Very fun night out! I had never been to an improv show before so I didnt know what to expect and I was a little nervous. This crew was great at getting the crowd at ease and making sure everyone felt comfortable playing along with the night! Great thing to do for a fun night out or a date night

Quite amazing to find 4 shows available on a Monday night at 10pm. A true destination for improv comedy lovers. The bevvies and food was tasty and affordable. The stages are nicely laid out with the ability to enjoy snacks and a show with our sacrificing the show. Recommended for any tourist in Chicago.

Great time all the time! Good food and drinks. Not to mention the atmosphere when people are around!

Hilarious. Great comedy in a great casual atmosphere with a funky bar. Tonight I laughed so hard I cried. My face hurts.

Got a late night show to Improv Shakespeare at around 10:30PM with my wife on a Saturday night while visiting Chicago. There is a bar and food inside that looks like fun. Unfortunately we already ate so we didnt order anything but the show was amazing. Absolutely worth checking out. It was hilarious. Very talented staff.

The comedy is top notch. An incredible value. The venue is quite cool. The food is not fancy, but good quality and very reasonably priced. Very good beer selection at well. Would definitely recommend a visit if youre in Chicago.

One of my favorite places in the city. Shows are always awesome and diverse. Always good service, variety of drinks and best of all, shows are incredibly affordable (and available every night).

Fun place to be at. I know a lot of people who come here and theyre all fantastic.

Went to see the Improvised Shakespeare Chicago show. Be there early as it sells out. It was a great time and the price cannot be beat.

Went for an improv show. Atmosphere is relaxed, they put out chairs (I guess we arrived a little late). The host was good with crowd participation.

Have been to all the main stage shows in Chicago -- and they are great -- but hands down our favorite performance is Fudge at 8 pm on Tuesday nights at iO. Its consistently the best show weve seen -- completely new each time -- with great variety acts and opening acts. And its reasonably priced. Highly recommend

IO theater is always a cool place to go and catch a show. It depends on the show if you will have a good time or not. In most cases you will.I would suggest go with your friends, have a good time, get a drink, laugh a lot.

Hilarious. Loved the venue and the comics. Great experience all around . Easy to access via the red line. Will definitely come back!

It was an Improvised Shakespeare on a Thursday night. I knew the place from Hello From the Magic Tavern, but was surprised to actually see Matt Young up on stage, crushing it. I had a fantastic time. If youve seen a fair amount of Shakespeare performed live, with varying quality, you will love this. For what its worth the beer selection was solid, and the burger was a relief after the drive over and walk up.

Great place for comedy. Some of the greats got their start here, and its obvious some more greats are on their way through. Tons of cool shows with tons of talented people grace the stages here. Great place to spend some time if youre in the area.I havent had any of the food or drink here, so I cant speak for that, but Ive seen a few shows and Ive always left happy.

Cheap tickets worth the price ten times over. Home to plenty of talent, friendly staff, and an overall enjoyable experience. I look forward to my next visit.

The iO is such a great place to see improv. Each theater is wonderfully set up, the bar is fantastic, and the box office is incredibly easy to use. Definitely stop by and take in a show.

Improvised Shakespeare is hands down the FUNNIEST show Ive ever seen. My friends and I agree that we laugh harder at this show than any other form of comedy we have seen. Its such a great time. If you have any appreciation for Shakespeare, at all, you will NOT be sorry you went!!

Nice, clean little theater with super enthusiastic actors doing Shakespeare Improv. Seating, lighting, sound, all excellent. The only item that could be improved is the food. Its sub-par bar food. Overall, excellent experience!

Came in not knowing what to expect and walked away understanding that its the IOs greatest draw. The dynamic between the performers and audience creates and unique experiences that makes you wanting to come back for more.

The Improv Shakespeare Company put on a great show called Fingerling Potatoes :]We had a few tasty drinks and thoroughly enjoyed the performance.

Undeniable the purest improv experience. Not only the shows were good, the quesadillas were amazing! Im eager to try the iO intensive.

A great place to check out when in the area. Inexpensive and hilarious. Very unique and funny, with a great atmosphere and friendly people. Kind of far from other Chicago activities but still worth checking out. The improv is phenomenal.

