With stand-up, variety shows, open mics, and full-length improv, you’ll find your home for good vibes in Seattle, Tacoma, and around the Sound.

* * *

 

Improv & Variety    

These established companies perform (and often teach) improv, alongside a range of thematic showcases, sketch, and variety shows. 

 

Bandit Theatre  (Seattle)

Nomadic, woman-led comedy company hosting improv classes and thematic variety-comedy shows. Recurring shows include:

The Couples Quiz, improv meets The Newlywed Game

Mad Science, improv based on real scientific findings

The Reader, a tarot-inspired comedy show

Swipe Right, improv based on online dating profiles

Understudies, a rom-com-inspired show where half the actors know their lines

Performs at: 18th & Union, Fremont Abbey, and more  

 

Jet City Improv  (Seattle)

Long-running improv company hosting classes and long-form improv shows. Recurring shows include:

The Junction Comedy Show, a multi-genre show in West Seattle

The Naughty Show, an adults-only show

Twisted Flicks, retro movies screened with improvised live dialogue

Performs at: ArtsWest, U-Heights, and West of Lenin   

 

ComedySportz  (Seattle)

Long-running improv company hosting classes and long-form improv shows. Recurring shows include:

B-Rated, an improvised bad movie

The Blue Show, lewd comedy

Boom Bap, freestyle rap meets improv comedy

ComedySportz, competitive improv teams

Dubious Advice, comedic responses to audience questions

Off the Top, improvised open-mic stand-up

Sound & Fury, a Shakespeare-inspired improv

Performs at: CSZ Seattle, dedicated venue in Fremont  

 

Unexpected Productions  (Seattle)

Long-running improv company hosting classes and long-form improv shows. Recurring shows include:

A Back Line, improv in a line

Duos, an open-mic for two-person improv

Genre Box, improv built on a story and genre the audience provides

Loose Cannons, a two-part audience-suggestion improv show

Seattle Theatresports, competitive improv teams

Performs at: Unexpected Productions, dedicated venue at Pike Place Market   

 

Upfront Theatre  (Bellingham)

Improv company hosting classes and thematic shows. Recurring shows include:

The GBU, a long-running improv show

LOL & Order, an improvised crime procedural

Laugh Games, competitive improv teams

Performs at: The Upfront Theatre, dedicated venue in Bellingham   

 

 

Comedy Clubs  

These bars are dedicated to comedy, often with at least one show — from headliners to showcases to open mics — every night.  

 

Capitol Hill Comedy / Bar  (Seattle – Capitol Hill)

The new kid in town, this stand-up comedy venue features a robust lineup of thematic shows, touring and local headliners, and a variety of open mic nights. Recurring shows include:

Queers to the Front, an open-mic of queer comedians (Mondays)

Open Mics (Tuesdays, late-night Fridays, Sundays)

Comedy Family Feud (every other Sunday)

Leave Your Troubles, improvised stand-up based on audience concerns (2nd Wednesdays)

The Dope Show, a sober-and-then-high stand-up showcase (2nd Saturdays)

Master Debaters, a comedy debate battle (3rd Wednesdays)

Throwing Spaghetti, laughter therapy (3rd Saturdays)

Fun & Flirty, comedic dating (last Thursdays)

Friendship Dungeon, comedy and variety showcase by Emmett Montgomery & Derek Sheen (late-night on last Saturdays)

Punslam, competitive punning (monthly, various dates)

 

Club Comedy Seattle  (Seattle – Capitol Hill)

Stand-up comedy venue, featuring touring and local headliners, local showcases, and open mics. Recurring shows include:

Chuckle Bucket, a luck-of-the-draw showcase (Tuesdays)

Open Mic, a sign-up night for testing out new work (Wednesdays)

Popular Comedy Show, a local showcase (various dates)

 

Everett Improv Bar & Stage  (Everett)

Bar, comedy stage, and comfortable hangout space with wall games, board games, and retro video game console. Featuring improv, magic, and comedy-variety shows, karaoke-art-game nights. and a wide range of classes and drop-in workshops.

 

Here-After  (Seattle – Belltown)

Comedy club and movie theatre on The Crocodile’s lower level, featuring touring headliners, local showcases, and variety shows.

 

Laughs Comedy Club  (Seattle – U-District)

Stand-up comedy, with ongoing mid-week showcases most Wednesdays and Thursdays and featured comedians Friday-Saturday.

 

Nate Jackson’s Super Funny Comedy Club  (Tacoma)

Stand-up comedy venue, featuring major headliners, competitions, and ongoing open mics (Tuesdays).

