The Abby Bender Schmantze Theatre joins Circuit Arts to host No Bones: A Comedy Festival of Humerus Proportions with performances at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse in Vineyard Haven and the Strand Theatre in Oak Bluffs.
Over the course of five days, from May 6 through May 10, the comedy festival promises to deliver a comedic assemblage of variety, improv, sketch, stand-up, storytelling and dance shows that explore the nature of surprise in comedy.
“I never in a million years thought that I’d have a more vital, vivacious, active, creative scene here than I did in New York City,” said Ms. Bender. “There’s constantly new people coming out of the woodwork that want to participate.”
Ms. Bender said the shows will bring together 14 different acts from around Martha’s Vineyard, New York City and elsewhere, to showcase the breadth of what makes something comic. Vineyard performers include a show by TBD Improv on May 6 and multiple nights of variety shows featuring local talent. There will also be performances by nationally recognized comedians Susan Rice (May 8) and Ophira Eisenberg (May 10).
A clowning workshop led by Jeff and Buttons and Tallie takes place on May 9.
“I think comedy forces us to take a breath and because it reframes things, it forces us to laugh at ourselves and at other people,” said Ms. Bender. “There’s so many different kinds of comedy in this particular festival.”
Tickets and more details can be found at circuitarts.org/nobones.
This article appears in May 1, 2026.