How have I not reviewed Arcade previously? I'll tell you how...lots of review drafts for me to post. Arcade Comedy is an amazing gem in the heart of Pittsburgh's Cultural District (downtown). It's BYOB with a $5 corking fee and hey, that's fine with me. It's all about supporting local talent & believe me, the 'Burgh has plenty. Intimate theater and truly not a bad seat in the house. Show tickets are very affordable. They have performances for everyone from improv & standup to sketch and more. It's crazy how much I've laughed at shows. Best way to spend a day or evening. Staff are super rad. Support local artists. Support local venues. read more

I'm a student here for stand up. The teachers are great! Brittany Alexis is my instructor, she makes class feel like ur hanging out with your besties! All staff friendly. Bathrooms are spotless. I highly recommend checking out a show or taking a class. I park across the street in the 7th ave garage for $8. Safe and affordable! read more

Fun venue! Love that they allow BYOB. We had a great time at the stand up 101 showcase earlier this week. The upstairs theatre is super intimate and I thought the staff did a great job with the sound and lighting. Tickets are pretty affordable and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for other shows! read more

I laughed so hard my face hurt. If that's not a positive review, then I don't know what is!

I visited the comedy theater for the first time during the Pittsburgh Gallery Crawl, and the venue just reopened since the beginning days of the pandemic. The cast was entertaining and so funny with their improv. They engaged the audience in many of the scenes, and it made for a good time with friends. I'm looking forward to seeing more shows here this season when I visit downtown Pittsburgh. read more

Arcade Comedy Theater - seating and neon sign - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fantastic time at the D&D improv show... chill vibes great audience talented cast. Cheap entertainment on a Saturday night

Wow, color me impressed! What a fantastic venue for comedy, improv and all things in between. At a price something from an average of $7-15 depending on event, there are usually 2 shows overlapping in the upstairs or downstairs space. This venue is fresh! They feel modern even have a elevator if you need, snacks for sale, nice friendly staff, clean restrooms, video games near said restrooms. We caught a famous act staring Eddie Brill, which was fantastic show, what luck! Important to note: it's BYOB for a small fee, which makes this such a hip venue as well as a great value to catch great improv! The seating is semi tight but in no means crowded and was comfortable through the show. I will be back, love this place! read more

Arcade Comedy Theater - Eddie Brill, from David Letterman days - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The Arcade Comedy Theater is one of the best places to see a comedy show in Pittsburgh. The theater has a great vibe and the staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. The shows are always top-notch and the comedians are hilarious. I highly recommend checking out the Arcade Comedy Theater if you're looking for a great night out! read more

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Funny comics, cool people and atmosphere. A true gem downtown Pittsburgh. Everyone should check it out or take a class/workshop. read more

We've been to Arcade Comedy three times now and it's one of our favorite nights out. We've gone to improv shows (including the Knights of the Arcade) and really like that the shows are in small theaters that feel really intimate and always promise a good seat. Next we'll have to check out one of the stand-up comedy shows. Tickets are usually at most $15 per person for a weekend night show. On one occasion we waited until the morning of to buy tickets online, and unfortunately they sold out, so I'd recommend getting your tickets as soon as you are certain you'll be going. They sell refreshments like water and pop. And while they don't have a bar, you are able to BYOB! As of mid-March 2022 they were still checking proof of vaccination and masks. We appreciated them taking everyone's health into account! read more

Improv Night Review (Comedy Royale) What an incredible experience. I told my friend we should go to the movies and try to see a comedy because I could use a mental break. However, their suggestion was to go to Arcade Comedy Theater for their improv night, boy am I glad that suggestion was made. I laughed the entire hour and a half I was there. What a talented group of people. For someone who it was their first time to a comedy theater it was absolutely incredible. I ran into a friend as well when we got their and she had a six pack of beer which was great. (It's BYOB). The staff was great and that made the competitive improv night even better. Well done Arcade Comedy Theater - I will be back for sure. read more

