I have been to the Improv in Schaumburg many times (consistently amazing) , Zanies (good) and even to the Comedy Shrine in Naperville once before they closed (decent/good) and this, dear people, was the worst "comedy" experience of my life. The cast was a joke and not in a good way. We went to the "naughty" show not really knowing what to expect but we were there to celebrate a girlfriends bday party and said, "why not try it?" Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
We were greeted by some pretty happy, cool individuals working in the front and even escorted to the room where our show would take place. All good at this point...
And then it just falls apart...
Seriously, they should have PAID the audience for enduring this mess. The word "AMATEURS" is an understatement.
We literally TRIED to get the humor, we tried with all of our might to understand where some of the 'lines' and 'jokes' were going but try as we might, they simply were not a talented group of 'comedians'. There was one guy who was tolerable/decent (with the beard, not sure of his name) but the rest of the 'comedians' were downright scary. It felt like we were in the twilight zone and were forced to endure some kind of twisted, dry humor of nerdy outcast from Pluto.
The two drink minimum didn't bother me as much -- seeing as how we were hoping the alcohol would help make the cast funny...that didn't work by the way. But the "hounding" and desperation of the female wait staff to hurry up and get your 2-per-person drink quota fulfilled was pretty nauseating. Not to mention that the female wait staff told us several times to "be quiet" because we were laughing too loudly. Imagine the irony of that! Laughing at a comedy club is now a misnomer. Who would have thunk it? Perhaps, they were upset because we didn't laugh on queue. After a while, they became visibly "ANGERED". I have never been to a comedy club where the staff became "angry" because people in the audience were laughing. Perhaps, your establishment needs to recognize this is an epic fail because you have talentless 'comedians'!
On top of that, why get ANGRY when paying individuals patronize your 'comedy' venue and begin to laugh (albeit at you and not with you). Seriously, we were ridiculed because 1) we didn't find humor in your incestuous comments or poorly chosen themes and 2) we didn't laugh on queue. Really? Wow... just wow... we are truly flabbergasted. Think Beavis & Butthead intertwined with socially awkward 9-year olds trying to come up with jokes... That pretty much sums up this show.
Save your money and time people. The trip out to the Improv or even Zanies is so worth it.
Love. Please visit here. Support the arts. I about peed my pants laughing at the naughty improv on a Saturday night. Oh man, we'll be back for sure.
The prices are steep for tickets, but for a good reason. It's quality. And the decor in the lobby is really fun to look at, and to reminisce. Lots of comedy memorabilia. Who has this stuff? Really?
Two drink minimum, but why not enjoy a coors light? Beer list is minimal, think dive bar. Food= theater fare. Popcorn, candy. Go to dinner before, ya cheapskate.m
$20, a two drink minimum, no food and amateur comedians? Â Where do I sign up? One of the opening acts had such a bad delivery, the audience laughed out of pity thinking he was mentally challenged. Â Turns out, he wasn't. Â Thankfully the headliner was hilarious. The staff only seems mildly interested in even being there. Â I will go again only if I know the headliner, otherwise, I'll pass.
Review Source:This place is not about quality! I've been to quality shows that are just slightly more expensive than this place... definitely, not worth the money. The place looked like a cockroach paradise.
The two drink minimum is ridiculous... we ordered two drinks and were forced to have bottled wal-mart water by our obnoxious waitress... she kept interrupting us and tapping us on the shoulder. They invited us to another show and insisting on another two drink minimum... I wasn't thirsty and willing to pay just to get the staff away...
The comedy sucked... it was just guys passing stereotypes of women off as jokes.
I don't live anywhere near Aurora so when it was time to celebrate my friend's birthday, I loved that the night included a stop at The Comedy Shrine for some after dinner comedy!
A group of us gals headed there on a Friday night to hang out for the Who's Line Naughty Show. We had a blast! We laughed all night long, but even more, we really enjoyed the audience too! It was overall such a great group and a great night!
Biggest win here was the cast. Although we had our favorites who we thought were the funniest, the whole gang of them that night were a great combo! You can tell they were all having so much fun and feeding off the enthusiasm of the audience. I get it that it was meant to be an audience participation sort of gig, but I can't tell you how awesome it was to really be included (several of the suggestions we shouted out were used, which thrilled us!). It was a good vibe all around and we loved every moment!
