New York Shows - The Second City

Friendly’s is an all-queer standup show hosted by (the very friendly) Max Higgins and (the too anxious to be friendly) Carson Olshansky. It’s a show for people who want to laugh without having to be afraid that anyone’s going to, like, use the R-word or make a dismissive pronouns joke.

Join us for a free book signing event with Paul Myers and his new book, John Candy: A Life in Comedy! Books are available at the event for purchase.

Stay for SaltPepperKetchup: Improv All the Way at 7pm to continue the celebration! Use code CANDY5 for $5 off

About the book:
From the bestselling author of Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy, the definitive biography of John Candy—a heartwarming portrait of one of comedy’s most beloved and enduring stars.

From his humble beginnings in sketch comedy with the Toronto branch of Second City, to his rise to fame in SCTV and Hollywood film classics like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck, John Candy captivated audiences with his self-deprecating humour, emotional warmth, and gift for improvisation. Now, for the first time since Candy’s tragic death, bestselling biographer Paul Myers tells the full story of the man behind the laughs.

Drawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews with many of Candy’s closest friends and colleagues, including Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, and many more, John Candy: A Life in Comedy celebrates the comedian’s unparalleled talent, infectious charm, and generosity of spirit. Through ups and downs, successes and failures, and struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, Candy faced the world with a big smile and a warm demeanor that earned him the love and adoration of fans around the world.

About the Author:

PAUL MYERS is a Canadian writer and musician living in Berkeley, California. His previous books include The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy, which was the source for the Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy from Amazon Studios, and the critically acclaimed A Wizard a True Star: Todd Rundgren in the Studio, It Ain’t Easy: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues, and Barenaked Ladies: Public Stunts, Private Stories.

Event in partnership with McNally Jackson Books and House of Anasi Press.

Improv, music, storytelling and more!  Come celebrate Filipinx American History Month at The Second City NY.  Bangarang!

Bone-chilling comedy straight from hell! Led by Colin Prato & Spenser Willden, feat. characters by Sarah Marksteiner, clown by Eddie Tarr, and musical accompaniment from Nick Prato. A THRILLING evening of terrifying comedy!

The NY Neo-Futurists are cranking up the chaos with The Infinite Wrench Hits the Mainstage! Usually packed into our scrappy late-night slot in the Blackbox, this special edition explodes onto the bigger stage with bigger laughs, more mayhem, and the same anything-can-happen energy. In just sixty minutes, the ensemble races through thirty original plays—some hilarious, some heartfelt, some absurd, some musical, and some over before you know it. No fourth wall, no pretense—just honest, immediate, high-octane theater colliding with the audience at full speed. Every play is inspired by the lived experiences of the performers, making each performance brand new, unrepeatable, and completely eclectic.

Deborah is the black sheep of the Oz witch population. Magically challenged and morally complicated, her only real skills are pulling bunnies out of hats and guessing what number you’re thinking of. All she wants is to belong. But when she gets accidentally caught in a flying monkey orgy and transported to the magical land of New York City, she learns that home isn’t always where the heart is.

Dusted Company brings its wildly successful show to New York City. This is a stand up comedy show although the producer Mark Serritella made it all the way up to Level 2 (maybe 3) at The Second City in Hollywood. Featuring: Chris Distefano
Sarah Cooper
Neal Brennan
Jon Rudnitsky
Natalie Cuomo
Dan LaMorte
Mark Serritella
Alex Akins

Dusted Company brings its wildly successful show to New York City. This is a stand up comedy show although the producer Mark Serritella made it all the way up to Level 2 (maybe 3) at The Second City in Hollywood. Featuring: Neal Brennan Todd Barry
Sienna Hubert-Ross
Dan St Germain
Josh Adam Meyers
Mark Serritella
Alex Akins

Rachel Troy has a baby inside of her. But she’s not pregnant. It’s her, she’s the baby. BABY is a clown tragicomedy about the inner child, attachment theory, and therapy. Performed by a real-life therapist… Clever, yet totally stupid, this show is an absurd psychological carousel with fun audience interactions, and theatrical, comedic, and poignant surprises at every turn! BABY won Top of Fringe, Best World Premiere, and was nominated for Best Comedy at the 2024 Hollywood Fringe Festival and is thrilled to be making her New York Debut at Second City. Come see what audiences are calling “actually genuis, genre-breaking, fierce, and fucking hilarious!” Content Warning: Brief Partial Nudity

Bluebird is a collective of some of the best improvisers on the planet.