Arcade Comedy Theater - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great time if you're looking for some good laughs and a good time. Had a lot of fun at their stand up comedy show on Saturday night. Hit or miss with the comedians, but thats just how it goes! read more

Great place to go with friends for a night activity. The comedians here are hilarious and put on a great show every time I've visited. Their doors are open for free shows during Downtown Gallery Crawls. It's a must-do stop to make! They do a "Who's Line Is It Anyways" style improve show, taking the craziest suggestions from the crowd and rolling with it for the skit. I'm always impressed by how they are able to take crowd suggestions and still have everyone laughing. I just wish these shows were longer, I don't want the fun to end. I look forward to going back for one of their nightly shows outside of the Gallery Crawl. read more

Arcade Comedy Theater - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Friendly staff gets the one star. We were hoping to laugh but there was nothing funny about the performance. The comics seemed uninterested in being there so we got a set of lazy crude jokes for their shock value. C'mon...if you are going to be a comic, do the work and be funny. Life is funny, look around and make something of it. read more

We soooo hoped for a nice evening of improv comedy and it was just not to be. 4 acts.....on Feb 12th 2022, there were 4 chances to deliver a real professional grasp of improv and each duo failed. A full house and maybe 20% were laughing.....not a lot of engaging with the audience....and while the performers should be given a B for effort, that effort was more like a jr. high talent show. If the phrase 'art is pain' then this was high art. Sorry, folks.....maybe other shows have better performances....but this time, WE sacrificed for the art. read more

I attended a comedy show at Arcade with a group of friends. It was my first experience here and I wasn't disappointed! The venue itself is small and intimate, while being laid back and very casual. You enter in on the first floor where the first theater is located. We were escorted to the second floor for our show, which also has another small theater. The theaters themselves are very small and can feel quite cramped with a full house (which we experienced that night). The performers were top notch and did a great job engaging the crowd. We had a blast listening to each of them! One of the few challenges of the space is having the bathroom on the basement level. I recommend using it when you first arrive to avoid the hassle of going up and down the elevator or stairs. Parking can also be challenging as it is downtown. Street parking is limited, but there are two parking garages within 2-3 blocks of the venue. It's BYOB, but there is a fee to pay for bringing your own beverages. Aside from these few challenges, the space is awesome and the shows make for a great night out! read more

Arcade Comedy Theater - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Arcade Comedy Theater is a cool addition to the downtown scene that has really grown on me since it opened. Like others have mentioned, the place is BYOB - which is awesome, although so far I've never remembered to bring a drink here, I'm so spacey. Still, it's nice to have the option. I think most of the shows here if not all are $10; personally I think the admission price is a little steep - Steel City Improv's shows always make me laugh and they're just $5 - but I guess given the place's location and the decent set-up and backdrop inside, a higher ticket price is expected. And in my experience the tickets are totally worth it. As others have also mentioned there's usually an amazing line-up of shows, which is awesome and hard to pull off. I'd be lying if I said there's never a dud here and there, but 99% of the shows I've attended have been absolutely excellent, and if that's not a high success rate I don't know what is. I think my favorite show here was their "A Christmas Story" read-through, featuring many of my favorite local improvers AND Pittsburgh Dad. It was hilarious, different from the norm, and quite the treat during the holiday season! Despite the rocky start we had when the first show I attended wasn't as off the hook as I expected Arcade has definitely found its stride and settled into the area nicely, and while I still can't really afford to come here too often and I've learned to wear layers since it's often kept quite chilly in here, I'm definitely a big fan and always look forward to the next show I can attend. Keep it up, guys! read more

This place is a hidden gem! My husband bought us tickets for my birthday to go on a Friday night with friends. You can't beat the prices and the BYOB. We had a blast and I will definitely go back for more shows in the future. read more

