How to See Great Comedy in NYC , According to Comedians
New York ’ s comedy picture cost a grave business .The city has serve as the backdrop for classical rom-coms , iconic sitcoms , and , of course one little late-night kind display that ’ s been prattling on since 1975 , launching some of the prominent figure in the biz along the manner . Across society , bar , DIY space , and some truly unexpected venues , this town service as the nation ’ s premier phase for superstars and fledgeling peculiar family alike .
“ New York [ has ] the best comedy fit in the Earth , decidedly , ” tell Gina Yashere , a British ex-pat who made a name for herself on New York ’ s many stage before co-creating the CBS sitcomBob Hearts Abishola. “ People do to New York to become comedians , mass love the art of standup and work hard on create their standup great . Mass pride themselves on the quality of their standup . ”
Like a dark of alive theater , catch a stand-up number , improv show , or even an clear mic dark suffuses us all with a deeper connection to these five disparate boroughs that build up one inimitable whole . Certain , there be universal truths and tropes that comedian revisit again and again , regardless of location . But find a display in New York , and you ’ ll giggle at bits that exactly wouldn ’ t play in Peoria . Take the subway , please . Whether you ’ re the tourist swiping your MetroCard 87 time in a heroic effort to remove the L train , or the beleaguered local waiting in melody behind him , a tight 10 about the highs , lows , woe and whoas of the MTA live boundlessly relatable .
Really findgoodlive comedy , however , can feel intimidating . Hawkers on MacDougal Street and 8th Avenue or , worse yet , Times Square , may taste to rope you into a mediocre lineup with a hefty drink minimum , and some sets can really flop . To separate the side-splitting shows from the entire snoozers , we asked working New York City comedians to fill us in on where you ’ re guarantee a cackle right here in the Big Apple .
More: The Best Show You Can See on Broadway Right Today
Comedy Cellar
West Village
“ I love Comedy Cellar because it ’ s the well of the better , one of the better society in the globe , ” Yashere says , pausing to see if she can recall of a effective society ( she can ’ t ) . “ You become the better comedians , and the Cellar pull in a real immense , eclectic audience from all over the Earth , because of the fame of the club , so it ’ s great to try out out stuff , on not just New Yorkers. ” On any hold night people from the Midwest , New Zealand or Norway may fill the theater , receive distinguish the Cellar from the various TV shows and comedy specials that have shoot in and outside of it . Yashere too observe that it ’ s “ not easy ” to make on stage hither , you need a certain story of experience , meaning witness can always expect a polished , professional floor of comedy .
Littlefield
Gowanus
Still after changing location , this Brooklyn performance space is as popular as always . “ The novel Littlefield seem exactly like the former one ; it ’ sec like a guy who divorces his wife order , ‘ I need person novel , ’ and then marries someone who looks identical to his ex , ” supposeLate Night Wheneverhorde and actor Michelle Buteau . “ It ’ s très cute. ” Buteau recommend see the weekly and monthly display , which all bid a different vibe , as well as the chance to find “ cool drop-ins ” like Jim Gaffigan and “ theBroad Citybitches . ”
The Knitting Factory
Williamsburg
Hannibal Buress launch Comedy at the Knitting Factory in 2008 , “ before he become hella famous , ” Buteau says . These days , the Sunday night gig equal an established darling on the NYC circuit , and get hosted the likes of Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle . Buteau tell the big names build it find “ more like LA than NYC , ” but no matter how long they ’ ve exist in the game , comedian get a flat 15 instant on the mic .
Slipper Room
Lower East Side
The burlesque vibe of the underground theater ( below Pizza Beach ) make Buteau feel like “ Liza Minnelli might slip onto level at any moment. ” An avant-garde ribbon runs through its programming , include classic stand-up performances , one-person show , and Friday ’ s Slipper Room Show , which combines burlesque , circus , magic and grownup mood .
Secret Loft
East Village
“ I hope that I ‘m not spilling any beans here , but I hate to keep this a secret because this venue exist inner , strange , and ever super fun , ” comic ( who , among many credits , runs the very comic parody ) state . “ They mount a bunch of solid standup show , most with free pizza , plus receive assorted burlesque , aerialists , DJs , and more . The producer , owner , brain behind all of it be Alex Neuhausen , and he has created such a low-key , welcoming , super cool spot where everyone flavor like they ‘re in for a real peculiar dark . ”
Ponyboy
Williamsburg
Coppock cost as well very into Horseplay , a weekly show on Monday nights . “ It get unfold into one of the hottest standup show in Brooklyn , ” she says . Lead by local comedian Khalil Walker , who is “ so great at gathering a squad to aid him make , encourage , and execute , ” ticket are free with online RSVP . Food ( homemade Doritos ! ) and legit cocktails ( $ 15 , but beer ass start at $ 5 ) are service all night . Coppock recommends grabbing dinner at a booth in the backroom , so you can equal comfy for the display .
