
Comedy in Portland
Check out plenty of in-demand comedians in a classic format for sidesplitting humor — live and in person.
Eric Gold
From stand-up comedy to improv comedy to sketch comedy Portland has any kind of comedy you may be looking for. Portland is known as the place up-and-coming comedians can cut their teeth and boasts many stages to bring you fresh, and very funny comedians, with plentiful open mic nights across the city to choose from, along with hilarious annual comedy festivals. There’s always something funny happening in Portland. Read on to learn more about the city’s vibrant comedy scene, then check out our events calendar to discover even more things to do on your next trip to Portland.
Helium
In the Central Eastside district, Helium delivers big-name talent like Saturday Night Live alumni Kevin Nealon and Jon Lovitz, other comedians you’ve seen on TV like Whitney Cummings, Chelsea Peretti, Patton Oswalt, Marc Maron, Neal Brennan, Nicole Byer, and many others. The venue, which features two full bars in addition to the main showroom, is known for its intimate setting. (Spectators are no more than 60 feet from performers.) No wonder Helium cultivates a respectful audience that is often rewarded with post-show meet-and-greets with the comics.
More Fun & Laughs
Free Live Music and Comedy in Portland
Discover a new favorite comic or musician at Portland's free concerts and comedy nights, scattered across the city and scheduled throughout the week.
Live Wire Radio
Enjoy original comedy, local music and captivating interviews at live tapings of this weekly variety show.
Children’s Theater
Portland's children's theater companies introduce kids to live theater and teaches them people in costumes are fun, not scary.
Kickstand Comedy
Nonprofit Kickstand Comedy got its start in the basement of a bike shop, then spent some time tucked above the Siren Theater before taking over the former home of the Brody Theater in 2019. Recognized by Paste Magazine as one of the “Country’s Best Improv Theaters,” Kickstand produces all-ages, community-based shows, flagship weekend showcases, community events and comedy classes.
ComedySportz
Looking to participate? Head to ComedySportz in Northwest Portland, which has been a longtime favorite of local comedy-lovers.
Curious Comedy Theater
The not-for-profit, volunteer-managed Curious Comedy Theater in Northeast Portland hosts community events to “improve the lives of kids, adults and seniors through the art of comedy.”




Funhouse Lounge
Head to Southeast Portland and you’ll find Funhouse Lounge, where cocktails, comedy, theater and improv converge against a background of clown-themed decor.
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Upcoming Comedy Shows
Get your laugh on with these upcoming comedy acts in Portland.

Ha Ha Harvest Comedy Festival
The Ha Ha Harvest Comedy Festival, originally conceived in 2018 as a fleeting comedy extravaganza during the Thanksgiving weekend, has since evolved into a premier showcase of comedic talent. With its annual growth in stature and allure, the festival has become a beloved highlight of the Portland comedy scene. It features an impressive lineup of…

Painting with Comedians – with Adam Pasi
Eat, drink, paint and laugh with Adam Pasi, winner of Portland's Funniest Person 2019. Grab a drink and be guided through your very own painting with hilarious company. The evening will include paint instruction, standup, interaction with Adam as you paint, incredible food and drinks (available for purchase), and unpredictable absurdity in a cool, new…

Trivia at the 4th Wall
By popular demand, 4th Wall is DOUBLING UP on Trivia, which means you can flex that nerd knowledge twice a week *Hawthorne's Hottest Trivia* now happens on Tuesdays AND Thursdays. Celebrate this spooky season with so much trivia you'll SCREAM. This month, they've got a KILLER lineup. Check it out: Check out this lineup: 9/26…

Aparna Nancherla
Despite being shy and modest (her actual words), Aparna Nancherla has a lot to say. So much so that she wrote a whole dang book about how shy and modest she is. But that wasn't enough for her. Oh no, no, no. When asked to do a book tour, she said, "Actually, what if I…

Bangerz Comedy
Portland comics Bjorn RG and Eliza Butler host this weekly show at Neighbors Taproom with curated lineups of local and nationally touring comedians. 21+

Melissa Villaseñor
Melissa Villaseñor broke barriers by becoming the first-ever Latina cast member of Saturday Night Live. A comedic impressions expert, she started as a semifinalist on America’s Got Talent. Some of Melissa’s most memorable impressions include Owen Wilson, Lady Gaga, and Dolly Parton. An accomplished voice actor, she has been part of films such as Toy…

Fortune Feimster
You can catch stand-up comedian, writer, and actor Fortune Feimster, on the radio, on screens both big and small, and touring her stand-up across the nation. Fortune Feimster’s one-hour specials are streaming on Netflix and have fantastic reviews and nominations. Before her one-hour specials, Netflix released Feimster’s half-hour special in 2018 as part of THE…

