Things to do in Phoenix

Things to Do in Phoenix This Weekend:

Thursday The 12th

Thursday, 7:00 PM: Teachers Show. Class is in session… sort of. NCT’s improv teachers take the stage for a night of smart, silly, expertly improvised comedy, and the first half belongs to students performing. It’s a good look at where the people on our stages learned the craft, and it’s the lowest-priced show of the night at $12.78 with fees. If you’re already planning a downtown Mesa evening, it’s an easy early start before the weekend.

Friday the 13th in Downtown Mesa

Back in the spring, a Process Lab student named Carolyn walked into a scene as a Vampire. A classmate, Carmen, brought Pirate HR. Kate showed up with her grandma and, separately, an ostrich. Stock characters and a room full of people willing to commit were all it took to turn a workshop into a haunted house run by a very strange staffing agency.

That is the best argument for spending a Friday the 13th at a live improv theater. If you are looking for things to do in Phoenix this weekend, downtown Mesa has three shows on one stage, and every scene is made up on the spot. Nobody in the room knows how the night will go, including the people performing, which suits a date built around not knowing what is coming.

Neighborhood Comedy Theatre has been doing this at 214 W. Main Street since 2008, and Friday, November 13 is a full night: shows at 6:00, 7:30, and 9:30 PM. Come for one, or stay for all three.

The Friday Night Lineup

6:00 PM: Genre Jam. A pay-what-you-want jam where improvisers are split into teams, handed a genre or storytelling style, and sent out to build a set in that world. The listing mentions everything from noir to rom-com to horror, and each round is its own little show. If you have ever wanted to try improv, this is the lowest-stakes way in; the listing asks players to arrive 10 minutes early to be put on a team.

7:30 PM: The Main Street Comedy Show featuring singer-songwriter Dani. Part storytelling night, part improv show. A guest storyteller shares funny true stories, and the cast turns them into scenes right in front of you. This week’s storyteller is Dani, a singer-songwriter based in downtown Mesa, and the listing hopes for a song or two along the way. The show is popular, and NCT recommends reserving ahead.

9:30 PM: One Knight Adventure. A live fantasy adventure that mixes Dungeons & Dragons, improv, and immersive theater. It is set in a magical tavern where every doorway leads somewhere different, with a new quest and new characters each time, and the audience gets pulled into the story. It is the late-night pick for anyone who has ever rolled a twenty-sided die.

Make a Night of It in Downtown Mesa

The theater shares its building with The Sacred Pint Taproom, so a drink before the show or between shows is built in. Start with dinner downtown, catch the 7:30 Main Street show, and decide over a drink whether you are heading home or staying for the late set. If you are coming from Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, or Gilbert, the schedule gives you room to do it as a full evening rather than a quick drive in and out.

Tickets and What to Know

Listed prices include fees: Genre Jam is pay what you want (suggested $10), The Main Street Comedy Show is $18.51, and One Knight Adventure is $12.78. You can see everything on the NCT calendar or the CrowdWork ticket page.

The listings for these three shows do not state an age rating. If you are bringing anyone under 18, contact NCT before you buy. Can’t make Friday? The Competitive Comedy Show runs Saturday, November 14 at 7:30 PM and is an all-ages option.

Watching from the seats and thinking you would like to try it yourself? NCT teaches improv classes in Mesa from beginner levels up; start with the classes page. The Process Lab from the story above starts a new four-Sunday run on December 6 for students who have finished the core levels.

Where is NCT located?

NCT shares a space with The Sacred Pint Taproom in Downtown Mesa.
When head in and look for the secret door marked with our logo.
You’re exactly where you need to be!”

Can we get tickets at the door?
Yup, but its always way faster to buy them online.

Is there a drink minimum?
Nope, there is no drink minimum but supporting the sacred pint would be cool.

Where do we park?
There are over 5,000 FREE parking spaces available in Downtown Mesa every day!

Is there places to eat downtown?
Heck Ya! Here are some awesome restaurants in our Neighborhood.

Wanna learn more about NCT?
Check out all the cool live shows and Improv classes we do.