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Category: Comedy Clubs
Neighborhood: LakeviewAddison (Red)
"I've been here many times, but for some reason I've never written a review. I went here with a few (30) friends for my birthday this past…" read more »
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I've come here twice on Wednesdays. There's a free show on the first floor.
The first time I came, I had a really good time. I bought tickets for Felt, because I didn't think there would be seats to the free show left. Anyways, Felt was hillarious. I usually feel like improv is pretty hit or miss, but the main show was great. Before felt they had some students put on an opening show, and that wasn't too funny. I kept wondering if maybe I was in the wrong show since I didn't see any puppets and it wasn't funny. The friend I came with whispered in my ear during the opening act, "Now, don't you wish you had let me buy you that beer?" and I definitely was wishing I'd gotten a beer or two or three before that opening act, but then it was over and it was time for the main show. I went and got a beer before that started, but it turns out I really didn't need to since it turned out to be so funny. These puppets are VUL-GAR and they made fun of one girl in the audience who truly did sound like she was dying when she laughed.
Second time around, not as funny as the first time, but still hilarious. Being hilarious twice in a row in my book makes this show worth the money. I'm sure it could have been just as funny as the first time if not for the terrible audience suggestion that was chosen. They did REALLY WELL with the terrible suggestion though.
If you couldn't tell from the comments on my first IO experience, this place has a bar, TWO bars. One on each floor. That's a huge plus! The shows are pretty cheap (think $5) and on top of that you can come drink with friends while you watch the show. It's a pretty sweet perk in my opinion.
Cute 2-floor theater, close to Wrigley Field. I caught improv Shakespeare with two friends at 8pm on a Friday. It was pretty funny, and the improv actors were all so on point!
Everyone in the theater was laughing and having a good time. Improv is always unpredictable, so it can either be really bad or really good. Improv Shakespeare doesn't seem like it can ever fail!
Highly recommended. The bar is alright, and the drink specials are good. Nice selection of beer. But let's be real - you're not going to iO to get boozed up! ;) You're there to watch some comedy.
Free improv comedy? Uhhh, yes please. Just make sure you stay away from their nasty martini's.
I was crazy impressed at how quick these comedians were. I've seen the Second City troupe, and these guys were just as good. Actually, there was even one guy here from the Second City show I watched...
You can tell which of the comedians were newbies, but it was great that they're both teaching and entertaining at the same time.
The quarters are tight, so you're squished right in with your neighbors, but if you have the opportunity to sit next to a fun couple, that just amplifies the experience.
Plus, it's right in Wrigley Park so lots of bars to visit before and/or after.
In the last few years, I have attended some shows that were recommended by friends or received great reviews, and these shows lived up to the praise. I appreciated these tips and wanted to pay it forward by telling people about Improviser! A Musical Sketch Comedy, which just finished a run at Second City and is currently running at 8 pm on Thursdays at iO (3541 N. Clark).
This energetic show gives you an inside look at what it entails to be an improv performer -- a musical mockumentary. This show is obviously entertaining for people who have an understanding of improv, but I think it's even better for people who aren't familiar (like me) because it tells the story of what it's like to live the life of an improviser. This show should be a prerequisite for people who want to attend improv shows so they have better insight into what goes on and can enjoy improv to its fullest. While there are some inside jokes for those in the "biz", you can't help but laugh when you see the animated facial expressions and exaggerated dancing that go along with it. If one joke goes over your head, trust me that there is another one coming soon that will have you rolling.
These actors were even making the audience laugh at things that aren't normally funny (e.g. death, break-ups, ending friendships), and they did this by turning it into a song and usually a dance. When you mix self-deprecating humor with music and high kicks, it's hard not to laugh throughout this show. It's also hard not to be impressed. Even with the humorous tone in these songs, you find yourself getting caught up with the incredible musical talent of these actors.
It only runs until 12/10/09 so be sure to check it out soon!
Really liked the classes; reasonably priced. They want you to keep taking classes--may send a false message to some people with little talent. Great teachers overall. They could use a cleaner/nicer building.
