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Categories: Performing Arts, Comedy Clubs [Edit]
Neighborhood: North EndHaymarket (Orange)
State (Blue, Orange)
Government Center (Blue, Green)
Tue-Thu. 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 8:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sat. 7:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sun. 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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This was a great show, the cast is animated, happy, wonderful, REALLY GOOD! I Total Improv! And they also get the audience involved.
You can drink beer there. :D
the cast is 6 people, and lots of laughs and good times ensued. :D
GET THERE EARLY!
i can't wait to see this again. :D WOO!
Great time...straight out.
So I was looking for something to do rather than the traditional dinner/movie combo, I decided to take the lady friend to dinner and the Improv asylum. Dinner was frigging disaster seeing as parking in the North End on a Saturday night is harder them Mensa level calculus, but we finally ended up parking somewhere...then taking a cab....yea that really happened.
So the show is funny as hell and they do it all off the cuff, which was very impressive. Picture Who's Line is it Anyway, but live. Tickets were relatively cheap seeing as I would of spent about the same at the movies once you factor in concessions.
All around it was a fantastic time, I would recommend it to anyone.
The cast at the Improv was hilarious!! We had a group of 6 people and everyone really enjoyed the show. This was our second show there and both shows were completely different yet very funny! The skits were very creative and entertaining. The improv with the audience members life is always great....lets say there were some people with very interesting lives in the audience that night! =)
The tickets are a great value for the price especially since you get to see the midnight show for the price of one ticket on Sat. nights!
People thought this was:
For a good time with lots of laughter with your friends, I loveee to go to the Improv Asylum. I've been a few times with several different people. Everyone always says they love it and want come back.
When walking on Hanover St. you'll see their flag and you go down a flight of stairs. This takes you to the box office and comfy lounge with tables and a bar. You can take the drinks inside the stage area with you if you're not finished.
The cast has changed a few times but hasn't let us down yet. The shows are always good.. and they have a half off show at midnight.
Can't wait to come back!
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A little disappointing. We went to the Main Stage Show on Saturday night. Half the cast was great and the other half was so-so. One of the cast members stood out as being bad -- taking everything too far and always being really angry.
A few of the skits were really entertaining, especially the questions on the street -- Jay Leno Jaywalking-style.
The drinks were overpriced, but that is to be expected at this sort of place.
The most disappointing part was that (1) they encouraged people to show up 30 minutes early; (2) they sold beers by the buckets; (3) they have an intermission for a 1:30 show; and (4) they specifically market to group parties -- that to me indicates they want to sell everyone a lot of alcohol. Yet, when the bachelorette party ahead of us got drunk and started acting silly, they threw one of the girls out for being "too drunk." A little schizophrenic if you ask me -- the audience booed the staff as they threw her out.
Another thing to add -- be careful when buying your tickets. I was on the end of a row and had 50% of my view of the "action" blocked by giant post. I am sure that hurt my experience. Make sure they put you in the center of a section.
All-in-all, not sure I'd go back, and we had half-price tickets from the BosTix booth in Copley.
UPDATE: 8/23 -- I have decided to give this place a second try based on the strength of a few e-mails from Yelpers encouraging me to do just that. I'll update once I get a chance to head over.
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I have been here multiple times with friends and dates. This is highly recommended fun. Improve Asylum is multi-actor interactive improve sketch comedy in the round. Typically the cast is 6-8 actors and the cast rotates.
I recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early to grab your beer of wine or grab a bucket of beer to bring into the theater. I also recommend Friday night's midnight show!
Dress if very casual, the crowd in 21-40.
The only negatives would be the perpetual pub smell, that smell of stale beer and Pine-sol.
I love the Improv Asylum!
I've been a few times with several different people and everyone always has a good time. I'm always looking for different things to do at night and this is something I know I can always count on to be entertaining.