This might be one of the best places to see up and coming comedians in Pittsburgh. I've been here twice, to see a friend perform in an improv show and standup. Ticket prices are a super reasonable $7, and the theaters are small and intimate, maybe 80 seats? But the cozy space makes for the belly-laughing experience. The standup comic debut I attended was an hourlong show with eight people who had never done standup before. The Arcade Comedy Theater offers classes for people interested in trying out these sorts of things. How cool is that!? The performers didn't seem like beginners at all. The material was fresh and funny, and everyone seemed like they were naturals doing it forever. Even though I have terrible stage fright, it made me wanna jump up and sign up for a class. Obviously comedy joints like this are more established in places like New York and Chicago, but I think this is the best you'll get in Pittsburgh. read more

I am SO SO SO excited about this joint! How lucky are we to have a local comedy club right in the Cultural District? How lucky am I to be able to soak all this funniness in? Is funniness even a word? Whatever... This place rocks! I hit the opening weekend for their Saturday 8pm performance. I had no idea what to expect, which probably makes the experience even better. First up was the Player One improv group. They're the resident "troop" of the theater. This was my favorite part of the evening. It's been a long time since I've seen local improv, and it was HIGHLY entertaining. We have some really talented and funny people living amongst us! Whodda thunk it? Loved the audience participation in setting up certain scenes. They were on point! Next up was a radio show. It was one of those old time radio show set-ups, where the actors read a script, performing as multiple characters right in front of you. I know the Bricolage Theater does this series with much success. I felt this was the one part that fell a little flat. I get what they're trying to do, which is introduce different programming, but it may need to fit into a different evening. Something I'm sure they'll figure out with time. The mood was brought up by the musical stylings of Burgertime. I don't know quite how to categorize them other than a musical comedy/mash up act. Addi, the lead singer, is super adorable and has an amazing voice. Top that off with a version of Fergies "My Humps" and I'm sold. I was also mesmerized by this one cool electronic type instrument they were using. I'm not an expert on musical instruments, but it looked like the base of a guitar with electronic sounds coming out of it. I don't know how to describe it without sounding dumb, but it was awesome and I want to learn how to play it! The event headliner was Gene Collier from the Post Gazette. I've never seen him do stand-up before... but he was very funny. I enjoyed his jokes about getting old, etc. We're all doing it... ugh. But... 30's the new 20! The theater itself is super intimate with about 75 seats. I love that kind of setting because it allows you to feel like you're connecting with the performers. You can see their faces and their expressions clearly. I just know this place is going to get better and better and I can't wait to experience it all!! read more

Arcade Comedy Theater - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

What a fun place! I have been here for both improv and a live read and loved both experiences. First, the tickets are extremely affordable. $10 for most shows. If there is a second show that evening and you stay, it is only an additional $5. The doors to the theater are supposed to open around a half hour before show time. When I was there, the doors opened late so the lobby became quite crowded. It was also a bit confusing because there was no indication that you had to take your paper ticket and turn it in at the box office to get a smaller ticket that they tear when you go in. Thankfully, they just took our tickets when we walked up because it would have stunk to have to be at the end of the line because we were not aware of the policy. The Arcade has a BYOB policy. You can pay $2 and get a wrist band and then enjoy the beer or wine you brought in. They also sell several snacks at decently affordable prices. The theater itself is small and intimate which is nice because you get a great view regardless of where you are. A down side is that the bathroom is at the far end of the theater, so if you have to go during a show you will likely have to climb in front of the first row of patrons and in front of whatever is going on on stage. Overall an enjoyable and affordable evening. I'm sure I'll be back. read more

If you can't make me laugh you must have the personality of a rock because I literally laugh at everything.... I really wanted to like this place since this place is suppose to be the best improve comedy in Pittsburgh... they do Improvisation is making up things as you go...they need to get into character and think of what that character would think and say... It's making up as you go...which is called "Improv"...i came here on a Friday night for fire side chat... two comedians at the end of the show trying to put their names on the Guinness world records..which was pretty exciting...they try to get the audiences to interact with their show...the area is small....beware people will sudden laugh like idiots even though the show not even that funny.. area is extremely cramped... barely any space to move around... FYI: BYOB!!!!! read more

