The best comedy shows in NYC this month

Once a week, after closing time, 10 people convene at the city’s oldest magic shop, Tannen’s, for a cozy evening of prestidigitation by the young and engaging Noah Levine. The shelves are crammed with quirky devices; there's a file cabinet behind the counter, a mock elephant in the corner and bins of individual trick instructions in plastic covers, like comic books or sheet music. The charm of Levine's show is in how well it fits the environment of this magic-geek chamber of secrets. As he maneuvers cards, eggs, cups and balls with aplomb, he talks shop, larding his patter with tributes to routines like the Stencel Aces and the Vernon Boat Trick—heirlooms of his trade that he gently polishes and displays for our amazement.

If you've ever wondered what it’s like to grow up in the real Lala Land (spoiler: it’s not Los Angeles), Tahaa Kahn is here to give you the unfiltered, hysterical lowdown. With his show Halalarious, the only Pakistani comedian who’s actually lived the full-spectrum, global Desi experience is dishing out laughs hotter than your auntie’s biryani. Born and raised in Pakistan, Tahaa isn’t just another comic with a few immigrant jokes up his sleeve—he’s a walking, talking cultural intersection. He’s lived and worked across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and now the U.S., which basically makes him the comedic equivalent of a diplomatic passport. His comedy is personal, punchy and peppered with enough insight to make you laugh and learn (even if it's against your will). Expect riffs on butter chicken and samosas that are somehow both relatable and revelatory. And while food is on the menu, it’s really just the appetizer—Tahaa's main course is a spicy blend of lived experience, sharp wit and just enough existential reflection to make you text your parents afterward. His jokes are the kind that sneak up on you, make you cackle and then quietly challenge your worldview while you're still wiping tears from your eyes. But here’s the twist: Tahaa doesn’t stop at laughter. He’s also the brain behind Comedy for Good, producing charity shows for UNICEF. Because apparently, he’s not content with just slaying on stage—he’s also out here saving the world one punchline at a time....

And Scene is a half-scripted comedy show where actors and improvisers are paired up to perform scenes together. The actors can only say the words as they come in the script, and the improvisers don't know what play they're in, making for a truly chaotic and hilarious evening. The April 21 show at Caveat boasts a stacked lineup including: Adam Pally (Sonic), Trinity Likins (Riverdale), RJ Brown (13 Reasons Why), Eduardo Ramos (21 Bridges), Maura Day (Long Bright River), Alexandre Bagot (American Horror Story), Brian Morabito (Dropout), Alex Dickson (Last Week Tonight), Alex Cheng (NPR), and Jenny St. Angelo (Ghost Story Club). It's hosted by Mick Szal (Joker). Upcoming shows are on May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, and December 15.   

Returning for its sixth year, the largest and longest running AAPI comedy festival is back with a star-studded lineup that includes Youngmi Mayer, Usama Siddiquee, Charlene Kaye, Sam Oh, Kathleen Kim, Charlene Kaye, Michael Cruzy Kayne, Mic Nguyen, and Peng Dang. It's not just stand-up, either. Comedians will perform improv comedy and even musical comedy. This year's festival will be held at the Asian-owned Sugar Mouse lounge in the St. Mark's neighborhood (47 3rd Ave.) on May 6, 7 and 8. The charity partner for for this year’s event is the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.       

The Boba Gays comedy show is back and "BOBA-IER and GAYER than ever," as event organizers say. Get ready for a night all-Asian excellence in this variety comedy show packed with stand-up, improv, and sketch—all served with a little chaos.  The event on Sunday, May 4 is hosted by NYC comedians Alex Kim and Kenny Park Yi and features Charlene Kaye and Brittany Carney.

Coming off of his award-winning solo show "Connect the Dots," funnyman Natan Badalov will test out new material at Astoria's Tootles & French. The in-progress show will see Badalov try to wrench laughs out of tough subjects like empathy, family dynamics, and the Middle East. The show's on the first Sunday of each month (that's January 5, February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5, November 2, and December 7 in 2025). Tickets cost just $5 plus a one-drink minimum.    

Club Video—a "DIY freak video party" showcasing experimental comedy shorts from 30-plus creators—has moved into new and even bigger digs for its tenth iteration, which will take place at SILO Brooklyn on Wednesday, May 7. Participants, ranging from Adult Swim collaborators to alt-comedy internet darlings to first-time video makers, all have the same prompt: their videos have to be under three minutes and they can’t have been screened anywhere else before. There are no submission fees and no judging panels—just "an exciting and supportive space for innovative and genre-bending work," organizer promise. And make sure to stick around for the afterparty featuring a set by DJ John Swan.

At this live show, two comedians will watch Planet Earth, then you can try and stump them with animal trivia. Each time the hosts get a question wrong, they take a shot. Drunk Planet Earth is hosted by comedians Brian Morabito (Comedy Central) and Stephen Buckley (UCB). Find this delightfully nerdy free show at Caveat on the Lower East Side on Friday, January 24; reserve your ticket here. Upcoming shows are on: April 26, May 24, June 28, and July 26.

German-American actress and comedian Lucie Pohl invites comics born near and far to perform their best immigration-inspired stand-up, storytelling and sketch comedy. Comedians for the Friday, May 2 show at Caveat include Gus Constantellis, Alex Kim, Lissa Lenis, Cansu, Misha Han, and more, plus prizes and games. Comedians represent Colombia, Puerto Rico, Denmark, Turkey, Germany, and more. This month's show raises money for the New Women New Yorkers.

Jenny Hagel, an Emmy-nominated writer-slash-performer for Late Night with Seth Meyers, loves two things: comedy and telling people what to do. In her live show "Jenny Hagel Gives Advice," which is coming to Union Hall for several dates this spring (March 29, April 30, May 17, June 28), she hilariously gets to do both at the same time.  Hagel invites audience members to submit written questions about their relationships, careers and finances, then she and a special guest (the March 29 show will feature Justin Guarini—yes, that Justin Guarini) will give their best and most delightfully unhinged life advice. To humorously cap things off, our host then invites a real-life therapist on stage to either double down on the advice given or instruct the audience to totally ignore everything they heard over the past hour.