The cast changes, but still always very funny. They do a great job of bringing people on stage to incorporate into skits. That is probably by far my favorite part. Also the bucket of beers is great, and the wine isn't bad either.
I bought my tickets on Goldstar for $10 plus the $3.50 service charge, which is also an extra plus because it's extremely cheap!
I definitely recommend!
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The show was very good and I would have given this five stars if it wasn't for the issue about my tickets and my credit card.
We came across the place when we were walking around the area and thought that it would be a pretty neat thing to go see. Turn out we had an amazing time and we laughed so hard. They were really funny and it was amazing what they could have came up with on the spot.
My only advice is to buy your tickets ahead of time in person and not to order your tickets over the phone. I had order my tickets over the phone the day before and tried to get there early to pick up my tickets, but when I got there they didn't have my tickets. So luckily I could still get tickets on the spot. But there was another problem my credit card got charged for the tickets the day before and that night. It was such a pain to straighten all that out.
I'm quite a discerning critic when it comes to comedy - I don't laugh at just any Tom, Dick or Harry's 'yo mama' joke (maybe Sara's though). I was hesitant to go at first, but I decided to roll the dice and get tickets to Improv Asylum because of the killer yelp reviews (thank you) and just a general good feeling/intuition about the place. I figured if the commoners could be so positive on the venue, I could probably average about one laugh, two chuckles and a grin every 5-6 minutes.
Well, as the 5 stars indicates, I was thoroughly surprised at how good the performers were. I went to the 9pm show on Saturday (which I'm guessing features the A-team) and agree with the reviews below. The cast had great chemistry and it was just amazing how quickly they could turn something so antiquated and asinine like 'Blockbuster' into a source of belly laughs and multiple recurring jokes. It also helped that there was a bride with her bachelorette party attending who wasn't afraid to dish out dirt and give the crew great material. Better yet, with $18 buckets of beer (4 beers), the show became funnier as time passed on. We managed to take down 4 buckets between 2 guys and 1 girl (she can drink.) One critique though - I thought the improv was better than the sketches...maybe the writers should get their game up.
Great atmosphere, great cast, decently priced booze, good service...
[insert good time here]
People thought this was:
The Asylum is definitely someplace you have to go whether you live in Boston or are only visiting for a day...The skits are always changing, always funny, always current...I've been a couple of times, I was worried that the second time I went that I'd hear the same jokes, etc., but that was not the case!! I loved the attention to of the "street team" where one of the cast members brought out an audience member and started asking random people on Hanover street for marital advice (the audience member was celebrating her bachelorette party).
Speaking of bachelorette parties, that is what got me to the Improv Asylum in the first place last year...OMG is it hysterical!! If anyone is planning a bachelorette, include the IA on your list of things to do that night. If you order tickets and are the first to mention that you are going there with a bridal party, when you're there they'll call the bride-to-be onstage to get a little background info, and the next skit will be based on the info that was given (and it is all videotaped, so you can grab a copy of the DVD on the way out)...
For around $20 pp, you can't go wrong...want to make a night of it? Purchase a dinner package and choose from dining at either Lucca or Taranta, which are the two restaurants that flank the IA. IA is a great idea for birthday parties, a girls night out, heck - who needs an excuse for a good laugh, right!!
I owe a lot to Improv Asylum. I have taken two amazing classes there and give the entire cast and crew of I.A. a lot of love. Not only did the classes teach me a lot about myself, and the things on stage that will make me a better actor, I've also been taught once again how to have fun. Amazing, crazy, off-the-hook, tear inducing fun.
If you haven't been to a show yet, do not walk. RUN. RUN TO A SHOW. Now. Yes, even at midnight they have shows.
I love these performers. I can't begin to explain how hilarious these people are. Don't believe me? Go...go now. It's great for a date, great for a group, great by yourself, great with people you hate....I couldn't recommend this place more.