The biggest miss here was the 2-drink minimum, considering we all paid full price to get in. However, a huge win was the fact that they had champagne! So one of our friends ordered a bottle for us to share!
It was a great evening, and I highly recommend for anyone who might be in the area. Would I make a special trip out just for the show? No, probably not. But totally worth it if I'm out that way for the night!
I came here with my hubz and another couple for the Friday night Dirty Whose Line Is It Anyway? Walking into the lobby made it all worth it from the get go! Soooo much memorabilia, I could spend a long time just looking at everything.
The room where we were sat was really, really cold. It was summer time, so I know they had the AC on, but I was in jeans and a cute top, why was it so cold?!
The drinks were really great and the servers came around often enough that you weren't left hanging. They had a wide variety for cheap tastes (cans of beer) and higher tastes (various martinis). And they have popcorn and snackies too!
The cast that night for Whose Line was great. I laughed way more than I anticipated. They got the crowd involved and since it wasn't a huge group, you really felt like you were a part of it. They can't fit toooo many people in there, so you'll never be that crowded, I don't think (unless they add more chairs/tables). Everyone was cracking up and having a great time!
All in all, I would definitely go back. I hope this place continues to thrive, it's great for a group of friends or a date and gives you something different to do!
The Comedy Shrine is a fun and reasonably priced place. I have been to a stand-up show at the Comedy Shrine, and the headliner was Tim Meadows (from SNL and Mean Girls) I was impressed that a small place like the comedy shrine was able to land an act like Tim Meadows. There were about 3 openers before and they got funnier and funnier and Tim Meadows had the room non stop laughing. Great time. I will be going back this evening! A fun and different place to go rather than the usual weekend stuff.
Review Source:An interesting evening at The Comedy Shrine.
We arrived a little late, but our tickets were waiting for us when we got there. We walked into the show during one of the opening acts, and I wasn't terribly impressed. I laughed at a few jokes, but mostly I felt like they were stereotypical and I didn't relate to them.
When the headliner comic came on, I did laugh my ass off. He was really funny.
What seems like an inexpensive night out, though, really isn't. At $15 per person at the door, you think, "Oh, cool a night of fun for $30." But then there is a 2 drink minimum per person. Regardless of whether you want a drink or not. I'm a beer snob. I know this. I'm very picky about my beer. I didn't really want a $10 drink though, so I ended up drinking a Blue Moon (meh) and a Shirley Temple, which I would not have ordered save the two drink minimum.
They DID have Woodchuck pear cider for the BF, though, so he was happy.
We didn't watch the second show, but we hung around for a bit afterwards as our friends finished their drinks. It was evident that our presence in the lobby area was not a welcome one though, as they kept trying to usher us into one of the late shows.
Would I return? Maybe.
This was BY FAR the most disappointing comedy club to which I have ever been. They say comedy is subjective, however the terrible quality, deliverance, and management of this club is so far beyond tolerable it is merely factual.
I attended "dueling pianos". I paid $10 and entered the club for about 10 minutes, as that was all I could stand. The jokes were at about the level of a 3rd grade child's, as was the intelligence of the performers. After having enough of this place after 3 songs, I left and asked for my money back. The club refused to give me a refund. I was offended at the rudeness of the staff.
Please save yourself the trouble from attending such a disappointing venue.
The lobby of this place is like a museum of memorabilia. A very fun time checking it out. We came here on a Groupon a couple weeks ago. The MC told jokes, there was a warm up comedian and then the headliner. The whole show lasted about 1-1/2 hrs. There is a 2-drink minimum. My wife tried a chocolate martini, and I hafta say, stick with the beer.... maybe the bartender had an off nite....
There are two rooms here, the one we DIDN'T see was improvosational comedy. The comedy was good! It's a small place, so if you are seated next to the stage, you will likely be involved in the patter of the acts. Â I would go back.
