Each January, Chicago hosts the nation's largest gathering of sketch comedy groups during the annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival at Stage 773 in Lakeview. Now in its 15th year, the festival (which runs from January 7–17) will welcome 165 groups performing 186 shows, all of which were revealed when the event's lineup was announced today.
While there's plenty of local talent to take in during Sketchfest, the event's headliners include performers that you may recognize from their work on film and television, including Danny Pudi of Community (who will perform with Los Angeles-based group Siblings of Doctors) and Silicon Valley star TJ Miller (performing with L.A.-based Heavy Weight). Other notable acts include New York shock comedy group FUCT, New Orleans sketch troupe Stupid Time Machine and a reunion of the acclaimed L.A. group Super Punk.
Chicago sketch comedy nerds can look forward to appearances by the Defiant Thomas Brothers, the Cupid Players, Rabbit Rabbit and the Tim and Micah Project. Check out the full schedule at Stage 773's website, where tickets go on sale December 1. If you have friends who are involved with sketch comedy, you can expect the Facebook event invitations to start filling your inbox between now and January.