Head to Chicago's Best Comedy Theaters & Shows for a Laugh After This Long Week

Chicago ’s the city where improv drollery was make and cultivate , so it ’s only fitting that today it serves as America ’s incubator for up and coming comedic gift . With sketch , standstill - up , and improv picture here every night of the hebdomad , it ’s no easy task sorting through the litany of dramatic art and showcases around Ithiel Town . You might even say trying to narrow down the list of Chicago ’s risible venue to the 22 honorable single would be laughable … [ pause for moan ] . We ’ve done it regardless , see one or see all , just do n’t wear off yourself out .

The trusty standbys

The Second City & UP Comedy Club

Safe to say the company that activate the career of national treasures like Bill Murray , Tina Fey , Stephen Colbert , Key & Peele , and uncounted othersis fairly legendary . You ca n’t go wrong with tickets to the two - act sketch revues on either the Mainstage or ETC ( buy in forward motion though ) , and UP draws a nice mix of comic hitting their prime , like Pete Holmes , TJ Miller , and Amy Schumer .

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Some call it the mecca of improv funniness ( just do n’t call it Improv Olympic ™ ) because it ’s where retentive - form improv pack shape and continues to be an influence worldwide . Performances by Revolver and The Improvised Shakespeare Company are expect view . Make it a power point to catch a Wednesday night set from master improvisers TJ & Dave , who spin hour - long show with no scripting at all that are adequate function hysterical and heartfelt .

The Annoyance Theater

eff for its dark and self-assertive tone – no other theatre could draw off shows like Skinprov or Holy Fuck Comedy Hour – The Annoyance is dwelling house to at least a 12 must - see shows any give hebdomad . Having settled into its new Lakeview digs with two stages and a friendly ginmill , contrive to be thrilled / shocked by the absurd , uncensored , and penetrative wit from an ever - growing list of exciting performers .

Zanies Comedy Club

Zanies has account . It ’s one of the oldest continually operate clubs in the commonwealth ( the web site conception can certify to that ) , and continues to offer a stacked list of touring comedian every night of the week . Be on the lookout man for a hometown hero like Hannibal Buress to hold on in . This is an old - school comedy golf-club at its very good .

Jokes and Notes

Jam - packed with nationally tour bandstand - ups and olympian Chicago talents , Jokes and Notes delivers a steady stream of laugh to Chicago ’s South Side . Owner Mary Lindsey has had a hand in make for up enactment like Chris Rock , Dave Chappelle , and Mo’Nique , so do n’t overlook an chance to see who ’s coming up next .

ComedySportz Theater

If you ’ve been fuck to orgy - spotter episodes ofWhose Line is it Anyway?you’ll palpate correct at home in Chicago ’s home of unforesightful - conformation comedy . Since 1987 , ComedySportz has slickly combined element of athletic competition , empty - headed humor , and direful / incredible paronomasia into an exciting and occupy crime syndicate - friendly show .

Go-to sketch and improv theaters

Stage 773

Stage 773 is funniness festival central , playing horde to the massive Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival as well as the Chicago Women ’s Funny Festival and Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival . Throw in the metropolis ’s longest - run musical comedy , Cupid Has a Heart On , and a batch of other independently produced showcases , and you ’ve got yourself an well-heeled go - to choice for comedic amusement .

The Public House Theater

Chicago is full of comedy show where the joke are bring out to the bars . The Public House Theater , however , switch that 180 degrees and ply a casual bar atmosphere to two professional stages . In fact , many of the theater ’s offerings include a free drink in the tag cost , give you a drumhead start for its marquee show , Bye Bye Liver : The Chicago Drinking frolic .

The Neo-Futurists

The Neo - Futurists have been writing and performing newfangled material every hebdomad since 1988 in an attempt to perform 30 plays in 60 minutes for their flagship show , Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go unreasoning . Every nighttime is a gamble ( a good gamble ): rolling die to fix your just the ticket price , getting to partake a pizza with the whole crowd if they sell out , and , of course , mayhap never seeing the end of a play ; for when the clock runs out , the show is over – no matter what . Oh , and there ’s always the possibility of nudity , contortionism , or something else you ’ll have no clue how to adequately describe to your carbon monoxide gas - workers on Monday morning .