The Jane Hotel
West Village
This is a “ cool space where you would n’t expect to find comedy , ” suppose Jo Firestone , who you may make meet onThe Tonight ShowandHigh Maintenance. Wait a “ real attractive bunch , ” thanks to its proximity to scene-y restaurant and clubs . “ Go for the gag , stay for the audience full of hot masses , ” Firestone say . Currently in residence : , a monthly celebration of dad jokes and more feature a diverse lineup ( not just dads ! ) and a live DJ .
Union Hall
Park Slope
Not to be confuse with Williamsburg hookup destination UnionPool, Buteau advocate this Brooklyn hangout for “ weird , mad , one-off shows. ” The basement , which “ feels like a speakeasy , ” is where she recorded her album : “ Because the room equal humble , it ever feels crowded — a good affair for comedy — and the vibe is unlike every time , ” Buteau say . She also love that lineups hither often include multiple women , even when the show aren ’ t mark specifically as women ’ sec shows .
The Bell House
Gowanus
Buteau says to guess of The Bell House as a “ big , more fun ” version of Union Hall . Two phase host comedy , music , and alternative entertainment — and there ’ s no drink minimum . “ I intend , I ’ m always going to have lots of drinks , ” Buteau say . “ But I appreciate that you ’ re not forcing me . ”
Chelsea
Comedian Lesley Hennen says she ’ s “ obsessed ” with this venue : “ They have real great display seven nights a week and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays you can find firm team compete in four back-to-back hours of improv , for merely $ 7. ” Think you can do better ? Enroll in the Magnet ’ s free one-hour introduction to improv course and then take advantage of some of their participatory display , where brave newbies can get on degree to express off their comedy chops .
Pete ’ s Candy Store
Williamsburg
Hennen recommends this hipster bar-slash-performance venue popular with comics . In peculiar , she ’ s a fan of , hosted by ( New York Comedy Festival ,American Horror Story) , a free monthly stand up show about spirit , dating and live haunt . “ Every month one comedian come pulled from the line up to serve about a time they were haunt or became a specter themself , ” Hennen say . “ This show is ever inclusive and various as hell , boast zero straight , white men on every consecutive line up ! ”
The Creek and the Cave
Long Island City
A Cal-Mex menu and $ 6 beer , plus pinball , lend to the allure of this Queens mainstay . Coppock recommend the $ 5 monthly show Jackknife Comedy and the weekly NYC Talent Show , “ that be really open , experimental , funky. ” Previous performers include big names like Kristen Schaal , Hannibal Buress and Jim Gaffigan . NYC Talent display admission is free ( though a donation of $ 5 be propose ) and the quirky performance assist ease you into Monday morning with pile of laugh .
Caveat
Lower East Side
If traditional joke assure doesn ’ t ever do it for you , match out this downtown theater that Hennen appear to for “ smart comedy shows. ” Expect storytelling , stand-up , sketch , and improv routines . “ Caveat ‘s programming live so unique , imaginative , and smart , ” Coppock echo . “ It ‘s not just an attack of standard standup — they have an assortment of fascinating , often educational , themed display that exist equal share hilarious and edifying . It ‘s a gorgeous space and the staff is top-notch. ” Her darling show right now is Wednesday ’ sec Lasers In the Jungle , a long-running standup and sort display hosted by comedian Katina Corrao , Sean Crespo , and Matt Little . Most shows are exclusively twenty-one and up , and ticket are typically $ 10 ( or free ! ) .
New York Comedy Club
Midtown & East Village
In the city then nice they mention it twice ( sorry ) , two comedy club suffer the same epithet . And comedian Jess Salomon , who perform a couple act with her wife , Eman El-Husseini , loves both New York Comedy Club locations . “ The audiences live up for discover a variety of perspective and styles of comedy , ” she state “ You don ’ t ever find that at clubs. ” She attribute that to the manner the lineups are booked . “ You put on ’ t have , for example , [ a lineup with ] a cluster of one form of male funny and then , a woman ! If you ’ re that woman you can feel a shift in the way , like a disappointed shift , ” she say . Salomon also state that the club operators manage about comedian ’ careers and work to help them glow , which cost as well great for audiences appear to spot the future big comedy stars .
West Village
Appearing with El-Husseini as The El-Salomons , Salomon has hosted a few show hither , and the pair agree that the space is “ hardly build for comedy. ” The Duplexes nearly seventy yr as a performance venue have made it “ a good oiled automobile … and that ’ s not a mention to how sexy and gay it equal , ” Salomon says . “ I enjoy that when the show is do and we all shed out into the bar to drink there ’ s always a drag queen walking around singing and make fun everyone . ”
Q.E.D .
Astoria
Astoria-based comedian andGirl Codeproducer Chelsea White stands by her neighborhood ’ s just comedy venue as a go-to for up-and-coming comedian and institute old-timers . “ Kambri Crews , Q.E.D . ‘s proprietor , is plugged into the comedy scene and super-passionate about further community , ” she says . “ This exist killer entertainment in a laid-back , neighborhood-y environment . ”
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