Shows – What’s Playing (New York)

Ever heard of this show “Hamilton”?

Shamilton is just like that, but (ahem) better! Expect the same level of hip hop, incredible songs, moving storytelling, stunning choreography and powerhouse singing… except made up on the spot.

The New York Times called Shamilton “One of the top 5 comedy shows to catch”.

Comedy supergroup Baby Wants Candy presents “Shamilton!”, the Hamilton-inspired hip hop improvised musical created in 2016 in LA and playing to sold out crowds all over the place, including the Kennedy Center in DC, a national touring company and weekly sold out shows in New York and LA.

Join the Shamilton cast as they improvise an epic musical based on a historical figure or celebrity of your choosing…including Genghis Khan, Kim Kardashian, Mr. Rogers, or even basketball playing superdog Air Bud. You decide!

It’s the show Lin-Manuel Miranda calls, “cease and desist!”

Baby Wants Candy is a completely improvised, full band musical! Having performed over 3,000 improvised musicals to thousands of fans from Chicago to New York to Singapore to Scotland, this group not only performs in Chicago, New York, and LA but also tours internationally, including multiple sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!

BWC cast & alumni include Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Peter Gwinn (Colbert Report), Thomas Middleditch (HBO’s Silicon Valley), Lauren Conlan Adams (Kimmy Schmidt), Jessica McKenna (Party Over Here), Nicole Parker (Elephaba in Wickedon Broadway) and many more. Hailed as “Critic’s Pick” from the New York Times and “Best Improv Ensemble” from the Chicago Magazine, this is one improv show you don’t want to miss!

Cue the laugh track because it’s a very special episode of your favorite long running tv show! The gang gets up to the same ‘ol wacky shenanigans that you remember in this one hour comedy show performed in front of a live audience (that’s you!) but this time it’s completely made up on the spot! Watch all the will-they-won’t-theys, loveably bad bosses, and zany next door neighbors that tv raised you on now with much lower budgets!

Don’t miss Chicago’s rising comedy stars before they hit TV, plus surprise guests from Netflix and Comedy Central! Get your tickets now for an unforgettable night of laughter!

Chill AF Presents the best comedians Chicago has to offer, plus special drop-ins from prominent name comedians you’ve seen on SNL, Comedy Central, and Netflix

After getting a single suggestion, the cast of six professional comedians asks the audience to choose a detective. Enjoy as they invent a tale of crime, secrets, and scandals right before your eyes. The performers will keep track of facts, follow leads, and conclude who is the murderer, all while you take in a comedy experience unlike any you’ve seen before. During the show, they’ll employ the tropes, character archetypes, and influences of Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes, Nick and Nora Charles, Encyclopedia Brown, and just a dash of Scooby-Doo.

Chicago’s top comedians battle it out for laughs, glory, and sweet sweet points in an interactive game show, featuring a live studio audience (that’s you!) Performers go head to head in a series of hilarious challenges inspired by classic game shows like The Dating Game and The Price is Right, and current hits like Game Changer and Taskmaster. Wheel of Improv will leave your head spinning – with laughter!

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Ten Dollar Comedy is a weekly showcase featuring some of Chicago’s best improv, stand up, and sketch comedy – all for only $10.

This show is produced and hosted each week by the Top Dollar Comedy, a comedy collective that features a rotating cast who have performed all over the world together and individually. The ensemble includes: Carly Olson, Ed Flynn, Eric Muller, Erin Goldsmith, Jonny Nelson, Peter Corey, & Deanna Ortiz.

2 Young Black Men come together to show case the best comedians in Chicago! Bringing every possible perspective and joke to the stage. Come hear the latest up and coming comics of Chicago. And be blown away by a storm of laughter at Comedy Typhoon!

Yes AHHH is back with a winter weather show ready to delight and fright. Inspired by Steven King novels, the sun going down at 3:00 pm, and New Year’s resolutions you already broke, the Yes Ahhh group of improvisers will take your suggestions to new heights as you buckle in for a scary evening. Bring some hot cocoa and a warm blanket or risk these bone-chilling stories to creep right into your soul.

Roy Wood Jr end of year reflections, comedy and storytelling show featuring comedians that he has not yet booked because, of the comedians he like, he’s not sure which ones will be in town for the Holidays

FLEECED is an improvised puppet show for adults. Each week the puppets of Fleeced use the old school charm of children’s puppet TV to teach the audience a series of new lessons inspired by the letter and word of the day.

STRUGGLE BUS is a new material competition show where comedians are tasked with performing all new jokes about their darkest traumas and tortures to win the title of “Worst Life.” Hosted by Ivy Wolk, Nick Viagas, and a licensed social worker.

Watch high energy comedian Kyle Bergstresser (Sirius XM, NXNE, Eastlink TV) put all of his most insane jokes together into one nasty little comedy album.

Shows at 7:30 and 9:00 in the John Candy Box Theatre! Watch a comedian that has been called a mix of Andy Samberg & Rory Scovel do all of his best material back to back to back! He’s also been compared to “Ryan Reynolds if he was having a mental breakdown”! If that sounds fun to you, we’ll see you there!