Always a fun time. Check out the midnight jam for a cheap good time where you can join in. They have the cheapest bar on Clark here and they are served pretty heavy handed! The shows are always funny and worth checking out! Tickets are usually always available up to the last minute as well which makes it great for a last minute plan!
Alright. Let's face it. I'm a comedy junkie. Doesn't matter where or when, I'll be there trying to laugh. Jaded? Sure I am.
But I love this place. There's no two ways about it.
There's a free improv show every Wednesday at 8pm. Better show up at about 7 to get in though.
There's a huge variety of shows from improv to sketch. Mostly improv though. Pretty much any night of the week you can see a solid show for $5. If you take classes there, you get in for FREE.
My personal favs / groups (right now anyways..there are always different groups coming and going):
TJ and Dave - Wednesday at 11 pm $5
Felt - improv with puppets, say what?
Children of a Lesser God - Sunday at 10:30pm
Had a laugh out loud good time!
I took my parents here for a fun night out on the town and the iO didn't disappoint!
We went to Whirled News Tonight and I loved that we were able to search through newspapers to help form the performance. The only thing is I wish that they would have done the second half similar to the first. The first half of the show is all about doing improv based off the newspaper clippings. The second half, while still very funny, was sort of random in that it didn't have anything to do with the news. It was just one question posed by an audience member that they ran with. And let me say again, they were hilarious! But it felt disjointed because it didn't match up with what they were doing before.
But overall, it was loads of fun and we will most certainly be visiting again! My parents had a ball and we were all talking about it as we drove home. The only gal in the performance was my favorite, she had a way about her that made it all look very easy! But my husband was a big fan of two of the male improv artists. So they all shined brightly in different people's eyes.
Bravo to all the improv artists because what they do is no easy feat!
I've never been a huge fan of improv or sketch comedies but my friend who's taking classes at Second City had been wanting me to go to a show with her for a long time so I finally caved. We went to see the last showing of White Jazz last night and I enjoyed the performance thoroughly! The three guys were quick on their feet and really engaged with the audience.
After the show an intern at iO invited us to stay and watch the midnight show which is a recurring "live sitcom" improv show called 4 friends in an apartmenr (or something along the lines of that." That one was pretty random but pretty darn funny. One of the guest actors for the evening was great at doing impressions and really witty.
Overall the theater was a cute little place to spend a Friday night. I did think the tickets were pretty expensive for what the shows were (granted we got to watch the second one for free). But the drink specials made up for it - $3.50 rum & cokes. Yes please!
Let me start out by saying I'm a sucker for all things Tina Fey. So when I found out she was involved with iO back in the day I had to check it out during a visit.
My friends and I went to see Whirled News Tonight and it proved to be a gem. You get to cut out news clippings and it's great to see your own get chosen. These guys could turn a headline about "Blood Bank Shortages" into a skit about a crazy vampire boss. The performers were terrific and even though they could tell some of their bits were just ridiculous they went with it and made it great.
It seems most shows fill up fast so I'd get reservations for bigger parties.
I had the chance to catch 'Jablonski' ...
http://www.yelp.com/ev...
... last week and i thought they were very funny. Some parts I did not understand, but all in all i had a great time.
iO theatre is a comedy club so you don't know what to expect. It's located next to a ton of bars and restaurants so you'll always have options before or after the show
I went to see the Cupid Has a Heart On show last weekend and it was absolutely hilarious! The songs were catchy, raunchy, and I laughed so hard my face hurt. This show was missing all the frills of Second City in a good way. No overpriced drinks, no waitresses walking around, and no expensive tickets. It was actually funnier than the show I saw at Second City over the summer. An overall good experience!
My first time watching improv, and it was ridiculously funny. We saw Improvised Shakespeare, where the cast had to speak in Shakespearean, and the themes were of Shakespeare's plays. I highly recommend this show, there was never a dull moment. One person in particular, Blaine Swen - is a star. Great acting and quick on his feet. You people in Chicago are lucky to have a place like this!
Improv comedy is a wonderfully organic thing, and iO Theater is a great place to experience it. Whether you go upstairs or down, you're guaranteed of having a good time if comedy is your thing (and if comedy isn't your thing, why bother with improv comedy? ;-).