The show is inspired by a short conversation with audience members and what follows is an evening of never before (and never again) scenes and characters that cascade into a hilarious and original freewheeling show.

Sugar Sammy is one of the hottest comedians on the international circuit. The New York Times calls him “A fearless comic with a talent for provoking both laughter and outrage”. He has performed over 2,300 shows in 32 countries.

“Fluent in Funny” as the Washington Post describes him, he hits on cultural, social and political themes with great charm and finesse. He is a master of crowd work and audience interaction.

Sugar Sammy’s international TV credits include specials broadcast on HBO Canada, Comedy Central Asia, Comedy Central India, CTV, The Comedy Network, The Comedy Channel, Dutch TV and Showtime Arabia.

A television star on both sides of the pond, his accomplishments include his current role as judge on La France a un Incroyable talent, France’s version of America’s Got Talent.
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“A fearless comic with a talent for provoking both laughter and outrage.”
– New York Times

“Fluent in Funny”
– Washington Post

“Sugar Sammy is a provocateur”
– The Guardian

“The funniest man in France is a Quebecer”
“Le plus drôle des Français est québécois”
– GQ France

“Master of the punchline, rhythm and improv”
“Virtuose de la punchline, du rythme et de l’impro”
– Télérama

“Comedy’s new rock star”
“La nouvelle rock star de l’humour”
– Quotidien

Street Talk Comedy is back with our 5th annual Halloween Comedy Show/Costume After Party Hosted by Max Manticof and JC Mendoza. With some of the funniest comics in the country, DJ Diax on the keys, and an after party you can’t forget, don’t get left out. See you at the hottest comedy show of the year, NYC.

The witches are back—and they’re a lot gayer than you remember.

Hailed by Playbill as “a drag spectacle like no other” and praised by Out Magazine for “reinventing queer nightlife theater,” Fagtasia now takes on Oz with its most ambitious production yet. Wicked (Part 1) brings Glinda and Elphaba’s undeniably sapphic bond center stage—expect Broadway-level choreography, dazzling costuming, and a cast of superstars turning Emerald City into a glitter-soaked queer utopia.

For the first time ever, Fagtasia comes to a brand-new venue with a fully seated show: immersive theatrical box seating, cocktails & food delivered straight to your seat, and copious air conditioning (thank Oz). Whether you’re a die-hard Wicked stan or just here for the camp chaos, this first installment of Wicked the Fagtasia way will leave you cackling louder than Elphaba on a broomstick.

✨ Drag. Theater. Queer magic. ✨

A Vietnamese Veterans Day Comedy Show coheadlined by Will Pepper and Vic Van Tran.

Vic Van Tran is a stand up comedian from Houston who abandoned his loved ones to pursue a pipe dream in New York. Victor is a regular at New York Comedy Club and tours opening for Ronny Chieng. Victor’s performed on festivals such as Skankfest, SXSW, Limestone Comedy Festival, and New York Comedy Festival.

Will Pepper is a Vietnamese American comedian based in Los Angeles whose sharp storytelling and offbeat observations make audiences feel like they’re catching up with an old friend—one who’s just a little too honest. A recurring character on the popular Uncle Roger Show (with over 10 million views), he’s toured with Jason Cheny and Jimmy O. Yang, and performed at the Los Angeles Comedy Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

This is not a regular comedy show. A night of throwback R&B vibes & stand-up comedy.

Stand-up from NYC’s funniest comics.

Live R&B medley you’ll want to sing along to.

Nostalgia. Laughs. Vibes.

