If you've ever wanted to see the future of comedy—before it gets swallowed up by network deals or a soul-crushing reboot of Friends—head to the Brooklyn Comedy Collective (BCC), where weird is the default setting and “experimental” isn’t a euphemism for “unwatchable.” Located in Williamsburg, BCC is the anti-establishment establishment. It's a training ground, performance space and community hub all rolled into one very loud, very funny package.
BCC's mission is refreshingly unpolished: create fearless, inclusive comedy that doesn’t cater to the industry—because it’s busy creating the next one. Translation: This isn’t where punchlines go to die in a tight five. It's where bold, socially sharp weirdos come to play. And yes, that includes you. With weekly shows ranging from improv and sketch to stand-up and character bits, the vibe skews brilliantly chaotic. Some acts go off the rails. Some become the rails. Either way, it’s never boring.
Classes run year-round and offer more than just your basic “yes and.” Think political satire, clowning, solo performance and courses taught by actual working comedians—not just some guy who once bombed at Carolines. Alumni and regulars have gone on to The Daily Show, Late Night with James Corden, Severence, SNL and many more, and include Sophie Zucker, Dylan Adler, Britt Lower and Chloe Troast. But don’t worry, this place hasn’t gone full sellout. The point is still the process—and the beautiful chaos that comes with it.
BCC isn’t trying to be the next UCB or Second City. It's trying to be the first Brooklyn Comedy Collective. Which is good, because we already have too many institutions that teach you how to make a tight three-minute set about airline food. Come here to get messy, get weird and—most importantly—get on stage.
Check out a show. Take a class. Or just hang out and absorb the confidence of someone performing a one-person musical about existential dread.