“Your favorite Lloyd team” The Board, comes to The Second City New York to blow the roof off with some silly ass improv. Join us for an hour of singing, anime references, dancing, screaming, confusion, and improvised orgasms. The first Lloyd team at UCBNY is glowing up with an hour of the best improv you’ve ever seen.

Featuring: Evan Altshuler, Elisa Ballou, Joanna Borns, Kurt Cruz, Julian Hernandez, John Xavier Miller, Jess Moukios, & Naomi Rubin

Get ready for “Holiday Inn-Prov,” an improvised holiday musical comedy! Using audience suggestions, we’ll shape a small town story of love, celebration, and the true meaning of the season! Join us for a night of laughs, surprises, and holiday nonsense that’ll have you ho-ho-howling! Starring the award-winning musical troupe: Staccayto Staccato!

Staccayto Staccato is a Toronto-based musical comedy troupe featuring performers from the schools and stages of Second City, Comedy Bar, The Making Box, and more! Their high-energy blend of humour and music earned them the prestigious “Big Buzz” award at the Guelph Fringe Festival 2024 with their show “Make Up! The Musical”, and they’re bringing it to the John Candy Box Theatre with a holiday twist! They’ll gift you this holiday season with lovable laughs, hilarious heart, and catchy carols!

Belle, tired of her husband’s multiple infidelities, hatches a plan with her childhood sweetheart to end her marriage, and her husband for good. Together they, along with a time traveling witch and a haphazard con man, bumble their way through the attempted murder of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Only Killers in the Building – A Night of Unforgettable Comedy
From the Producers of Chicago’s Funniest

Get Ready for the Ultimate Stand-Up Comedy Experience!
Only Killers in the Building features top-tier comedians from HBO, Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, and more. Handpicked for their headline status, these performers bring their A-game for a night of world-class comedy you won’t forget.

What to Expect:

• Top Talent: Comedians from Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and beyond, live and ready to bring their best material to the stage.
• A Show to Remember: Enjoy nonstop laughs and unforgettable moments, whether you’re a Chicago local or visiting for the night.
• The After-Party: The fun doesn’t stop after the show! Join us for an exclusive after-party at Sluggers World Class Sports Bar—just steps away from the theater! All activities are free for attendees.

Exclusive After-Party at Sluggers:
After the comedy show, join us for a FREE after-party at Sluggers, the ultimate sports bar in Chicago, directly across from the field! Here’s a taste of the incredible experience waiting for you:

• Free Batting Cages: Step into the world-famous batting cages for a fun and free activity—whether you’re a pro or just having fun, it’s the perfect way to let loose after a great show!
• Free Arcade Games: Play classic arcade games like skeeball, air hockey, pinball, and electronic basketball. All games are free for attendees to enjoy throughout the night.
• Dueling Pianos & Sing-Along: Sing, clap, and dance along to the hottest tunes in the interactive Dueling Piano Bar! Talented musicians will play a wide variety of genres from rock to top 40 hits—free for all partygoers!
• Food & Drinks: Enjoy delicious snacks and drinks including wings, burgers, pizza, and more, as part of your after-party experience.
• Vibrant Neighborhood Vibes: Sluggers is all about inclusivity, fun, and meeting new people! The lively atmosphere is perfect for mingling with fellow comedy lovers and creating lasting memories.

Don’t Miss It!
This exclusive after-party is the perfect way to cap off your night of comedy. With food, drinks, games, and entertainment, there’s no better place to unwind and keep the celebration going.

Get your tickets now for Only Killers in the Building, and don’t miss out on the fun! You’ll have a night to remember with the best comedy and the best after-party in Chicago!

Get Tickets Today!

Juvie Center Dropouts Presents: At the Big Kids’ Table” is a brand-new, live, family-friendly, holiday-themed comedy revue created entirely by a cast from The Second City’s youth and teen comedy program! Join us at the Big Kids’ Table to discover what is really running through teens’ minds during the holidays in this hilarious holiday smorgasbord of improv, sketches, and music!

A merry band of thieves find themselves home for the holidays and without a present to give – they’ll need to steal once again in order to make sure they don’t ruin the seasonal cheer. In this 55-minute long form improv show, you’ll see a colorful crew of characters perform a holiday heist and steal from a despicable holiday villain in a show that echoes the thrilling highs and lows of the heist genre, with a seasonal twist!

Japan’s top sketch comedians are coming all the way from Japan to Chicago! Join them for a fantastic show with Saku Yanagawa, the popular Japanese comedian in Chicago!
It is a hilarious sketch comedy show you won’t want to miss!

MBA Follies is a sharp, satirical sketch comedy by MBA alumni from Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Stanford & NYU, exposing the absurdities of MBA culture and the unspoken rules of the business world, with insider humor and biting insights.