Got a Living Social deal on this and even if I didn't it would be totally worth the price. Â Regularly $20 a ticket for Saturday night; was expecting only one comedian but they had four! Â One guy was terrible, very drunk, and probably on drugs, but fortunately they got him off the stage very quickly. Â The other three were fantastic, we were laughing so hard. Â The staff was great! Â There is a two drink minimum but that is to be expected. They have a great way of getting you service so that the waitress isn't interrupting you unless you want to ask for a drink and the drinks came out fast because they had a runner bringing them. Would definitely go back!
Review Source:I will definitely be going back here. We went as a bachelorette party to Comedy Comedy. HI-larious. They were very interactive in this cozy, small setting. Much better than Zanies. The lobby is nostalgic and wonderfully decorated. The tickets are cheap and chock full of value and laughs. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. The owner was helpful and accommodating. A + for making this such a memorable night.
Review Source:I took a group to see Comedy Comedy, the stand-up show. Â We had a really good time. Â Most of the guys were really funny. Â One was not-so-much but that's part of what I love about seeing local stand-up. Â We all had a really good time. Â There IS a two-drink minimum but that's very normal for these comedy clubs. Â They have servers who want to make more than $10 for the night. If you are a student, remember to bring your ID and get a discount! Â We all laughed a lot and will definitely return for another show.
Review Source:Good place for a date or group. Â Two drink minimum which is typical for most comedy clubs.
The performers were interactive and pretty witty. Â
I was a huge fan of the fact the venue itself is small and they seat accordingly. Â It's a smaller group so you don't feel crammed in. Â Plus, there's a better chance they'll use a suggestion from someone in your group which always makes it more entertaining.
Fun time for a lot of occasions!
I recently saw a comedian at this club. The place was small and intimate. The show was so funny. Then after we were offered to go to their improve or another comedy show no extra cost. We made a night of it. The improve was hysterical! Would def recommend any show here. They also have old comedy memorabilia which is great. Eat before you go though. Many restaurants in area, and the shine is in mall complex.
Review Source:I have been a few times and had fun. This last time I brought a friend that had never experienced improv before so we paid $20 to see that and it was super sparse in the crowd (Sat night) and we we're ignored most of the time when asked for ideas. When we lost interest and clapped "at the wrong time" we were scolded by the staff that it "confuses them" and should stop clapping. We stayed for the next act and sat front row center and participated when asked then were asked to leave by the staff for participating. You are asked to participate then are thrown out for doing so......Such a random and confusing night. Plus wine is $8-9 a glass which is a bit much for a plastic cup and a strip mall atmosphere.....
Review Source:Since moving to the city I really miss this place! Â They put on some really good comedy shows at a decent price so I'm glad to see them relocating to a new (hopefully larger) venue. Â It's definitely a good option for a date or random night out, and different from all of the lame bars and such in the rest of Naperville/Aurora. Â :)
Review Source:I went to the shrine on NYE this past year - definitely something different for NYE for a change. Â The drinks situation is kinda weird here. Â They have beer, and I think 3 or 4 kinds of hard liquor, I remember that two of them were Jack and Jager. Â I ordered a Jack n Coke, and they said something like they aren't allowed to put ice in the drink? Â WTF? Â I have never heard of anything like this ANYWHERE. Â And, it was $7 or 8 for a pretty small drink. Â The oddball drink menu was kind of aggravating, it was like a monkey came up with the selections and "rules". Â If anyone can explain the no ice thing, please do...
Aside from that, the improv act they had was awesome. Â I don't know their name, I think they were from out of town, but I laughed from beginning to end!
I would recommend checking it out for the comedy aspect, but don't be lookin for an elaborate cocktail here. Â You're better off pre-gaming somewhere else or flasking it (you didn't hear that from me!).
Fun evening of laughs if you like improve comedy. Â Hit-or-miss comedy depending which combination of performers are there.
Location:
I attended one of the last few shows at the Comedy Shrine's Naperville location. Â They have since moved to a new location.
Arrival:
We arrived about 15 min before showtime, along with a bunch of other guests, but weren't allowed to enter the front room since the earlier show hadn't let out yet. A staff member kept coming back to the front to periodically kick us out to the hallway.
Atmosphere:
The front room and main stage room was coated with comedic paraphernalia that feels fun, eclectic and chaotic. The seating area was small and cozy, which was very fitting for the interaction between the comedians and guests.
Food:
One drink minimum per person. (No food.)
