I had the best time here--hands down one of my favorite comedy experiences ever. The show was absolutely hilarious, and it couldn't have been a more perfect way to celebrate both my birthday and my engagement. This place also holds a special place in my heart because it's where I went on my very first date with my fiancé, which makes coming back even more meaningful. Bob and his team are truly incredible--so talented, welcoming, and genuinely funny. A special shoutout to Madison, who made me feel completely comfortable and confident when I was on stage. That kind of energy makes all the difference. I can't recommend this place enough--funny, memorable, and full of great people. I already want to go back! read more

Improv Asylum - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

It was a delight to see the Main Stage company back in their North End venue tonight.

We were a group of 8. We purchased the pre-show improv class, which was a blast and so worth the money. The pre-show drinks were all tasty. The show itself was hilarious. The cast is so creative and really plays off the crowd! A great time was had by all and we'd definitely go back. read more

I had a great night out at improv asylum! Very entertaining and well run show. I appreciated the reasonable prices and options for drinks and snacks. Super cool that your ticket also works as a voucher for a free espresso martini shooter at Umbria afterward! Great value for a fun night out read more

Improv Asylum - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

The show was funny and asked for participation with the skits that were done this evening. They listened and had many funny skits from occupations to hobbies you wish to accomplish. Didn't have any of the food but there were many drink choices to pick from. The act happens in a basement so you have to go down stairs to get to the main event but there is lots of seats available to enjoy the show at. My only nit pick was they chose answers from a participant (who had already volunteered information from before) and it would have been better if they had chosen another audience member for another skit. read more

We take our young adults there every few years and I laugh more than them. Many of the players have been there a long while so they know their element. I just love this place! read more

Was a great time! Last minute decision. We walked in and were able to buys tickets and got seated immediately. Great energy and very entertaining. read more

Absolutely hilarious. I saw the improv show on a Thursday night by myself. I bought tickets at the door and was let downstairs to where the stage theater area is. They have a bar in the back and the staff was very friendly. The improv comedians are amazing. I'm always so impressed at people who can do improv, because it requires intelligence, timing and quick thinking. They took audience prompts and suggestions to build the plots and situations of their skits. I laughed so hard.It was very therapeutic. Highly recommend. read more

Improv Asylum - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This was pathetic. Calling these people "actors" or "comedians" is generous. I honestly don't even know where to start because the entire show was a disaster from beginning to end. Charging $30 a ticket for this is outright robbery. We went to the May 9th 5 PM show, and I did not laugh once. Not a single time. I'm convinced they had a plant in the audience because one woman was hysterically laughing at literally everything. Even when a performer simply said their own name. It was obnoxious and painfully obvious. The material was terrible. Completely uncreative, unfunny, and amateur. These performers had no idea what they were doing half the time and just rambled endlessly trying to fill space. It genuinely felt like a high school improv class where everyone forgot to prepare. If this were being graded, every single one of them would fail. They have absolutely no business performing five nights a week. Honestly, not even one night a week. I sincerely hope this is just a hobby for them because there is no way anyone should be making a living off this level of talent. The entire show felt staged and fake. At one point, two performers went into a supposedly "soundproof room" while the audience was asked to name a famous book, movie, and TV show for them to act out later. The second the audience decided, the performers were immediately called back in, and somehow they magically guessed every answer perfectly despite the charades making no sense. So clearly the room was not soundproof, and they obviously already knew the answers. It completely killed whatever little authenticity the show was pretending to have. By that point, I desperately wanted to leave. The entire experience was cringe-inducing from start to finish. Complete waste of time. The venue itself was decent, but the show was embarrassing. Talentless hacks. read more

Every time my husband and I visit Boston, this is a must! We've been several times and they never disappoint. Their comedians are hilarious, their bartenders are great. The ambiance is fun and inviting. Definitely recommend checking it out if you have time in the city and want to have a good laugh. read more

The atmosphere they achieve during the show is great for disconnecting and having fun with the family. The Gen show was especially fun. read more

Was in Boston for a clinical trial. Big city all alone, what to do? I find this place. I came 1-2 times a visit over 10 weeks. It was awesome. Can't recommend enough. So much fun. If I'm ever back in the area I'll be there! I have sung this place's praises everywhere I've been able to. Great date night idea. read more

