iO Theater has 4 stages that host live comedy five nights a week. And with multiple shows on each stage each night, that’s like 40 shows a week!
Improv, sketch, storytelling, musical improv, dance, stand up and more. Check out our recommended shows below to dive in.
Mondays at 7pm! Celebrity storytelling in an intimate setting, featuring a new guest each week. Chicago’s sharpest and most experienced improvisers perform an entirely unscripted show based on real-life tales told that night. Past guests include: Tim Baltz, John Lutz, & Michael Patrick Thornton. This show was invented at iO in 1995 and has been running ever since.
Every Saturday at 7:30pm, Improvised Jane Austen is a comedic ensemble that creates unscripted performances using Jane Austen’s tropes, themes, and language. Playing in Austen’s world, Improvised Jane Austen’s stories delight 21st century audiences with a modern sense and sensibility. Come for the humor, stay for the heart! Throughout the show’s run, Improvised Jane Austen’s has been Chicago Reader Recommended, named a PerformInk Critics’ Pick, voted Best sketch/improv troupe 2019 in the Reader’s Best of Chicago, and was featured on WTTW playlist, in Time Out, on WGN’s Daytime Chicago and most recently on CBS News Chicago.
Every Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm since 2006! Inspired by one audience suggestion, these dazzling players create a brand-new Shakespearean masterpiece right before your eyes. Come witness the shows critics have called “staggeringly brilliant.”
Sundays at 7:30pm. Each week, the talented teams of iO performers come together to create characters, discover alternate realities, and play hilarious bits all inspired by one word from you, the audience! Using the Harold, an improvised story-telling format, iO‘s elite house teams will showcase the wonderful, strange, and thrilling art of improv.
Chicago’s longest-running Harold team returns to iO to bring their unique blend of chaos and creativity to iO’s signature form The Harold melding games, songs, and scenes for singular, edge-of-your-seat improv comedy. Formed in 1996 Deep Schwa has over 50 members, has done over 1,000 shows, performed in theaters all over Chicago and beyond. Made up of a cast of Chicago’s most seasoned and eclectic players and teachers it’s a show perfect for the improv initiate and those just looking to chase away the Sunday scaries. Every Sunday, 29 years and counting.
Every Saturday at 7:30pm. Twenty years running! The audience provides inspiration by picking their top stories from the day’s news. From these journalistic suggestions, a team of experienced improvisers create a fast-paced, topical, intelligent, & hilarious show.
One Night Only, May 21st at 7:30pm! When actor and comedian CHRIS CAFERO discovered a lump growing in his… private area, it was no laughing matter. Until now! Chris will be turning his pain into audiences’ pleasure in his brand new solo show TAKING MY LUMPS. Written and performed by Cafero and directed by Emmy nominee Stephen Guarino, Taking My Lumps combines Chris’ skills as a stand-up, story-teller and sketch-performer to find the humor in all of the bumps and bruises he’s taken along the way. This marks the solo show debut for Cafero, who was recently named one of the Just For Laughs New Faces of Comedy in 2023.
Fridays at 7:30pm! — ESCÁNDALO is your weekly escape into the heart of Latine culture in Chicago! We’re a collective with a mission of creating a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone – especially trans, femme, non-binary, and disabled creatives—through bold, hilarious comedy. Enjoy a rotating cast of Latine improvisers, solo performers, and special guests. All Latines are welcome, regardless of background or fluency.
Saturdays at 9:30pm starting May 3rd– The Improvised Housewives of iO returns for a fourth season of this totally unscripted parody of the Real Housewives franchise. Each Saturday, catch a new episode and watch the storylines unfold throughout the season, leading up to our dramatic reunion the final week.
We’re back with all new bits! This joyful mixture of sketch, dance, and physical comedy is filled with a variety of hilarious characters that are sure to have you laughing along in recognition. Grab some friends and join us for some fun that’s sure to level up your Friday night!
Start your weekend off laughing at one of the hottest improv shows in Chicago! Every Friday at 9:30pm , iO house team Kohl’s Cash presents a completely original show based on your suggestions. With different openers every week, drink specials, and clean restrooms, you’ll for sure be saying TGIF (That’s Good Improv Fridays).
Every Saturday at 9:30pm. Comedy so good you’ll lick your lips and pat your belly. Longform improv from iO House team CREAMBOY, featuring different opening acts each week. Don’t miss this show, who knows, you could become the lucky audience member chosen as the Cream of the Week. Get your tickets now!
Every Thursday with iO house teams Kismet, Big Deborah and Lil Sluggers. Sit back, grab a cold beverage of your choice, and let the professionals steer you through an evening of high energy, eccentric, emotionally charged sets guaranteed to leave you feeling blown away.
Tuesdays at 8pm! Freak of the Week is fast, furious two-person improvisation. Where did those hoes go? For eight weeks watch veteran improvisers Claudia Martinez and Beth Melewski weave wild characters and tell tall tales based on your suggestion. With a fresh new improv group opening for them every week, you’ll want to come back again and again to see what happens next!
Saturdays at 9:30pm, starting Feb 1, the 2019 Reader-Recommended show is back featuring some of iO’s best players! Hot Seat invites the audience to ask the questions that we’re afraid to answer. Get ready for some good old-fashioned truth telling and improv that’s sure to melt your face off!”
Every Wednesday at 9pm, sign ups at 8:30pm — A free community networking event designed to give local improvisers from all over the city a weekly opportunity to perform. We provide the stage, you provide the fun! Bring your own team (BYOT) and sign up for a set! Don’t have a team? No problem, single players are welcome and will form their own group–a great chance to meet new people and expand your improv comedy network.
