The first-of-its-kind Improvisers Guild
We are a Guild of Improvisers and Comedians dedicated to empowering our members by offering training, performances, resources, and perks to build a career in comedy.
Become a Member
Grow your comedy career through weekly rehearsals, performance runs, and real training that doesn’t come with the usual industry price tag. Our Guild is led by instructors with decades of experience in the Chicago comedy community, and every member trains in an environment built for real growth. You’re placed with a group you can learn with, rehearse with, and build alongside, creating a supportive cohort that grows together over time. We focus on meaningful progress, genuine community, and opportunities that help you move forward.
Audition to join. Stay to Grow.
Training
Real training. Real stage time. None of the fluff. If you’re tired of overpriced classes with no payoff, our program gives you something better by offering more performance opportunities than anywhere else in Chicago along with the most comprehensive long‑form improvisation curriculum around. You’ll learn thirteen improv forms, fifteen on‑stage editing techniques, and countless ways to find what’s truly funny in a scene, even under the toughest conditions.
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We don’t lean on “yes, and.” Instead, we teach you to stay present, respond honestly, and build something real with your scene partners.
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Our program was nominated for Best Professional Improv and Comedy Training Program in the Chicago Reader. With rehearsals led by experienced coaches and teachers, plus access to our private online Education Resource Center, members grow through reading, watching, and doing. Whether you’re on stage or exploring our digital library, your development as a performer never stops.
Performances
Stage Time That Matters. Our members perform long-form improv, stand-up, and scripted material at The Comedy Clubhouse, a top-tier venue in Chicago’s Wicker Park. It’s the city’s highest-rated comedy club across Google, Yelp, Facebook, and TripAdvisor, featured as a Critic’s Pick in PerformInk, one of Time Out Chicago’s Top 7 Comedy Clubs, and a finalist for Best Stand-Up Venue in the Chicago Reader and Urban Matters.
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We don’t relegate performers to throwaway time slots. These are prime-time performances designed to reinforce growth, not just celebrate completion. Every 2-month rehearsal block leads directly into 2 months of curated shows, built to apply what you’ve learned in front of real audiences. This isn’t a “class show” model, it’s an infrastructure for building comedy careers.
Perks
We’re not just teaching comedy. We’re rewriting the rules of how comedians are treated. Membership isn’t just access to classes and stage time, it’s a stake in a system built to value your work. From commission for ticket sales to rent-free shows with a revenue split in your favor, our perks are designed to shift power back to the performers. And the list keeps growing because the old model wasn’t built for you. We are.