Nicole Byer
Nicole Byer is one of the most versatile voices in the comedy landscape today. An actress, comedian, writer, author and podcaster, she is perhaps most well-known as the host of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated competition baking series Nailed It!, which has gained a cult following of viewers since its premiere on the streaming platform in 2018. In…

Off the Wall Drag presents: STRANGER KINGS
Gag me with a spoon! Join Off the Wall Drag for a bitchin’ night of 80s nostalgia, Eldritch whorrors, and super-powered queers in wigs. Cosmo Neapolitan, Adam Biatch, and Gaea Genda return with guest girlies for another night of camp and chaos.

Spotlight: A Family Arts Festival
For one weekend only, catch Portland's best theater, music, and dance geared toward children and families. Head to THE JUDY for a unique experience where you can see all of your favorite family-friendly acts performed in one place. Plus, you'll get a chance to connect with the local organizations behind the art and learn more…

Sparkle & Shine Drag Brunch
Hosted by Nicole Onoscopi, the colorful, kooky, and highly caffeinated queen of Oregon. She and her most fantastic guest queens fill the room with laughs and great times every show. The glamour, the performances, the HAIR. Drag artistry has become globally popular with fans of all ages. Therefore, the show is rated PG-13. CELEBRATE YOUR…

You Oughta Know
The first-anniversary show of You Oughta Know is September 30th. A show where comedians talk about the things they love and believe you need to know about. Is it preaching? Is it education? Is it philanthropy? The 4th Wall isn't sure- but they are positive it will be funny. You Oughta Know is a panel…

Gary Gulman
Over 25 years in comedy, Gary Gulman has established himself as an eminent performer and peerless writer. It’s no wonder the New York Times wrote, “Gary is finally being recognized as one of the country’s strongest comedians.” A product of Boston, Gulman has been a scholarship college football player, an accountant, and a high school…

Ben Bailey
Long before he got behind the wheel of "Cash Cab," Ben Bailey left his home in a small town in New Jersey and headed to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of a career in show business. Six weeks later, he found himself on stage at The Comedy Store. Shortly thereafter, Bailey returned to the…

Michelle Buteau
Michelle is the creator/writer/star of the upcoming Netflix series Survival of the Thickest, inspired by her autobiographical book of essays of the same name, published by Gallery Books. She is also the host of the popular reality competition show The Circle on Netflix. Other film and TV credits include Marry Me, First Wives Club, Always…

Smart Dumb Comedy
SMARTDUMB is a free weekly comedy show hosted by Pedro Andrade every Saturday at Covert Cafe. The show starts at 9 p.m. and is FREE. Transformed from a taproom to a restaurant and performance venue, the Covert Café now boasts a new kitchen with unique culinary delights, many new beer selections, and a newly expanded…

Two Girls One Ghost Podcast
For six years, Corinne and Sabrina of Two Girls One Ghost Podcast have researched and discussed hundreds of haunted places they were too afraid to visit… until today. Something has been calling them… A place so haunted that it inspired one of the most horrific horror movies of our generation. You’ve never experienced paranormal investigating…

Laugh Basement
Laugh Basement is back at The Goodfoot on Monday with an epic lineup of hilarious comics Every Monday, Laugh Basement is hosted by comedian Hewitt Pagenstecher, accompanied by his friend and DJ, BHOLT, at The Goodfoot in SE Portland. Doors open at 7 p.m., and comedy starts around 7:30 $10 cash at the door.

Go Comedy, Go
Go Comedy Go is a hilarious weekly FREE comedy show that prides itself on having full diverse lineups with Portland's funniest comics. Catch the show every Monday at Shifter's Bar inside Humdinger Pizza.

Cheerful Tortoise Comedy Open Mic
Comedy Open Mic for every skill level. Beginners are welcome. Weekly mic every Monday night with 8:30 p.m. sign-ups. Hosted by Sam Bass and Milo Loza. The Cheerful Tortoise is an iconic Portland bar that has been around for more than 60 years and provides a cheerful environment for everyone to enjoy.

Painting with Drag Queens – Nashville Hott and SEVEN
Join Nashville Hott and Seven in a guided paint lesson at the World Famous Kenton Club. All supplies, music, entertainment and instruction are included. Plus, drag performances. It's what you've all been waiting for, crew. Portland legend Nashville Hott and Seven will guide you through a 2-hour journey of wet brushes and savvy stroked fit…

Tap That Showcase
Tap That Comedy Showcase and Open Mic A weekly comedy showcase highlighting some of the up-and-coming comedic talents in the Portland metro area.