 

Tacoma Comedy Club  (Tacoma)

Stand-up comedy venue with two locations, featuring major headliners, competitions, and ongoing new talent showcases (Tuesdays) and open mics (Wednesdays).

 

 

Big Events 

 

Seattle International Comedy Competition 

Multi-round competition held at venues all around the Sound, annually in November.

 

 

Multi-Genre Venues  

You’ll find theatre, music, drag, and more at these venues — along with frequent comedy acts.  

 

18th & Union  (Seattle – Central District)

Periodic comedy shows (local and visiting acts)

 

Bainbridge Performing Arts  (Bainbridge Island)

The Edge Improv (1st Saturdays) and occasional touring acts

 

Bob’s Comedy Jive @ Bob’s Java Jive  (Tacoma)

Bob’s Comedy Jive weekly open mic (Thursdays) and occasional themed shows

 

Clock-Out Lounge  (Seattle – Beacon Hill)

Joketellers Union, a stand-up and variety show hosted by Brett Hamil and Emmett Montgomery (2nd & 4th Wednesdays)

 

Edison Square  (Tacoma)

Boy Smooches Improv Comedy (2nd Saturdays) and occasional themed shows

 

The Rendezvous  (Seattle – Belltown)

Comedy Nest, a judgment-free open mic centering women (Tuesdays)

Naked Brunch, an improv open mic (Saturday afternoons)

Periodic comedy showcases (local and visiting acts)

 

The Royal Room  (South Seattle – Rainier)

Periodic comedy shows (local and visiting acts)

 

Spanish Ballroom @ McMenamins Elks Temple  (Tacoma)

Periodic comedy shows (local and visiting acts)

 

Theatre Off Jackson  (Seattle – International District)

Periodic comedy showcases (local and visiting acts), including Salon of Shame and The Disabled List Comedy Festival

 

Triple Door  (Downtown Seattle)

Periodic comedy shows (local and visiting acts), including Triple Shot Comedy in the MQ Lounge

 

 

Tour Venues

Large venues primarily hosting a variety of touring acts, including comedy headliners.  

 

Edmonds Center for the Arts  (Edmonds)

Multi-genre stage with occasional touring comedy acts and local showcase

Examples in 2024: Edmonds Comedy Night (2/23-24), Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood (4/26) 

 

Moore Theatre  (Downtown Seattle)

Multi-genre touring stage with frequent stand-up and comedy-variety acts

Examples in 2024: Scribble After Dark (1/19), Mike Birbiglia (1/20-21), Vir Das (2/2), Ilana Glazer (2/8), Marlon Wayans (2/16), Nate Jackson (2/24), Alexperience (3/3), Fortune Feimster (4/12-13)

 

Neptune Theatre  (Seattle – U-District)

Multi-genre touring stage with frequent stand-up and comedy-variety acts

Examples in 2024: Christina P (2/17), Some Stars of Native American Comedy (2/19), Felipe Esparza (4/12), Sheng Wang (5/16-17)   

 

Paramount Theatre  (Downtown Seattle)

Multi-genre touring stage with occasional stand-up acts

Examples in 2024: Randy Rainbow (2/3), Trevor Noah (3/19-24), Jim Gaffigan (4/11-14), Bianca Del Rio (4/17) 

 

Tacoma Arts Live  (Downtown Tacoma)

Multi-genre touring stages with occasional comedy acts

Examples in 2024: Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood (2/3) 

 

Vashon Center for the Arts  (Vashon Island)

Multi-genre stage with occasional touring comedy acts

Examples in 2024: Paula Poundstone (2/9-10) 

 

Washington Center for the Arts  (Olympia)

Comedy Underground (2nd Thursdays) and occasional touring comedy acts

Examples in 2024: Gabriel Rutledge (3/15), Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood (4/25) 

 

 

Comedy Nights

These bars open their doors to occasional comedy shows. 

Note: This list is in development. If you know a bar doing regular comedy nights, please send us the info. The currentness of these shows is pretty dicey, because most of these don’t have an actual events website, but here’s the best we can cobble together. Please contact the bar or otherwise verify when a given show is happening. 

 

Lucky 7 (Kirkland)

Stand Up Comedy (last Saturdays)

 

Olmstead (Seattle – Capitol Hill)

Zoomers & Doomers Comedy Show (1st Thursdays)

 

 

Don’t See Your Company or Shows Listed?

Please email info (including dates, description, and ticket link) to NWTheatre.org@gmail.com.