The bar is nice. Sometimes the wait service is a little slow during the shows, but that can be forgiven. They have Three Floyds Gumballhead on tap, which always deserves one-star bump from me!
My absolute favorite group is the Virgin Daiquiris. This all-female group starts their set by asking for a random theme from the audience, then they break into an invariably hilarious improvised song about the theme. Their sketches weave in and out, around the theme. Everybody laughs.
If you want a great night of improv, go to iO!
Fun and free (on Wednesdays). What more can you ask for?
I usually grab some folks and go the the free Wednesday night shows. I deem them 87.2 percent funny! Plus they have a pretty good beer selection!
If I had more time in my calendar I would have no problem paying for a show on another night. They do improv right! Check it out!
Consistently good, which, in the world of improv, is not easy.
(i've tried it; it's a LOT harder than you'd think)
Last night, I went with a small group of people (shout out, mike x!). I laughed & laughed & laughed again ... so hard, I was tearing up.
I thoroughly enjoyed each troupe, but the Virgin Daquiris really dazzled. I don't think there was a down-moment during their entire show; I sat there cracking up 80% of the time & the other 20% was spent with a stupid smile on my face, anticipating the next uproarious burst of laughter.
& now I have even more inside jokes & quotable lines with my friends that no one else could possibly "get."
A couple of downsides: If you're not nor ever have been a theatre person, a few jokes may go over your head. Luckily, I am versed. Not well-versed, but versed nonetheless. Oh ... & beware the legions of "Bannions" --- audience members who fancy themselves comedy gold & who boisterously crack one-liners the entire time waiting for the show to start. It wasn't as bad last night, but oh golly, it's bad some nights. & finally, a note to audience members: If you're going to volunteer to get up for the "Dream Sequence," please, for the love of all things holy & my sanity, have something interesting to say. The guy last night (coughcoughlorenzocoughcough) was the epitome of the type of audience member you DON'T want on-stage. Sucked the life out of the room & the momentum came to an absolute standstill.
It is for that very reason that, even though there are a few downsides, I still give iO 5 stars. After all, they have to put up with coughcoughlorenzocoughcough - boring & coughcoughmecoughcough - cliche "give me the first word that comes to your mind" shouts ... it's okay that they throw a few inside references to each other once & a while.
Oh ... & it was FREE.
I'm not supposed to tell you this.
My best friend told me not to tell anyone about this show because…
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My number one thing I look for in a relationship is humor- I have issues, but anyway, it was perfect that my fiance took me to an improv show at iO for Valentine's Day.
The "Whirled News" show was completely hysterical. The audience cuts out newspaper articles and headlines, and then the cast does short form improv from those clippings. See this. You laugh long time.
Their bar has vastly expanded the selection since the last time I went there. Seating is a bit cramped, so go before the show starts, or you'd better hold it.
Eh, it's no Second City, that's for sure.
With that being said, my iO experience was overall positive. The staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating.. they really went out of their way to make sure that my boyfriend and I could sit together, even though we arrived 3 minutes before show time (oops!) which I really appreciated. We saw the Improvised Shakespeare which definitely had its funny moments (enhanced by beer consumption.. some people were going CRAZY lol-ing).
Bonus points for the Wrigleyville location! We went on a game night and the atmosphere was so much fun!
You know, for $5, this is one hell of a deal. I went the Felt show on a Wednesday, which is pretty much dirty puppets saying dirty things. My kind of humor. They also have a pretty kick ass beer selection. (You carry Great Lakes, you get an A in my book.)
I should note that while I bought tickets early, there was plenty of seating left for the show. So, at least in winter, it can be a great last minute idea.
I am a big fan of improv Olympics. The price is right, they have a pretty good drink selection and it's an intimate setting.I've been there about 5 times now and I haven't seen a bad show yet. I'm not saying that every show was roll on the ground and have liquid squirting out of your nose funny, but each show has more than it's fair share of hilarious moments. The show is also a prefect amount of time. They leave you wanting more, but you are very satisfied with what you got.
