No doubt about it, the house that improv legend Del Close and founding partner Charna Halpern built rules. Not only has iO churned out legendary folk like Mike Myers and Amy Poehler, but it consistently puts the art of improv first, most noticeably via the Harold, its signature long-form. The shows are generally cheap and the classes a must for budding improvisers. The new theater complex, completed in 2014, contains four performance spaces: the Del Close Theater, the Jason Chin Harold Cabaret, the Chris Farley Cabaret and the Mission Theater. The venue's expansive lobby bar is an inviting place to hang out even if you're not seeing a show.
The inaugural iO Fest brings more than 70 comedy acts to Lincoln Park’s iO Theater for four days of improv, sketch and stand-up performances. Spread across four stages, the event features notable iO alumni, including Tim Meadows, Matt Walsh, Ryan Asher and Susan Messing, alongside mainstays like Improvised Shakespeare and Whirled News Tonight. Visit the official website for the full schedule.
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