CIC Theater

Among the growing harvest of comedy venue in Lakeview , CIC is the underrated black box theater that delivers the same calibre of improv and variety of acts as its more mainstream opposite number . Check out the weekend home squad nights , experimental resume show , and Pimprov ( at least once for the gimmick ) .

Independent stand-up and variety showcases to seek out

Comedians You Should Know at Timothy O’Toole’s

On its face , CYSK may look like just another backroom prevention mic being stationed inTimothy O’Toole ’s Pub . But make no error , it ’s one of the most highly view stand - up display case in Chicago . You will see top - nick performances from the best local comics the metropolis has to offer , along with the occasional drop - in set from larger home human activity .

Subterranean

It ’s Chicago ’s longest - running indie comedy showcase for good reason . Just check out the tilt ofnotable grad . While Second City is the breeding priming coat for SNL ’s top talents , The Lincoln Lodge is where headline comedians find their voice , experiment with role , sketches , or snatch that bring more visual form than “ guy fend on stage withstand mike . ”

The Green Mill

bill as a “ weekly live magazine , ” each Saturday at 3 pm , comedic performers , teller , and musicians settle upon thehistoric Green Millto put on one hell of a variety show . draw up a Capone kiosk rump early on ( the show is loose and sate up ) , order a classy cocktail , and prepare to take in all the jest from the week that was .

Beat Kitchen

serve up a rotating cast of some of Chicago ’s best up - and - coming viewpoint - ups copulate with local drawing and dear lollipops , ChUC – as it ’s affectionately referred to – is a warm way for coolheaded act .

Flat Iron Comedy

Navigate your style through the Radclyffe Hall of the historical Flat Iron Arts Building to the Salon at Collaboraction Theatre and you ’ll find yourself inside an excitingly intimate alt - comedy locale . Here , fibre is king and shows give a sweet breathing space of diverseness . Look for the Tuesday and Wednesday Nox mixture showcase and Wes Perry’sNo Boys Allowedon Saturdays .

Uncharted Books

This monthly clowning showcase stacks up among the best . Used books + fresh humor x all the beer you’re able to bring = cracking success .

The Shit Hole

The Shit Hole ’s swan aesthetic playground has grown from a fledgling clandestine show to an experimental pillar of Chicago ’s comedy biotic community . An improbably ask in show under the guise of a secret society , The Shit Hole keep a nomadic status with an ever - growing list of unrevealed spaces ( medicine venues , garages , a museum ? ! ) all over the city – only announcing show locations on the day of . The way to finding the show involves breeding via the kumite and messaging via societal media for details .

Brainstorm Comics

ointment of the crop when it comes to alternative stand - up spaces , fall away inside this free show packed with nerdy enthusiasm and charming up - and - arrival .

The WIP Theater

The WIP has garnered a reputation for taking slap-up charge of patrons in its quaint nightclub , showcasing a great mix of tour sales booth - up number and local dearie . BYOB for now , though they contrive on finishing mental synthesis on their bar early in 2016 . So rush if you care to drink on the cheap .

Newcomers to the scene

The Revival

The Revival brings improvisational comedy back to Hyde Park – where it originated from the University of Chicago intellectuals in 1955 – with a gorgeous new space and a lineup of diverse and talented ensemble and comics from across the city .

Laugh Out Loud Theater Chicago

expand upon its successful theatre in Schaumburg , LOL brings its own twist to parlor - style improv clowning into the city . Featuring both folk - friendly and anything - rifle appearance , get the kids or a date , snaffle a cocktail from the old-fashioned Browning automatic rifle , and sit around back for two human action of gag .

The Crowd Theater

While possibly not Chicago ’s “ only improv drollery theater ” ( though they claim to be ) , The Crowd is sure Chicago’snewestindependent comedy theater . call forth up the scene with an ego , attitude , and unmatchable musical accompaniment of its performers , this space is quickly rising among the ranks with tasty comedy selection most every Nox of the week .

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