Performing Arts Search
Farewell Chicago
Sat 7/31, 8 PMImprov/Sketch
Sketch comedy by Last Call Cleveland and Hey You Millionaires. $10
Game Night
Through 7/31: Sat 8 PM,
800-838-3006Improv/Sketch
An improv show inspired by Whose Line Is It Anyway? $10
The Mission IMPROVable Show
Through 7/31: Sat midnightImprov/Sketch
Improv by the touring troupe Mission IMPROVable. $10
Compliments of Honor Student Breakfast
Through 8/4: Wed 10 PM 773.248.5900Improv/Sketch
Improv by acts that change weekly. 7/14: Susan Messing (Benefit night for Franklin Fine Arts Center), the Katydids; 7/21: Craig Uhlir and Buddies, Fall Creek Falls, and 7/28: Tara De Francisco and Friends, Sons and Co.
$5
You're Not Good Enough
Opens 7/14. Through 8/4: Wed 8 PMImprov/Sketch
Mike Cahill wrote this sketch show about rejection. $5
Shock T's
Through 8/5: Thu 10:30 PM,Improv/Sketch
This musical comedy trio performs covers, original songs, and improv. $5
Eat Me!
Opens 7/27. Through 8/10: Tue 7:30 PMImprov/Sketch
Sketch comedy by the Writer's Bullpen and the Actors of Evil, stand-up, burlesque, and music by Nathaniel Matthew and the Hepsounds. Part of the proceeds benefits Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble's Kids Project.
$10-$15
Jim Paul Jet Paul
Through 8/12: Thu 8 PM,Improv/Sketch
Jim Fath, Paul Thomas, Jet Eveleth, and Paul Brittain are using a slot at iO to hone one- and--in the case of Eveleth and Brittain--two-person shows. Fath's Arguing with a Quadriplegic blends character monologues and personal narratives, with mixed results. At the show I saw, promising pieces about Fath’s Catholic upbringing and the titular argument--an audition gone horribly wrong--fell prey to asides and repetition. Still, Fath's deadpan humor kept even the ungainliest scenes moving along. Thomas's Comedogenic fared better, with crisp, punchy scene work involving unexpectedly tragic figures such as a sad-sack pedophile and a guy so desperate to impress a girl he feigns bitter racism. Thomas bestows clever writing and supreme character commitment on each scene. Eveleth was out of town on the night I attended, so Brittain performed solo. But both are strong comics, and their work together warrants a gander. --Steve Heisler $12
The Nerdologues
Through 8/12: Thu 8 PMImprov/Sketch
Monologues, scenes, and stories, "written by nerds, for nerds."
$5
The Late Live Show
Through 8/14: Sat 11:59 PM 312-337-3992Improv/Sketch
Comedians Joe Kwaczala and C.J. Toledano present a talk show featuring guests and musical acts.
Free/$5 to reserve a ticket
Funtime & Friends
Mon., Aug. 2, 9 p.m., Mon., Aug. 9, 9 p.m., Mon., Aug. 16, 9 p.m. and Mon., Aug. 23, 9 p.m. 312-420-7883Improv/Sketch
Live and video sketch comedy.
$5
The Absolute Best Friggin' Time of Your Life
Open run: Tue-Thu 8 PM, Fri-Sat 8 and 11 PM, Sun 7 PM 312-337-3992Improv/Sketch
Second City's 34th revue, directed by Billy Bungeroth. See Steve Heisler's in-depth review. $22-$27
The Hills
Opens 8/4. Through 8/25: Wed 10 PMImprov/Sketch
A mix of sketch, video, musical comedy, and stand-up, presented by the Playground Theater and Grafitti Productions. August’s host is Boom Boom Washington. $5
Graffiti Sketch Showcase
Opens 8/6. Through 8/27: Fri 10 PM 773-871-3793Improv/Sketch
Teenager of the Year (Joe Avella and Tim Racine) and two other comedy groups perform improv and sketch comedy. $6-$10
Mortal Coitus
Opens 7/30. Through 8/27: Fri 9 PMImprov/Sketch
A sketch revue about the bookends of life, written and performed by SketchCo and directed by Jim Carlson. $10-$13
