Jeff Ross Broadway show takes stage

Broadway debut of Jeff Ross blends storytelling, music, and tribute with his roast persona.

Jeff Ross Turns Personal Stories into Broadway Success and Announces More Roasts

Jeff Ross opens Take A Banana For The Ride at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway, running from August 18 to September 28. The one man show shifts away from the bite of his famous roasts and toward an intimate, autobiographical narrative that includes his family, a long battle with cancer, and friends who influenced his career. The production features original music written with Avery Pearson, creating a stage experience that mixes storytelling with song and audience interaction.

Beyond the personal history, Ross reflects on the arc of his career in roast culture, recalling early days at the Friars Club, the Tom Brady roast, and the headlines that followed. He notes the recent foreclosure of the Friars Club’s New York headquarters as a sobering backdrop to his rise. The show also includes musical moments and a line that signals his intent to blend humor with heart, presenting a tribute to loved ones who shaped his path. He hints at future projects and Netflix roasts while embracing Broadway as a new home for this evolving act.

Ross’s move from sharp line jokes to a deeply personal, music-infused show mirrors a wider trend in stand-up toward solo storytelling. By turning pain into performance, he invites a broader audience to see him as a storyteller who can laugh at hardship and still wield a crowd-pleasing punch. This shift can expand his appeal beyond traditional roast fans and into theatergoers who crave character-driven narratives.

Yet the format carries risk. A veteran roast comedian must prove that vulnerability does not dilute the edge audiences expect. The theater setting stretches the balance between reverence for friends and the kind of fearless jokemaking that defined his career. The backdrop of financial and institutional change, including the Friars Club foreclosure, adds a subtle tension about institutions and legacy in a business built on loyalty, spectacle, and money. The question now is whether this hybrid can sustain momentum on another stage and in future projects.

Highlights

The stage is Ross’s new proving ground, where humor and memory meet under bright lights.