Songs N Scenes is a vibrant collision of live music and unscripted theater—a uniquely immersive show where no two nights are the same. Each performance begins with an original song from a featured guest musician. From there, a cast of top-tier improvisers spins scenes inspired by the mood, themes, lyrics, or energy of the song. As the evening unfolds, songs and scenes weave together in unexpected ways, creating a one-night-only tapestry of comedy, storytelling, and musical spontaneity. It’s a joyful, emotional, and unpredictable ride—equal parts concert, improv jam, and theatrical experiment.

MONTESSORI BOY is a Brooklyn-based sketch comedy group consisting of best friends JULIA TESMOND, DIEGO ABRAHAM, and JT TSUCHIYA. Their sketches have amassed over 11 million views across TikTok and Instagram and have been featured in Vulture for their sketch ‘JT DOES A GOOD DEED’. MONTESSORI BOY’s live shows can be seen in venues all around New York, where they combine their unique blend of live sketch, filmed shorts, and heinous sensibility.

Montessori Boy is a Brooklyn-based sketch comedy group consisting of best friends Julia Tesmond, Diego Abraham, and JT Tsuchiya. Their sketches have amassed over 20 million views across Tiktok, Instagram, and the website formerly known as Twitter. They have over 100k followers across platforms and have been featured in Vulture.

A trans-led, topical comedy news show for Gen Z hosted by Ella Yurman, tackling politics from a queer, leftist perspective.

Take a deep, wet, dive into comedian, performer, pop-star and overall icon, Marley Gotterer’s Mind. Have you heard of Ms. Frizzle? Yeah, that was based on Marley. She’ll take you on a journey of laughter. A journey of ooo’s and aaaah’s. Some may find it disturbing in her mind, others may find it just oh so funny. Come watch the most famous comedians & clowns in the world play games, show their asses & get a little freaky & deranged.

Marley Gotterer is a multifaceted creative who has written and directed videos for Cardi B, Hozier, King Princess, AriZona Iced Tea, Ava Max, Shygirl, Hayley Kiyoko, OLIPOP, Lady Gaga and many, many more pop stars known to gay people. Marley specializes in comedy and how it can be used to make hard-to-chew narratives palatable–mixing the absurd and spectacle with grounded narratives. Cultivating community is an imperative part of Marley’s work.

A huge, exciting, experimental monster of a comedy show, BoogieManja delivers an hour of fantastic sketch and character comedy from some of the sharpest writers and performers in NYC. Each week features two of eight stellar teams, each with their own voice and comedy style; no two nights are ever the same. Expect bold ideas, wild characters, and unpredictable laughs—BoogieManja is fresh, experimental, and funny.

Second City alums and professional sketch comedians and improvisers John Randall, Lisa Albano, Miranda Rozas, Colin Rourke, and Winnie Stack present Perhaps, Perhaps—an hour-long comedic play set in a nursing home. With heart and humor, the show explores the dynamics of life’s final chapter, blending sharp wit and poignant moments to tackle themes of aging, mortality, and the relationships that define our last days.

¡Acompaña a Chente Ydrach, el renombrado comediante, actor e influencer, en su regreso al escenario después de una pausa de cinco años! Conocido por su estilo único de contar historias y su perspectiva hiper-personal, Chente compartirá sus más recientes aventuras profesionales y personales, brindando risas y entretenimiento como nunca antes. Con una trayectoria de espectáculos agotados en EE. UU. y Puerto Rico, esta gira es imperdible. Prepárate para una noche inolvidable con Chente Ydrach.

Join Chente Ydrach, the acclaimed comedian, actor, and influencer, as he returns to the stage after a five-year hiatus! Known for his unique storytelling style and hyper-personal perspective, Chente will share his latest professional and personal adventures, delivering laughs and entertainment like never before. With a track record of sold-out shows across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, this tour is a must-see. Get ready for an unforgettable night with Chente Ydrach.

Harmonic mammal and local wizard, Jooby, seeks to enchant and delight.
By harnessing the audience’s power, new spells will be created, old bonds will shatter, and someone’s bed will get wet.

Bring your most loathed object and your most supple mind.

Created by Julian Hernandez.

Todd Glass: The Event of a Lifetime, at its core, is a stand-up comedy show.