Phony Award Winning Musical presents: Improvised Company! A fully improvised musical with singing and dancing in the style of Stephen Sondheim’s Company based on an audience suggestion Directed by Mick Napier with musical Direction by Lisa McQueen & Laura Hall
Let loose and test out roughly four minutes of material every Tuesday at iO Theater. LOOSE FOUR is hosted by Maureen Nolan, with a new featured comic each week! POC, LGBT+ people, and women prioritized! FREE to attend and FREE to participate. SIGNUP begins: 5:30PM (in-person at the box office) SHOW starts: 6:00PM
iO House Teams are cast from the graduates of the iO Training Center Program. Each week at iO features different house teams performing their unique version of iO’s signature longform piece, The Harold, a combination of scenes, games, group scenes, songs, monologues, performance art, and beyond, all based on a single audience suggestion.
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Dann Conn, Chris Littrell, Luis Cortes, Keiter Liriano, Anthony Rossi, Shawna Seals, Chloe Franklin, Morgan O’Dell, Heather Mari, Maura Chappelle. Coached by Nicole Carter.
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Justin Parlette, Erin Washington, Daryn Robinson, Ryan Nolan, Devin Henderson, Chris Franz, Ali Khan, Alonso Ramirez, Laura Maynard, Lauren Frost. Coached by Laurel Krabacher.
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Anna Bortnick, Conner Stumm, Matty Vergun, Ateeq Rehman, Jake Prizant, Sage Huston, Claire Noone, Leon Wilson.
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Steven Albert, Nick Davis, Zoe Fassler, Thom Gaughan, Cory Hardin, Lauren Hugh, Valerie Nicolette, Jordan Reichardt, David Resnick, Brenda Uribe Coached by Mary Tilden
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Allen Lucas, Hails Reeves, Ari Levin, Shelbi Weaver, Hannah Magy, Jon Plester, Mitch Winkler, Jacob Knobbe, Montrez Hawkins, Jazmin Robinson. Coached by Katie Caussin
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Alex Beard, Jordy Blenner, Kaia Bolland, Cadence Messier, Ben Perry, Samantha Nieves, Esther Oh, Ian Ornstein, Anna Ross, Simon Tessmer. Coached by Lisa Burton
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Yo Alrawi, Edgar Nevarez, Nick Rowley, Molly Ruffner, Denver Collins, Mason King, Sara Dirks, Katie Kincaid, Rob Grabowski. Coached by Sarah Dell’Amico
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Ryan Bowman, Ethan Conley-Keck, Katie Grogan, Avery Ford, Mederic Chiasson, Carolyn Cox, Kayla McCaffrey, Michael Pisanelli, Peyton Rogers. Coached by Jacob Knobbe.
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Justin Tunney, Sheila Master, Jonathan Sessa, Joseph Jenkins, Lucas Pollitzer, Olivia Evans, Claire Lochmueller, Elizabeth Fulton, Sarah Hierholzer, Mina Bond. Coached by Meredith Weir
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Raju Ben, Shelby Deutsch, Lydia House, Kevin Strader, Dani James, Steve Kleinberg, Sabrina Odigie, Dominic Rescigno. Coached by TJ King
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Lily Kerr-Jung, Kara Kinsey, Marino Korellis, Keller Paulson, Max Reicheck, Veronica Rooney, Bailey Salicos, Traer Schon, Hadley Singer, Janelle Soulliere
Coached by Bill Arnett
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Annie Farwell, Courtney Farney, Jon Podulka, JP Winders, Juliana Zepeda, Ryan Hultman, Sera Rae Young, Trevor D. Kelley, Kelton Neals. Coached by Brad Pike
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The audience provides the inspiration for an evening of live comedy by picking their top stories from the day’s news. From these journalistic suggestions, a team of experienced improvisers create a fast-paced, topical, intelligent, hilarious show.
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Created in 1995 by iO alum Armando Diaz (not the Italian general), the Armando is a historic improvisational form where actors improvise a series of interconnected scenes based on the true events and life experiences told from a guest-monologist.
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An evening of off-the-ruff comedy featuring the language and themes of William Shakespeare. Inspired by one audience suggestion the dazzling players create a brand-new Shakespearean masterpiece right before your eyes.
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The talented teams of iO come together to create characters, discover alternate realities, and play hilarious bits all inspired by one word from the audience. Using the Harold, an improvised story-telling form, iO’s elite house teams will showcase the wonderful, strange, and thrilling art of improv,
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From cabaret to comedy, heartfelt scenework is intermixed with improvised musical numbers in this two-act fully improvised musical.
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Devil’s Daughter features a cast of seasoned comedians who have performed together in Chicago and around the country for 8+ years. This award-winning team has their own unique spin on a classic improv form, The Harold, and is known for their solo scenes, artistic style, and dastardly sense of humor.
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Escandalo is a weekly variety show that showcases Latine comedians, musicians, poets and much more! The show consists of a rotating cast of improvisers, solo performances, and special guests that all come from a Latine background.
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A tale, on the spot, in the style of the most beloved 19th-century author. The audience can expect to laugh heartily, be wooed to tears, and be made to think on how much, and how little, has changed in two hundred-plus years.
We’re always accepting new show pitch ideas. Send your pitch deck and information about the show to PITCH@IOIMPROV.COM
Keep in mind, we get a lot of these and can’t respond to eveyone, but we will try.
We hold auditions for house teams twice a year. House teams are built from graduates of the iO Training Center Program and our iO Scholarship Program and the iO Internship Program. Check back soon for the next audition date.
All this talk about shows can kind of make you feel like doing a show of your own right? Learn more about our training center and improv program, as well as much more.
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