About

The home of long form improv

Since 1981, iO Theater has inspired and trained generations of America’s greatest comedic talents.

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History and Alumni

Chicago’s Comedic Epicenter

Our world-renowned training program has helped thousands of performers develop and hone their skills to launch successful comedy and entertainment careers.

Chicago’s Best Improv Comedy. Witness the next generation of comedic talent across our four stages, five nights a week.

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A New Kind of Theater

The founders of iO Theater- Charna Halpern, Del Close, and David Sheperd- were instrumental in the creation and development of long form improvisation.

They believed that simple theater games could be elevated to a new expressive artform, and by codifying and teaching these concepts, a new avant-garde style of theater, and comedy, was born in Chicago.

Long form improvisation, specifically The Harold, iO’s signature style, is a daring exploration of ideas and emotions without a script.

Today, the same ideas and lessons developed at iO are taught at theaters and institutions all over the world.

Businesses and schools have begun to teach the tenants of long form improv to help their employees or students learn valuable skills that apply to communication, collaboration, listening, problem solving, and stroy-telling.

Across every industry: medicine, law, entertainment, teaching, caregiving, science, government, the skills of improv are now applied to help teams and individuals grow and improve efficacy.

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An Artistic Community

The iO Theater is more than just a venue for improvisational theater.

Our training center strives to be an inclusive artistic community for all. Our world-renowned improv program offers individuals of all backgrounds and abilities the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and grow as artists and performers.

Not an actor? GOOD! Our classes help can individuals become better writers, directors, musicians, or just better communicators.

iO is place for people to collaborate, explore, and develop new and exciting forms of expression.

The iO Improv Program is a year-long program consisting of five levels and a performance series. The program has been built over four decades by some of iO’s most talented performers and teachers and continues to evolve today.

Our training center also offers classes and workshops for a variety of different skills, including sketch writing, pilot writing, stand-up, advance improv, cartooning, and much more.

iO also hosts seasonal intensive programs, specifically designed for students outside of Chicago, who want to immerse themselves in the artform within a limited period of time.

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Training Center Principles

At iO we believe our classrooms are made stronger by the inclusion of a variety of voices and persepectives.

There is no prerequisite for improv. As long as you have the desire to learn, you will be successful in your training. Listening, agreement, committment, and collaboration are all it takes to create truly amazing art.

The principles of groupmind, authenticity, and thematic exploration of ideas can be carried with you throughout your life on and off the stage.

Passed down through the hands of generations of the world’s best improvisers, our curriculum is the gold standard for long form improv training in the world.

Our class sizes are designed to ensure plenty of performance opportunity as well as individualized feedback tailored to your own journey as an improviser, artist, or communicator.

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History

Using theater games created by Viola Spolin, Devid Shepard created the ImprovOlympic to showcase competing improv teams againt each other in friendly, funny competitions. At the time, performances were held at The Players Workshop in Chicago, where Charna Halpern was a student and assistant to Shepard. Eventually Halpern took over the operations and ownership of the ImprovOlympic name.

As the theater began to gain popularity, Halpern began to think there could be more to these performances and that more was capable than short games and competition style shows that dominated the scene in the 1970s. Halpern then met Second City director Del Close and approached him about teaching at ImprovOlympic. Del agreed and soon became an inspiration to Halpern and the students at iO, who shared their vision for a deeper, more meaningful form of improvisation.

Soon after, longform improvisation was born with Close as the mentor and Halpern as the guide. The work developed here would eventually change the face improvisational comedy and theater forever.

  • ImprovOlympic finds its first permanent home in 1995 in Chicago’s Wrigleyville, at Clark and Addison.
  • The theater quickly becomes the premiere destination for longform improv.
  • In 1997, ImprovOlympic West opens in Los Angeles, acting as a companion theater for Chicago alumni who had moved west.
  • In 1999, five days before his 65th birthday, Del Close passes away in Chicago surrounded by friends and loved ones. Halpern promises to devote herself to their shared mission of elevating longform improv as an art.
  • In 2001 the International Olympic Committee threatens legal action against the theater for use of the word ‘Olympic’ forcing the theater to change its name to the shorthand version, The iO Theater.
  • Halpern moves the Chicago theater to its new and current location in Lincoln Park in 2014, expanding the space and number of stages dramatically.
  • The iO Theater closes in 2020 due to financial contraints related to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The theater is dark for over two years.
  • Halpern sells the building and theater to Larry Weiner and Scott Gendell in 2022.
  • The iO Theater reopens on Nov. 3rd 2022 under new ownership and management, but comitted to the same princples of elevating improv as a true avant-garde artform.


The Staff

Since its re-opening in 2022, the iO Theater has been operated under new ownership and a new management team.

The theater is still committed to the artistic vision and goals set forth by the founders four decades ago, while also working towards creating new pathways of entry for students, performers, patrons, and partners alike.

Want to get in touch with someone at the theater? Send us a message here and we will work to get back to you in a timely fashion.

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Want to work at iO?

iO is an inclusive, dynamic, and exciting workplace that is always looking for dedicated, hardworking individuals to join our team. We’d love to hear from you.

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Opening Hours

Monday: 5PM – 11PM

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 5PM – 11PM

Thursday: 5PM – 12AM

Friday: 5PM – 2AM

Saturday: 5PM – 2AM

Sunday: 5PM – 10PM

How to Find us

How to get here

iO is a five minute walk from the North/Clybourn Red Line Stop and just two minutes off the 72 North Ave Bus Route. We offer no parking, but limited street parking and several pay-to-park lots are located within one block.

Food & Drink Menu

We are an all ages venue with full food and beverage service. Our bar and kitchen are open each show night at 6pm and offer delicious and affordable options before, during, and after the shows.

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