But, this one is backed by a 7 piece band, made up of talented musicians and skilled improvisers.

As the audience waits in line, a saxophone player entertains them changing the whole mood of the entire block and foreshadowing what is to come.

When the doors open, the crowd enters a dark, dimly lit space reminiscent of a swanky jazz club with cocktail tables draped in black to the floor and the band already playing on stage as they take their seats.

The result is a show the Los Angeles Times called “A masterclass in elevating stand up comedy.”

And now over 25 of today’s best comedy minds have lent their names to this show, because they would like to invite you to experience “Todd Glass: The Event Of A Lifetime”

The writers from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert put away their pens and improvise for you. (They do not actually use pens at work but you know what I mean)

HUMPD is a monthly show hosted by Jordan Carlos and Olivia Levine featuring New York City’s best comedians with a healthy dose of sex chit chat! Each show culminates in an interview and Q + A with a guest who works in the sex and intimacy realm, be it a dominatrix, a sex therapist, an intimacy coordinator, a kink expert, a doula…the list goes on! In short, expect anyone in the business of getting us over the aforementioned “HUMP(D)…”

Jordan Carlos is known for his unforgettable appearances on Netflix, Comedy Central, BET, and more. and co-hosting the hit podcast Adulting with Michelle Buteau – he’s no stranger to making audiences laugh while making them think. Olivia Levine is a NY based comedian, actor and writer. She hosts a monthly queer standup show called STRAPPED at the Stonewall Inn, and recently took her hit solo show UNSTUCK to the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Catch the inaugural Second City New York House Company, made up of NYC’s fiercest, funniest rising stars, making comedy magic on the spot with a fully improvised show every Wednesday in the Blackbox.

Chimp Cocktail is composed of the most brilliant sketch comedy minds of the post-World War II, pre-World War III generation. Every month, these courageous morons join forces to come up with one full hour of outrageous hahas. Whether you’ve been experiencing fever dreams or you would like to experience one for the first time, Chimp Cocktail is an absurd response to our absurd times. No two shows are alike, but every show will feature a monkey, and that’s a promise.

Comedy Tonight is a mix of all things comedy. Variety show feat Stand-up, characters, clowns? You never know what could happen at Comedy Tonight!

Enjoy a night of spooky shorts at FIFF’s next screening! Fuck It Film Fest was born from the idea of just getting out there and shooting something. Do you ever think to yourself, I want to make a short film? FIFF was created to give filmmakers the opportunity to throw a project together in 30 days! The film community can be too precious with our projects. Fuck It is an outlet to share your work in it’s various imperfect forms and celebrate the act of simply creating. So what is FIFF? Think 48 hour Film Project meets underground comedy shows. We encourage creators to make their short within a month of its screening with whatever camera, crew, friends, and time they already have. Often we have shorts that are shot and edited within a week of the screening and the directors love it! The idea of the screening is to force creatives to get out of their head, embrace the “fuck it” of it all, and just make something!

The World’s Best Hip-Hop Improv Comedy Show
“If you can’t decide between going to a comedy show and going to a party, these guys have you covered both ways”- TIMEOUTNY

With a cast of improv comedy veterans in New York City, North Coast’s explosive performances have been packing comedy venues, universities, and festivals nationwide since 2009. Built around a single suggestion from an audience member, the show’s improvised scenes escalate into full-blown hip-hop songs, facilitated by resident beatboxer, Doctor Brick.

With their seamless melding of comedic timing and freestyle rapping abilities, North Coast frequently blurs the line between comedy show and concert, drawing audiences from the comedy, hip-hop, and theater communities for an experience that has been hailed as “mind-blowing” and “next level” by critics and audiences alike.

“A lot of shows proclaim, ‘You’ve never seen anything quite like it.’ In North Coast’s case, that is actually true.”-THE VILLAGE VOICE

“If you get a chance to see North Coast, see North Coast!” – The Portland Mercury

Featuring: RJ Williams, Mel Rubin, Luke Miller, Stephanie Rae, Raquel Palmas, Douglas Widick, Billy Soco, Adam Payne, and Dr. Brick

Chicken Big presents a genre bending and defining work of air and space. Come see the dazzling stylings of an act Simon Cowell called “actually funny” and that Sofia Vergara absolutely hated.