The Infinite Wrench is a dynamic, mind-bending barrage of 30 original plays that the NY Neo-Futurists try to perform within a single hour. Each play offers something different, be it funny, profound, elegant, disgusting, topical, irrelevant, terrifying, or a song. All are truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired by the lived experiences of the performers. With new plays and new combinations of plays every performance, The Infinite Wrench is the Neo-Futurists’ ongoing and ever-changing attempt to shift the conventions of live performance and challenge the fourth wall head-on.

Onward and Overwhelmed is a new sketch comedys how from the producers of Onward and Off My Parents Health Insurance”. This show explores the endless stream of overwhelming tasks, expectations, and everyday annoyances that color adulthood. From finding the right email sign off, to threats of AI & Nuclear War, the cast encounters all of life’s overwhelming experiences–big and small.

Fresh off of their sold out run as The Davenports, these fan faves are back as…The Kensingtons! Showcasing an improvised style family dramedy. Laugh, cheer and gasp as billionaire rival families The Kensingtons and The Wentworths plot, scheme, slap and sleep their way through each improvised episode. Dynasty? Revenge? Scandal? Indulge in your soap opera fantasy with… The Kensingtons!

Millennials take on Generation X in a battle to see which generation is funnier. The audience votes at the end of the show. Featuring some of the best comics in Chicago, Hosted by Todd Glover

This late-night style talk show is hosted by standup-up comic Izzy Salhani featuring correspondents Charlee Amacher and Seth Dresbold. Written by Meggie Armstrong and Alex Wang.

In the vein of your favorite late night talk show this variety show promises big laughs at the expense of the monthly news cycle, entertaining desk pieces, and an interview with a surprise special guest. Our musical guest is Chicago’s very own rap artist: DCB.

Chicago’s Funniest: More Than Just a Show—It’s an Experience!

Get Ready for an Unforgettable Night Out in the Heart of Chicago!

Imagine this: A night of non-stop laughter, unforgettable memories, and the perfect place to unwind with great food, drinks, and even better company. Chicago’s Funniest isn’t just another comedy show—it’s an experience you’ll look forward to again and again!

What to Expect: The Perfect Night Out

• A Lineup You Won’t Find Anywhere Else: Featuring top talent from Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Peacock, and the best comedy clubs around the country, you’ll be treated to performances from comedians you’ve seen and loved on your favorite streaming platforms.
• A Show to Remember: Whether you’re a Chicago local or visiting for the night, this is your go-to spot for a great time. Enjoy world-class comedy in a vibrant, fun environment that’ll leave you with a smile long after the show ends.
• The After-Party: The fun doesn’t stop when the show ends! Join us at Orso’s Restaurant, just two minutes away from Second City, to continue the celebration. It’s the perfect spot to unwind with delicious food and drinks, mingle with the comedians, and enjoy the vibrant energy of Chicago’s comedy scene. This after-party is where memories are made—a relaxed, fun, and lively place to soak up the energy of the night!
• Incredible Prizes: Our sponsors have outdone themselves with fantastic giveaways, including:
  • $500 Greenstar Brewery VIP Tasting Tour for 12: Enjoy a tour led by Brewmaster Brandon Stern, a pint of award-winning Amber Lager, and a tasting of four organic craft beers.
  • $500 Sluggers Gift Card: Enjoy food and drinks at the world-famous Sluggers Sports Bar & Grill near Wrigley Field, with arcade games, batting cages, skee-ball, and more.
  • $500 Cash Prize: Take home some extra joy to top off your evening!
  • $500 Gift Certificate from Inner G Restorative & Holistic Care: Pamper yourself with a wide range of therapeutic services including full-body hot stone massages, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Medical Massage, Prenatal Massage, and more. Relaxation and wellness await you!

Why You Shouldn’t Miss It

• A Night You’ll Look Forward to: Whether you’re coming for the comedy, the after-party, or the chance to win one of our amazing prizes, Chicago’s Funniest is the perfect place to create memories with friends, meet new people, and just have an unforgettable time in the heart of the city.

How to Join the Fun

• Buy Your Tickets Today for a chance to win one of our amazing prizes and experience a night of laughter and excitement you won’t forget!
• Don’t Miss Out on the Ultimate Comedy Experience: A night of top-notch comedy, great food and drinks, and an after-party just steps away from the theater. Chicago’s Funniest is the place to be!

The Perfect Night Out is Waiting for You!

Chicago’s Funniest is the ultimate experience in the city. With a stellar comedy lineup, a fantastic after-party, and amazing giveaways, it’s the place to be for anyone who loves laughter and great memories. Whether you’re looking for a fun night out with friends or a place to unwind and enjoy yourself, Chicago’s Funniest has you covered.

Get your tickets today and make plans to be part of this unforgettable night out!

Three of Toronto’s Best Stand Up Comedians…and you get to watch 😉

Olde Style Stand-Up Comedy from Chicago’s Best Stand Up Comedians

Go All-In on longform improv with host team Lavalier. Six teams play for a chance to win completely worthless prizes awarded by our esteemed panel of improv judges, followed by a performance by the judges themselves. Seven teams, six weeks, two hours of hilarious improv comedy. Nothing has been scripted or prepared in advance. It will all be made up before your very eyes!