If you read the story on Page 3, you now know who some local comics`
other favorite local comics are. Now if may want to know where to catch their acts, to see if they`re as good as their contemporaries think, you`ve turned to the right place. What follows are detailed descriptions of many of the area`s comedy clubs.
But this is by no means a complete roundup. By rough estimates, there are close to 20 comedy clubs in the Chicago area, with more on the way. And that`s without counting the various music and alternative clubs that feature different forms of comedy a few nights a week.
Among these other clubs are:
Barrel of Laughs, 10345 S. Central Ave., Oak Lawn, 708-499-2969; Bit `O Magic, 6010 S. Pulaski Rd., 767-5254; the Comedy Hut, 5400 S. Cicero Ave., 436-7333 or 436-7366; Comedy at Robert`s 300 Room (Thursdays), 301 E. 63rd St., 995-8801; ImprovOlympics, Ciao, 1516 N. Wells St., 880-0199; and Wacko`s Comedy Shop, 6317 W. Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn, 708-749-WACK.
Catch a Rising Star
151 E. Wacker Drive
565-HAHA
Opened: May 1988.
Seats: 225.
Show times: 8:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and Sundays; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission: $5 Mondays, $8 Tuesdays-Thursdays and Sundays, $10 Fridays and Saturdays; two-drink minimum.
Upcoming acts: Ross Shafer, Friday-Sunday; special Mothers` Day show featuring Chicago Women in Comedy, 3 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday; Lew Schneider, Tuesday-May 20.
Catch a Rising Star-Oak Brook
1909 Spring Rd., Oak Brook
708-573-7888
Opened: December 1988.
Seats: 250.
Show times: 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission: $8 Wednesdays and Thursdays, $10 Fridays and Saturdays; two-drink minimum.
Upcoming acts: Brett Butler, Friday-Saturday; Fran Solomita, Wednesday-May 19.
– When Catch a Rising Star opened two years ago, it helped to fuel a rage in standup comedy that had never been seen in Chicago. Catch has seven locations nationally, with an eighth scheduled to open in St. Louis. The two Catch clubs in the Chicago area, located in the Hyatt Regency Chicago and Hyatt Regency Oak Brook, feature national headliners as well as local acts prominently placed in opening and middle spots. Monday is also set aside for local comics to perform. The Chicago club is slightly hampered by its set-up, in that it is wide instead of rounded like its Oak Brook counterpart. Those sitting on the far sides may feel as if they`re away from the action. To the Chicago club`s credit, however, it offers free valet parking, something that people going to the club might not be aware of. In Oak Brook, the room is one of the better ones in the area for viewing comedy.
Chicago Improv
504 N. Wells St.
STAND-UP
Opened: June 1988.
Seats: 450.
Show times: 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, 7, 9:30 and 11:45 p.m. Saturdays, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Sundays.
Admission: $8.50 Sundays-Thursdays, $10 Fridays and Saturdays (9:30 p.m. Saturday shows $12.50), $5 Mondays; two-drink minimum; various food selections.
Upcoming acts: Tommy Sledge, Friday-Sunday; Steve Mittleman, Tuesday-May 20.
– It`s the largest comedy club in the Chicago area. It also brings in the top names in the business, such as Dennis Miller, Elayne Boosler, ”Full House`s” Bob Saget and Dave Coulier, and Larry Miller. It has the most promotions: the FunStuff kids show on Saturday afternoons; half-price ladies` and men`s nights; free admission for hospitality workers on Sunday; local talent night on Monday; lunch-time comedy shows on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Although there`s hardly a bad seat in the house (unless you happen to sit directly on the sides of the stage), when the house isn`t packed, that hugeness can be felt. One of the strongest things about the Improv is its talent makeup. Good local talent as openers, feature acts that usually headline in other cities, and headliners that regularly pop up on ”Late Night with David Letterman” and ”The Tonight Show.” There also are pool tables outside the showroom.
Comedy Cottage
9751 W. Higgins Rd., Rosemont
708-696-4077
Opened: 1975.
Seats: 140.
Show times: 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays, 8, 10 p.m. and midnight Saturdays.
Admission: $4 Wednesdays and Thursdays, $8 Fridays and Saturdays; two-drink minimum; $19.95 dinner packages available.
Upcoming acts: Rickey Conner, Jim Fitzgerald and Vince Viecelli, Friday;
Diane Alaimo, Ray Garin and Jeff Lukas, Wednesday-May 19.
Comedy Cottage West
1100 W. Lake St., Roselle
708-696-4077
Opened: 1985.
Seats: 160.
Show times: 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Saturdays.
Admission: $8 and two-drink minimum.
Upcoming acts: Bill Leff, Harry Teinewitz and Rich Brown, Saturday;
Rickey Conner, Michael Corcoran and Mike Preston, May 19.
– The Comedy Cottage was the first full-time comedy showcase to open in the Chicago area. Virtually hundreds of comics start their careers at clubs like this. (It was the place Arsenio Hall got his start, according to owner and comedy guru Ed Hellenbrand.) Both clubs are rectangular, meaning those sitting on the far ends might feel a bit out of the way. The Roselle room has a high stage. But the Rosemont room`s stage is pretty low, providing an up-close-and- personal view of the talent, though there`s also a cramped feeling-but you`ve gotta love the raccoon logo on the wall in back of the stage.
