! The Unmusical!
May 9–19; Kraine Theater 
Grow up watching Saved by the Bell? See this off-off-Broadway show and combine your nostalgia with a healthy helping of the cynicism and sarcasm you’ve developed since then. For more info, visit baysidetheunmusical.com

Adam Carolla
June 14–16; Carolines on Broadway
The former Man Show and Loveline co-host, and the force behind The Adam Carolla Show—the number one daily downloaded podcast in the world according to iTunes—brings his dry, often-controversial act to Carolines on Broadway. For more info, visit carolines.com.

JB Smoove
June 14–17; Carolines on Broadway
JB Smoove plays Leon Black on Curb Your Enthusiasm, has appeared in films including Date Night and Mr. Deeds and is also an accomplished stand-up in his own right. For more info, visit carolines.com.

Aziz Ansari
June 16; Beacon Theater
Aziz Ansari has been everywhere lately, starring in the Emmy-nominated NBC show Parks and Recreation and the big screen comedy 30 Minutes or Less (and braving an awkward set at the Sundance Film Festival). Now Rolling Stone’s “funniest man under 30” takes the stage at Beacon Theater. For more info, visit beacontheatre.com.

John Hodgman hosts The Daily Show’s “Indecision in the Park”
June 20; Central Park 
Daily Show cast and staff perform in this free show, hosted by beloved highbrow New York comedian John Hodgman. For more info, visit summerstage.org

Gilbert Gottfried
June 21; Carolines on Broadway 
Controversial comic Gilbert Gottfried brings his distinctive voice to New York City. His act finishes with a rendition of “The Aristocrats,” more or less universally recognized as the dirtiest joke in history. For more info, visit carolines.com

Hannibal Buress
June 24; Red Hook Park 
This clever comic is a local staple, with a weekly free show in Williamsburg. Today, he takes it outside. For more info, visit summerstage.org

The Upright Citizens Brigade Presents the All-Stars of Improv
July 17, August 19; Central Park 
New York City’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre has been a launching pad for comedians who’ve found themselves working for Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Catch some of the UCB’s most notable alumni at these free improve shows in the park. They haven’t named names, but whoever shows up is sure to be funny. For more info, visit summerstage.org

Judah Friedlander
August 2–5; Carolines on Broadway
Judah Friedlander plays Frank Rossitano on 30 Rock, but he’s also made a name for himself on the comedy circuit—appearing on late-night shows and performing his own acts live (never with the same show twice) as often as possible. For more info, visit carolines.com.

Craig Ferguson
October 6; Radio City Music Hall
The host of The Late Late Show (Scottish-born, but now an American citizen) brings his act to Midtown's famed Radio City Music Hall. For more info, visit bowerypresents.com.

Pretty Good Friends
Sunday, 7:30pm; Union Hall
Eugene Mirman—Brooklynite, bizzaro comic and terrific interview subject—hosts this weekly Union Hall stand-up extravaganza. He's pretty good friends with people like Patton Oswalt and Jim Gaffigan, so you never know who might show up.

ASSSSCAT 3000 
Sunday, 7:30 and 9:30pm; Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
Perhaps the most famous of all NYC improv comedy performances, this show often draws big names like Amy Poehler, Horatio Sanz and others from Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock and The Colbert Report. The 7:30pm performance will set you back $10. If you don't mind waiting in a long line and arriving very early, the 9:30pm show is absolutely free (tickets are distributed at 8:15pm).

Comedy Night with Hannibal Buress
Sunday, 9pm; Knitting Factory
The cerebral Hannibal Buress—successful comic and Saturday Night Live writer—hosts this free weekly stand-up showcase in Williamsburg. Special guests stop by every week, and many of them are famous. Don't bring the kids, though—it's 21-plus.

Whiplash
Monday, 11pm; Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
This free stand-up showcase is hosted by Leo Allen (who's written for Saturday Night Live) and has featured sets from the likes of David Cross and Janeane Garofalo.

Super Free Wednesdays
Wednesday, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11pm; The PIT
Every Wednesday night, the improv comedy shows at The PIT are free to attend. It's a pretty attractive proposition for broke comedy fans.

Death By Roo Roo
Saturday, 9pm; Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater is famous for developing sharp in-house improv teams, and this is one of the most popular. The 9pm Saturday show frequently sells out.

Carolines Stand-up
Every night, Carolines on Broadway
Unlike Comedy Cellar—which offers more of a comedy sampler smorgasbord—most of the marquee shows here focus on one performer, and you can choose whom you'd like to see far in advance. For a full slate of upcoming comedians, visit carolines.com.

Comedy Cellar Stand-up
Every night, Comedy Cellar
Every night of the week, Comedy Cellar hosts shows from a rotating cast of stand-up comedians, many of them well known. The venue is a favorite of Dave Attell, and such headliners as Dave Chappelle and Jerry Seinfeld have been known to drop by from time to time. For up-to-date lineups and showtimes, visit comedycellar.com.

Comic Strip Live Stand-up
Every night, Comic Strip Live
This is another place that hosts big-name acts seven nights a week. Comedians who have graced the Upper East Side venue's stage include Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Drew Carey, Chris Rock and Ellen DeGeneres. For a complete comedy calendar, visit comicstriplive.com.  

Gotham Comedy Club Stand-up
Every night, Gotham Comedy Club
Gotham hosts stand-up shows every night of the week. The bigger names perform headline shows mostly on Friday and Saturday nights. Kids and parents, take note: the venue's occasional "Kids 'n' Comedy" show stars teenage graduates of the venue's classes, and the material is appropriate for ages 9 and up. For the full schedule of funny, visit gothamcomedyclub.com

Laughing Devil Stand-up
Every night; Laughing Devil
This recently opened Long Island City club puts on live shows nightly, often featuring names you may know from television. For more info, visit laughingdevil.com.

Classes
No one can teach you how to be funny, but the experienced instructors at NYC's comedy grounds can help you harness and shape the hilarity buried deep within. Here are links for those who'd like to hone their comedy skills (options include kids' classes—check the official websites and call the venues for details):

Carolines on Broadway
Gotham Comedy Club
Magnet Theater
The PIT
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

(8)

  1. 1
    The World-Famous Comic Strip Live
    1568 Second Ave.
    Manhattan – Upper East Side
    NY 10028
  2. 2
    Gotham Comedy Club
    208 W. 23rd St.
    Manhattan – Chelsea
    NY 10011
  3. 3
    Carolines on Broadway
    1626 Broadway
    Manhattan – Times Square
    NY 10019
  1. 4
    Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
    307 W. 26th St.
    Manhattan – Chelsea
    NY 10011
  2. 5
    Peoples Improv Theater
    123 E 24th St
    Manhattan – multiple locations
    NY
  3. 6
    Union Hall
    702 Union St
    Brooklyn – Park Slope
    NY 11215
  1. 7
    Comedy Cellar
    117 Macdougal St
    Manhattan – West Village
    NY 10012
  2. 8
    Magnet Theater Entertainment
    254 West 29th Street
    New York
    NY 10001

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