Yes , you could go to a strip social club ; that ’s certainly one way to spend an eve . But if you ’d rather not surround yourself with annoying disk jockey and questionable upholstery , burlesque is a great choice to see some skin in a merriment , low - pressure environment that you could actually get a date to ( not that we do n’t have it off people who take first dates to slip clubs ) . Little known fact : Chicago is a Brobdingnagian burlesque Ithiel Town , and it ’s only getting bigger . Here ’s how to get in on the action .
< h2 > Gorilla Tango at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venue / gorilla - tango - theatre" ; target="_blank”>Gorilla Tango Theatre
< em > Bucktown When: Fridays at 10:30pm , and Saturdays at 9 pm and 10:30pm < br />Gorilla Tango has been a crucial locomotive driving the monolithic growth of the Chicago burlesque scene in late years , with an ever - exposit roster of deliciously naughty film- and TV - burlesque shows ranging from < em > Game of Thongs : A Game of Thrones < em > Burlesque and < em > A Nude Hope : A < /em > Star Wars < em > Burlesque to < em > Ghostbusty : A < /em > Ghostbusters < em > Burlesque and < em > Holy Bouncing Boobies ! A < /em > Batman < em > Burlesque . GT is bonk for its sense of humour and committedness to characters which , when you ’re parody sci - fi , is as substantive as engage your clothes off.<!– single line template – >
Trixie Sparxs | Flickr/Rosalyn davis
< h2> Vaudeville at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venue / drink / chicago / bar / bordel" ; target="_blank”>Bordel
< em > West Town When: Fridays at 9pm(?)The plush , red - velvet environment of < a href=“https://www.thrillist.com / drink / chicago / how - to - get - into - secret - bars - in- … ; target="_blank”>Wicker Park ’s secret speakeasy above Black Bull are tailor - made for burlesque , and every Friday thing get eldritch when Vaudeville rolls in with a rotating form of burlesque dancers , magician , and decoration / tarot reader . Peep tight bodies in tight leather fit out as they pop out Champagne-Ardenne bottles and twirl tassel , in between withdraw blade and piercing their breasts with phonograph needle . There are also flaming eaters and < em > eye Wide Shut < /em > masks , and , if you feel yourself acquire a piffling faint , you’re able to always set up solid food from Black Bull ’s card ( served late ) .
< h2> Kiss Kiss Cabaret at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / uptown - underground-60640" ; target="_blank”>Uptown Underground
Fellowship Of The Boobs, Gorilla Tango Theater | Flickr/Fellowship oftheBoobs
< em > Uptown When: Every Wednesday at 8 pm , and Friday / Saturday at 10pm < br /> Kiss Kiss Cabaret dedicate itself to the art of the old - schooltime burlesque show , titillating its consultation with more than just the tease by throwing in a range of floor show acts , from wisecrack hosts and bowl pin jugglers to musicians and balloon fauna swallowers . The burlesque is classic yet red-hot , but do n’t be surprised to see a dude with a favorite scamp on his shoulder . Hey , it happens.<!– unmarried line template – >
< h2 > Burlesque at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / locus / drink / chicago / bar / the - drifter - chicago&qu … ; target="_blank”>The Drifter
< em > River North When: Whenever the sin they feel like it < br />As soon as you recruit the tiny space of bona fide Chicago speakeasy The Drifter , you know you ’ve walk in on an intimate secret . With space for 37 soul and drinks on tarot cards in a atavist den below the Green Door Tavern ( which was an actual speakeasy during ban ) , the burlesque survive down quick and dirty with no announcement and no advance warning , on a humble stage that makes it sense like the show is just for you . member of the Chicago Starlets shake their stuff in between musicians and variety act amidst vintage décor that will have you longing for the right old days of Prohibition . Almost .
The Kiss Kiss Cabaret | Flickr/guyf.wicke
< h2> Vaudezilla! at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venue / stage-773" ; target="_blank”>Stage 773
< em > Lakeview When: Saturdays ( and sometimes Fridays ) at 10:30pm < br />Red Hot Annie and her crew at < em > Vaudezilla! attempt to create an all - encompassing burlesque experience with fresh shows that change casts every week and Modern themes monthly . Accepting of all form and body types , Vaudezilla also helps madam research their sexuality at their studio apartment with burlesque instruction courses ranging from “ Nude position ” to “ Boa Dancing . ” The show is available for hire as well , so you may make your boss super uncomfortable at the next incorporated retreat with a glorious rendition of the popular review < em > Rollin ' Outta Here au naturel : A < /em > Big Lebowski < em > Burlesque.<!– single line templet – >
< h2> Unbridled at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venue / drink / chicago / bar / untitled" ; target="_blank”>Untitled
Gin Fizz | Vaudezilla - Chicago Burlesque Shows & Classes
< em > River North When: Thursdays 10pm < br />It ’s no enigma that external burlesque star ( and ego - styled “ Most Naked Woman ” ) Michelle L’amour has one of the coolest business in Chicago . But when you fuse that with one of Chicago ’s < a href=“https://www.thrillist.com / drink / chicago / chicago - s-10 - best - whiskey - bars- … ; target="_blank”>top whisky bars , and the < a href=“https://www.thrillist.com / drink / chicago / the - best - bars - with - hot - medicine - i … ; target="_blank”>best bar for live music in River North , you ’ve got a serious party on your paw . And , unlike most burlesque shows around town , admission here is totally spare . L’amour yell the hebdomadary show < em > Spectacle, which , naturally , think power sanders , freaky face paint , insane acrobat , etc . You ’ve catch ta see it for yourself .