Comedy Womb
8030 W. Odgen Ave., Lyons
708-442-5755
Opened: June 1976.
Seats: 150.
Show times: 9 p.m. Thursdays, 9 and 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission: $2 Thursdays, $6 Fridays and Saturdays; two-drink minimum.
– ”It`s a little bit different that the local clubs,” says owner and comic Ted Holum of the Comedy Womb, whose motto is ”Where Comedians Are Born.”
”Ours is a showcase. Our (shows) run 10-15 acts a night.” This means there are no Jay Leno-type of headliners staying for an extended run. But what you will find are dozens of local comics coming in to do sets every night. One of the tricks of the Womb is finding it. Located over the Pines Restaurant, one has to follow the signs going through what looks like a medieval castle. The Comedy Womb itself looks something like one of King Arthur`s meeting rooms. But it`s a quaint room suited for comedy, not unlike Zanies on Wells Street.
Funny Bone
1725 Algonquin Rd., Schaumburg
708-303-5700
Opened: September 1986.
Seats: 325.
Show times: 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and Sundays, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays, 7, 9 and 11:15 p.m. Saturdays.
Admission: $6 Tuesdays, $8 Wednesdays and Thursdays, $10 Fridays and Saturdays; two-drink minimum.
Upcoming acts: Dea Staley, Friday-Sunday; Ron White, Wednesday-May 20.
– The Funny Bone is part of the largest comedy club chain in the country. In fact, that chain will be getting larger, at least in the Chicago area, with the addition of a new Bone within the next few months. Some of the headliners that come here are not as well-known as those working at the Improv or Catch. There are exceptions, such as Robert Schimmel, Wayne Cotter, Ritch Shydner and Shirley Hemphill. But although acts like Rahn Ramey, Mac King and Matt Berry are not household names, they are very talented people and fun to watch. The Bone is one of those clubs for people who like good comedy, not just big-name comics.
Funny Firm
318 W. Grand Ave.
321-9500
Opened: December 1987.
Seats: 300.
Show times: 8:30 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays and Sundays, 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Thursdays, 8, 10:30 p.m. and midnight (for adults only) Fridays, 7, 9:30 and 11:45 p.m. Saturdays.
Admission: $4 Mondays, $10 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays, $12 Thursdays-Saturdays (Friday midnight show free); two-drink minimum.
Upcoming acts: Jeff Valdez, Friday-Sunday; Chicago Comedy All-Stars, a group of local talent, Tuesday-May 20.
– The business of laughter is booming for this River North comedy club. It has been able to hold its own against the larger clubs in Chicago with a lineup of hip talent including Paula Poundstone, Ritch Shydner, Rick Overton and Bill Hicks. Indeed, if you`re looking for cutting-edge humor, you can always look toward the Firm. Co-owner and comic Len Austrevich designed the three-tiered showroom, complete with black curtains to mask the club`s size on slow nights to make it more intimate and video monitors so patrons can get a good view of the stage no matter where they sit. The club uses a lot of local acts for opening and middle spots. Austrevich is the ringleader for its Monday night ”Pro-Am” comedy shows, which showcase all-Chicago comics, as well as the midnight adults-only show on Friday.
Last Laff-Rosemont
6350 N. River Rd., Rosemont
708-823-5233
Opened: August 1985.
Seats: 100.
Show times: 8:30 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission: $4 Thursdays and Sundays, $8 Fridays and Saturdays; no drink minimum; $18.95 dinner packages available.
Upcoming acts: Mark Fenske, Greg Gilenna and Brian Noonan, Friday-Sunday; Rico Bruce Wade, Greg Whalen and Peter Shawba, Thursday-May 20.
Last Laff-Lisle
3000 Warrenville Rd., Lisle
708-505-1000
Opened: September 1989.
Seats: 120.
Show times: 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission: $4 Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, $10 Fridays and Saturdays; two-drink minimum Fridays and Saturdays.
Upcoming acts: Ted Lyde, Jimmy Rhodes and David Pompi, Friday-Sunday;
Billy Hudson, Mike Oranstein and Jim Dore, Wednesday-May 20.
Last Laff-Northshore
700 W. Sheridan Rd. (Hotel Moraine), Highwood
708-823-LAFF
Opened: March 1990.
Seats: 200.
Show times: 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission: $5 Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, $10 Fridays and Saturdays; no drink minimum; $21.95 dinner package available.
Upcoming acts: Jeff Kelch, Jim Pardo and Tom Naughton, Friday-Sunday; Ken Leslie, Jack Foddrill and Mark Unger, Wednesday-May 19.
