Tickets and Shows

A Tribute to the Music of the Rat Pack

September 13th at 6:00pm

Daniel Henry, a crooner for a new age, is a mainstay at the Fringe—his rich, soothing tone brings back audience members every year. This year he is excited to share the stage with "Mr. Keyboard" Herb Benge, whose talents are legendary. Don't miss the opportunity to hear the songs sung in the Copa Room at the Sands in the 1960s. A memorable evening is on the horizon, promising to bring a flood of memories of years past and have you singing along. Come and share a song and a smile.

Unleashed! Improv Presents: Secrets

September 13th at 7:30pm

Shhhhhhh. Listen ... do you want to know a secret? Well, the Unleashed! Improvisers sure do. This is your chance to share your deepest, darkest, weirdest secrets anonymously, and then watch the Unleashed! team bring them to life on stage, in front of everyone. And if you’re too shy to share, you can get a good laugh at everyone else’s expense!

Big Queer Comedy Show

September 13th at 9:00pm

It’s here! It’s Queer! It’s Fringe's only all trans and nonbinary comedy show! Tootsie hosts an all-star lineup of comedic talent, starring high-energy headliner Ang Buxton, local legend Penny Sterling, drag icon Kyla Minx, the “3rd funniest person in Rochester” Gabby Garcia, the it-larious Mx. Jen Dern and future Fringe favorite Frances Tierney. You’ll laugh so hard, rainbows might shoot out of your *ss! Cis/het folks welcome, but attendance may cause homo FOMO.

A Tribute to the Music of the Rat Pack

September 14th at 6:00pm

Daniel Henry, a crooner for a new age, is a mainstay at the Fringe—his rich, soothing tone brings back audience members every year. This year he is excited to share the stage with "Mr. Keyboard" Herb Benge, whose talents are legendary. Don't miss the opportunity to hear the songs sung in the Copa Room at the Sands in the 1960s. A memorable evening is on the horizon, promising to bring a flood of memories of years past and have you singing along. Come and share a song and a smile.

The Best of the Focus Theater

September 14th at 7:30pm

From uproariously laughter-inducing improv shows to side-splitting stand-up showcases — The Focus Theater consistently aims to highlight the talents of our local comics, improvisers, and entertainers through performances that leave you filled with merriment and mirth. This show features some of our best artists from this past year. Come join us for some unique formats along with some special guests as the staff picks the best of 2023 to show at this year's festival.

Stand Up & Get Down

September 14th at 9:00pm

Get ready to Stand Up & Get Down with Rochester’s own Charlie Landsman. This one-of-a-kind music and comedy show is a rollercoaster ride of catchy melodies, irreverent humor, and improvisation that will have you laughing, singing, and tapping your feet all night long. Whether you're a fan of comedy, music, or simply a good time, Stand Up & Get Down is a show you won't want to miss.

Game Show! Game Show! Game Show!: A Games Show.

September 15th at 6:00pm

Experience the uproarious comedy of Rochester-native Joe Pisanzio in Game Show! Game Show! Game Show!: A Games Show. Compete against your fellow audience members in this interactive multimedia extravaganza. Engage in trivia, physical challenges, riddles, video games, and more! Charge your cell phones—this show takes interactivity to a whole new level. Witness an unforgettable show hailed by one audience member as "One of the best shows I've ever seen!"

Left For Dead Improv

September 15th at 7:30pm

They made it through the pandemic, so catch Left for Dead Improv while you still can. They have been here for many decades expressing the meaning of their exceedingly long lives through comedy–improv, sketch and standup. In addition to their performances at all the past Rochester Fringe Festivals; Left For Dead Improv has made them laugh nationally at comedy festivals in Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Providence and Washington, DC; They now perform regularly at the Focus Theater in downtown Rochester.

Hazcomedy Presents: Actual Stand up Comedy

September 15th at 9:00pm

Hazcomedy Presents an array of his favorite comedians to the stage with stories, anecdotes, and zingers for a night of delights, featuring comedians from Rochester, Buffalo, and surrounding areas. This comedy showcase of different styles and deliveries will make anyone 18+ laugh their heads off! Hosted by comedian Chris Hasenauer (@hazcomedy)

Defiant Monkey Improv Presents: The Weird Show

September 16th at 2:00pm

Want to get weird at the Fringe? Then Defiant Monkey Improv has the show for you! Karen and Andy, the First Couple of Comedy, dug deep into their Cabinet of Curiosities and pulled out some of their strangest improvisational games, so get ready for the unexpected. Improv is comedy made up on-the-spot using suggestions given by the audience. Unlike stand-up, Karen and Andy never make fun of the audience; they have fun with them! Brace yourselves—this show is definitely going to get weird!

