Empire State Building to Host Its First-Ever Comedy Show

The one-night-only stand-up show is the brainchild of Underground Overground Comedy, a New York City collective known for staging events in unconventional venues. Founded by native New Yorkers David Levine and Ethan Mansoor, the group has previously hosted sold-out shows in locations ranging from Katz's Deli and Peter Luger's to laundromats and vintage shops. For a $200 ticket, attendees get more than just laughs; the price includes an open bar, food from the iconic Katz's Deli, and a 75-minute live comedy set inside the Empire Lounge, a space not typically open to the public. The lineup of performers remains a secret, a common practice for Underground Overground shows. After the comedy set, guests will have after-hours access to the building's second-floor museum and the main 86th-floor observation deck. Standard adult admission to the 86th-floor observatory alone typically costs around $44. This event is part of a broader effort to offer new experiences within the landmark, which recently underwent a $165 million renovation of its observatory experience. The renovation added a 10,000-square-foot museum on the second floor with interactive exhibits on the building's history and role in pop culture. While this is the first official comedy show, the Empire State Building has hosted other live performances. In 2022, Dutch DJ Martin Garrix performed a set on the 86th-floor observatory, which was synchronized with a tower light show. Musicians like Billy Idol have also performed at the iconic location. The building frequently uses its lighting system for cultural events, creating synchronized music-to-light shows with artists like Alicia Keys and Eminem. It has also been lit to commemorate events such as the final tour of the band KISS and to serve as a scoreboard during presidential elections.