Celebration of Black Comedy
An exciting array of comedy productions created by and featuring Pittsburgh artists
Comedy shows and workshops
Arcade Comedy Theater is celebrating Black History Month with its mission statement in mind: inspiring joy and nurturing community-building by connecting artists and audiences with the dynamic artform of comedy. Starting February 11 and spanning the entire month, Arcade will be centering and amplifying Black voices in comedy through stand-up comedy, improv, storytelling and variety shows.
Arcade Academy will also be presenting two comedy workshops this month being offered for free to all BIPOC performers in the Pittsburgh area.
Meet the producers:
Arcade Comedy Theater’s Celebration of Black Comedy shows are co-produced alongside local artists Brittany Alexis, Shaun McCarthy, Samantha Bentley, Dave Stewart, Joey Purse, Jaye Cooper, and Aaron Crutchfield.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- All guests required to provide proof of full vaccination and wear a mask while in the building. Learn more
- Tickets for each show are $15 per person, $10 student rush with valid ID
- Shows appropriate for ages 18 & up
- All shows BYOB for guests 21+
- Runtime approx 75 minutes per show
Programming
Tickets for all shows are on sale now. All shows require guests to wear masks and provide proof of full vaccination in order to enter.
Late Night Kickback
Friday, Feb 11 at 9:30PM
Brittany Alexis kicks the month off with good vibes as she hosts some of her funniest friends in a variety show that mixes stand-up comedy, sketch and late night talk show. Featuring Miracle Jones from 1Hood Media, Joey Purse, Dave Stewart, and more.
Pass the Mic: Crowd Work Comedy Show
Saturday, Feb 12 at 9:30PM
Samantha Bentley and Comedian Tone Montana present up and coming voices in Pittsburgh comedy while also getting to know you, the audience. Featuring Josh Rietnor, Mark Shimkets, Lena Kinney, and Don Arner.
Blowin' Up with Joey Purse
Friday, Feb 18 at 9:30PM
Part stand-up show, part game show, all fun! Joey Purse brings his unique blend of stand-up, visual comedy, and competition to Arcade for a fun night where the audience determines who goes viral.
Brazen and Black: A Celebration of Black Female-infused Comedy
Saturday, Feb 19 at 8:00PM
Comedian Shaun McCarthy presents Brazen & Black: A celebration of Black Female-infused comedy. Featuring an all-female line-up of comics from Pittsburgh.
Downtown Stand-Up with Jaye Cooper
Friday, Feb 25 at 8:00PM
Arcade Comedy Theater presents Pittsburgh comedian Jaye Cooper performing a brand new headlining set. Hosted by Samantha Bentley and featuring Gino and Jimmy Giles.
BIPOCALYPSE: Improv Show
Saturday, Feb 26 at 8:00PM
A short-form improv comedy show presented by performers from the Global Majority.
Real Pittsburgh Stories: Bein' Black N'At
Saturday, Feb 26 at 9:30PM
Join host Dave Stewart as we share funny and personal stories about the experience of being a black yinzer! Featuring Tyler Ray Kendrick, Davon Magwood, and more.
Workshops
Registration is open now. All workshop attendees must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. A high-quality masks (e.g. N95, KN95, KF94) must be worn in the building. We can provide a mask for you if you need it! For more information about Arcade’s COVID-19 safety policies, visit our Health & Safety page.
BIPOC Stand-Up Workshop
Saturday, Feb 12 3:00-5:00PM
Ever considered trying stand up comedy? This two-hour stand-up workshop will introduce the basics of the form and give you the chance to get on the mic. No experience is necessary, and comics with more experience are also welcome to join the class to get fresh eyes on their material and feedback from instructor Brittany Alexis.
This workshop is offered for FREE exclusively for BIPOC (Black, Indiginous, and People of Color) participants ages 18+ as part of Arcade Comedy Theater’s Black History Month celebration. No prior experience is necessary, but BIPOC comics of all levels are encouraged to join.
Space is limited, so registration is required!
BIPOC Improv Workshop
Saturday, Feb 26 3:00-5:00PM
Postponed*
This all-levels improv workshop is an opportunity to try improvisation for the very first time, or for more experienced players to revisit basics and practice improvising in a welcoming and supportive environment. Instructor Aaron Crutchfield will lead you through fun exercises, games, and scenework practice to help you embrace the power of “yes and” with improv’s foundational principles of agreement, acceptance, collaboration, and support.
This workshop is offered for FREE exclusively for BIPOC (Black, Indiginous, and People of Color) participants ages 18+ as part of Arcade Comedy Theater’s Black History Month celebration. No prior experience is necessary, but BIPOC improvisers of all levels are encouraged to join.
This workshop had to be postponed due to illness. Please check our Workshop Page for the new date coming soon.