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★ NOW SHOWING ★
This Week in NYC Improv & Sketch
May 18 – May 24, 2026
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Hey there,
Here's a curated digest of what caught our eye on NYC improv & sketch stages this week. Just the stuff we'd actually tell a friend about.
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Scroll down for shows every day this week ↓ 🎭 Monday · ✨ Tuesday · 💡 Wednesday · 🚀 Thursday · 🎉 Friday · 🌟 Saturday · ☀️ Sunday
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| Monday, May 18 🎭 | 07:00 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Mainstage (East Village) MAUDE NIGHT: Pamela & Golden Hour Catch two of UCB's house sketch teams presenting brand new material. Maude Night is a reliable spot for quality sketch comedy. | 07:00 PM · The PIT Mainstage (Flatiron) House Party at Perez and Diaza Hormigas NYC hosts a Spanglish house party with improv inspired by audience-chosen music. Expect a unique mix of improv, music, and bilingual fun. | 07:00 PM · Caveat (Lower East Side) And Scene Caveat always has interesting events; this show is a chance to explore their unique programming. | 08:30 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Mainstage (East Village) Gravid Water This popular show combines prepared theatrical scenes with improv, often featuring acclaimed actors and top comedians. It's a true hybrid experiment. | 08:30 PM · The PIT Mainstage (Flatiron) Ruin the Scene Watch comedians reenact scenes from popular movies and shows from memory, adding their own twist. The audience decides who 'ruins' it best. | 09:00 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Upstairs (East Village) Read The Room This improv show creates scenes based on your past, present, and future, offering a personalized and engaging experience. |
| Thursday, May 21 🚀 | 06:30 PM · Magnet Theater (Chelsea) Musical Megawatt Improvisers create brand new musicals on the spot, showcasing musical theater spontaneity and comedic talent. | 07:00 PM · BCC Eris Deep Space (downstairs) (Bushwick) The Good Time This show features Chicago improv veterans who craft fully improvised scenes from a single audience suggestion. | 07:00 PM · BCC Eris Mainstage (Bushwick) I Love That Movie! Join host John Robles and a panel of friends for a cozy movie night, complete with comedic insights and discussion around 'The Hunger Games'. | ★ 07:00 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Mainstage (East Village) 2 Square with John Lutz and Peter Grosz John Lutz (30 Rock) and Peter Grosz (Veep) perform a 45-minute long-form show, taking a single suggestion and building a comedic world from it. | 07:00 PM · The PIT Mainstage (Flatiron) PIT Ensembles Experience live, long-form improvisation with two of The PIT's house teams for one ticket, showcasing a range of improv styles. | 07:00 PM · Caveat (Lower East Side) Facts Machine: Science, Comedy & Trivia! A blend of science, comedy, and trivia, perfect for those who like their laughs with a side of learning. | ★ 08:30 PM · BCC Eris Deep Space (downstairs) (Bushwick) Demon Time Featured in The New York Times, this free show offers wild, improvised sketches every week from the 'freaks of the BCC'. | ★ 10:00 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Mainstage (East Village) Cage Match: TBD vs. Full of Bones UCB's classic improv battle pits two teams against each other for audience votes. Expect high energy and inventive scenes. |
| Friday, May 22 🎉 | 07:00 PM · BCC Dog House (Bushwick) The Spice Rack Jam This inclusive jam welcomes performers to be unapologetically themselves on stage, fostering a goofy and supportive environment. | 07:00 PM · BCC Eris Mainstage (Bushwick) Live From Rooftopopolis Escape into the absurd city of Rooftopopolis, a unique show from New Yorker cartoonist Will Kiley Santino, followed by a reception. | ★ 07:00 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Mainstage (East Village) Michael and Asher Try Everything Emmy-nominated TV writers Michael Cruz Kayne and Asher Perlman explore new comedic avenues, bringing their late-night experience to the stage. | 07:00 PM · The PIT Mainstage (Flatiron) Wigs! A high-energy, narrative improv show where wigs and audience suggestions drive character-driven storytelling. No two shows are ever the same. | 07:00 PM · Caveat (Lower East Side) Projectorfest 2026 Preview Get a sneak peek at what's coming to Projectorfest 2026. A great chance to see new and developing works. | 08:00 PM · The PIT Fishbowl (Flatiron) The 4 Second Podcast: LIVE Experience the first-ever live recording of 'the 4 second podcast,' known for its incredibly concise episodes. A truly unique concept. | ★ 08:30 PM · BCC The BCC Pig Pen (Bushwick) The Letdown Goes Long Legendary improv duo Mike Jest and John Randall perform an extended set of Chicago-style comedy. A chance to see experienced masters at work. | ★ 08:30 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Mainstage (East Village) ASSSSCAT NY UCB's flagship improv show features a rotating cast of top improvisers and a special guest monologist. It’s an essential NYC comedy experience. | 09:00 PM · The PIT LAB (Flatiron) Livin 4 Laughs This curated stand-up show promises a fun vibe with 6-8 performers, focusing on positive energy and quality acts. | 10:30 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Mainstage (East Village) Improvised The Office Fans of 'The Office' can enjoy a brand-new, completely improvised episode based on audience suggestions. A fun twist on a beloved show. |
| Sunday, May 24 ☀️ | 05:30 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Mainstage (East Village) Lloyd Night: WET & Cruise Control Catch two of UCB's house improv ensembles performing The Harold, a classic long-form improv structure, every Sunday. | 07:00 PM · BCC The BCC Pig Pen (Bushwick) Read to Filth presents: Infinite Jest A comedy book club that aims to boost literacy, one comedian at a time. Expect humorous insights and discussions. | 07:00 PM · BCC Eris Mainstage (Bushwick) Kick Ball Key Change Musical improv all-stars and a musical director create an improvised musical based on audience suggestions. A full show made up on the spot. | ★ 07:00 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Mainstage (East Village) Yard Sale Girls After sold-out shows and a Netflix Is A Joke slot, Yard Sale Girls bring their 'best of' hour of classic, acclaimed sketches. | 08:30 PM · BCC Eris Mainstage (Bushwick) A Retrospection Claire Woolner attempts a retrospective of her 'greatest' pieces in this intimately absurd hour, described by the NYT as 'Marina Abramovic were a clown'. | 08:30 PM · BCC Pig Pen (Bushwick) BABES Showcasing rising talent from the BCC training center, BABES features improv teams of students and grads ready to perform. | 08:30 PM · The PIT Mainstage (Flatiron) Legal Trouble: Dimwits and Dopamine Join Captain Brownbeard and his crew for a Dungeons and Dragons improv session, offering a unique, long-form storytelling experience. | ★ 08:30 PM · UCB NY - 14TH ST. Mainstage (East Village) Twoprov Tournament 2026 Finals The culminating event of the Twoprov Tournament, where the funniest improv duo in NYC will be crowned. High stakes and guaranteed talent. |
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That's the week. Go see something live — your couch will still be there when you get back.
— The NYC Improv & Sketch Digest crew 🎤
Know someone who'd like this? Send them to ourscene.
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Venues we follow
🎞 THE PIT · MAGNET · BCC · UCB · SECOND CITY · CAVEAT · THE RAT 🎞
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ourscene · NYC
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