Show was overall ok. Hard to hear some of the jokes, not sure if it was PA system or just comedians back turned towards us. We were looking for somewhere to go that wasn't a bar so it served our purpose. Show was 90 min which I felt was a good amount of time and no drink minimum which we liked. Jokes were definitely super vulgar at times. read more

I recently had the chance to visit the Improv Asylum in Boston, and it brought back a lot of memories. The last time I saw a show there was about 25 years ago, and I'm happy to say it's only gotten better with time. The energy in the room was fantastic from the moment the show started. The cast was quick, clever, and had the entire audience laughing nonstop. What impressed me most was how effortlessly they connected with the crowd and turned simple suggestions into hilarious scenes. It's not easy for a place to stay relevant and entertaining for decades, but Improv Asylum has clearly mastered that. If anything, the creativity, timing, and overall production feel even sharper than I remember. If you're in Boston and looking for a great night out, I can't recommend it enough. Twenty-five years later, it's still one of the most fun and memorable live shows you can see. read more

Awesome show as always! The cast is amazing and it's a great idea for date but fair warning the manager is a jerk.

Went back last night, and the show was full improv, and it was fantastic! Now that they're back to full-improv shows, they're as funny as they ever were. Top notch read more

Absolutely awful experience. Walked out crying on Valentine's Day. As something that should have been a fun night, they went on and on about school shootings and 9/11. As someone who has lost someone in both situations, this was absolutely devastating and truly disgusting to witness the "jokes" performed. The death of children is HEARTBREAKING and it is absolutely unacceptable to joke about it. read more

I live in NYC and visit Chicago a lot. I see a lot of improv. Been to NYC's Upright Citizen's Brigade and Chicago's Second City, and can confidently declare that Boston's Main Stage Improv Asylum is consistently funnier, more clever, and just plain more entertaining. They're a gem. read more

This was painfully bad. Really wanted to leave at intermission but stayed because we were with a group. More than half the show are skits as opposed to improv and even the pre planned skits weren't funny. The improv troupe at my undergraduate school was easily better than this one and my partner made the comment that the skits had a high school talent night vibe. I would agree. Actually, I remember my high school talent night and it was much funnier read more

We recently attended a 2 hour corporate improv workshop and it completely exceeded expectations. The team from Improv Asylum Boston delivered a high energy, professional, and wildly entertaining session that was both hilarious and surprisingly impactful. From the start, the facilitators created a supportive environment that encouraged team building, quick thinking, and creative communication all essential soft skills for any business or organization. They blended comedy, improv games, and real world takeaways in a way that kept everyone engaged, laughing, and genuinely connecting. Whether you're looking for a fun group activity, professional development session, or just a unique way to break the ice, Improv Asylum's corporate training and improv classes are second to none. Highly recommend this experience for leadership retreats, employee engagement events, or company culture building. We walked away more connected, confident, and creative. Can't wait to book them again! read more

So. Much. Fun. Great night - such talented people. Awesome audience participation. We'll be back

I was in Boston recently and found this place online. They had a show on an evening that worked out with my schedule. While I'm super glad places like this exist for those who are in comedy, I didn't find the show to be funny. And I admit that it's unfair that I'm comparing it to the performances such as the comedy store in the LA area and second city in Chicago. There were various groups on stage performing and while some were better than others, they all have some work to do on their material. I could never do what they do and appreciate the courage that it takes. But for me, it's a one and done experience. read more

When we first got here, we realized that we bought tickets for the wrong night. However, the staff was so accommodating that we were able to buy another set of tickets for that night and get a refund for the ones we bought. The show itself was funny! I love how quick the actors are on thinking on their feet. There are some skits that are scripted while the others are completely improv with audience participation/suggestion. They do a lot of that, so be prepared to be a part of the show, at least to the extent of shouting out some suggestions. I thought it was cool they had costumes and props to help elevate the scenes (don't worry, no spoilers here) What's nice about the "stage" is that it's right in front of you. The audience is seated in 4 sections to create a square and inside that square is where all the actors are. It gives it a very intimate feel, so even though there may be 200 other people in the room, it doesn't feel that way. The seats themselves are pretty comfy, they're standard metal folding chairs with a cushion for your butt. The bar is fully stocked and I love the seasonal drinks they had to offer. I got the "Witch, Please" (picture attached with other options) Overall, this is a really cute date night filled with lots of laughs read more