The only reason I did not give them all the stars was because one night that I went there was a huge rain storm and I was saving two seats for my friends that were coming from des plaines. It was was beginning to sell out so I was saving two seats and asked the woman up front if i could leave two tickets up front so they could just come in. She told me that I could not reserve tickets or seats and that once all the seats are taken it's sold out. I told her these people were coming all the way from Des Plaines, and she just stared at me. I understand the policy and I understand why they have it, but it never hurts to be mildly understanding.
Needless to say I saved them seats anyway and everything was great, but my advice is on a weekend night make sure you come early.
iO was FANTASTIC. I spent a thursday night there recently watching the Dinner for Six and Improvised movie shows, and I have to say it was complete nonstop hilarity. It was rare to have even 60 seconds in a row where I wasn't laughing out loud. All the cast members worked amazingly well together and were so good on their feet I found myself questioning if they had planned pieces of it out beforehand.
I'm of the opinion that a show like this can't really be done justice in words so I won't really bother to describe the show itself. Suffice to say that if you pony up the $7 a ticket for two hours of entertainment, you will definitely not be disappointed. I know I will be back.
Also, they have a bar in the theatre.
I went to the midnight show on a Saturday night. It was about 45 minutes long and fantastic. It took about 5 minutes for them to get into the groove but when they did, it really took off.
My date for the night was my Mom. The show was tame enough for her values but crass enough to be funny.
This was my first improv show. I recommend it to anyone for a first improv show; it's 5 bucks, no drink minimum, and appropriate.
I will be back!
A guaranteed fun night out with friends!
Consistently hilarious improv (not easily accomplished)
It's free on wednesdays, but fills up fast, so get there early. Just have a few drinks at the bar while you wait for the show to start.
On thursdays there's also a $5 show.
So being someone who has performed here, knows people who perform here and what not I would say its sometimes worth your visit.
I recommend TJ and Dave and Improvised Shakespeare as your gauranteed always going to be the best of the best.
If you're looking for more of the up and coming stuff going on try the lottery on tuesday nights, or felt and wednesdays. Generally going during the week will land you more bang for your buck because the weekend shows are a lot pricier and sometimes I don't think really worth it.
My brother and I went to go see a show a few months back and it was one of the most hilarious things that I have heard in my lifetime. I believe we saw the group Shotgun or something of that sort, and they were hilarious. Also, it was relatively cheep to see the show (five dollars, I believe); so, good laughs plus low costs always equals a great place in my book.
Cheap, good fun and a cute venue. It's a nice way to go out on Clark Street while avoiding all the bars.
I take that back - this place does have a bar. Two, in fact, with an AMAZING beer selection.
Stop in - it'll give you something to laugh at in Wrigleyville aside from the Cubs.
I've never gone here and been disappointed. I first went in college for a big, group social event... we had over 30 people and we all loved it!! I went again when I moved into the city with a group of girlfriends, and haven't laughed so hard until the next time I went... on a date. It was perfect! A few drinks and a funny cast - it was great to go somewhere for a good price and tons of entertainment.
Honestly, I won't call myself a connoisseur of comedy by any means - but I've always had a great night and made some fun memories with the people I went with in the process!!
Save yourself the trip and the money! It was terrible.
We went to the Monday Night Armando Diaz Experience. The show came off like a bunch of amateurs, with a featured storyteller who said more "ums" and laughed at more of her jokes than the audience had the whole night. There were a few great performers, but sadly they were overshadowed by the terrible antics of the main storyteller, and the banal, cheap jokes that just made the audience want to leave the theatre ASAP.
Skip this!
To give you background, I have long-form and short-form improv experience (acting in it and watching many shows), and my two friends who joined me did not. We all felt like the show was painful, and they should have paid us to watch it. We wish we could have those two hours back!
Last night, like other Yelpers, I was at "A Midsummer Night's Facebook Status". Chicago has such a great collection of improv actors and theatres, it's really something I'd recommend any loyal Chicagoan check out.