Entertainment:
The show we saw was just OK. There were some funny moments and skits, but I think with improv it is a hit-or-miss depending on the performers and topics. I hope that the next show I attend has a different crew. Â The show was 90 minutes, which I felt was just right and worth the ticket price.
Summary:
I'm not sure I totally enjoy improv comedy (I think I like stand- up better), but would attend another show at the new location. Paired up with dinner or drinks nearby and you've got a fun night out planned in the local burbs.
Last night I went to see a fellow yelper/comedian perform at open-mic night. There was 12 or 13 different/unique comics and I laughed my ass off for well over 2 hours.
The location of the Comedy Shrine is unique and the entrance can be tricky, once I found the entrance I was excited to see this gem of a venue. (Quick tip, I'm on a 4-g network and had no service in or around the club, so if you want to "check-in" from your mobile phone, do it in the parking lot).
This place is literally covered floor to ceiling with all things comedy; it's literally a shrine to comedy. The walls and ceiling are covered with pictures and cut-outs of photos from famous comedies (stage/film/television/etc) and photos of comedians spanning several decades. It's a sight to see. There is not a bad seat in the house and it's definitely not cramped at all, unlike some other comedy spots around. The stage is way bigger then I expected and overall the physical venue is awesome. The cover charge was a steal at $5 and there is a 1 drink minimum (drinks range from $1-$7).
When open-mic started the host for the night opened up with a really funny monologue and up first was actually Shaun (I met Shaun and his wife at a yelp event during the summer and I've wanted to see his stand up ever since). After Shaun's awesome performance the funny just kept coming. I loved the variety of comics and I like that the comedy shrine doesn't pigeonhole itself to one or 2 certain kinds of comedy, (performers included a quirky grandma, quick-witted athlete, a 69 year old with a filthy mouth and an Indian stoner).
The best part about this venue was when I left I felt like I wanted to be friends with everyone I met. I love places like that! I'm HUGELY bummed that my first visit to the Comedy Shrine will likely be one of my last because they are closing. I hope it re-opens somewhere close because when it closes I'm going to be bummed, in the meantime I'm going to check out as much as I can there while they are open!
Go to Zanies and pay the extra 10 more...unless you live close the area and you need a few laughs..but this is cheap comedy and it is funny for the first 15 minutes, but the uncomfortable, small theater seating turns to a bore. If I want cheap laughs, I can google it. I don't mean to be mean, but I would have rather chilled at the Barnes and Nobles across the street and bought a good read instead of do this.
Review Source:Small venue and fairly cramped, but it makes the place cozy and gets you close to the performers. Went to improv night and completely enjoyed it. the 90 minute set seemed like 20 minutes and i laughed the entire time. Totally enjoyable and i would recommend the Comedy Shrine to anyone looking for a fun, carefree time.
Review Source:If you're in Naperville, you've got to give this place a try. Very funny shows, fun atmosphere, and affordable. (It's only a 1 drink minimum and it doesn't have to be alcohol. Though the show will be funnier if it is!)
If you've got kids, try the Saturday night family show. My eight-year old twins loved it and, as they advertise, it's cheaper than a movie!
We visited The Comedy Shrine this past Friday for the 8p show. Wow! They were fantastic! This was improv in the true Chicago style. Â The chemistry of the group was great to see and only made everything funnier. Â The show went a full hour and forty five minutes with the intermission- great value for $20 per person. After the show the cast stood in the lobby and interacted with guests as we exited. Â We had a great time and will go back as often as we can!
Review Source:Our first time....at the Shrine...was Valentine's day. Â We both love comedy and thought this would be a nice treat. OMG! Â We were laughing so loud that we must have busted a gut!!! Â
So, when it came time to plan a birthday evening for my boyfriend's Mom, we decided to go there again (last weekend). Â My boyfriend's dad "didn't want to go because he does not like comedy shows". Â We told him to trust us...this is not just stand up comedy. Â He laughed the entire show with the rest of us. Â He is now a believer. Â I highly recommend anyone who likes to laugh to go to one of the weekend shows!
Is it just me or is this place really, really difficult to happen into?
You're more likely to happen into a midget dance party or happen into your great, great grandma smoking up than to stumble into the Comedy Shrine.
