Joe’s Pub at The Public Announces Sandra Bernhard’s "Caught Off Guard"
- katykrassner
- Oct 29
- 3 min read
December 26-31, 2025
Comedy Legend Returns for Acclaimed New Year’s Eve Run
““Since the ’80s, she has been an emblem of the city’s downtown cool, a spiky transgressive with enough cultural currency to set Broadway aflame with a one-woman show.” — The New York Times
“She's a force of nature, a trailblazer, and, most importantly, a storyteller who's always ready to push the envelope just a little bit further.” — OUT100
Joe’s Pub, a Public Theater artistic program, is thrilled to welcome back Sandra Bernhard for Caught Off Guard, her new show running for 11 performances from December 26-31. A beloved holiday tradition at Joe’s Pub for nearly twenty years, this year’s installment is fresh with new stories and songs, delivered in the American icon’s wildly funny, unfiltered and unforgettable style. The nightly run culminates with a special New Year’s Eve show that will include extra bells and whistles to welcome in 2026 - a celebration fit for this comedy queen. Tickets are on sale now at joespub.org.
Of the new show, Sandra says, “It’s been a year of playing it cool and I don’t mean in the jazz sense of the word – that would be more than we could dream of. These are crazy, how-low-can-we-go-times and Sandy doesn’t like that vibe! But she’s rising to the occasion, even when she’s Caught Off Guard, which is on a daily basis. If you like staying high, getting carried away on perfumed breezes … or if your setting is continental, a little sentimental, then Sandy is your girl. She’s there to guide you through these treacherous times with a groove, beat and style you’ve become accustomed to. Just when you think you can’t take it anymore, pick up the touch tone and reserve a seat for the one and only Sandy B. Maybe it won’t change the planet but it sure will elevate the conversation.”
About Sandra Bernhard
A successful performer, actress, singer, and author for five decades, Sandra Bernhard continues her reign in 2025, appearing in season two of the Emmy-nominated AppleTV+ series Severance, in the forthcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians (premiering December 10 on Disney+) and in the A24 feature film, Marty Supreme alongside Timothée Chalamet, directed by Josh Safdie opening Christmas Day. She recently starred as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), appeared in season two of both Survival of the Thickest (Netflix) opposite Michelle Buteau and also starred in the Page Hurwitz Netflix documentary film, Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution.
Past television credits include Ryan Murphy’s series American Horror Story and the Emmy Award winning POSE, Broad City, Difficult People, 2 Broke Girls, Brooklyn 99, You’re the Worst, Will & Grace, The Sopranos, and Roseanne. Bernhard’s most notable film credit in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy opposite Robert De Niro, won her Best Supporting Actress by the National Society of Film Critics.
Bernhard gained attention in the late ‘70s with her stand-up comedy and continues today with live stage performances throughout the U.S. and overseas. A pioneer of the one-woman show, Bernhard brings a completely unique and raucous mix of cabaret, stand-up, rock-n-roll, and social commentary.
Bernhard's film credits include The King of Comedy, for which she was awarded Best Supporting Actress by the National Society of Film Critics, Track 29, Hudson Hawk, Dinner Rush, In Bed With Madonna and the live performance film Without You I'm Nothing.
Music albums include I'm Your Woman (Polygram, 1986), Excuses for Bad Behavior (Epic, 1994) and the world music album Whatever It Takes (Mi5, 2009). She has written three books: May I Kiss You on the Lips, Miss Sandra?, Confessions of a Pretty Lady, Love, Love and Love.
She is currently in her tenth year hosting her weekly radio show “Sandyland” on SiriusXM, for which she won a broadcasting Gracie Award.
Sandra Bernhard Online