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Grab a bucket 'o beer and hang tight with your honey. Get ready for some witty, non-PC, slightly dirty, sometimes intelligent comedy. The actors/performers are a talented bunch. Great delivery of material, engaging, funny--chill, intimate atmosphere. Good selection of upbeat music during the transitions. My only complaint is the horribly designed broom closet of a woman's bathroom.
Def a fan & looking forward to more outings at this place!
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I had a great time! We came here for my birthday. My boyfriend found on their website a package deal for Lucca's (an italian restaurant next door) and a ticket to the show. Good deal if you're looking to try out a fancy restaurant for a change.
The atmosphere was great inside. There's a bar and small little tables prior to going into the stage area. The bar sells buckets of beer to enjoy during the show. (Didn't seem to be checking many IDs).....
Inside the ushers take you to your seats. A cozy atmosphere with a centered stage. Four sections surround the stage. I did notice that we sat on the wall opposite the doors, and it seemed that they had our backs to us a lot throughout the show but that could have just been that night only. Maybe they move around more usually?
If you're looking to embarrass someone, tell the comics that it's your birthday. They will most likely bring you up on stage. Although nobody embarrassed me in my group (it was my bday) other people were called up. The show was good, lots of suggestions from the audience, but really audience, how many times do you have to yell out childish suggestions to questions like "tampons, weed and poop". What are we 13? But all in all it was a good show with a short intermission in between. I'd love to go back soon.
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So very entertaining. So where do you go when you need a laughf..Here!!!!!!
I've been to the Asylum as they call it several times in the last 14 years. I love it here. It's a fun way to entertain out of town guests, but also a fun date night. The show is never the same and the comedians really seem to enjoy what they do.
I was able to get discounted tickets through Goldstar ($10 + $3.50 service fee instead of the typical $20), but the tickets are affordable even without a discount. As others have mentioned, a ticket to an 8 or 10pm show on a Friday or Saturday night also gets you into the midnight show for free.
I took my bf here for his bday and I was able to speak to an usher in advance. She took down some information and they really did incorporate him into a skit. It was funny to see the reaction on his face and made for a memorable birthday. His sister and her bf were dying laughing too!
The cast has changed over the years but I enjoy the show each time I go. Love the bucket of beers and the lounge that you can chillax in prior to the show. I have also had the Asylum do a corporate party and they were a huge hit! They did a lot of preliminary questioning to really get a sense of the company and key players.
hi-freakin-larious. loved the show, i was laughing the entire time, to the point where my stomach was hurting i was laughing so hard. These guys do real improve, asking and taking ideas from the audience. they do half skits but also improve, which made it all around found. And you knew it was good stuff because even some of the cast were laughing. they all worked really well as a team and came up with some great stuff.
i dont know if it was just tonight, but we went to the 8pm thursday night show and we got free food, for the cost of a $20 ticket. totally work it. I heard the drinks weren't very expensive either. I'm totally going back there when their skits change up again.
People thought this was:
This place was insanely fun (pun intended, unless it pales in comparison to the IA comedy, in which case... nevermind).
Seriously, the performers here are all really talented, and even though goofy, campy humor from my friend and I *occasionally* made it into a sketch here and there (hehe), it still blended smoothly enough that we really loved it.
I think it's a testament that a bachelorette party, 30 frat guys during rush week, and a bunch of couples can all have a great time here and enjoy the show.
The musical numbers that they use to close each act were pretty great. I really liked their tribute to the T sung to Bon Jovi's "Livin on a Prayer."
If I still lived in Boston, I would take their improv class, because I think it would be tons of fun.
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I went to the Improv Asylum several years ago and had an amazing time! The cast is always entertaining and it is a very homey feel. It is a unique venue and a great place to see a show before dinner in the North End. I definitely recommend it!
