New Teen 5-Day Summer Intensives for Teens will help your teen get explore their creative intuition, get out of their shell, and get out of the house! Since 1981, iO Theater has been the premiere destination for training in the art of longform improvisation. Over the last 40+ years, iO has trained tens of … Read more
The iO Theater, in collaboration with Truth Zone Records, is proud to present THAWED OUT – a new, single-day music and arts festival held at the legendary iO Theater on April 26th, 2025. The festival will be held at the historic improv comedy theater’s Lincoln Park location, located at 1501 N Kingsbury St, and will … Read more
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Uniting Teams Through Improv: Harnessing the Power of Spontaneity By: Josie Benedetti, Head of Education In the modern workplace, effective teamwork is a fundamental necessity for achieving organizational success. Yet, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and perspectives to work towards common goals is no easy feat. This is where the power of … Read more
SPOTLIGHT ON LAZARUS HOWELL: iO THEATER INTERN / PERFORMER / STUDENT IMPROV LEVEL 5 | INSTRUCTOR: BILL ARNETT LAZ HOWELL, ESSENTIAL & BELOVED FIXTURE OF iO THEATER, SAT DOWN WITH RACH GRANILLO AHEAD OF THEIR RAPIDLY-APPROACHING GRADUATION OF THE WORLD-RENOWNED iO IMPROV TRAINING PROGRAM Rach Granillo: How did you get involved with iO? Lazarus … Read more
Become an iO Intern! GAIN THEATER OPERATIONS EXPERIENCE & GET YOUR NEXT CLASS FREE! Applications for iO’s Operations Internship program are now OPEN! We are currently seeking interns to work a weekly front-of-house night shift in exchange for free classes in our training center. Fill out this Google Form no later than 5:00pm CT on … Read more
Spotlight On: Deshawn Mason, Improv Level 1 Instructor & Performer Since Deshawn Mason completed his training at iO last summer, he has rapidly established himself as a staple community member and performer here at iO Theater. He’s on the iO House Team: “Icarus” and is a regular ensemble member of The Armando Diaz Experience – … Read more
iO alum and former Whirled News cast member Jordan Klepper (“The Daily Show”) explains how Chicago Comedy prepared him for Comedy Central in an interview with Chicago Reader. CHICAGO READER: On The Opposition, you’ve brought in a lot of Chicago folks as writers and onscreen “citizen journalists.” Is there a particular perspective Chicago-trained comedians bring … Read more
[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”] iO Theater’s Marketing Intern Rach Granillo sat down with current iO … Read more
Spotlight On: Rach Granillo, iO Theater’s New Marketing Intern A Quick Note from Caitlin Mahoney, iO Theater Marketing Manager: I was adding this post to the website, eating my usual Panic at the Wh*le F*ods Dinner (bag of sliced cheese) when it occurred to me that I should pop in and introduce the idea behind … Read more
Events Manager
Rory Schrobilgen is from Oak Park, IL. He graduated with honors from Northwestern University’s Theatre program in 2020 (virtually, no less!) and quickly pivoted to a career in hospitality. Prior to joining iO as Events Manager, he held front-of-house positions in Michelin-rated restaurants Boka, Alinea, and Indienne. While at Alinea, Rory starred in a storefront production of Neil Simon’s Promises, Promises, earning him a non-equity Jeff Award (Performer in a Principal Role – Musical). He is currently enrolled in the Improv curriculum at iO, and is delighted to be a part of this community.
Education Administrator
Ryan Bowman has been improvising since 2014 and is a performer, producer, theater technician, and teacher originally from Phoenix, Arizona. Ryan holds a BS in Theater from Northern Arizona University, where he honed his skills in directing, producing, and stage management. Around this time, Ryan served as a writer, performer, and producer for the arts incubator and experimental variety show The Flagstaff Foundry from 2016-2022. Ryan has been with the iO Theater since January 2023, beginning as a Stage Manager and then bringing his experience in improv education to the iO as the Education Administrator – assisting with scheduling and facilitating classes, workshops, and “Applied Improv” corporate training.
Box Office Manager
Kaleigh Stohler (she/her) is an actor, improviser, and iO Theater’s Box Office Manager. She is thrilled to be working with the theater after starting as a student and intern in 2024. You can catch her on one of iO’s house teams, The Wretched, and occasionally saying “hi” from the box office!