– According to owner Jay Berk, the Last Laff chain is ”Chicagoland`s largest comedy club chain,” but that`s if you count the Last Laff he has in New Buffalo, Mich. The newest Laff, in Highwood, is the largest of the clubs. It`s a nice, roomy showroom that goes the same route as the Funny Firm and the Funny Bone: three tiers, rounded with very nice sightlines. The Laff clubs are the types that don`t feature the national headliners, although Berk is hoping to be able to book them in the Highwood room before long. His clubs feature some interesting perks: They`ve dispensed with the usual two-drink minimum
(except for Lisle on Fridays and Saturdays); the Lisle club has a special non-alcoholic, non-smoking 9 p.m. Saturday show in another 180-seat room
(booze and smoke are two trademarks of comedy clubs).
The Roxy
1505 W. Fullerton Ave.
472-8100
Opened: July 1979.
Seats: 100.
Show times: Various times Tuesdays-Saturdays.
Admission: $5-$10; sometimes offers various dinner packages.
– The Roxy offers a variety of theater productions and music shows. But it also has a type of comedy that isn`t offered in the traditional comedy clubs. The Roxy has been the home to such comedy groups as White Boys With Rhythm, the Illegitimate Players and Spontaneous Combustion. Chicago Women in Comedy, an all-female standup comedy group, usually settles in for a stay for one day a week for a month. This allows people who can`t see one local female comic at the top clubs to view four or five in a row. The Roxy also has a open-mike talent night on Thursdays. The main thing to stress with the Roxy is that it gives alternative forms of comedy a place to perform, one of the precious few clubs in the city to do that.
Second City
1616 N. Wells St.
337-3992
Opened: December 1959.
Seats: 324.
Show times: 9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 8:30 and 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission: $8.50 Sundays-Thursdays, $9.50 Fridays and Saturdays; no drink minimum.
– We know: Second City doesn`t offer any standup comedy. But no listing of places to see comedy would be complete without the place where improvisational comedy was perfected. The list of SC alumni is a who`s who of comedy: John and Jim Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, David Steinberg, Mike Nichols and Elaine May. SC put Chicago on the map when it came to comedy. Currently, SC and its offshoots-Second City ETC, which is housed next door to the Second City Main Stage, and SC Northwest, at 1701 W. Golf Rd. in Rolling Meadows (708-806-1555)-are offering comedy revues comprising blackouts and skits. The current one on the Main Stage, ”It Was 30 Years Ago Today,” will be running at least through the end of the month.
Who`s on First
684 W. North Ave., Elmhurst
708-833-3430
Opened: 1982.
Seats: 200.
Show times: 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 8:30 and 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission: $4 Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, $7 Fridays, $8 Saturdays; two-drink minimum.
Upcoming acts: Pat Paulsen, Friday-Saturday; Keith Barany, Laurie Kilmartin and Peter Moore, Wednesday-May 19.
– It`s important to note that Who`s on First-and the other smaller clubs-are very important to the world of standup comedy. They`re places for a comic to get his first break, and when he (or she) gets it, they give him an outlet to come and work. So a club like Who`s on First needs just as much support, if not more so, that the bigger clubs. It`s rectanglar and feels at times like a town meeting hall rather than a comedy club. But for a meeting hall, you can see things pretty well. This club offers something different: It will drive home any patron who has drunk in a little too much more than the comedy.
Zanies
1548 N. Wells St.
337-4027
Opened: 1978.
Seats: 150.
Show times: 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and Sundays, 7, 9 and 11:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission: $10, unless otherwise noted; two-drink minimum.
Upcoming acts: Al Katz, Jimmy McGee and Bill Gorgo, Friday-Sunday; Brian Schmidt, Tim Slagle and Mark Reedy, Tuesday-May 20.
Zanies-Mount Prospect
2200 S. Elmhurst Rd., Mount Prospect
708-228-6166
Opened: 1986.
Seats: 210.
Show times: 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays, 7, 9, and 11:15 p.m. Saturdays.
Admission: $10, unless otherwise noted; two-drink minimum.
Upcoming acts: Fred Klett, Mike Ostrowski and Sally Edwards, Friday-Saturday; Chip Fictow, Jimmy McGee and Merle Fenske, Tuesday-May 19.
Zanies-St. Charles
Pheasant Run, St. Charles
708-513-1761
Opened: 1989.
Seats: 250.
Show times: 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission: $10, unless otherwise noted; two-drink minimum.
Upcoming acts: Paul Kelly, Bill Wronski and Mike Preston, Friday-Saturday; Skip Griparis, Sally Edwards and Spike Manton, Tuesday-May 19.
– Zanies was the first full-time standup comedy club to open in Chicago. It has thus attained a status as the granddaddy of Chicago comedy clubs, watching as the upstart youngsters Catch a Rising Star, the Improv and the Funny Firm try to take over its place as top club. Not only have the other clubs flourished under this sudden comedy boom, but Zanies hasn`t lost its power base, either. Zanies constantly uses a pool of Chicago comics, sprinkling in top headliners from time to time. So it`s not unusal to see, for example, T.P. Mulrooney as the headliner one week on Wells Street and the middle or opening act in Mt. Prospect or Pheasant Run the next week. National acts such as Bobby Slayton and Dennis Wolfberg are almost regulars at the club.
