JOIN THIS TOP BANANA
FOR THE RIDE OF THE SUMMER

If you’re heading to the Nederlander Theatre expecting Jeff Ross to come out swinging with savage roasts about Charlie Sheen’s liver or Elon Musk’s social skills, that ain’t Take a Banana for the Ride. Written and performed by the actor, this is not your typical comedy special but a true Broadway show that is part stand-up, part memoir, and part theatrical tribute to Ross’s family and friends, his personal tribe. The self-appointed “Roastmaster General” turns the roast on himself — and he has a lot of material. In 90 surprisingly touching and consistently hilarious minutes, Ross tells the story of his life, from losing his parents young, to being raised by his awesome grandfather, to surviving colon cancer. The title is a real quote from his grandpa, who used to hand him a banana before he left the house with the advice, “Take a banana for the ride!” Ross turns that banana into a symbol of love, survival, and persistence.

Don’t worry, the edge is still there. Ross quickly roasts audience members but he is not cruel, and he does not need to seriously offend anybody to get a laugh, he is smarter than that. He roasts like a guy handing you an insult and a hug at the same time. Each section is timed for optimal psychological contrast: moments of grief are quickly buffered by laughter, ensuring the audience doesn’t linger too long in discomfort, and you feel the weight of each story before the next punch line land. Adding an unusual layer of atmosphere are the two very talented live musicians on stage: pianist and music director Asher Denburg and violinist Felix Herbst, both trained at Berklee College of Music. A few well-placed piano chords and a violin phrase turn jokes into thoughts and memories into music.

From the beginning, he turns the joke on the younger version of himself highlighting his buck teeth, getting beaten up in karate, earning the nickname “Kosher Kai,” and his self-deprecating style immediately favors trust and relatability. At 12 he found out his Mom had leukemia; at 19 he lost his Dad, and when he tells you about these tragedies, his ability to hold space for both laughter and sorrow reflects a high degree of emotional intelligence. Ross uses humor as a psychological armor; the banana is a symbol he returns to again and again because of its thick skin, another kind of armor. The banana may be bruised but it’s still eatable. It is classic callback structure, allowing early jokes to return with deeper resonance later on until the end, and this layering technique gives the piece cohesion and emotional payoff.

Scenic designer Beowulf Boritt creates one of the most effective theatrical tools in the show: video screens of various dimensions, encased in museum-like frames, which form a striking visual backdrop at the rear of the stage. These digital displays serve multiple purposes: projecting archival photos, home videos, comedic interjections, and visual cues that guide the emotional journey. When Ross speaks about his grandfather or Gilbert Gottfried, their faces fill the screens behind him, turning personal anecdotes into shared, visual memory. Boritt embraces simplicity with intention and improves it with multimedia tools that intensify, rather than distract from, the storytelling.

Ross’s costume by Toni-Leslie James also carries meaning: his literal and metaphorical “banana suit” — a bright yellow outfit that manages to be funny and strangely stylish — is a wink at the show’s title, sure, but it’s also flamboyant and impossible to ignore. Lighting by Adam Honoré and sound by Daniel Lundberg merge into a cohesive experience that elevates the show’s moods and tones.

Take a Banana for the Ride is tight, well-paced, and directed by Stephen Kessler with just enough theatricality to remind you this isn’t just a comedy special with a fancier backdrop. This is Ross’s real Broadway debut and it shows. It is rich with strategies for processing heartache, loss, memory, and identity through laughter. Who knew the Roastmaster General, someone known for sharp jabs and celebrity takedowns, has this much heart? Disarmingly personal and surprisingly profound, Take a Banana for the Ride proves Ross can still dish it out, but now he’s serving potassium with the punchlines. By the time he’s finished, you don’t just leave laughing — you leave wanting to take his advice, peel in hand, ready for the ride.

photos by Emilio Madrid

JEFF ROSS: TAKE A BANANA FOR THE RIDE
Nederlander Theatre, 208 West 41st Street
ends on September 28, 2025
for tickets, visit Jeff Ross Broadway