I've been to Second City several times for various shows, and while a couple of them have been hilarious it's not as consistently funny as the Improvised Shakespeare show at iO. They even do the whole show in iambic pentameter, it's just brilliant. It's also a bargain compared to the Second City main stage shows.

My son is into improv and I had done a little myself in high school, so this was what we thought would be the perfect show to see for his 16th birthday. I had called ahead to see if it would be appropriate for teenagers and was told that yes, it should be ok and while there might be some... More

We wrestled between this and Second City and I'm so glad we chose IO. The improv actors were just amazing - especially considering they were doing a musical on the fly. We did the downstairs theater for Harold and Deltones and couldn't have asked for a better return on our money. Theater was easy to get to on a train... More

Look, it's improv. The shows can be hit or miss. But Shakespeare, news update, and normal sketch shows are almost always a ton of fun. The bar has a really good vibe to it, and the drinks are cheap. End the night with a trip across the street to Sluggers and hit some batting cages for slow pitch softball.

These talented performers do the impossible on stage for hours. They are all very good, with a few stand-outs that you expect to see soon on TV or in movies. And I am glad to say they now have some very good beers to serve their guests, not just the usual sports-bar swill. I got there easily from downtown on... More

My 17 year-old son and I obtained tickets for IOs Shakespeare improvisation. Performances are every Friday with shows at 8:00 and I believe 11:00 pm. The improv was absolutely brilliant. The actors managed to produce a sketch with a beginning, middle and end. The four performers play multiple parts, and their ability to deliver the improv within the limitations of... More

I have never walked out of a comedy show before. In fact, i never return food if it is unsatisfactory. This was a first. My husband and i left the armando diaz improv show during intermission. It was bad, painfully unfunny and it seemed as if the audience was only full of fellow castmates, laughing loud at random moments in... More

Found out about IO Improv through Groupon. Had a groupon that was expiring soon, and made it in last night to see a show. Since they joked about Groupon several times in the opening, there must have been many Groupon customers in the audience. Good crowd and a small intimate theater where you feel up close and "part of the... More

I have been to both Second City and Improv Olympic and they are both good. The difference is basically that Second City does sketch comedy (scenes are written) and Improv Olympic is all made up on the spot. Improv Olympic is better in my opinion, because the improvisors are first rate (the best in the country), the ticket prices are... More