Arcade Comedy Theater - At the end of the show this guy try to hit genies world record ... Which he did...Too bad I was just not impressed... - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The heart and soul of grassroots theater in Pittsburgh, the Arcade Comedy Theater is something every city should have. Comedy is one of the hardest arts to perform and in this electronic world it is my favorite art to see performed live. Behind the plain brick wall that practically screams "cliche comedy club" you will typically watch 5-6 comedians perform for as little as $5 with a Student ID. The nature of the business is of course that a lot of artists just aren't that good and believe it or not this $5 theater is no exception. But for $2 more you can make them all funny as that is the cover charge for BYOB! Forget the 2 drink minimum that leaves you with a couple of overpriced Beers and a slight buzz. Bring the last 3 PBRs that's been behind the mayo jar in your fridge for about a month and have yourself a real cheap night out. Most of the comedians are very funny and they really know how to keep the audience engaged. There's just something about this place that is charming in it's simplicity. Nothing but a curtain dividing the theater from the lobby, and of course only seating 75 in the audience makes for a very personal experience. It's clearly a quirky little theater and Is most definitely one I would urge all of you to attend. read more

Arcade Comedy Theater - Ticket booth - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We came here a few months ago to see a live read of the movie Clue, which is one of my top 5 favorite movies. I wasn't disappointed. The cast stayed true to the script. Cast members were basically on point but with a few surprises. They did a good job with the limited space they had on stage. The theater is small and can be a little cramped. Seating is not like movie theater seats..just to be warned. But, the place was packed. But we soon realized it was because many in the audience were either friends of the cast or other performers. They were loud and cheered for their favorites. There were some inside jokes that we clearly did not get. Which was a little distracting but ensured that we weren't bored. The place is clean and has a comfortable (but small) waiting area out front. Drinks and snacks are sold at the ticket counter. It is a BYOB, which we should have done. Next time! We will be heading back for Penny Arcade with the kiddo. Can't wait to check it out. read more

I went here for free for an Art Crawl, they also had free beer. They did an Ad-Lib show where people from the audience filled in words to create humorous jokes. They also had the actors make jokes based off of words from the audience. It was ok. I would hope the real shows had drop dead funny humor. read more

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What a fun way to spend the evening with friends. We were greeted as we arrived and we were offered to make our own alien costume gear to wear during the show. That got things off on the right foot, and the audience participation continued throughout the entire show. Much of the show is improvised, and there were some good laughs. There was improvised singing and an audience vote near the end. The ticket price is reasonable, and I like the BYOB (although you should be aware of a corkage fee). The 10 pm show seems a little late for most Pittsburghers. read more

Watched a friend's show in the upstairs theater and had a blast! This was my first time there and I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't think it would be so small but that didn't seem to matter. It was packed yet still spacious. Acoustics were great. Performances were also great. Next time I am definitely bringing my own adult beverages to drink! Super cool place, can't wait to check out some more comedians! read more

I have been here a couple times now. The staff is very friendly and high spirits. The crowd is also in good spirits and isn't hard to talk to anyone sitting next to you. The cost is very reasonable and it's a byob, for a few dollars more. The Arcade is a non profit. The comedians are there to entertain and make you laugh, which I find they do a pretty good job! They will be moving to a bigger venue come September, so they are apparently doing a great job! read more

Arcade Comedy Theater - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Decent show but what brought it down a couple of notches in my book was the host bringing politics into it. They should realize that not everyone has the same political opinions and it's really a turnoff. Free beer was good though. read more

So much fun! Been twice already. Perfect for a date night or girl's night out. Intimate setting, two shows a night with added guest performers. Laughed my a** off! Highly recommended. Go Go Go! read more

