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Comedy Clubs in Illinois

You can call it the Windy City, you can call it the Second City; just don't call it unfunny. Chicago has become ground zero for American comdey. A significant number of America's greatest comedians started in the comedy scene of Chicago, some with the renown Second City comedy troupe. But Chicago isn't the only city in Illinois that offers excellent comedy clubs. Chicago's funnybone extends through the entire state.

  1. Second City

    • Second City isn't so much a club as it is a Chicago institution. Bill Murray, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Dan Aykroyd, Chris Farley, Steve Carrell, Catherine O'Hara, Joan Rivers, Amy Sedaris, Fred Willard and Mike Meyers are a few examples of the great talent that has emerged from Second City. You can catch a show any night of the week at Second City, where you'll catch the funniest up and comers in the country.

      Second City
      1616 N. Wells St.
      Chicago, IL 60614
      (312) 337-3992
      secondcity.com

    Zanies

    • Zanies has three locations in Chicagoland: the downtown location (just down the street from Second City), Vernon Hills and St Charles. Most of the performers at Zanies are touring comedians who have often been on Comedy Central (Norm MacDonald, Gilbert Gottfried, David Alan Grier, Jeff Garlin, Richard Lewis and Bill Bellamy among others). The shows start at 8:30 on weekdays, and 9 or later on weekends.

      Zanies Chicago
      1548 N. Wells St.
      Chicago, IL 60610
      (312) 337-4027
      chicago.zanies.com

      Zanies St. Charles
      Pheasant Run Resort
      4051 E. Main St.
      St. Charles, IL
      630-584-6342
      stcharles.zanies.com

      Zanies Vernon Hills
      230 Hawthorn Village Commons
      Vernon Hills, IL 60061
      (847) 549-6030
      vernonhills.zanies.com

    Jukebox

    • Although the central Illinois city of Peoria may not be well known for its comedy scene, it is the birthplace of one of the greatest comedians of all time: Richard Pryor. The Jukebox Comedy Club regularly attracts nationally renowned stand up comedians. Juxebox is on the western outskirts of Peoria, where the landscape turns to a vast countryside.

      Jukebox Comedy Club
      3527 West Farmington Road
      Peoria, IL 61604
      (309) 673-5853
      jukeboxcomedy.com

    Funny Bone

    • American comedians love to make fun of their politicians, so what better place to laugh at the Illinois government than the state's capital? Donnie B's Comedy Club (Funny Bone of Springfield) regularly features touring comedians, and also has an open mic night every third Wednesday of the month.

      Funny Bone
      2937 West White Oaks Dr.
      Springfield, IL 62704
      (217) 391-5653
      funnybonecomedyclub.com

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