That said, reasons I like iO:
1. Respectable selection at the bar (and decent prices to boot!)
2. Good layout - really weren't any 'bad' seats as the stage is front and center
3. The guy next to me had the greatest deep-belly-laugh I'd ever heard
Man, I love iO. I know Second City is technically a bigger deal, but I think the stuff at iO is consistently funnier. My mom was in town visiting this weekend, and I took her to my number one must-see there, which is Improvised Shakespeare. It's one of the more expensive shows, at $14 a ticket, but it is worth it. As hit-or-miss as improv can be, I have never seen a bad Improvised Shakespeare show. I always spend at least half the show laughing until I cry. Aside from being funny, it's just plain amazing--the physical and mental agility of the players is totally mind-blowing.
Other good shows here include but are not limited to Deep Schwa and Cook County Social Club. I don't remember times for those, but I think the prices run $5-10. Of course, every now and then, you'll come on an off night, but that's part of the thrill. Definitely one of my favorite forms of entertainment in the city.
Love this place....
I normally go for 30:33 on Sundays, but it is also wonderful because of the cheap tickets, $2 cans of beer, small theaters upstairs and downstairs so no bad seats, friendly staff, close to the red line, and did I mention I saw Tim Meadows here for only $10?
Typical, friend visits from out of state, can't get tickets to Second City in time...so...try to broaden my horizons and try something new. I even invite some local friends to experience it with us. I was so embarrassed!!!! Should of went to the Improv or Zanies instead.
Tickets were $14.00 so I really should not complain. Here are the facts;
- Place was about three quarters full inside.
- Staff was GREAT! On the phone and at the bar!
- Performances were really sad. My husband got pulled to the stage from the audience, and he has a dry since of humor, where some people can't tell if he is joking or serious at times. However he made this whole story about what he did that very day, now you tell me if you would think someone was serious;
He mentioned his name was Corbin and his son and friend, ALL named Corbin. That he loved breast-milk and drinks it often with his son. - Come on! Who would EVER think this is for real? Well apparently some of the less fortunate who perform at the IO.
I will say there were a couple who were very talented! - So the best to them in the future! - Maybe is was just a really 'off' night...I don't think I will be back to find out though.
I finally made it out to iO! For being wedged between all the bars in Wrigleyville, it is a great place to go to get away from the "21 N' drunk's" of the area. We saw a great sketch comedy group, Cupid Players, really funny! There was also a show afterwards some comedic called the Sex Educator, it was okay. To me that is the great part about iO you can see many different acts! iO is a great place to start the night, afterwards you have plenty of bars to conclude the night. I recommed just going to the bar inside iO on the first floor..lol.
Parking is bad (duh it is wrigleyville), but the red line is only a couple blocks away!
First Daters... Wondering what do to cut the tense? iO For about 10bucks, you will get a couple laughs and have something to talk about at the bar afterwards. There you go!
The iO to me is like Costco white cotton socks, always gives you that warm down home feeling when they are on (inside), you always get that feeling that you have been away to long wearing other brands (seeing other venues) so you must go back, and they last forever (it's true my socks have lasted forever)!! Even when they are forced to change there name to the iO, they are still going strong. It will always be the Improv Olympic to me.
This is the best improv theater in all of Chicago. Whether you are seeing an early show or like me love the night life going to the mid-night show. You always have your choice of the up stairs improv trained professionals (or whatever you what to call them, I call them funny guys) or the downstairs free for all where you can go on stage yourself. All of this for only $5 last time I checked. Drinks are strong and the laughs are non-stop. Go laugh, it's good for the soul.
I highly recommend the Shakespeare troupe
So - the neighborhood this place is in SUCKS. Just a warning first of all - Unless, of course, you enjoy wandering around pools of drunk jocks and dumb blondes... loud music spilling out into the streets... TVs lining the walls of all the bars... beer bottles and trash littering the sidewalks... And then you manage to locate the iO theater and you're in another world... Thank god that crowd doesn't spill in to this place! Or maybe it does and they weren't there the night we were...
Anyway - We had a lot of fun. I have a feeling the crowd was probably a lot better than what you'd come across at some place like Second City (I get the feeling that place might get filled up with obnoxious tourists). But what do I know - I've never been to Second City. But this was just a fun night - I guess the style of improv was called the Harold - so they take a suggestion from the audience for a theme and roll with it for like a half hour. Both teams were great and it was a successful fun night of comedy. I highly recommend - the place is small and you get to sit up nice and close to the stage.