Arcade Comedy Theater - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We visited the Arcade Comedy Theater for Penny Arcade, the kids' improv show on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. Penny Arcade is "pay as you wish" - so, although we chose to pay $20 for the three of us, this could be a good inexpensive or free activity. Once the doors opened, kids were encouraged to write down character names and lines of dialogue. There was also a giant poster to draw an imaginary place, as well as a craft station to decorate costumes. The show was very fun, silly, and engaging. The skits mostly featured the adult improv-ers but also pulled suggestions and participation from the audience. After the show, kids can stay to learn improv warm ups and practice skits. The building itself is beautiful and features a number of free, old-school arcade games. There are also some snacks, candy, and drinks for sale. Overall, this is a fantastic activity in a great space. We definitely plan to go back! read more

I am going to be totally honest. I am SHOCKED by how great Arcade Comedy Theater is. When I lived in New York, I saw so much awful improv at supposedly great improv locations. So you can only imagine my concern when I decided to see improv in a mid-sized city like Pittsburgh. My first encounter with Arcade Comedy Theater happened at First Night when Player One performed at the Cabaret Theater. The group performed to the most Yinzer group I have encountered in a long time, and they had to keep the show small children friendly. My hopes were low. However, they did a great job in the hour long show! Despite quite a few local jokes, the group also threw out some super intelligent jokes (Shout out to the girl who worked a Nietzsche joke in [Despite a wrong pronunciation. But no one is perfect]). There were no massively awkward gaps, and the jokes were quick. I looked down on the chair next to me and saw the January calendar for Arcade Comedy Theater. The prices are ridiculously reasonable. There are student rush tickets for only $5 to many shows, and the most expensive show seemed to be $20. What a great deal for a two hour show! I vowed to come back quickly. Quickly is a relative term when you are a graduate student, so my next encounter was during the Bicentennial Gallery Crawl. They were doing shows every half hour. The half hour show, unfortunately, was far too short for my taste. The group never really got into a good groove, and the founders were not all present. That is OK, but I think that group really knocks it out of the park. Mind you, this was a great introduction to what they do, and I was still amused. Yet again, I vowed to come back quickly. Quickly did not manage to happen while I lived in Pittsburgh because being a graduate student and working full time eliminate free time from the schedule. However, I hope to come back here on visits back to my parents because this is a really great assest in the Cultural District. In total fairness, their space is REALLY tight, and the audience determines an awful lot of how good or bad the show is. But for $5-$20 for a show, you really can't beat this group. Great job, Arcade Comedy! You have made me no longer dread the word "improv." read more

It's really awesome that Pittsburgh is spreading it's cultural wings, so to speak. Comedy is an oft ignored skill, relegated to open mic nights in some terrible place with a pun for a name (it's a factory, but for LAUGHS!). And that's cool sometimes. In fact, one of the people performing at the Arcade Comedy Theater's Actors Read Yelp Reviews was a dude I saw perform in the banquet room of a restaurant in the West End during Zombiefest, and it was amazing. The Arcade Theater troupe, which I wrote in French if you're reading this aloud, is also amazing. In fact, the worst part of the performance for everyone is that when I am truly tickled, I have an uncontrollable laugh that sounds like an asthmatic seal at the height of sexual congress. It's been politely described as 'honest' but I know for certain that it's not only unsettling, but it probably gave everybody within a half mile radius bizarre seal-fetish nightmares that night. I'm used to it, but I'm still sorry. Even with my seal orgasm laughing, the performers stayed focused and were terrifically funny. It was a terrible catch 22, because they WANT people to laugh, but just maybe not me. So, this is an improv group with several performances during the week, and for some reason I feel like they mentioned BYOB, so add that into the mix, in a cool, intimate setting. It felt informal, friendly and really fostered audience interaction. I had actually intended to give the performers a standing ovation, but my ass went kind of numb in the seat, so maybe that's a check against them as well. I love that there are local comedy performers in Pittsburgh, and I will definitely be back in the near future. read more