Food & Events Coordinator
Gretchen Eng has performed in the Chicago comedy community since she was sixteen. Following a brief stint studying classical voice and doing sketch comedy at Vassar College, she has been a performer, producer, and teacher at iO for over ten years, specifically with flagship shows Armando and Devil’s Daughter, as well as teaching all levels of the iO Training Center and at improv festivals around the world. She has also served as a professor in Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts for 7 years and has worked extensively for classical music organizations, such as Fourth Coast Ensemble and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Digital Marketing Manager
Annaliese Baker is the Digital Marketing Manager at iO Theater. She began her career at 15, studying under New York Times essayists and Tony-nominated playwrights. She received a BFA in Creative Writing and Publishing from Emerson College, where she began pursuing sketch comedy and music journalism. She’s previously worked with The Boston Globe, GBH/NPR, and Comedy Central. Annaliese has also performed at several venues throughout New York City, Chicago, and Boston as a stand-up comedian. When she isn’t running around iO with a microphone or camera, you can catch her interviewing musicians on her podcast “On The Record” or in Atwood Magazine.
Technical Director
Dan Wilcop is a multi-disciplinary artist who cut his teeth in theater tech, comedy, and improv as a core member of the Chicago DIY institution The Shithole. From 2013–2020, he produced over 550 live events featuring 10,000+ performers and served as Musical Director for its house team Gnar Gnar Shredtown. He is also the co-creator of iO’s tech-forward shows The Orbit and The Room is Alive. With more than a decade of experience in woodworking, fabrication, audio, video, and lighting, he remains active in the DIY scene through the Secret River Show and The High Hall, showcasing music and drag respectively.
House Teams & Specialty Programming Director
Jules is a performer, writer, director, teacher, mentor, and supporter of all good things who is originally from Houston, Texas. She attended the University of Houston – School of Theatre & Dance and graduated from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She is an alum of the Second City Mainstage and an adjunct teacher and advisor at The Theatre School at DePaul University in the Comedy Studies program. She is also the former founder of Stepping Stone Theater and the 10,000 Hours program. She also has a vast involvement at various theaters and agencies in the Chicago community and thrives off of helping talented voices grow and excel. Jules is a master movie buff, a self care enthusiast, and an avid traveler.
Creative Director
Brad Pike is a writer and performer from Plano, Texas. He’s a member of the long-running Harold team Devil’s Daughter and has produced a range of shows including Campfire, Imaginarium, Dark Ride, and the comedy festival Devil Fest. His comedy writing has earned multiple honors, including a 3Arts Mentorship from Screencraft and the Titan Award for Best Half Hour Comedy. Most recently, he wrote and narrated the award winning animated short Experience the World: The Train which was an official selection of the Chicago International Film Festival.
Training Center Manager
Avery Ford is a performer, writer, and educator originally from Houston, Texas. He studied at Howard University and Colby College, where he holds degrees in Acting Techniques and Education. He recently served the Education Coordinator at Mudlark Theater and for The National Players touring company; he started at iO working at the box office then spent the past few years training, performing, producing shows, and teaching before becoming the theater’s Training Center Manager.
Chief Operating Officer
Shubhra joined the iO Theater in 2025. She brings more than two decades of experience in brand management, strategic planning, market research, new product development, equity and inclusion, fundraising, and board governance from consumer packaged goods (CPG), telecommunications, education, and non-profit sectors. Her transition to a performing arts organization was driven by her innate desire to work for an organization that cares about building positive outcomes for people and this planet. Shubhra holds an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and an undergraduate degree in Arts & Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. She loves to travel with her family, chase good food and recharge through yoga, biking and hiking.
Director of Education
Gretchen Eng has performed in the Chicago comedy community since she was sixteen. Following a brief stint studying classical voice and doing sketch comedy at Vassar College, she has been a performer, producer, and teacher at iO for over ten years, specifically with flagship shows Armando and Devil’s Daughter, as well as teaching all levels of the iO Training Center and at improv festivals around the world. She has also served as a professor in Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts for 7 years and has worked extensively for classical music organizations, such as Fourth Coast Ensemble and Lyric Opera of Chicago.