Being somewhat new to Beantown, I hadn't expanded my weekend activities much beyond dinner and drinks. The bf, in a stroke of genius about what to do with my under-21 college-freshman sister, suggested this place. It's great; the actors are witty, quick, and the music in between is fun (a lot of throw back tunes i.e. Beastie Boys). We happened to be there on the last night one of the actors was performing, so they were especially witty and gave some heartfelt words after their performance.
Fun place, would come back for sure. Especially since there are buckets of beer. Sveet.
Definitely a fun thing to do on an off-night. The groups are actually talented, the dinginess is part of the appeal, and it's fun to get trashed and find goof-ups far more hilarious than they actually are.
It's never too ridiculous or crude; it's obvious the groups there have practiced and are talented, and you can spend the entire night in the joint without having to worry about much else. Bring a ton of friends.
I should preface this review with the fact that I'm pretty obsessed with this place. I'm talkin bi-weekly attendance and going for the 24-hour No Rest for the Wicked charity event for 23 hours. Yeah, it's gross.
I think I've brought about 20 different people here over the past couple years, and everyone--including my friend's mom--has loved it.
The cast members have great chemistry-I love when they laugh at each other's jokes. Plus, offstage, they're incredibly down to earth which has spurred a couple little girl crushes on my and my friends' part. (ack)
They're also really conscious about students, which is awesome. Always go online to order your tickets and take advantage of the 2-for-1 student deal. They also have student nights occasionally, where you get in for free if you wear your college t-shirt :]
The only thing even slightly negative I can say about IA is that I miss the good ol' days when only a couple sections would fill up and tickets werent a fortune; everything seemed more intimate and thus more funny.
But I digress!
Go there! Or don't, so I can have it to myself.
p.s. I met Dave "Uncle Joey" Coulier here
win.
People thought this was:
My favorite improv spot. I used to go to their saturday midnight show every week which is basically an opportunity for the actors to play a drinking game, get hammered, and improvise the most ridiculous things. So many tears were shed laughing in this theatre. Their actual shows are pretty funny too, although they are a mix between improv and sketch. Their actors are very friendly and approachable, if you want to hang out after the show and talk.
I took classes at their training centre- best $200 investment ever. Jeremy Brothers was my teacher, and he is by far one of the most talented actors I have had the chance to work with. Other favorites are Michael, Kathleen, and Tyler.
It's a little pricey, but you must understand that this is a craft. Totally worth it... if you go on a saturday night, stay for the midnight show, it's free with your 8pm or 10pm ticket.
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Went to the Thursday night show at 8pm, and it was packed. We laughed our arses off. It was a general admission show and we ended up in the front row. Be careful as some of the seats are busted. Beer is relatively cheap, and it was something different to do on a thursday night.
Otherwise a great night was had, and I think we'll be back for the Sat. midnight show.
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My friend took me here, and I absolutely loved it! I thought it was hysterical, especially since you have no idea what to expect. I would almost rather prefer a show like this, instead of your typical comedy show. The audience is involved, and i loved how everyone was so close to the performers. Definitely recommend this place for anyone!
People thought this was:
Went to the Improv Asylum on a recent Thursday night for a work-team outing. It was the first time I'd ever seen an improv troupe perform live so I don't have anything to really compare it to. Nevertheless, it was a decent performance. I wasn't rolling on the floor laughing the entire time, but they managed to keep me chuckling for the most part.
I'd recommend a trip to the Improv Asylum if you're planning a group outing. There are plenty of bars/restaurants near by to have dinner/drinks beforehand and Mike's Pastry is just down the street for a post-show sugar high. Pick a busy night to go to the here though (Thursday-Saturday), because one of my colleagues said she went there on an off night and there were less than 10 people in the audience, which made it pretty awkward.
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This was one of those places I've been dying to go to and simply never found the time...until a couple of weeks ago. And now, I've pretty much gone every week since then. I might be obsessed with it.
Improv is great because you really never get the same comedy show twice. I can vouch firsthand for this (see the first paragraph).
