Where To Pee Your Pants Laughing in Chicago
A couple of things are necessary for peeing your pants laughing. Pants, obviously and also irresistible hilarity. It's amazing that Chicago, home to a thriving stand-up and improv scene not to mention thousands of pairs of pants, isn't awash in public urination. Upon further examination, of course, we see that such fits of comedic incontinence are localized to the funniest comedy clubs in Chicago. So, be you comedy lover or merely a bedwetter, here are a couple Gridskipper faves where you'll always feel comfortable.
Second City: One of the originators of sketch and improv comedy, Second City is still a comedy powerhouse in Chicago and has troupes in other parts of the country. Many 1970's SNL members including Bill Murray, John Belushi, and Dan Akroyd came from Second City, and members of the Toronto group started the defunct but hilarious SCTV. Their current hit in Chicago is "War!"Now in its 4th Smash Year!" playing almost every night.
I.O.: The other of the major originators of improv, The I.O. approaches improvisation as an art form. It doesn't focus on the short form improv popularized in shows Whose Line is It Anyway. Instead they concentrate on long form improv also called Harold, which is more challenging and can be even funnier than the other varieties. IO has spawned some of the recent stars of SNL including Tina Fey, Rachael Dratch, and Amy Poehler as well as the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Adventure Club: Adventure Club is duo of suburban white guys mixing hip hop and sketch comedy at the Playground Theater. We happen to like all white rappers without reservation, but for you skeptics out there, we swear they are legitimately funny. In fact, we nominate this as the most pee-your-pants-worthy pick. The duo Justin Jackson and Daryl Amandes also invite guest comics to perform with them.
Comedy Sportz: Comedy Sportz features competitive improv where the audience chooses the games and the rules and the two teams win by getting the most laughs. It is always different and always fun.
kevINda: A comedy duo that met while training at a Second City outreach class, kevINda is well known in Chicago, has performed in the city's comedy festivals, and recently won a spot at the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. Most of their material is racially charged and completely hilarious, which means you'll either pee your pants out of awkwardness (one of my favorite ice-breakers) or from guffawing.
Barrel of Laughs: Zanie's is the big name comedy club in Chicago that anyone who wants to make it tries to play. But we think it's overrated and a bit too expensive. Instead we like Barrel of Laughs, the longest running comedy club in the Chicago area and still a starting point for the city's best talent. Both up and comers and national acts stop here so check the schedule. Shows are on Wednesdays through Sundays with Wednesday set aside for new talent.
The Red Lion Pub: The Red Lion is the place to see excellent open mike comedy. Though it's mostly awkward newcomers, some are great, and seasoned comics often stop by to try out their new material. Shows are on Thursday nights at 9 with no cover, and there is great pub food and beer.
Playground Theater: Another theater with many acts and a huge following, Playground Theater hosts some of the funniest improv and sketch groups in the city. They feature many acts by the entertaining Blewt! Productions (see below) as well as open ensembles that let outsiders sign up for a night. They also feature Adventure Club (above) and a night of burlesque and novelty acts.
Blewt! Productions: An ensemble that hosts frequent shows at Chicago's comedy venue The Playground Theater, Blewt! Productions puts on themed sketch and improv shows. At their show Don't Spit the Water!, the troupe have volunteers in the audience fill their mouths with water and try to get them to laugh. Their show A Demon Who Never Appeared features local stand-up comedians and comedy acts. Their third popular show Impress These Apes is a talent show for eight performers that contains a mixture of staged and real elements and is consistently funny.
PH Productions: Like Blewt!, PH Productions is an ensemble group offering different shows at one venue. PH plays at the Stage Left Theater and has over five shows there. One is a reality-TV style competition that has a regular version (PHrenzy) and an adults-only version (PHucked). In both shows troupe members compete in a game where only the host and the audience know the arbitrary rules.
[Photo: BrianHTSmith/Flickr]
Previously: Great Jews in Tortes, Burgerwatch Chicago, Insider Restaurant Guide in Chicago, Chicago BYOB Google Map; Cheap Drunk Bastards Rejoince