Improv Asylum - Witch, Please - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Just a tourist in Boston so not familiar with the comedy scene here. However, if Improv Asylum is the best for Boston .... yikes. Not sure any of us laughed -- but definitely sure of feeling happy relief when the show finally ended. Drinks were rather weak. Interior reminded me of dingy nightclubs for 18 and under back in the day. PS: Make the drinks stronger, and I'm sure that'll help improve the comic level of the skits. Maybe? read more

Very last minute, we bought tickets to a Massholes Live improv show yesterday evening. We laughed the entire show--the talent of the cast was incredible! They were hilarious, quick, and so smart. The keyboardist was also amazing and really added to the show. This was a (the??) highlight of our entire trip, and I would highly recommend to anyone interested in laughing and having a great time! read more

The show was awesome. Had a great laugh with my partner. The one we went to was about 90mins. They have intermission after the 60mins. 10/10 will come back again. read more

Improv Asylum - The stage before the show started - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I came to a Sunday show. It was not packed but had plenty of people. We definitely laughed but I didn't like that the people that were planted with the audience were too obvious. A guy sitting next to me kept bumping his elbow on me and laughing. I did not appreciate that but understood why they do this. read more

We went for a fun night out after dinner on a Saturday night in the North End. It was a full house. Interesting in a bad way, how they have it set up. It felt like the old Boston Garden's obstructed view seats with columns all around the space blocking a lot of views I'm sure. One person had to keep trying to maneuver around a volume to see. We felt packed in there like sardines, but that's them maximizing seats in the tight space I suppose. The comedy wasn't for us. Some skits and some interaction with crowd that was mostly annoying as they'd interview a person and then try and reenact the interviews. Only funny thing to us was when they used a couple audience member's cell phones to perform what was in their text messages. Drinks were expensive, 5 people paid $100 for a round after tip. Drinks were watered down and beer was old and on warmer side. Bar tender was a total dud. One person with us had to go a few weeks before and said all the skits were exactly the same, so not sure how often they change it up. There were some cackles in the audience, so some liked it, but it just wasn't for us. Rather see a legit comedian in stage I suppose. read more

Gotta be honest, we used to love this group when they were on Hanover Street. But a few of the really funny people have left the team and moved on to other stuff apparently. We went in June and then again was there just three weeks ago to the show they call "Massholes" at Laugh Boston on Warrenton. I have no idea why they call the 930pm show "Massholes" because they did not make a single joke related to Massachusetts. No biggie, but the reference was lost on us. Now more substantively, and I don't want to sound harsh or cruel, but they have two new guys who simply aren't funny from a comedic timing standpoint which is a real downer. They're also not very good at improvising quickly on their feet. Isn't that is what the show is (or was) about? You go see stand-up comedy in a lot of places, but the improvisation was what made this unique These two have replaced two of the other guys who used to be very, very funny' and very quick on their feet. I agree with some of the other recent reviews noting that the shows have become much more about pre-rehearsed skits versus improvisation. So agree that the improvisation does seem to have gone down quite a bit. And maybe that's reflecting the lesser talent of the new people they've now got on the team. Anyways, probably won't go back for a while until they make some cast changes. It's a shame. read more

Awful - first , we couldn't hear a lot of it mainly because of piano playing and actors speaking in opposite direction of where we seated . They need , either, microphones or a better sound system. The comedy wasn't funny except for a few moments of brilliance . I'm sure I'm not part of their target audience (almost 60) but found most of it stupid . I thought individually the actors were better on their own than as a team . Hate to be so harsh because it takes balls to get up and do what these people do . read more

A little disappointing. Maybe an off night. Drinks were fine. Worth the stop if you're in town.