Most recently, I saw an Alumni Show (a collection of alums coming back for comedy's sake) and the "Improv Asylum presents Handbook Violation presents LivePod Shuffle" show. It's one helluva name and really one helluva show where, in the first half, the players improv scenes based on the audience's music selection and in the second half, the musicians improv tunes and the players improv scenes based on the audience's suggestions. Experimental comedy chaos.
All things considered, the tickets are pretty cheap ($15-$20), but I've never paid more than $10 for tickets. Like other posters say, check out Goldstar events and other promotions to find discounted tix. Hell, the LivePod Shuffle show was free.
Bottled beer is available and you can take it into the theater; there's usually one intermission. If you're looking for a change of pace from the normal comedy club scene, improv is a great night out.
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This place is hilarious. For a first-time visitor, I didn't know what to expect at all. The show turned out to be amazing. The performers are highly talented, with good voices, and great acting skills, constantly coming up with funny skits that kept me laughing throughout the entire show. They really do take a lot of ideas from the audience and their ability to create on-the-spot humor was very impressive. The first half of the show I went to (12/26/08 10pm), however was somewhat frustrating as there were a row of teens that had too many drinks to withhold their obnoxiousness. Luckily, they were thrown out at intermission. The rest of the was great. Also, extra kudos to the fact that Mike's pastry is only a few blocks away, amazing cannolis.
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A great place for a group outing. They are hilarious here (i have been brought to tears) and I love the crowd participation. I definitely think it makes the experience even better. No matter how many times I have gone, it is different all the time. I highly recommend the improv asylum for a night out in Boston!!
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Love it. Positively brilliant. Every time I go here I laugh until my sides hurt. I think it's awesome how they pull people out of the audience and create random skits. I love the fact that you can bring a pitcher of beer into the theater area with you. Looking to uplift your spirits? If chocolate doesn't help The Improv Asylum certainly will!
My ex-boyfriend and I had our first date together at the Asylum--we went to see their Christmas special which was mildly funny but awesomely twisted and pretty original. The performance itself was kind of so-so but maybe that's b/c it wasn't an improv act.
I haven't been back for regular improv yet but I'll probably stop back--I used to perform/coach Improv myself so I love watching others at work.
I do have to give kudos to the upclose and intimate setting--I'd love to see how people in the front row squirm during a regular night.
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I went to improv for the first time last Friday and I was amazed at how good the cast were.
Of course I checked Yelp reviews before I went, just to get an idea, but I didn't expect it to be so wittingly funny. There was just no boring moment.
I would definitely come back!
Improv Asylum is not one of those slick comedy clubs that you typically find in large cities. It has an indie feel, and you should really just go with an open mind without high expectations that it'll be a laugh-fest the entire night. Otherwise, you might end up like the whiny, disruptive ladies sitting next to us who would not shut up. It was really rude of them to boo and complain loudly that the show sucked while texting their other friends DURING the show. It was the 10 p.m. Friday show, and I'm guessing most people (like myself) came for a low-key fun night out. Excuse my little rant.
Personally, I found the musical numbers to be hilarious, and I thought the comedians were pretty talented in their "rehearsed pieces". However, the interactive audience pieces are hit or miss depending on what you've got to work with.... Bonus: you can buy drinks at the bar and bring them (including buckets of beer) into the theatre. No food though, so finish your cannoii outside.
Anyway, I probably wouldn't pay full price ($15-20) to see the 1.5 hr. show because I think that's relatively steep for improv, but you can definitely score discounted tix on GoldStar Events or half price student tix prior to each night's performance.
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A great place to get hooked on. You know it's an amazing show when the owners frequently join the cast.
The entertainment is top notch at IA. If you like like entertainment and love to laugh, this is a great alternative to standup. The theater is very intimate and works well for Improv shows.
My best friend graduated from Improv Asylum's "college" so I've been to see several shows of hers as she and her classmates grew as improvers.
Every show was free and very funny.
