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Now that’s funny: 10 must-see Greater Boston comedy shows for fall 2025

You've seen them on TV, in movies, and on "Saturday Night Live" — now catch them in and around Boston this fall.

Comedians coming to local stages this fall include (clockwise from top left) James Austin Johnson, Melissa Villasenor, Jeremy Piven, Atsuko Okatsuka, and Josh Johnson. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images; melissavillasenor.com; AP Photo/Chris Pizzello; Kim Newmoney; Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

By Peter Chianca

6 minutes to read

Is it us, or is Boston getting funnier? Not the city itself, necessarily, although you can always count on Boston to bring with it a certain amount of hilarity. (We’re looking at you cop slide, burning orange line train, Bruins jersey guy at mayor’s press conference, etc.) But in terms of the caliber of professional comedy coming to town, you really can’t beat the Boston lineup. Just check out the 10 we’ve chosen below if you don’t believe us — all will be gracing local stages this fall, both within city limits and outside. (We’ve also rounded up a list of stand-up superstars for those of you who only settle for the best.)

Note: Tickets for some shows may only be available on the secondary market. Also, some of the below videos may feature naughty language, better use your headphones if you’re at work.

Josh Johnson at The Wilbur

Josh Johnson has been killing it on “The Daily Show” — first as a correspondent, and more recently as one of their regular hosts — and clearly people are noticing: He’s got 10 shows scheduled at The Wilbur this September, as part of his hugely successful Flowers Tour. But if you want to see his hilariously matter-of-fact takes on current events in person, be forewarned that even with 10 shows, you’ll likely be scraping around for secondary market tickets. (He’s that hot.) Sept. 3-7, Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $39-$59

James Austin Johnson at The Cut

We’re not saying Alec Baldwin is not funny — all those seasons of “30 Rock” prove otherwise — but his Donald Trump was never really a show-stopper. Not so James Austin Johnson, whose uncanny interpretation of Trump as a pop culture-obsessed know-it-all has been a highlight of recent SNL seasons. We’re sure you’ll hear that one, along with other impressions (he also does a mean Bob Dylan), and some funny straight-ahead stand-up as well when he comes to Gloucester’s cool new-ish venue, The Cut. Friday, Sept. 5, 7 p.m., The Cut, 177 Main St., Gloucester, $35-$45.

Jeremy Piven at The Wilbur

Jeremy Piven is probably best known for his role as the irascible Ari Gold in “Entourage,” for which he won three consecutive Emmys. He’s also built a reputation for dishing hilarious dirt on Hollywood and the comedy biz on his “How U Livin J. Piven” podcast. But among a smaller subset of admirers, he’ll always be the guy who yelled “TEN YEARS MAN! TEN YEARS! TEN! YEARS!” at John Cusack in “Gross Pointe Blank.” Whether that phrase will make its way into his standup set remains to be seen, but you can find out if you check him out at The Wilbur. Friday, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m., Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $35-$75.

Brian Posehn at Off Cabot

After popping up on TV shows around the dial for decades — he was the guy who was supposed to act like he had a sponge left inside him in the “Kramer gets gonorrhea” episode of “Seinfeld,” for instance — Brian Posehn made a splash on “HBO’s Mr. Show with Bob and David” before turning up on “The Big Bang Theory” as geologist Bert Kibbler. Throughout he’s been writing some of the sharpest comedy on TV, and delivering it in his stand-up act also. You can find out for yourself when he does four shows at Beverly’s cozy Off Cabot. Friday, Sept. 19, and Saturday, Sept. 20, 6:30 and 9 p.m., Off Cabot, 9 Wallis St., Beverly, $41.

Wanda Sykes at Chevalier Theatre

Missed Wanda at the Wilbur last fall? Or just eager to see her again? You’re in luck: The acerbic comic — who always managed to be nearby when Larry David stumbled into a racially charged moment on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” — is back, this time’s at Medford’s estimable Chevalier Theatre. In addition to innumerable guest star credits, Sykes most recently co-created and co-stars in “The Upshaws” on Netflix, now going into its seventh and final season. (Or possibly fifth and final, we can’t figure out how they count these things over at Netflix.) Sunday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m., Chevalier Theatre, 30 Forest St., Medford, $49-$89.

Alex Edelman at The Wilbur

Brookline’s own Alex Edelman made a huge splash with his one-man Broadway show “Just for Us,” which he brought to Calderwood Pavilion at Boston Center for the Arts last spring just as it was also making its debut on HBO. (That was the one where he famously shared what happened when he dropped in on a meeting of white nationalists.) Now he’s back with his new show, “What Are You Going To Do,” and The Wilbur’s got him. Saturday, Oct. 18, 7:30 and 10 p.m., Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $49-$69

Bald Brothers: KevOnStage and Tony Baker at the Shubert Theatre

You’ve seen them all over social media and heard them on the “Bald Brothers” podcast. (And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?) But now you can see KevOnStage (née Kevin Fredericks) and Tony Baker in all their bald glory when they bring their celebrated comedy stylings to the Wang. You’ll see them both exercise their stand-up chops, but what you’re really there for is the duo “riffing, roasting, and reacting in real time” — you know, the three (or is it four?) “R’s” of freestyle comedy. Friday, Oct 24, 7 p.m., Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St, Boston, $54-$115.

Atsuko Okatsuka at The Wilbur

If you’re looking for a comedian with a fascinating history — say, her grandmother kidnapped her from Japan and brought her to the U.S. undocumented when she was 8 — who’s been through some bizarre stuff — like, for instance, doing standup during a 7.1 magnitude earthquake — then Atsuko Okatsuka is right up your alley. Beyond all that, though, she’s just an amazing storyteller and hilarious human being (who happens to have an HBO special the New York Times named Best Debut of 2022). Thursday, Oct. 16 and Friday, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $35-$109.50.

Melissa Villasenor at Laugh Boston

As far as we were concerned, six seasons wasn’t enough for Melissa Villasenor on “Saturday Night Live.” We immediately missed her impressions of Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, and yes, Owen Wilson, not to mention her performance as the old lady who sings Nickelback songs on her deathbed. The good news is, now she has time — in addition to providing voices to seemingly hundreds of movies and TV shows — to take her show on the road, meaning we’ll have the opportunity to enjoy her talents in the intimate confines of Laugh Boston. Friday, Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, 6:30 and 9 p.m., Laugh Boston, 425 Summer St., Boston, $40.46.

Leanne Morgan at The Wang

If you are a Millenial, watching Leanne Morgan do standup comedy is a great way to find out what you’re in for. And if you’ve already hit 50, be prepared to bust a gut at her dead-on, hilarious bits about what happens when you reach that advanced age (and beyond). Also, with the debut of her new sitcom “Leanne” on Netflix, her three shows at the Wang could be your last chance to say you saw her before she reached TV superstardom. Saturday, Oct. 25, 4 and 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m., Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston, $55-$89.