Emo Philips
Described by Jay Leno as "the best joke writer in America" and considered by many, including "Weird Al" Yankovic, as one of the funniest people on the planet, Emo Philips has performed over 6,000 times throughout the English-speaking world (including a multi-week run at the Playhouse Theater in London's West End). Since starting at the…

Taylor Tomlinson
Taylor Tomlinson announces 30+ additional 2023 U.S. dates of her blockbuster The Have It All Tour. Recognized by The New Yorker for her “quicksilver candor,” the California native has been mining everything from her childhood to her dating escapades for an entirely new live show on the heels of her second hour-long special, Look At…

Lil Sasquatch
Lil Sasquatch is a stand-up comedian and host of “Son of a Boy Dad” and “The Yak” podcasts on Barstool Sports. Originally from outside Boston, he currently resides in Manhattan — yet — is a Buffalo Bills fan. Wouldn’t worry about that last part…

Young Frankenstein
From the creators of the record-breaking Broadway sensation, The Producers, comes this monster new musical comedy. The comedy genius, Mel Brooks, adapts his legendarily funny film into a brilliant stage creation — Young Frankenstein. The grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced "Fronk-en-steen"), inherits his family's estate in Transylvania. With the help of…

Leave Your Troubles at The Door
Leave Your Troubles at The Door is a completely improvised stand-up comedy showcase where the audience’s problems are the topics of the jokes on stage. Audience members write their problems/troubles down on a piece of paper, put it in a box before the show and then many of Portland’s best and up-and-coming comedians take on…

Erica Rhodes
Erica Rhodes has appeared on ABC’s "Modern Family," HBO’s "Veep," FOX’s "New Girl," and IFC’s "Comedy Bang Bang." She was a regular panelist on Comedy Central’s "@midnight" and FOX’s "Punchline." Her stand-up TV appearances include NBC’s "Bring the Funny" and "Last Call with Carson Daly," the CW’s "Howie Mandel Comedy Extravaganza," SeeSo’s "The Guest List,"…

Geoffrey Asmus
Geoffrey Asmus began performing stand-up in 2013 immediately after wasting $143,548 on seven college degrees. He has performed at "Just For Laughs" in Montreal as a 'New Face' and was also featured on FOX’s "Laughs," "CollegeHumor," and Kevin Hart’s "LOL Network." Geoffrey has opened for Dave Attell, Mark Normand, Dan Soder, Fortune Feimster, Sam Morrill,…

John Cameron Mitchell & Amber Martin in Cassette Roulette
Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen John Cameron Mitchell (“Joe vs. Carole,” Hedwig and the Angry Inch), one of alt-culture’s boldest creators, joins forces with international cabaret star Amber Martin for a hair-raising, hilarious romp of songs, stories and characters, all chosen by you and the hand of fate on the magical ‘cassette roulette.’…

Sheng Wang
Sheng Wang is a comedian, actor and writer originally from Houston, TX. He first Netflix special, Sweet and Juicy, was released in September 2023 and was produced and directed by Ali Wong. He was a featured stand-up on HBO’s “2 Dope Queens” special and wrote for the ABC show “Fresh Off the Boat.” Sheng resides…

Love, Shakespeare
Fresh, fully improvised Elizabethan Comedy. Love, Shakespeare is a fresh and fully improvised Elizabethan Comedy. Featuring a rotating cast, including Rose Bonomo, Stacey Hallal, Jake Hull, Kristen Schier, Tyler Quinn, Andy Perkins, Peri Ahmadi and Rachel Rosenthal. Directed by Kristen Schier Design by Tyler Quinn

Hannah Berner
Hannah Berner was born in Brooklyn, New York and played competitive tennis for the University of Wisconsin. She emerged on the comedy scene by directing, editing, and acting in videos on Instagram and writing viral tweets. She has two podcasts, Giggly Squad and Berning In Hell, with over 20 million downloads. She was a cohost…

Kate Willet
Kate Willett is a comedian, actress, and writer whose raunchy feminist storytelling is both smart and relatable. She’s the author of the Audible Original “Dirtbag Anthropology.” She just made her network debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and she has a 15-minute special on Netflix’s “Comedy Lineup.” She’s the cohost of the political…

Monet X Change
Join RuPaul's Drag Race winner and Sibling Rivalry podcast host MONET X CHANGE for an evening of stand-up comedy. Born and bred in New York City, Monét X Change is an entertainment spitfire and the first double crown winner from RuPaul's Drag Race, having earned the title Miss Congeniality on Season 10 and becoming the…

Chris Turner
Chris Turner is a British comedian and freestyle rapper with over 40 million views on YouTube thanks to his jaw-dropping improvisational talent. Chris is the first comedian to ever have performed with Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas, while his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert earned him a rapturous standing ovation. A…

