More funny for your money

By Ellen Fox

February 24 2003

There are lots of reasons to slug folks who spout, "Smile. It's free." One is that tickets for some improv comedy shows are running as high as $20. There are, however, some cheap (even free) places to see quality comedy. You just need to know where to look.

Buffet
Stuff yourself with an ever-changing line-up of improv styles. Four independent teams from around the city whip up comedy at this
restaurant/performance space in Uptown. Come just to watch, or sign up your own team weeks ahead of time.

Improv Open Mike
"Who's Line Is It Anyway?" meets "The Price Is Right." Members get called up on stage to participate in this late-night free-for-all. Any one who signs up can get picked to play quick improv games like freeze tag.

Second City Unhinged: Tuesday Night Special
Second City Unscripted is more like it. Current and former players at the sketch comedy mecca forgo memorization to present a completely improvised revue.

The Lottery
A workshop within a show, this exercise in nerves throws improv students together with seasoned performers for a night of high-wire comedy.

Around Midnite Series
Four revolving shows--Sharko Bizarro's Gong Show, The Sickest F***ing Stories I Ever Heard, BASSprov and Night Late with Show Live---take on the mantle of late-night hilarity each weekend at this Lakeview theater.

Free improv sets
Watch the stars of the Second City mainstage---and the occasional big-name alum--wind up the night with off-the-cuff scenes based on audience suggestions. Free. 10:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 1 a.m. Saturdays, 10 p.m. Sundays.

Free Harold Show
Three teams use the Harold, the signature narrative form at ImprovOlympic, to take a single audience suggestion and weave it into a half-hour of inter-related scenes, many of them based on three relationships. Free. 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

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