< h2> No - Tell Motel at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venue / drink / chicago / prevention / debonair - social - club&q … ; target="_blank”>Debonair Social Club
< em > Wicker Park When : < /strong > Wednesdays at 10pm < br />Your Wednesday nights will never be the same after experiencing this long - course gibbosity solar day extravaganza , heating up Wicker Park ’s preeminent hipster saltation nightclub as burlesque dancers with epithet like Dizzy Lizzy feel imaginative unexampled way of life to work out power electric sander while lento disrobing in the dark basement den of Debonair Social Club , which is revamped weekly to make it look like a French noir flophouse . It ’s sort of like that motion picture < em > Showgirls . Except rather of being " so bad it ’s just , " it ’s just true - up good.<!– undivided line guide – >
No Tell Cabaret
< h2> Naughty Little Cabaret at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / mothers-60610" ; target="_blank”>Original Mothers
< em > Gold Coast When: Every Saturday ( and sometimes Friday ) at 8pm < br />Burlesque ai n’t just for the lady , lady . Dudes can get in on the act , too , as tell by Chicago ’s only male burlesque and miscellany show . While featuring acts with awe-inspiring erotica name like Bazuka Joe and Tommy Gunn , the show is less < em > Magic Mike pelvic thrusts and more flirtatious teasing with dirty Sinatra - esque Emcee Rob Racine working the crew alongside flack dancers , contortionists , classically take aim dancers , and “ pole artists . ” Get in the mood with a secret plan of tipsy Jenga or psychic session before the show.<!– single cable guide – >
< h2> The Original Tease at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venues / boozing / chicago / bars / lincoln - tap - room" ; target="_blank”>Lincoln Tap Room
Burlesco - Live music, burlesque, and vaudeville revue
< em > Lakeview When: Second Friday of the calendar month at 9:30pm , 10:30pm , and 11:30 promethium < br />Recently celebrating its third anniversary , this retro burlesque act gets back to the basics with authoritative showgirl amble , high kicks , and the whipping of hearing members with a feather buff . Local comic Adam Burke keeps the vibe light and inviting in a laid - back prospect feature some of the most well know dancers in local burlesque including Stella Cheeks and Donna Touch . Three show a night mean the drink keep flowing and the crowds stay rowdy .
< h2> Burlesco at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / venue / eat / chicago / eating place / honky - tonk - bbq&q … ; target="_blank”>Honky Tonk BBQ
< em > Pilsen When: Fourth Saturday of the month at 10pm < br />First , Honky Tonk BBQ infiltrated the Pilsen hipster scene with live country band and standout brisket and mac & amp ; cheese . Now they ’ve carve a place for themselves in the local burlesque arena with an eye - pleasing routine of traditional burlesque soundtracked by ear - pleasing live euphony from Grit & amp ; the Double Knit . Expect a blues - heavy , sultry evening of hip swaying mischievousness punctuated by the risque knife play of “ The World ’s Most severe Comic ” Mark the Knife , with plenty of sauciness both onstage and off.<!– single line template – >
< h2> The Big Sexy Show at < a href=“http://www.thrillist.com / node/4272326" ; target="_blank”>Comedy Bar Chicago
< em > River North When: Saturdays at 11pm < br />Michelle L’amour continues her domination of the Chicago burlesque scene with this late - dark cabaret show at Downtown ’s only comedy club where comedy , burlesque , vaudeville , and euphony jar alongside a rotating shape of more than 50 performers . place above Gino ’s East , the piazza can get a little touristy but more than piss up for it with a fun , lighthearted show where percentage of your slate price go to fight Alzheimer ’s . plow out looking at boobies is the newest descriptor of philanthropy!<a class=“vortex - subject " data - campaign=“2830 " href=“https://signup.thrillist.com/" ; target="_blank”>Sign up here for our casual Chicago email and be the first to get all the food / drink / playfulness in town. Jay Gentile is a Thrillist contributor and he is a little nervous to see the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man take it all off during < /em > Ghostbusters < em > burlesque . Calm his nightmares < a href=“https://twitter.com / innerviewmag" ; target="_blank”>@innerviewmag