One Wig. Six Performers. One Champion.

It’s NorthWest Ohio’s most talked about event since they began construction on the Memorial Jerry Springer Auditorium- The Wig Pageant Variety
Hour is back and bigger! Hosted by Daytime Emmy Nominated Actor Vince Michael LaFontaine and his semi-polyamorous partner, former Miss Burning River Cleveland Ohio 1984, Miss Charrels Mayhew Millér-LaFontaine, six character actors compete in hopes of being crowned the winner of the Wig Pageant. Each performer is given the same wig and a 5 minute set to perform a piece as the character they have developed with the wig. At the end of the pageant, the audience chooses the winner of this month’s pageant, sending them to the Grand Finale later this year. It’s a Miss America Pageant meets a John Waters film meets a QVC commercial- musical numbers, sponsored commercials, glitz, glam, trash, and a whole lot of CHARACTER ACTING!

Stand Up Comedy show hosted by Marie Faustin, Aminah Imani & Sydnee Washington

The girls are back in Williamsburg once a month with some of their favorite comedians in NYC. Catch them while you can, cause they are booked & busy! Tickets are $10.00 presale and $15.00 at the door.

Gianmarco Soresi shares his new material and funny cast of special guest comedians at The Second City in NYC.

Yerrrlywood, Producedby LeniPenny, is a hit show at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles that features the best comedians from the east coast. Now coming to its hometown NYC with the best east coast comics.

No puedes perderte esta divertida noche llena de risas en el debut de Poly Diaz en The Second City. Su romantico y acido estilo de comedia, hechizó audiencias en su más reciente tour, Romántica, y ahora es su momento de enamorar a la Gran Manzana. Así que agenda la fecha para esta aparición mensual porque no puedes faltar, con Poly como host y muchos invitados espectaculares que te haran pasar una noche inolvidable de comedia en español.

Sobre Poly Diaz: Comediante de stand up, locutora y actriz. Originaria de Venezuela, Poly inició su carrera en la comedia en los escenarios de la Ciudad de México hace 6 años. Su último show the stand up, Romántica, viajó por más de 45 ciudades en Latinoamérica, Europa y los Estados Unidos.

Get ready for a night full of laughter and fun as Poly Diaz makes her Second City Theater debut! Audiences fell in love with Poly’sRománticatyle and sharp sense of humor during her latest tour, “Romántica,” and now it’s The Big Apple’s turn. So, mark your calendars for the monthly Spanish language show that you definitely don’t want to miss. Poly will host the show (en español, of course), and perform along with her special guests .

About Poly Diaz:
Stand up Comedian, broadcaster, and actress. Originally from Venezuela, Poly began her comedy career participating in open-mics when she moved to Mexico City 6 years ago. Her latest one woman show called “Romántica” toured more than 45 cities in Latin America, Europe and The US.

An overly proud latine improv show starring Taylor Gonzalez & Julian Hernandez. Featuring special guests and cumbias spun by dj plantpapi. havanaclub.nyc

The Infinite Wrench is a dynamic, mind-bending barrage of 30 original plays that the NY Neo-Futurists try to perform within a single hour. Each play offers something different, be it funny, profound, elegant, disgusting, topical, irrelevant, terrifying, or a song. All are truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired by the lived experiences of the performers. With new plays and new combinations of plays every performance, The Infinite Wrench is the Neo-Futurists’ ongoing and ever-changing attempt to shift the conventions of live performance and challenge the fourth wall head-on.

Check out our Halloween special show: The Infinite Fright
or
Check out our mainstage show: THE INFINITE WRENCH

Mark & Lisa and Friends is an absurd theatrical clown show about an Armenian immigrant’s quest for love and acceptance with his mischievous real life doll girlfriend, Lisa. Created and performed by Maarit Hara & Marina Gasparyan. Featuring Jared Bronen, Alex Guaglianone, Margaret Burrus, and Samantha Mellina!