Top 20 Live Comedy Events This Month: May 2023

Get your laughs at these must-see live comedy shows and events in Houston for May 2023.

Find more comedy happening all month long in the 365Houston Calendar.

Here are our picks for the month’s top nights in comedy:

Top 20 Live Comedy Events This Month: May 2023

• Bad Friends with Andrew Santino & Bobby Lee at Bayou Music Center | Friday, May 5 – Comedians Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee join forces for a national tour that brings their Bad Friends podcast to the Downtown venue. $37.50 and up. 7:30pm.
• The Riot Comedy Club presents Bo Johnson at Rudyard’s Pub | Friday, May 5 & Saturday, May 6 – Hailing from Seattle, Johnson can be found headlining clubs, breweries, and dingy bars across the United States and sometimes Canada. The comic has been featured on Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the City on Comedy Central, and high-profile comedy festivals across North America. $17 and up. Times vary.
• Michael Rapaport at Houston Improv | Friday, May 5 & Saturday, May 6 – Acting in more than 60 films since the early 1990s, with appearances in Boston Public, Friends, Prison Break and other shows, the podcast host and comedian takes to Spring Branch for back-to-back nights of hilarity. $50 for 2, and up. Times vary.
• Raj Sharma at Houston Improv | Sunday, May 7 – The Dallas-native comedian pulls through the Spring Branch comedy club for a night of laughs inspired by his worldly observations and traditional Hindu upbringing. $30 for 2, and up. 7:30pm.
• Cameron Esposito at Houston Improv | Wednesday, May 10 & Thursday, May 11 – The comic, actor and author—known for roles in ABC’s A Million Little Things and podcast host of Queery—performs back-to-back nights at the Improv. $54 for 2, and up. 7:30pm.

• The Riot Comedy Club presents Matthew Broussard at Rudyard’s Pub | Friday, May 12 – With stops on the Tonight Show, Conan and Comedy Central specials, Matthew Broussard brings a heady brand of stand-up to the Rudyard’s upstairs stage, just one night since headlining at the Riot’s new outpost in Katy. $17 and up. 9pm.
• The Riot Comedy Club presents Sammy Obeid at Rudyard’s Pub | Friday, May 12 & Saturday, May 13 – A Lebanese-Palestinian American, born in Oakland California, Sammy Obeid double majored in Business and Mathematics at UC Berkeley and then turned down a job at Google to be a comedian. The host of 100 Humans on Netflix, the comic has also appeared on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, America’s Got Talent, and Conan. $17 and up. Times vary.
• Brian Simpson at Houston Improv | Friday, May 12 & Saturday, May 13 – The LA-based comedian brings his Short Wide Neck Tour through Spring Branch for back-to-back nights, delivering on material that has landed him spots on Netflix’s The Standups and Lights out with David Spade on Comedy Central. $40 for 2, and up. Times vary.
• Mother’s Day: Yo Momma Joke Contest at Eureka Heights Brewing Co. | Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14 – Have a little light-hearted fun at your mother’s expense at this open-to-all competition where contestants offer their best oneliner “Yo Momma” jokes. Plus, moms can compete in the Chancla Chunking Contest, win Mother’s Day prizes, and enjoy drink specials and discounted beers for mom in the taproom. 2pm.
• Ali Siddiq & Marcus D. Wiley: Dear Mom at Houston Improv | Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14 – Two comedians team up for the annual Mother’s Day show at the Improv, delivering laughs for moms and those who love them. $90 for 2, and up. 2:30pm.

• The Riot Comedy Club presents Liz Miele at Rudyard’s Pub | Sunday, May 14 – With appearances on Comedy Central, Hulu, and NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Liz Miele grabs the mic for a one-night headlining set of new material at the upstairs stage at Rudz. $15 and up. 5pm.
• The Riot Comedy Club presents Jack Jr at Rudyard’s Pub | Thursday, May 18 – Jack Jr. rolls through Montrose with back-to-back sets, providing the laughs he’s known for as a finalist on NBC’s Stand Up and as creator of the NoHo Comedy Festival. $20 and up. 7pm and 9pm.
• Emma Willmann at Houston Improv | Thursday, May 18 – A regular at the Comedy Cellar in New York City, Emma Willmann brings an unflinching honesty and vibrant presence to the Improv stage for a one-time engagement. $40 for 2, and up. 7:30pm.
• The Riot Comedy Club presents Frank Castillo at Rudyard’s Pub | Friday, May 19 & Saturday, May 20 – The Roast Battle Champion and podcast co-host of Peak’d and Buddies, Frank Castillo comes to Montrose for back-to-back nights of hilarity. $16 and up. Times vary.
• Luis J. Gomez at the Secret Group | Friday, May 19 & Saturday, May 20 – For back-to-back nights, the stand-up comedian, podcast host and co-creator of comedy festival Skankfest in New York City will be serving up new material to those lucky to grab a seat at the EaDo comedy spot. $20 and up. 7pm.

• Tommy Davidson at Houston Improv | Friday, May 19 to Sunday, May 21 – The longtime comedian and actor, Tommy Davidson was an original cast member on In Living Color, a lead role in The Proud Family, and most recently a published author for his 2020 memoir. Now, he’ll bring five seasoned sets on the weekend to the Improv. $50 for 2, and up. Times vary.
• The Riot Comedy Club presents the 40th Birthday Roast of Brian Gendron at Rudyard’s Pub | Saturday, May 20 – One of the founders of the Riot Comedy Club, Brian Gendron gets the roast treatment for his big 4-0 at Rudyard’s, courtesy of his friends and roast master, the visiting Frank Castillo. $20 and up. 9pm.
• The Impractical Jokers at Smart Financial Centre | Sunday, May 21 – Known for one of the highest-rated comedy programs on cable, Q, Murr and Sal of the Impractical Jokers arrive in Sugar Land for an intimate comedic experience on the live stage. $45 and up. 5pm.
• David Lucas at Houston Improv | Thursday, May 25 – A regular on the Kill Tony podcast and a roast master that got his career started on MTV’s Yo Momma, David Lucas lands at the Improv for a one night-only show. $40 for 2, and up. 7:30pm.
• Josh Johnson at the Secret Group | Wednesday, May 31 – Fresh off the release of Up Here Killing Myself on Peacock, the Emmy-nominated writer and stand-up comedian Josh Johnson grabs the mic for a special set in EaDo. $22 and up. 8pm.