Couldn’t You Use a Laugh? Here Are Plenty of Options for Comedy Clubs in Chicago
The Many Comedy Clubs in Chicago
…and Upcoming Shows, Too!
If you want to see some of the funniest people in the Midwest, then you should check out the comedy clubs in Chicago. The city has a thriving comedy scene, with plenty of clubs and venues that host stand-up shows.
One of the most popular comedy clubs in Chicago is the Second City. It’s been around since 1959, and it’s where a lot of famous comedians got their start.
If you’re looking for a more traditional stand-up comedy club, then you might want to check out the Laugh Factory. It’s been a favorite of comedians like Chris Rock, Tim Allen, and Dave Chappelle.
We’ll give you a closer look at a few other comedy options. But the laughs never stop with dozens of popups, troupes, and comedy clubs in Chicago. So, try something new every week – life will be so much more fun!
Live Theaters and Theater Groups in Chicago
Chicago Comedy Calendar
Step Inside a Few Chicago Area Comedy Clubs
The Second City
How could we not include The Second City in Chicago? It’s the one that started it all for comics like Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, and Dan Ackroyd.
Believe it or not, The Second City started back in the 1950s at 1842 N. Wells Street. Over the decades, it was a celebrity hangout, touring company, and powerful precursor to Saturday Night Live fame –Gilda Radner, John Candy, John Belushi…
Today, The Second City hosts classes and unforgettable shows. You can attend an Improv Brunch, ComedySportz comedy competition, improvised murder mysteries, and plenty more memorable off-the-wall events. There’s something going on every day of the week.
Logan Square Improv
Are you interested in a free (or nearly free) night out? There are comedy nights in several bars and clubs throughout the Windy City. But you can count on Logan Square Improv to deliver with shows every Thursday through Sunday.
Oh, and you won’t forget the names with clever titles like The Thursday Show, The Friday Show, The Saturday Show, and The Sunday Show!
Logan Square Improv even has a (relatively) family-friendly show Saturdays at 7 pm. If you want to bring the kids, check out Whose Line Is It Saturday. And, you can’t beat the price for any of the fun – try $5 or even $0.
Las Locas Comedy
It’s going to get a little personal and political, but Las Locas Comedy takes a humorous look at “issues and challenges facing Latinas, women of color, and the LGBTQIA community in a thought-provoking way.
The Chicago Reader designated Las Locas Comedy as a “Must-See,” and who’s to say that the Reader is wrong?
Shows are held at local hotspots like The Comedy Vault (Batavia) and Laugh Factory comedy club in Chicago. And, a quick tip – check out the website before you buy tickets, you might find a discount code hidden here and there.
Zanies Comedy Club in Chicago
When you’re looking for the headliners, it’s wise to turn to Zanies in Chicago. It’s a traditional comedy club on North Wells Street that hosts some of the bigger names in the industry. But even if you don’t recognize the name (or the face), the laughs are guaranteed.
Zanies is a 21 and over club with a two-drink minimum. Tickets are in the $20 range for a typical show but vary depending on the headliner.
Comedy Clubs in Chicago
| Chicago Comedy Clubs | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Comedy Club - House of Blues Thursdays | 329 N Dearborn St | http://chicomedyclub.com |
| Cic Theater | 1422 W Irving Park Rd | http://www.cictheater.com |
| Comedy Sportz Chicago | 929 W Belmont Ave | https://cszchicago.com |
| Cornservatory | 4210 N Lincoln Ave | https://www.cornservatory.org |
| Flat Iron Comedy - Pop Up Show | 1579 N Milwaukee Ave | https://www.facebook.com/flatironcomedy/ |
| Hitch-Cocktails | 851 W Belmont Ave | https://hitchcocktails.com |
| Improv Chicago | 5 Woodfield Rd | https://improv.com/chicago/ |
| Io Theater - reopens Fall 2022 | 1501 N Kingsbury St | https://www.ioimprov.com |
| Joker Jam Comedy | 1074 W Taylor St | https://www.jokerjamcomedy.com |
| Las Locas Comedy | 3175 N Broadway | http://laslocascomedy.com |
| Laugh Factory | 3175 N Broadway St | http://www.laughfactory.com |
| Laugh Out Loud Theater - Chicago | 3851 N Lincoln Ave | http://www.laughoutloudtheater.com/chicago |
| Logan Square Improv (free or $5 - BYOB) | 2825 W Diversey Ave | https://logansquareimprov.com |
| Newport Theater - comedy drinking game | 956 W Newport Ave SE | https://www.newporttheater.com |
| One Group Mind | 1462 N Ashland Ave | http://www.onegroupmind.com |
| Red Room Comedy Club | 7442 N Western Ave | https://www.redroomcomedyclub.com |
| The Comedy Bar | 162 E Superior Street | https://comedybar.com/chicago/ |
| The Comedy Clubhouse | 1462 N Ashland Ave | http://www.thecomedyclubhouse.com |
| The Crowd Theater - improv 7 nights a week | 3935 N Broadway St | https://thecrowdtheater.com |
| The Magic Parlour | 17 E Monroe St | https://www.themagicparlourchicago.com |
| The Revival | 1160 E 55th St | https://www.the-revival.com/home |
| The Second City | 1616 N Wls | https://www.secondcity.com/locations/chicago |
| Trickery | 3453 N Halsted St | http://www.trickerychicago.com |
| Tuxedo Cat Comedy | 1444 W Chicago Ave | https://www.facebook.com/TuxedoCatComedy/ |
| Wet Cash Comedy | 4835 N Western Ave | https://www.facebook.com/WetCashComedy/ |
| Zanies Comedy Club | 1548 N Wells St | http://chicago.zanies.com |
Did we leave your club or troupe off the list? Send us the info and we’ll be sure to add it.
8 Reasons Why You Should Visit a Chicago Comedy Club Now
- A Great Way to Relieve Stress
- Ideal Place for a First (or 40th) Date
- Affordable Night Out
- Laughter is the Best Medicine
- You Can Catch Up-and-Coming Comics Before They Make it Big (and Charge More!)
- Fun Alternative to a Group Happy Hour
- Many Clubs Offer Dinner and a Show
- It’s Probably Been a Long Time Since You’ve Been to One
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you narrow the list in a city with Zanies and Laugh Factory to start? But The Second City immediately comes to mind as it opened in 1959 and launched the careers of some of the biggest names in comedy, like Gilda Radner, John Belushi, and Dan Ackroyd.
Yes – and no. Traditional comedy clubs, like Zanies, have a 21 and older policy. But some improv shows, take Logan Square Improv, for example, host some all-age shows (or at least teens and up).
We think a good comedy show is a must every now and then. So, here at OTL City Guides, we’ve devoted an entire page to comedy in Chicago. You’ll find upcoming comedy shows and links to buy tickets and a complete list of comedy clubs, including non-traditional ones, in Chicago, Illinois.
Yes. We have two proven ways to get your hands on free comedy tickets. The first is to be a seat filler in Chicago through OTL Seat Fillers. For less than the price of one movie ticket each month, you can reserve free pairs of tickets to live entertainment. The other route to free admission is through the many free comedy shows in Chicago, like the ones at Logan Square Improv.