Amazing little local comedy club hidden (or maybe not so hidden) in downtown Pittsburgh! I can't believe I've lived here as long as I have and I'm only just now discovering this place. What a fun night! Arcade is a small theater that hosts a variety of different types of comedy shows (stand up, improv, sketch) from Thursdays-Sundays. They also apparently offer classes. The theater itself is quite small (probably only holds about 50-75 people), which makes for a very intimate experience. The downside to that, unfortunately, is that you're packed into the theater like sardines with not much room to move. It's definitely one of those spaces where you keep your fingers crossed that there's not a fire while you're all packed in there. My poor husband had someone sit next to him that encroached upon his seat...which in turn made him encroach upon MY seat. So it wasn't the most comfortable experience for either of us. But you'll be laughing so hard that you won't care! The improv troupe that performed for us on the night that we went (Off the Cuff) was really entertaining. For only $10/ticket, it seemed like a great value. Plus, I found a coupon on their Facebook page that saved a few bucks! It's BYOB with no corkage fee if you order your tickets online up to an hour before the show. Otherwise, the corkage is $2/person. They also sell soda, water, and candy. This is such an inexpensive and fun way to enjoy a night out downtown. We will definitely be back! read more

So glad to see the improv/comedy scene blossoming in Pittsburgh, and this may be my favorite new venue for it! First of all, BYOB! no more paying for overpriced drinks just to get your comedy fix. Their corkage fee is a very reasonable $2 per six pack or bottle of wine, and apparently there no corkage for beer purchased from the Sharp Edge downtown (according to their website, though I haven't tried this yet). The show I saw--an 8pm improv competition--was hilarious. They clearly have picked their performers and improv games with care, and they pace the show expertly for maximum enjoyment. Plus, my boyfriend and I scored $5 student tickets for being graduate students. What a steal! Love the space, love the location, love the concept. I'm grateful such a cool venue for improv has finally opened up downtown! read more

This was a recommended spot in an activity & guidebook for visiting Pittsburgh (the kind you'd pick up at a news stand). It was my last night visiting a friend & we were looking for something to do on a Sunday night. Thankfully they have this show called "Bonus Stage" where a bunch of improv groups perform at 7pm every Sunday. The show was $7 & also has a fee for BYOB if you so choose to partake in that. Show lasted about 1.5 hours & was a lot of fun. They interacted with the audience & made it a great experience. The upstairs theatre where is was held was a bit small so I would recommend getting there early. Super clean, very nice staff & they have arcade games in the basement! read more

I was very excited to check out this place. I read the reviews and everything seemed to check out. I went on a double date with my buddy and his wife and the place was alright nothing special nothing I would ever rush back to. If you are looking for a cheap chuckle not a laugh but a chuckle and no comedies are in the theatres I would maybe recommend this place. + * Great audience involvement * BYOB * Inexpensive-$10 per ticket * 5 different comedians-2 funny 1 not so funy-2 horrible * Very close to parking garage - * Comedians were wasted drunk, it was embarrassing to watch him make a fool of himself. * The venue was not even full to capacity. Part of the fun of a comedy show is sitting in the large audience and embracing the laughter. * 1 not so funny comedian-2 horrible comedian read more

This shit is funny as hell! I like the mix of improv and stand up. Oh and did I mention it's like $10? and BYOB? I mean really, what else can you do for $10, while drinking your favorite beer, at beer store prices, and pee yourself laughing at the same time? Bravo Arcade! I'm in. read more

I'm just glad that this place exists and that people go to it. I absolutely adore improv and I probably just went on an off-tonight. But if I were in town again I would definitely go again... Supporting comedy is important. Plus you never know I might be dead inside. Pro tip if you try to buy tickets online the day of and they say sold out just go to the venue... That's what we did and we got seats. read more

This place was cool. Went with some friends on a Saturday night randomly, just wanted to do something downtown for a change. Tickets were cheap and it was BYOB so we weren't wasting money on $6 beers like every other place you go. The opening act was that of an all female improv comedy. It was kinda strange, but I guess that's the nature of improv. The main act was skit comedy. The group did a great job, very entertaining. We had to sit on the right side of the stage so we didn't get a good vantage point to the show, be sure to arrive early to get good seats. The place was filled! read more