Went with hubby for Valentines weekend. Something different to do in the city, nothing impressive. Place is small, seating is tight, nowhere to put drinks. Comedians are trying their best, shows are quite organized and efficient, but not as funny as I expect. people in front of me left at half time. Parking is only $3 if you park in the garage like 2 blocks away - pretty good for a Saturday night (do ask them to validate your ticket). Overall okay experience. read more

I visited on a April weekend and brought my family to the kids' matinee that they have on most Saturdays ($5 for kids $20 for adults). I had heard about their kid friendly show a few months ago when I read about a free new years show that I wasn't able to make but decided that I'd try to make one of the shows later in the year. It was FANTASTIC. The cast was funny, engaging and interacted directly with the children, often bringing them in to participate in a variety of improv games. It was a great intimate set up with the audience on the same level, encircling the stage. With kids input, the cast had some challenging material to work with at times but got through those moments well. The cast interacted with the audience after the show was over and couldn't have been more charming and personable. Totally recommend this experience!! read more

If you're looking for some good yucks and giggles - this is the premiere spot in Boston! I have been there three or four times and never been disappointed. There is a mix of sketches and improvised bits. The sketches are hilarious man - very intelligently written and executed to perfection. Each player on their team has their own role and they do a great job at it. I have also done a workshop at the Asylum CoLab which was super fun. I had such a good time I am now taking some classes with them, which have been great so far. I really appreciate how earnest the instructors are and how much they care about their craft! read more

Great place and I can't say enough about the midnight Saturday show. They are all great but this show actually makes me laugh. I will say the beer is definitely overpriced so definitely pregame before arriving. It's only an hour you'll survive. They usually start the show five to ten after. This was the case each time I went. One area for improvement I have would be the usher needs to listen to the ladies running the door. She wanted me moved to a breed seat because I had purchased a ticket but the guy ushering folks actually moved me future back and behind another pole. The young lady that told him to move me you could tell wasn't happy with where he put me. I actually moved back behind the first pole. Overpriced beer and bad usher communication is all I have for improving. But the showed are worth it and if you come to Boston plan to go to the midnight Raunch show. read more

Pretty solid improv at Improv Asylum. You will have lots of silly giggles here, and the performers are well trained and skilled at their craft. Asylum is located in the North End, so if your unfamiliar with Boston there lots of bars, Italian restaurants up and down the street. A perfect location for dinner and a show. I went Friday night at 7pm which I heard was the clean show. In general, humor in the 2020's can be very political or polarizing. There's none of that here. It was clean, silly and non controversial. No matter your political or religious background you can come here and enjoy yourself. There were six performers (3 males, 3 females) and they split the show into written sketches and off the top of the head improvisation. A lot of improv sketches were very impressive as they had to remember a lot of information on the spot before performing it. It was a packed house of well over 100 people in the audience. Some of the seats have an obscured view, but it won't ruin the show for you. They will call on at least a few people to be part of the show. So if you're shy, don't sit in the front! Tickets were nearly $40, which is pretty steep in my opinion, but I get it--they performers need to eat. The only thing that truly bothered me is there is a pianist playing tunes through out the entire show. At first it was very irritating to me, but eventually I didn't notice anymore and it was complimentary to what was happening on stage. They serve drinks in the lobby area and FYI, there is a brief intermission during the show. Lastly, I loved the fact that the male performers had suits on. It's rare these days! If you like improv or never been to an improv show, come here! read more

Here on a weeknight with Mom for the show they call "Fresh AF." It was quite funny and there were definitely a few very good laughs. For $10, a real bargain for about ninety minutes of entertainment. Some of the bits were clever and unique. I particularly enjoyed the one where one of the actors was listening to loud music on his iPhone while the others were doing the skit and he was trying to fit in. Another where they solicited cell phones from audience members and two of the actors could only respond using text messages they'd read on the phone. (Mine would have been way boring for that!) Acoustics were not great. Even though were were in front of the stage, row 4 was not ideal. It is, after all, a basement and not a performance hall. So take that into account. (We weren't planning an improv show as part of our entertainment, but we honestly saw the poster on the T and decided to go.) read more

Improv Asylum - The funniest show you'll ever be a part of! - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Fun time. They are all very talented. Something different to do. Beers and drinks are too expensive though.

The show was absolutely hilarious. My wife and I were laughing the entire time. It was an incredible couples night out. We can't wait to go back to another show! read more

Great show! Kept me entertained the whole time and I love how they incorporated the audience