Neighborhood News

February/March Comedy and Theater Guide

Posted on February 5, 2018

It’s time to look forward to two months of hilarious, heartwarming, and one-of-a-kind entertainment- all right here in Lincoln Park. Whether you can’t get enough of improv, spend your days dreaming of Broadway dramas, or are a stand-up fanatic, there’s a show here for everyone!


Comedy

iO Theater
1501 N. Kingsbury
The iO Theater can host as many as 11 different shows in one day, which means that this improv comedy club never has a shortage of good times. Listed below are some upcoming shows to get excited about! For a full event calendar, click here.

Whirled News Tonight
The news is definitely real, but everything else is definitely not. This improvised show takes a satirical turn on current events, while adding the human perspective to these stories.
Click here for tickets and showtimes.

The Armando Diaz Experience
Join the iO for Chicago’s longest running improvised comedy show! A monologist tells interesting personal anecdotes that serve as the inspiration for the rest of the evening’s scenes. It’s a unique experience that’s kept Chicago laughing for years.
Click here for tickets and showtimes.

Deep Schwa
The Deep Schwa team has been entertaining Chicago audiences for over 15 years! This talented ensemble of improvisers is sure to make your Sunday night one to remember.
Click here for tickets and showtimes.

The Second City
Chicago’s world-famous Second City provides plenty of unique comedy experiences. Set in 4 different theaters, The Second City allows experts and amateurs to showcase their talents. While its jam-packed schedule could keep you entertained all year, here are a selection of upcoming shows you don’t want to miss!

Dream Freaks Fall From Space
We are living in very strange times, and this wacky show highlights all of the wild turns of reality we find ourselves in.This other-worldly adventure is unlike any other show on the planet- and that’s the whole point!
Chicago Mainstage
1616 N. Wells

She the People: Girlfriend’s Guide to Sisters Doing it for Themselves
Women: now is your time to reclaim comedy! This spunky, hilarious show is designed and performed by the fearless women of The Second City to create a discussion about sexism and the realities women face- without losing its comedic edge.
UP Comedy Club
230 W. North

Julia Sweeney: Older and Wilder
Join SNL veteran Julia Sweeney as she takes on parenting, cancer, religion, feminism, and the place of her iconic characters in the ever-changing landscape of 2018. This show is part stand-up, part storytelling, and part workshop, but one thing is certain- it all comes together for one unforgettable evening.
Judy’s Beat Lounge
230 W. North

Zanies
1548 N. Wells
Zanies highlights a different comedian every weekend. Listed below are some of the upcoming performers to get excited about! Click here for the full schedule through the end of May.

Kristin Key
Kristin Key has appeared at The Improv and on Last Comic Standing. As the daughter of a Christian minister, she prefers a self-deprecating and improvisational style of comedy. Not only this, but she incorporates the guitar to create original musical comedy!

Vir Das
Vir Das is the biggest English-speaking comedian in India. He has made a name for himself as one of the country’s top stand-ups, actors, writers, musicians, and festival producers. Through his various tours he has sold over half a million tickets as a stand up. In fact, his tour Unbelievablish is the largest domestic comedy tour ever by an Indian comedian.

Big Jay Oakerson
Big Jay Oakerson currently has a full length album, “An American Storyteller” on Comedy Central Records. Oakerson’s story-based style of stand-up comedy got its start after a series of dead-end jobs. Now, he’s turned comedy into his full-time job, flooring audiences with his true, bizzare, and R-rated tales.


Theater

Steppenwolf
1650 N. Halsted

You Got Older
Follow the life of a Mae, a young woman experiencing all the quirky and surprising twists of adult life, as she finds humor and light in the darkest of situations. This comedy isn’t what you’d expect- it’s touching, it’s challenging, it’s relatable, and it’s everything you need.
Click here for tickets and showtimes.

Victory Gardens Theater
2433 N. Lincoln

Breach
Breach was written by New-York based playwright Antoinette Nwandu as a “love letter to black women.” Described as a “manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate,” this heartwarming, smart comedy takes on the challenging issue of learning to love yourself.
Click here for tickets and showtimes.

Theater on the Lake
2401 N Lake Shore

TOTL: In the Works
The In the Works series highlights new plays that are in development by Chicago playwrights. The session on February 26 features playwright Sandra Delgado, as she presents her play in progress Felons and Familias. This interactive session provides opportunity for audience participation and feedback, as well as a first glimpse at a talented local playwright.

Apollo Theater
2540 N. Lincoln

Magic Tree House: Showtime with Shakespeare
This Emerald City Theater production is hosted at the Apollo! Join adventurous sibling duo Jack and Annie as they travel back to Shakespearean England and learn to overcome stage fright. Based on the critically-acclaimed Magic Tree House book series by Mary Pope Osborne, this jazzy, spunky show is a crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alike!
Click here for tickets and showtimes.

The Comrades Present: Row After Row
Two Civil War re-enactors, Cal and Tom, pride themselves on their commitment to historical accuracy. This accuracy is threatened with the arrival of a suspicious soldier in the wrong uniform… and of the wrong gender. Join them as they find courage and question the meaning of their causes.
Call the Apollo Theater Box Office at (773) 935-6100 to purchase tickets.

Greenhouse Theater Center
2257 N. Lincoln

Rose
Back by popular demand! Join Kennedy-family matriarch and “queen mother” Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy as she retraces the rises and falls of her iconic family.
Click here for tickets and showtimes.

Mother of Dark Water
The Black Madonna serves as a source of inspiration for five black women who decide to reclaim their voice in the feminist movement. Based on personal stories, this show celebrates the strength of resistance and the power of self-love.
Click here for tickets and showtimes.

newberry 960x130

Stay in touch

Trying to keep up with everything that's happening in your Lincoln Park neighborhood? Subscribe today for email updates based on your interests.

loading...