Purchased tickets in advance of the 8 PM Saturday show for whirl news. By arriving a half hour before the show we are able to sit in the first row, order drinks and snacks and settle in before the show. The format is a bit unusual since they have tables with recent newspapers strewn on the stage and they encourage audience members to walk up and cut out articles they would like the troupe to improvise in their act.There were a few standouts in the group that performed for us making the evening a true laugh fest. I highly recommend this as an activity when you are visiting Chicago. It’s a very suitable alternative to any of the second city shows.

So fun! Love everything these guys do (although it’s a bit difficult to get to, I’m always happy to make the trek!).

Fun and affordable for a night out! Plenty of drinks/food to buy at the theater and most tickets are $20 or under. I highly recommend Jane Austen improv on Tuesday nights!

They have so many great shows and many are for free.

The Improv show (World News Tonight) was great. The problem was we were in the back and listened to servers take orders the whole show (and delivering said drinks while blocking the stage at points) and to the theater doors to the lobby clicking constantly (I lost count after 23 clicks because I was trying to watch the show). An observant manager may add tape to the auto door clip during the shows. It must be frustrating for performers to have shows disrupted by food runners, servers and hosts taking no care with the door, as silly as it may be. Those comediennes, though. Killing it, Ladies!

Good place to go, if youre looking for some light entertainment. Drink prices are reasonable. The theater also offers classes, so might be going back quite a bit.

Improve Shakespeare was a amazing way to celebrate my birthday. Better than I expected and it was totally worth coming up from Texas. We will be back one day :-)

Hilarious improv comedy with a great location. I had a great time with my friends. The tickets werent too expensive. We ordered a pizza that was very delicious and the person working the floor was very attentive. Overall, it was a very good experience that I would recommend for anyone who enjoys comedy, or is looking for a good night out with friends.

No words for how incredible the quality of this improv was. Please please please see improvised Shakespeare. Sounds weird at first but you will NOT regret it

IO is a great place for people who want to get into underground comedy and who want to get inspired by seasoned comics and performers. If you are looking for a safe bet, get tickets to Improv Shakespeare. It was the first show I saw at iO, and I would go back at the slightest hint of an invitation from a friend.If you are looking for an underground show, come see my girlfriend Holly Souchack perform Sunday night at 8:30pm with First Beat!

Very fun place. Shows going all the time, a pretty good kitchen and an excellent bar. Great atmosphere.

Shakespeare was outstanding. Ill be back for more fast witted fun

“Fudge”, Tuesday nights 8pm at iO Chicago, is easily one of the funniest shows in Chicago. There is nothing more consistently funny than those guys improvising and they bring it ever week. Top 3 comedy shows in Chicago.

Cool low cost place to go catch some improv. Definitely good for some laughs!

What a great experience. When in Rome...go to an improv show. Everything about iO was smooth and professional, from paying online to the ushers finding everyone a seat to the roving wait staff taking orders before the show and at intermission. The show itself was hilarious of course, and I would definitely go back and catch another. We heard about the improvised Shakespeare but missed it by one night, so I guess we have to go back!

Hilarious. I brought my girlfriend who is not normally into stage comedy and she loved it

We went to the IO theater for the Whirled News tonight show. The premise for this show is that you clip out newspaper headlines and the cast improvises based off of them. The cast was very funny and did a great job with some challenging headlines.

Always such a fun time at IO, I honestly prefer it to Second City. The Improv Shakespeare Company is a hilarious show and everyone should see it at least once in their lifetime.

A little out of the way to get there but the show was enjoyable. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive during the show. Would definitely go back to explore one of the other shows offered. We went to the Shakespeare improv which was quite good.

Fun show. Small venue. Needed another waiter. Great price.

Improv show was exactly 0% improv but cast was cool and interactive and venue was fun

We had an awesome time at our Saturday 8pm show. Way better players and more reasonable ticket prices than you can get at Second City, imo.

Hilarious shows at a great price. Decent drink selection and the food looked good

I can not believe that improvised Shakespeare is even a thing but it is actually a real life thing. They pulled it off great, we were all rolling in our seats with laughter. That high level of improv is very impressive. Great snacks and drink too and really nice venue

I did this amazing improv trip and this theatre was fantastic like the Improvised Shakespeare? All I can say is wow.