It's not just Second City in Chicago (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) that stands out as a great place to see improvised comedy. A bit further afield and you'll find Improv Olympic, a great venue for performances of sketch, improv, and laughs aplenty.
Similar to the shows found at Second City, the primary focus of the shows appears to be improvised comedy with some other sketch troupes offering their wares to the public. The venue itself is set up well for comedy, with raised seating above main tables that give perfect sightlines to the small well-lit stage. The room itself is dark and does not provide distraction from the show that's performed. It is in this room that you want to see improv performed with great artists, and in most to all cases, Improv Olympic provides just that. Great staff. Great acts. Great times.
This is a great place to go for a laugh, it's a fun, unique, long-form improv joint that's been around for 20+ years and keeps going strong. They have a great show running as of Dec. 28th, 2008 with Tim Meadows called Uncle Brother on Sunday nights around 10 PM (Sells out quick) I love this place and see shows here regularly.
Pros: Go to Wednesday shows, FREE! Go to see the Deltones on Friday or Saturdsay, the Reckoning is a classic as is TJ and Dave, and Middle Age Comeback. But the shows there are all guaranteed to make you laugh while you get your buzz on with the fully stocked bar... including PBR's on Tap!!!
Cons: ARE NONE
I love it here, the people are fun and approachable, the atmosphere is great. and if your ever down, this place will help you back up
The Wednesday night free improv show is FANTASTICLY FUNNY!
I've been at least 10 times, and it is better than any comedy I have paid for in Chicago. On an off night, I still laugh a lot and leave happy. On a great night, the tears are constantly flowing down my cheeks and I ache from laughing.
The format is always the same - 3 groups perform (the first two change each week, the last is always Karl and the Passions) separately. Then they all collaborate to interpret an audience members' day as a crazy "dream", and the show ends with a "freeze" game.
Last time I went, I finally decided to volunteer myself for the "dream" portion. It was soo fun to see the performers skew my day into a humorous dream/nightmare. If you prefer to remain anonymous, no worries - they don't ever pick-on audience members randomly.
Come a little early to get a seat. They serve plenty of booze (although you don't have to be 21 to come), but only limited food (pizza, pretzels, chips).
Should I go to the bathroom to put on some lipstick? Maybe some lip gloss?
This is the question I ask myself when I'm really bored with a performance, and this, more often than not, is what I ask myself during a first group in the IO Cabaret Theater. My bladder often starts bothering me during the second group. During the third, I panic and wish that no one I knew was there so I could leave. It's like watching a Journey cover band. At first you are excited, because you like Journey, but then it dawns on you that there are a lot of Journey songs and really wish they'd skip some of them to get to Oh Sherry.
I know everyone is trying really hard to be entertaining, and improv is a risky art form that is prone to uneven performances, but I just don't have enough schadenfreude in me to enjoy a swing and a miss anymore. I want to like IO, I really do. But I've just seen one too many poor shows with drunk performers.
These days when I have friends in from out of town, I generally take them to an improv/sketch comedy show where I can be fairly certain they'll have a good time - ComedySportz, Baby Wants Candy (at the Apollo) or Second City.
The upstairs shows (Shakespeare, Cupid, Whirled News) are good though.
It's only fitting that I use my 500th review for IO Chicago, where I was lucky enough to see a talented comedy/improv show with a bunch of Yelp Elite members this evening.
I loved the laid back, friendly atmosphere of IO Chicago. I found all of their employees, from the ticket lady to the show manager to the bartender, to be extremely friendly and they really seemed to care that we enjoyed the show. The bartender himself has been working for IO Chicago for 7 years, which personally I think shows how much he cares for the business!
The show we saw is a new show that occurs every Tuesday night at 8 pm. It is highly recommended- I'm not one to laugh out loud, but I found myself doing that many times throughout the night. The show started with 3 stand-up comedians, who were absolutely hysterical, but the real laughs came during TJ Miller & Thomas Middleditch's improv performance. These 2 guys couldn't be more different than each other and the way they play off each other is great. Thomas and TJ's Riot Tuesdays at IO are absolutely hilarious and you are missing out if you don't go soon!
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Category: Comedy Clubs
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