The Office Trivia With Todd Packer
What’s up, trivia nerds? Test your knowledge of "The Office" with the 'Pack-Man' himself, David Koechner. Teams will compete for mediocre prizes while also hearing behind-the-scenes stories from David about playing the hit show’s favorite obnoxious paper salesman (and Michael’s BFF), Todd Packer. After multiple trivia rounds, top teams must channel their favorite "The Office"…

Ken Flores
Ken Flores is a Chicago-based stand-up comedian known for unfiltered and unapologetically humor. He is a rapidly rising star in stand-up comedy thanks to his hilarious TikTok and Instagram reels. His unique jokes and quick crowd work have helped him accumulate over 300,000 followers worldwide. Ken’s laid-back stage presence and off-the-wall comedy have been called…

Matt Friend
Matthew Friend is an old soul living inside a 24-year-old comedian/actor/impressionist's body. Matthew graduated from NYU’s Gallatin School in 2020, but his love of comedy and entertainment was sparked when he was four years old. He had watched Austin Powers (yes, as a four-year-old) and started mimicking the characters’ voices — and the rest was…

Andrew Collin
Andrew Collin is a stand-up comic who has spent years in comedy clubs and venues across the U.S. You can currently see Andrew on the new reality series "Welcome Home Nikki Glaser?" on the E! network. Andrew is the host of his own irreverent podcast, "Puddles with Andrew Collin," whose guests have included Tom Segura,…

Talk of the Town: Improv Show
Talk of the Town – improvised comedy inspired by Portland’s movers and shakers. Looking for cool things to do around Portland? Curious Comedy has your back. Every third weekend of the month at 7:30 in the Annex Theatre, Talk of the Town invites special guests to tell everyone about the amazing things they are up…

Reggie Watts
Reggie Watts is an internationally renowned Musician/Comedian/Writer/Actor who currently stars as the bandleader on CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden. Using his formidable voice, looping pedals, and his vast imagination, Watts blends and blurs the lines between music and comedy, wowing audiences with performances that are 100% improvised. He was recently the DJ…

Bert Kreischer
Albert Charles Kreischer Jr. (born November 3, 1972), nicknamed "The Machine", is an American stand-up comedian, podcaster, reality television host and actor. In 1997, he was featured in an article in Rolling Stone while attending Florida State University. The magazine named Kreischer "the top partyer at the Number One Party School in the country." The…

Talk of the Town
Talk of the Town invites special guests to tell us about the amazing things they are up to in the City of Roses. These special guests are Portlanders who are making art, making food, or making a difference. Their stories and lives inspire the hilarious team of improv comedians as they create characters and scenes…

Open Mic Night w/ Amelia Evans & Jane Malone
OPEN MIC NIGHT is finally back and ready to party. Join hosts Jane and Amelia for an evening of chuckles and chortles as some of the hottest comics in town take turns trying to crack each other up. Tickets are just $10 to watch but free for performers.

Drennon Davis
From his bizarre impressions and absurd sketches to his provocative songs, puppets and animation, award-winning comedian Drennon Davis has made a name for himself as one of the most innovative minds in today’s comedy scene. A favorite at music and comedy festivals worldwide, his shows receive rave reviews, including best comedy duo (with Karen Kilgariff)….

Brad Williams
Pound for pound, Brad Williams is the funniest comedian in the country right now and has become one of the most in-demand comedians working today. Williams started doing stand-up comedy as a teenager and has been touring successfully ever since, routinely selling out prestigious venues all over the country and the world. Williams has parlayed…

Girls Gotta Eat
Why do guys just want to f*ck you once then watch your Instagram stories until the end of time? How do you get over a breakup when you feel like you're gonna die? When should you give it up? My boyfriend takes morning baths: Is this weird? These are all questions answered on Girls Gotta…

Eddie Izzard
Eddie Izzard’s The Remix Live is a chance for Eddie, inspired by her ever-loyal audiences, to remix and re-imagine her favorite bits from her entire career. Eddie’s 35 years of sellout comedy shows stretch from “The Ambassadors” in 1993 to “Wunderbar” in 2019. Ever wondered what became of Darth Vader and Mr. Stevens or the…

Kelly Ryan
Kelly Ryan is the 2021 winner of Portland’s Funniest, and this year will feature Anthony Jeselnik, Bert Kreischer and Whitney Cummings. She co-hosts her podcast NIGHTCOOP with her twin sister Ali. She started stand-up at the age of 17 in NYC. While getting her BS in Communication Studies from Texas Christian University, she performed improv…
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