Shakespearean improv very well done, but no two shows the same could be different for you. Cheap tickets cheap drinks great entertainment only a 15 min walk to red line for N/S travel.

The building was a nicely renovated space. The Shakespeare improv caused a great deal of laughter from myself, which is exactly what I was hoping to do. The room was full, so it is a popular spot. Thou mayhap attend presently for exquisite gaeity.

Home of great improv classes and performances. Four theatres offering varieties or shows from sketch to musical improv. Table service offered in the shows as well as an affordable food menu. The fries are really good and a Chicago dog is only $5! Good drink prices as well.

Saw the Shakespeare improv and the group was so talented, very very funny. How they kept up playing multiple parts on the fly and keeping those roles straight in their head was impressive. Highly rec checking it out

Theres some really great improv groups here. The theater itself is quite nice. It consists of several theater rooms, a bar, and a kitchen, so you can order food/drinks at any time.I saw Hello From the Magic Tavern here (amazing show). I also suggest checking out Whirled News Tonight.

First time going since they moved from Clark location. Very nice bar area in the center of all the theater entrances. Decent beer selection. And great entertainment. Ready made date night.

The IO Theater is wonderful!This was co-created by Thomas Middleditch (the Verizon dude). We saw the Shakespeare Improv and it was nothing short of genius! So freakin funny and smart. Tonights show was the 12 Days of Burning Man - of course, the topic provided by the audience. And the service was fabulous. They have other shows here as well. Check it out...only like $20, you wont be sorry!

Great place to spend a weekend evening. Not the most convenient location despite the red line nearby, but its always worth a visit. Their bar is clean, and the shows are well worth the entrance fee. They have an overall friendly and chill vibe that definitely rivals second City. Theyre also easy to work with if youre looking corporate events.

Improvise Shakespeare is the best improv show I have ever seen. It is amazing. As a relatively new improv performer myself, I was amazed. Much better than what I saw at Second City.

Amazingly funny! Highly recommend the improv Shakespeare!

By far one of my favourite venues. Went here for the Improvised Shakespeare show and it was honestly the highlight of my trip. If anyone is in Chicago on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and have no idea what to do, this is a must do. It is a bit outside of the Magnificent Mile, but it is well worth the commute to laugh until your guts hurt.100% recommend and will be returning when Im back in the city.

We watched Shakespeare and loved it! Highly recommend it!

Had a great time! Good drinks and fast service and great improv Shakespeare.

Fudge is consistently the best show in town. Dont miss it.

Laughed a lot, drink specials are a good value. Good is ok.

We were looking for something to do one evening in Chicago and found the Improvised Shakespeare show. First, I was worried as English is my second language and English of the Shakespearean era would count as third, and I wouldn’t understand all the yay, nay, thy things. However, it was perfectly fine and I totally had a great time and laughed a lot. The actors were hilarious and they improvised on the Bertha’s theme that night. We’d totally recommend coming over for a performance! You won’t regret it!

These shows Never miss. come any night of the week and you are guaranteed a laugh

The iO theater is the lesser known theater in the area, but I always recommend it over Second City. The food and drink is better, and their improv shows cant be beat.

Came here for a company event so cant speak about the prices, but I really enjoyed this as my first experience in a comedy club. I expected to just have a few laughs with something similar to stand-up but instead I had non-stop improv hilarity including a few times where a poorly timed sip almost caused me to choke on my beer.

You already know... this place is a must go!

Improvised Shakespeare is honestly the best live show I’ve ever seen - each show funnier than the rest. The chemistry of the company is incredible, this is top-notch improv. Every chance I have to take myself on a date in Chicago, it’s either to see Improvised Shakespeare, or I wish it was. 10/10!

Such a fun place to go for a date night or just for fun

Saw Cool Aunt and had an amazing time. We were debating iO or Second City and heard iO was the better club, SO glad we listened. Such a fun time with a truly hilarious show. We are from out of town but if we ever go back to Chicago we will drop in for more shows!

Craig is a pretty cool guy. Eh teaches many comedies and doesnt afaid of anything

SUCH a great night. highly recommend spending your evening here watching some improv Shakespeare. will not disappoint!!

I laughed harder than I have in a while. A group of talented women folks are to blame.