Stand Up & Get Down

September 16th at 4:00pm

Get ready to Stand Up & Get Down with Rochester’s own Charlie Landsman. This one-of-a-kind music and comedy show is a rollercoaster ride of catchy melodies, irreverent humor, and improvisation that will have you laughing, singing, and tapping your feet all night long. Whether you're a fan of comedy, music, or simply a good time, Stand Up & Get Down is a show you won't want to miss.

Thank You Kiss Presents: Late Expectations

September 16th at 6:00pm

Satire and wit abound at Thank You Kiss sketch comedy shows. Critics have lauded the group as “laugh-out-loud funny” with “‘hell yes’ social commentary.” Thank You Kiss blends satire, sincerity and silliness through sketch, improv and video. Marc D’Amico, Megan Mack, John Forrest Thompson and Beth Winslow studied and worked at renowned comedy theatres including iO, The Second City and The Annoyance. The group is a winner of The Missouri Review’s prestigious Miller Audio Prize for Humor.

Guilt & Mirrors BROADly Speaking

September 16th at 7:30pm

Venture into No Man's Land with Guilt and Mirrors, a comedy troupe showcasing the talents of five spicy, irreverent, and highly seasoned comediennes. These funny women know how to tear it up and leave it all on stage. BROADly Speaking! makes its world premiere at the Fringe. Don’t miss their unique brand of Improv. They adore the absurd, revel in the ridiculous, and crave crazy. Free-form, long-form, and form-fitting, these ladies will capture your heart and have you busting a gut.

Ants to Gods: Population Overload

September 16th at 9:00pm

One of The Focus Theater's most popular improv acts is back! Ants to Gods is an irreverent improv comedy troupe hailing from Rochester, NY., known for their uncanny ability to find humor in the darkest scenarios. In Population Overload, the audience decides where the show takes place. Three improvisers play every character in a crowded apartment building, jam-packed football stadium, overbooked cruise ship or whatever busy location the audience can throw at them.

Gimlick - A Comedic Experience

September 17th at 2:00pm

See the world through Gimlick’s eyes… if you dare! Sometimes surreal, occasionally unsettling, reliably ridiculous— this is a comedy experience by three women searching for their place in the universe and maximum female pleasure. They give advice for how to deal with modern technology, rabies, unwanted body hair, and demonic rituals. Gimlick features Rochester natives Kate Armstrong and Irene Rising, and Marisa Caruso. Instagram: @gimlickcomedy | Facebook: @gimlickcomedy | YouTube: @GimlickComedy

Game Show! Game Show! Game Show!: A Games Show.

September 17th at 4:00pm

Experience the uproarious comedy of Rochester-native Joe Pisanzio in Game Show! Game Show! Game Show!: A Games Show. Compete against your fellow audience members in this interactive multimedia extravaganza. Engage in trivia, physical challenges, riddles, video games, and more! Charge your cell phones—this show takes interactivity to a whole new level. Witness an unforgettable show hailed by one audience member as "One of the best shows I've ever seen!"

Dilal & Eggleton

September 17th at 6:00pm

Dilal & Eggleton present Beside Ourselves: a Variety Show. Meet Anna and Chrissy: like Two Broke Girls, but hotter, funnier, and broker. A pair of pals who’ve overcome bad luck, minimum wage, and being more talented than the guys they've met on Tinder, now give you live improvised comedy! See the bestie duo along with some of their extra special guests (a.k.a. extra special friends).

Gimlick - A Comedic Experience

September 17th at 7:30pm

See the world through Gimlick’s eyes… if you dare! Sometimes surreal, occasionally unsettling, reliably ridiculous— this is a comedy experience by three women searching for their place in the universe and maximum female pleasure. They give advice for how to deal with modern technology, rabies, unwanted body hair, and demonic rituals. Gimlick features Rochester natives Kate Armstrong and Irene Rising, and Marisa Caruso. Instagram: @gimlickcomedy | Facebook: @gimlickcomedy | YouTube: @GimlickComedy

Guilt & Mirrors BROADly Speaking

September 20th at 6:00pm

Venture into No Man's Land with Guilt and Mirrors, a comedy troupe showcasing the talents of five spicy, irreverent, and highly seasoned comediennes. These funny women know how to tear it up and leave it all on stage. BROADly Speaking! makes its world premiere at the Fringe. Don’t miss their unique brand of Improv. They adore the absurd, revel in the ridiculous, and crave crazy. Free-form, long-form, and form-fitting, these ladies will capture your heart and have you busting a gut.

Catharsis Time 2.0

September 20th at 7:30pm

Catharsis Time is back and better than ever! Join us this year for two performances as twenty local storytellers share real-life stories. Many of these snippets of truth have never been uttered before. You're in for a treat whether you laugh, cringe or cry, as some of Rochester's best bare their souls in front of a live audience.