The Chicago Improv Festival annually celebrates the present, honors the past, and showcases the future of improvisational theatre, in all of its multi-disciplinary expressions, through local, regional, national, and international perspectives by presenting and producing performances and workshops for both the general public and practicing improvisational theatre artists. The festival teaches the art of improv, the history of and the potential for innovation within the art form to students of the craft, professional improv artists and the public. Check out all of the hilarious action in Chicago April 21-27.
Modern improv comedy began in Chicago. Its history can be traced back to 1945 when it was taught to schoolchildren at Chicago's Hull House. Improv was introduced as a way to teach the valuable skills of theater while being freed of the restrictions of stage production that were often cost-prohibitive for the poor. Public performances began in July of 1955 at the University of Chicago by the first improv ensemble, The Compass. Though short lived, only existing from 1955-59, The Compass set the stage for the future of improv. This included the creation of The Second City by former Compass founder-director Paul Sills.
Since 1959, The Second City established itself as a Chicago landmark and a national treasure. This iconic theatre group launched the careers of such comic greats as John Belushi, Mike Myers, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and more, offering nightly comedy shows, as well as a variety of other programs and services.
The theatre has two resident stages in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood: The Second City Mainstage and The Second City e.t.c. stage. Each stage has a resident troupe that writes and performs an original comedy revue. The shows are smart, funny, and highly original. You can always count on The Best of The Second City, Ongoing Mondays, where the stars of tomorrow perform hilarious work originally written by some of the greatest comedic minds of the 20th century. The Best of The Second City showcases scenes and songs created by alumni such as Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert.
Venture a little further north to Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood to experience ComedySportz. The main stage show offers a unique blend of fast, funny and smart improv comedy appropriate for all ages. The Red and Blue teams battle it out in front of a referee in games that the audience selects, and points are awarded based on how hard the improvisers make you laugh! The eternal battle of Red vs. Blue is completely improvised four times a week and the show is never the same twice!