I saw Harry Potter: UMbridged, with two friends. We got there with plenty of time, so we ordered a few drinks at the bar (and took some selfies, of course.) The bartender was very friendly and helped my friend decide on a drink. She also got a special Harry Potter themed drink during the show that was great. The show itself was very funny! I would definitely put the iO on my itinerary for my next trip to Chicago.

Best improv shows and classes around

Great people. Great shows! Great Training! Reasonable pricing!

Ive been to this theater dozens of times now and it never gets old. The shows are all improvised, so you can never go too many times, and you never see the same show twice. This is one of my favorite spots to take friends and family who visit Chicago for a truly unique experience. Ill definitely be back again!

Got the tickets online and when we got there I just showed them my phone with the purchased tickets. This place has a great location since there is plenty of parking around. It is also inexpensive and very funny. The drinks are reasonably priced either at the bar or while you are at the show. The chicken wrap was good as well as the other appetizers. It was the late show so there were people just drinking and relaxing by the bar and we just walked right into the show. The show itself was very funny, the Improvised Shakespeare, the performers know how to get around and perfect timing. The drinks were were also well made and made everything funnier. The seating is as you arrive so if you want front row just get there a few minutes early but regardless of where you seat, you will enjoy the show since it is a good size room. This is my fourth time coming here and I will keep coming back.

Very funny improv comedy + good food = a great night out.

First time going to iO Theater and seeing Shakespeare improv. The group on stage was hilarious and kept the audience laughing the whole time.

Great place to learn improv, they have worth seeing shows.

Seriously disappointed with iO theater this weekend. 3 of us went to the Saturday Spectacular improv and it was the worst- hands done worst -improv I’ve ever been to. Sold as a 1.5 hour event it only lasted an hour, which in retrospect was probably a good thing. Two 30 minutes sets, the first group clearly were very nervous many of them visibly sweating despite it being a cold Chicago night. Barely a chuckle from the audience.Second group was Vandalay Industries which had us Seinfeld fans prechuckling and ready to launch our stockpiled laughter from the first set. Cast members definitely more confident and there a few more chuckles here and there but their bit never really caught fire. The cast was laughing much more than the audience so not sure if they understand their humor better or if they had some inside jokes the audience didn’t know.Very very disappointed in this show. Great venue, cool bar area but performances tanked. Don’t recommend it.

The improv was so amazing..all of the players were extremely talented..I definitely needed a good laugh️️

Went to IO Theater for a wedding today. First, the wedding ceremony was outside (a bit on the hot side). However, we all scorched through it for the love of the couple. Reception was very nice and good food.The bartenders had a tall order to fix drinks for a couple hundred people. They were moving that line fast. Very pleasant experience

Improv Shakespeare show is great. My 3rd time going. So much fun

I love everything about this place, the people, drinks, food and entertainment

One of the best improves I visited. nice staff, good food and atmosphere is bomb

I’ve performed in and have been a spectator of the Karaoke Storytelling show that happens on Sundays at 10. It’s a one of a kind, unique experience in performance that does not compare to other shows. The stories vary from dramatic to funny, warm to cold, light to dark. Each story is perfectly capped with a song performance that encapsulates the feeling conveyed. Definitely check it out if you can!

Improvised Shakespear is hilarious and worth checking out. I have been several times and I have never been disappointed. Consistently funny improv.

Probably the best improv theater in town. I know everyone says Second City but from what Ive seen thats hardly improv, its more like sketch comedy. Make sure you get to IO early so you can grab a drink at the bar, grab some sweet potato fries (although most of their menu is surprisingly good) and take a look around the theater at their hall of fame.

Beautiful wedding reception upstairs. Great bar downstairs while we waited. Gorgeous plating of the food also

We saw the Shakespeare Improv show and it was absolutely hilarious

Great! Saw Shakespeare improv that was well done- in style, mostly rhymed and very funny

Seen a improv comedy show. Funny stuff!

I can’t believe we haven’t been here before while visiting Chicago. Hugely entertaining and the price can’t be beat. We saw “Whirled News Tonight” and had a blast.

This is my favorite place for entertainment in the whole world. Literally. Not joking :)

Io Shakespeare is one of the best improv shows consistently Ive ever seen

Great cast. (Deep schwa & slice) great outside patio!

Io is great from what I hear the chicken fingers aint 2 shabby