Although a neon "Comedy Shrine" sign is fairly easy to find, the door leading up to the Shrine is in an obscure place under the bridgeway connecting the two large strip mall structures.
If the owners videotape the area leading up to the Comedy Shrine door, they could have a goldmine of comedic material. To be honest, that's kind of what I was expecting so play it cool, Ashton.
The club is kind of pricey -- it was around $25 each -- given that the performers were actually improv class students. Some had admittedly come straight from a white collar day job which threw me off a little.
Plus, there's a two drink minimum like all comedy clubs. $9 beer night in Naperville, anyone?
The theater is pretty small and can get crowded at full capacity. They sit you so that your knees are essentially on the neck of the person in front of you.
The comedy will obviously depend on the performers and although I wasn't cracking up, I still had a good time. It's a good spot if you're jonesing for a laugh in the 'burbs but it can't touch any of the good clubs in the city.
Came here this past weekend to see a play from a theater company that rented out the place. So this review is really just based on the atmosphere. I was fascinated by the decoration and thought it was really cool. It's almost a museum of comedy and it was great to see that they pulled in memorabilia from all different eras of comedy. Â
It seems like a great place to go and hang out too. Â They've got a bar and lots of tables. I would definitely be up for coming here again.
It is definitely a shrine from the moment you walk through the doors. Â I've only been there once for the 10 pm improv show on a Saturday. Â It was not the Nasty show (they have them on Friday nights I believe), but it certainly could have been, everything that the audience yelled for suggestions pretty much led to raunchiness. Â
I guess it all depends on the audience. Â I also thought it was expensive for an improv show $23.
I've been here twice and each time ended up with a sore stomach the next morning from laughing so much the night before. Â My first visit to The Comedy Shrine was for one of those "semi-awkward first date don't really know if I'm into this guy but I said I would go on a date so here I am" deals. Â Despite an uncomfortably silent dinner beforehand, the date definitely picked up from the moment we entered the shrine.
Keep in mind - this place isn't called The Comedy Shrine for no reason: Â it literally is a SHRINE. Â Upon entering, the first thing you notice is how every centimeter of wall space is covered with memorabilia of comedians, cartoon characters, movie posters, etc. Â A little creepy almost...
The theme of the first show I saw was an adaptation of Drew Carey's "Whose Line?" Now, audience participation if imperative to a good show. Â I was fortunate enough to have been with a good crowd both times. Â Rule of Thumb: the more buzzed your fellow audience members are, the funnier the show (while wasted/loud obscene drunk has the counter effect).
After a good time (yes, even after being dragged on stage to participate in one of their skits), I vowed to go back again - this time for the naughty version of "Whose Line?" Â This time I went with a few friends and had just as phenomenal of a time.
The room itself is pretty small, and they have a small selection of drinks (both alcoholic and non) and snacks (think pretzels, chips, etc.). Â Each show lasts about two hours and shows vary because there's a different combination of performers from the troupe each night to ensure things stay interesting/funny/new jokes. Â Everything is entirely improv and the troupe as a whole is definitely one of a kind.
At less than $20 a pop, what better way to spend a Friday night with friends?
A first-rate small improv troupe. Â Disclaimer: I'm taking a class there and getting to know (and like) these folks personally.
The theater is small (maybe 50 ft. square?) with small bistro tables and chairs. Â No smoking. Â The shows are at 8 and 10 on Fridays and Saturdays; the show I attended was 1-3/4 hours long with an intermission. Â Presumably the performers have time to go to the bathroom in between. Â You can order drinks and snacks from servers throughout the performance.
The show was thoroughly enjoyable. Â Quite a few of the bits were musical, and the performers sing as well as they act (the show has a keyboard accompanist). Â There were PG-13 moments, but there should be no problem for anyone sophisticated enough to "get" the humor.
About the class: I was never particularly a theater or improv buff before, and I'm finding unanticipated depth here. Â Their approach is that you can't "learn" improv; you need to "unlearn" things that block your spontaneity and creativity. Â Very Zen in that you learn about being present and noticing things. Â You don't "try" to be funny, but respond naturally and build on what your teammates offer.
They have classes for kids as well; check their website for details.
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