Maybe I appreciate it more as an actor?
Maybe I appreciate it more because there's someone I know and love on stage?
Maybe I appreciate it more b/c every show was free?
I don't know about the first 2, but definitely yes to the third.
Keep an eye out for these shows: free, graduating/end of class productions. Her class' shows were well thought out and had some kick ass talent.
While every sketch didn't have me in stitches, not all improv is supposed to be funny.
The buckets of beer are also served at these performances and are a welcome addition to an otherwise funny-whether-I'm-drunk-or-not kind of night.
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This was such a funny show! I had never been so I didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed the cast and the improv. The seats are uncomfortable, but the humor makes up for it.
I don't think I could go every weekend, but it's a great alternative to the bars/clubs.
The night we went, there was a 14 year old boy celebrating his birthday. I did think he was a bit young to be there, as the humor wasn't exactly "clean". They also embarrased the hell out of a bachelorette; but it was pretty funny as they used some of that material througout the show.
I just moved here about 3 there weeks ago and took my husband and a friend visiting me and we had the best time. They are having a special for this weekend for $10 each but I tell you, the regular price is $20 and by intermission I felt as if I got my moneys worth.
I loved the fact that their werent servers so you didnt't get interrupted in the middle of the show and that you could only get up during the intermission.
Will be going back very soon- great place :)
I love all kinds of comedy clubs but Improv Asylum was my first time watching improv comedy.
I thoroughly enjoyed it because a lot of the performances were being made up as they went.
You can get drinks in the lobby and bring them in opposed to a waitress coming to you and hassling you about a minimum like most stand-up comedy clubs so I liked that.
The bathroom is really small and come show time there will be a long line of people waiting to get in so run in quick.
Have dinner at Taranta's next door and head on over to the Improv for a fun date night.
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Finally, the out-of-control laughter I was looking for.
If you haven't been to ImprovAsylum on Hanover Street, you must go NOW. Bring your friends, family, boss, boyfriend, whoever, but go. Oh, but take the T or your bound to be searching for a parking spot or paying $$$ for a parking garage spot... The cast on Friday's 10 PM show were hilarious and entertaining and the crowd was packed!
I enjoyed the sequence of skits: some planned, most involved the crowd, which consisted mostly of MIT freshmen. Makes for a funny show considering all the Asian and freshmen innuendos. They didn't try to tie all of the skits together like at the one in Inman Square. There was a break and there was booze.
One poor, innocent, 18-yr-old freshman girl from MIT was completely unfortunate to be on the stage, but it made for a hilarious improv skit.
Of course, following the show, me and my girlfriends hung out with some of the Improv cast and their friends. How that happened? Please don't ask...
I can't wait to go back!
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I want to the Saturday midnight show and had a blast! Best improv I've been to, beats anything I've seen in NYC. Haven't seen the main show, but I will this week. This place does true improv, where they get suggestions from the crowd and run with it, kind of along the lines of "Whose Line is it Anyway?" All beers are $4 during the show, which isn't bad. If you catch the 8:00 or 10:00 P.M show for $20, you get in the midnight show for free. You should definitley take advantage of that, there are plenty of places to eat/drink in . Otherwise the midnight show is $10:00. New York has always been my favorite city by a long shot, but if I keep coming across places like this in Beantown, that may change.
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As long as my ass isn't down on that stage, I'm a big fan of the Improv.
The Improv is dank, most of the time smelly, but the bucket of beers makes all that go away.
I've been once for fun with my sister and another time for a work function. The Improv staff is hysterical and I give them so much credit for doing what they do. It's got to be so hard!
Being there for a company 'team building' event is a great idea. You split up into groups, do activities to loosen up a bit and then you all meet back at the theatre and some very, very brave souls get onstage and do their own improv act or two. At times it's funny; at others it's like watching a train wreck, but all in good fun.
And you can't beat the location. I heart the North End!
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