Emmy-nominated comedian Jeff Ross – internationally known as “The Roastmaster General” for his incendiary comedy through three decades of Celebrity Roasts – has announced he will make his Broadway debut this summer. His new theatrical one-man show, Jeff Ross: Take A Banana For The Ride, will begin previews at the Nederlander Theatre on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 with an opening night on Monday, August 18. The show will play an eight-week limited engagement through Sunday, September 29.
Hot off the record-breaking success of his Emmy-nominated GROAT (Greatest Roast of All Time): Tom Brady for Netflix, Ross offers audiences a strikingly rare insight into his life with Take A Banana For The Ride, a hilarious and cathartic comedic experience about life and human resilience. Named for his beloved grandfather’s practical and loving travel advice, this exhilaratingly intimate one-man show offers a peeled back look into the heart and soul of America’s Roastmaster – but don’t expect to get away un-skewered.
Take A Banana For The Ride will be directed on Broadway by Stephen Kessler (Vegas Vacation, Paul Williams: Still Alive), with creative consultation by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies), and dramaturgy by Seth Barrish (Mike Birbigilia: The Old Man & the Pool). The show is produced by Eric Nederlander, Robert Nederlander Jr., Marc Cornstein, and Tony Eisenberg, with ShowTown Productions serving as Executive Producer.
“Ever since my Aunt Bess took me to see Jackie Mason on Broadway when I was young, I’ve daydreamed about performing my own classy and uncensored one-man show,” said Jeff Ross. “I’m honored and excited by the opportunity to share my origin story of how I became the motherf*n Roastmaster General! This new show is designed to be a cathartic experience shared with others – I encourage you to bring friends that you care about, people that might be going through tough times. I will shake them out of it with an evening of uncensored jokes, uplifting stories, songs and even some live roasting of the bravest volunteers.”
When workshopped at the 2024 Netflix Is a Joke Festival, Jimmy Kimmel hailed Ross for staging “A very moving, very personal story…this beautiful show unveils a side of Jeff you will not forget.” John Stamos added, “to see him master both the art of humor and the depth of drama is nothing short of remarkable.”
Tickets for Take A Banana For The Ride are on sale now on Broadway Direct, the primary ticketing provider for the Nederlander Theatre.