April 2, 2016

An Oral History of a Buffalo Comedy Institution: Nietzsche’s

In 2006, when Kristen Becker started the Doin' Time Comedy Showcase at Nietzsche's on Allen St. in Buffalo, there were about 8 comics in town and no comedy scene to speak of. Now, 10 years later, Nietzsche's is one room among many. Buffalo has its own club, a Helium. There are open mics and showcases and themed comedy nights and other assorted gigs almost every night of the week, and there are 30, 40, 50, maybe even more comics filling those slots and slinging jokes for love and (sometimes) money. (Sometimes.) But none of it would have been possible if Kristen Becker hadn't started that first open mic in a divey music venue in Allentown.