New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



Atsuko Okatsuka: The Big Bowl Tour

Thursday, April 09, 2026 @ 7:30pm



McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

Atsuko Okatsuka is an award winning comedian and actress making waves across the globe with her one-of-a-kind humor, boundless energy, and infectious charm. Her highly anticipated second stand-up special, FATHER, recently premiered on Hulu and internationally on Disney+. It quickly occupied the top ten on the streamer and had multiple clips go viral, making it one of the most talked about specials to debut on the Hularious brand. Following the success of FATHER she recently announced The Big Bowl tour which will hit multiple cities across North America.  

Her previous special, THE INTRUDER (HBO), won a Gracie Award for “Best Comedy Special”; The New York Times called it the “Best Debut Special of 2022” and Vulture and Variety named it one of the “Best Specials of 2022”. Atsuko's unique style of comedy — blending joy with vulnerability and unforgettable storytelling — is captivating audiences worldwide. 

Her 2024-2025 FULL GROWN tour was a massive success, selling out over 200 shows in more than 100 cities across 20+ countries. Atsuko’s comedic antics continue to go viral, and clips from THE INTRUDER have racked up over 100 million views. Her energy and humor earned her a spot on The Live List 2023 (in partnership with Paste Magazine, SARA Live, and The Black List). Whether it's her hilarious antics or her knack for being a trendsetter, Atsuko’s impact is undeniable and widespread. 

Outside of her stand-up career, Atsuko is taking over Hollywood with roles in two films that debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival—ALL THAT WE LOVE directed by Yen Tan and GROUP THERAPY directed by Neil Berkely, produced by Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Productions. She also wrapped filming OUTCOME (Apple+), a comedy featuring Jonah Hill and Keanu Reeves and made her Pixar debut in the 2025 film ELIO (Disney). 

Atsuko’s viral moments are as legendary as her stand-up. From riding a Jeepney in the Philippines to starting the #DropChallenge that helped bring Beyoncé’s “Partition” back onto the charts, she’s a true queen of the internet. Her fans have even shown up at her shows wearing wigs styled like her signature bowl cut — a testament to how deeply she connects with her audience. 

She took home a Gracie Award for “Best Special” in 2023 for THE INTRUDER and was nominated for “Best Comedian” at the Wowie Awards. Variety named her one of the “10 Comics to Watch” in 2022, and Vulture crowned her late-night debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden as a win. 

On TV, she’s appeared in HISTORY OF THE WORLD PT. II (Hulu), ROOM 104 (HBO), and THE SHOW NEXT DOOR WITH RANDALL PARK (ROKU+). She was also recently featured on This American Life with Ira Glass, where she shared her inspiring immigrant story and talked about how she and her grandmother created the viral #DropChallenge together. 

Atsuko’s not just a comedy star — she’s a force of nature who’s teamed up with brands like Apple, Amazon Prime, Genesis, Priceline, Kind Bar, Secret Deodorant, and Kikori Whiskey. And with FATHER, she joins the “Hularious” comedy family alongside Jim Gaffigan, Bill Burr, Roy Wood Jr., and Ilana Glazer.  

Atsuko Okatsuka is proof that humor has no borders. Whether on stage, in viral videos, or on screen, her distinctive bowl cut is hard to forget and will leave you wanting more. 




For information on how your event can be listed, click here



 

Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month,
click here for info

UPCOMING EVENTS




 

Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month,
click here for info


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- From June 4 through October 15, 2026 (except for July 2), Classic American Tales (CAT) once more presents Tales at the Dormer House in which guests are treated to lemonade and tasty treats while listening to stories written by noteworthy authors, read by a variety of performers. The schedule is 4:00pm every Thursday at the historic Dormer House Bed and Breakfast (800 Columbia Avenue) in Cape May, NJ. Performances are on the front porch, weather permitting.



2026-27

2026-27 Season Preview: Split Level Concerts at Jersey Shore Arts Center

(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Split Level Concerts at the Jersey Shore Arts Center (JSAC) in Ocean Grove has announced the full concert lineup for its third season. All shows will take place beginning at 8:00pm in JSAC's Palaia Theater. The season lineup includes Willie Nile, John Gorka, Dan Bern, Catie Curtis and Band, Stephen Kellogg, Abbie Gardner, Heather Maloney and Band, and Kim Richey. As they have done in prior years, artists from the Asbury Park music scene will open many of the shows.



East

East Lynne Theater Company presents the New Jersey Premiere of "Lunar Eclipse" by Donald Margulies

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- East Lynne Theater Company presents the New Jersey Premiere of Lunar Eclipse by Donald Margulies from August 27 through September 20, 2026. In the play, George has been waiting for this night – the seven stages of a lunar eclipse are viewable from the farm that he shares with his wife Em – and she decides to join him in taking in the view.



45th

45th Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will Take Place September 4th through October 4th

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The 45th Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place between September 4 - October 4, 2026. As they have been doing the last few years, the festival will be presented as a hybrid with select in-person screenings at Rutgers University and most of the films available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. The festival also be offering an Audio-Visual Concert featuring the bands Lawns and Hanging Coats as well as two FREE Filmmaking Workshops.



Nearly

Nearly One-Third of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival Lives at Cannonball This September

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Nearly one-third of the 2026 Philadelphia Fringe Festival comes to life at Cannonball Festival this September, as more than 100 artists present bold new work across five stages in a nonstop celebration of fearless live performance. Celebrating its sixth year, Cannonball is the largest hub of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, championing a revolutionary artist-led model that prioritizes equity, experimentation, and community connection.












LATEST COLUMNS


BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 8/10/26

Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Des & the Swagmatics, Bamberdost, Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves, Jonny Couch, Sean Henry Tonight!, and Ava LaMonte. Plus a look back at "Duluth" by Particle Zoo.




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Soaked" by Kiaura Rose

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Soaked" from Kiaura Rose's debut seven-song debut album, "Vagrant."




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 08/06/2026

"I am great! I was in California last weekend and just got back, I have the day off and I'm getting to chat with you so everything is great," says Monster Jam monster truck driver Angelina Nock as she let us in on the profession, her background and what we can expect when she gets behind the wheel of Megalodon at Newark's Prudential Center August 14 through 16.




This Week in Music

Here is a look at shows taking place this week along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas