Book Now

Chicago Improv Festival

Improvise a family spring break by coming to the Chicago Improv Festival April 20-26 and stay at the nearby and affordable Chicago Lake Shore Hotel!

The Chicago Improv Festival is comedy madness! Improvisational theater groups from around the country will gather and lead you on multi-faceted paths through the comedy jungle. The lineup includes: The Chicago Underground Lounge; 3Peat; After School Special (Kansas City); Burns and Gallo (Canada); Child’s Play; Count Spatula; Daaang Judy Dench, Dads of Anarchy, “Saturday Night Live” alum Paul Brittain and a whole bunch more.

If you’re a closet wannabe performer, come for such improv acting workshops as “Don’t Panic” with Paul Grundy; “Exposition is Your Friend” with Dave Razowsky; “Behavior is a Game” with Kevin Mullaney and much more. Advance reservations necessary.

Chicago is the improv Mecca of the United States. Starting with legends Mike Nichols and Elaine May at the University of Chicago in the 50s, improv has grown into a comedy industry. Chicago’s The Second City, one of the storied clubs and schools for improv comedy, is a national treasure. 75% of the casts of “Saturday Night Live” got their starts in the Windy City.

There will be multiple sites for the Chicago Improv Festival including the Apollo Theatre and Stage 773, all close to the Loop. For tickets and schedule information go online to chicagoimprovfestival.org.

Make your Chicago Improv Festival experience more enjoyable by staying at the Chicago Lake Shore Hotel, in historic Hyde Park. Chicago Lake Shore offers free shuttle bus service to and from the Loop area and is close to bus and train services. The Lake Shore Café offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. AND Jazz and seafood buffet, Friday nights.