iO Chicago, Chicago
iO is the puppy mill of improv comedy: its training center churns out graduates at a rapid pace, and most are given the brief honor of performing unpaid on its two stages (both of which have bars) until there are more grads to rotate in.
iO is the puppy mill of improv comedy: its training center churns out graduates at a rapid pace, and most are given the brief honor of performing unpaid on its two stages (both of which have bars) until there are more grads to rotate in. Shows are generally solid, if lacking the artistic direction that makes the other major comedy theaters great. However, when veterans and visiting luminaries take the stage on Monday nights for the Armando Diaz Experience or Wednesdays for TJ & Dave, the results can be exhilarating.
Hours
Sun
19:30
21:00
Mon
21:30
23:00
Tue
20:00
21:30
Wed
22:00
0:00
Thu
20:00
21:30
Fri
22:00
0:00
Sat
20:00
21:30
About iO Chicago
3541 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL, United States
+1 773-880-0199
iO Chicago and Nearby Sights on Map
Wrigley Field
Home to Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, the Wrigley Field is the city's beloved sporting mecca
Metro Chicago
Chicago's foremost rock venue, although other genres like electronic and hip hop figure in the lineup as well
The Vic
The Vic hosts the Brew and View, a second-run movie theater with cheap Miller beer, and turns into a good concert venue on other nights - not dissimilar to the Metro in size or sound quality, but there are seats
Music Box
Chicago's foremost source of cinematic delight, with two screens for classic and world-premiere independent movies and the occasional mini-festival
Stage Left Theater
One of the mainstays of Chicago's storefront theater since 1982, Stage Left hosts everything: new works of social, political, intently serious drama are balanced out by manic rough drafts of new comedies by guest ensembles
Wunders Cemetery
Overshadowed by the magnificent Graceland Cemetery across the street in Uptown, the smaller, slightly overgrown Wunders was established in 1859 and features some intriguing monuments, with more of a forgotten-by-time atmosphere than its more famous neighbor
The Playground
The Playground has a few things going for it: the perfect location for beginning or ending the night with a show, a BYOB liquor license, and a non-profit co-op structure that makes the performers here some of the most enthusiastic and committed you'll find
Graceland Cemetery
The Graceland Cemetery is a large Victorian era cemetery and arboretum spread over 119 acres in the north side community area of Uptown
Briar Street Theater
The Chicago home of the nationally famed performance art Blue Man Group
Schuba's
One of Chicago's landmark venues for cool music