I've been here 3 times and I've seen 3 really funny shows... that's the most important thing when evaluating a comedy venue. The reason I took off 1 star is because of their online "website sale" processing fee. $7.50? C'mon. We just spent ~$60 for 2 tickets, the least you could do is not make us feel ripped off by charging an unreasonable fee. Despite that... I think it's a fun time and enjoy myself whenever I go. read more

The main stage show is hilarious! We went on a Friday night and were part of a large and enthusiastic audience. Be aware that if they ask for volunteers, expect to be up on stage for a while. A super fun experience while staying in Boston. read more

Improv Asylum - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

A little disappointing. We went to the Main Stage Show on Saturday night. Half the cast was great and the other half was so-so. One of the cast members stood out as being bad -- taking everything too far and always being really angry. A few of the skits were really entertaining, especially the questions on the street -- Jay Leno Jaywalking-style. The drinks were overpriced, but that is to be expected at this sort of place. The most disappointing part was that (1) they encouraged people to show up 30 minutes early; (2) they sold beers by the buckets; (3) they have an intermission for a 1:30 show; and (4) they specifically market to group parties -- that to me indicates they want to sell everyone a lot of alcohol. Yet, when the bachelorette party ahead of us got drunk and started acting silly, they threw one of the girls out for being "too drunk." A little schizophrenic if you ask me -- the audience booed the staff as they threw her out. Another thing to add -- be careful when buying your tickets. I was on the end of a row and had 50% of my view of the "action" blocked by giant post. I am sure that hurt my experience. Make sure they put you in the center of a section. All-in-all, not sure I'd go back, and we had half-price tickets from the BosTix booth in Copley. UPDATE: 8/23 -- I have decided to give this place a second try based on the strength of a few e-mails from Yelpers encouraging me to do just that. I'll update once I get a chance to head over. read more

This place was SO much fun!! A must do for any Bostonians looking to mark things off their bucket list! I went into the asylum thinking that it would be more or less a stand-up comedy show.. hadn't done much research about it.. just wanted to pop in and check it out on a whim with a friend. It was soo cool!! It is a group of 5-6 that act out witty scenes concerning every day life and various topics. They take suggestions from the audience in order to stem their improv scenes so each show is completely unique and up to the crowd to make worthwhile. Def recommend the midnight "Raunch" performance. It was completely awesome, and I'm super happy they actually used one of the things I shouted out!! :) Use your Levelup to get a discount here!! read more

This quaint little spot seems to be quite a hidden gym among all of the restaurants and bars of the surrounding neighborhood. The tickets are reasonably priced, the booze is damn near free for Boston, and the shows are hilarious. Improv Asylum is great for small and large groups. Bring a date, bring a friend, but don't bring your kids! hahahaha Incredible venue. Definitely recommend. read more

This was the first time I've ever been to an improv show. My only experience before this was watching Who's line is it anyway? on TV. I have to say that it was a great show and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. There was good balance of sketches and improv. There was good audience participation and the improv artists never froze up. They had pretty relevant material and their jokes didn't get old. The audience participation was pretty funny. There were a fair amount of old, drunk people, which made the experience pretty fun as well. Final Remarks: Hilarious! Great place for entertainment! We got tickets at the door just fine and you can get dinner before or after right nearby. Definitely check it out if you have never been to an improv show! read more

Went to the Thursday night show at 8pm, and it was packed. We laughed our arses off. It was a general admission show and we ended up in the front row. Be careful as some of the seats are busted. Beer is relatively cheap, and it was something different to do on a thursday night. Otherwise a great night was had, and I think we'll be back for the Sat. midnight show. read more

Boston definitely has no shortage of bars, and for that reason it also has no shortage of drunken creepers that frequent them. Sometimes I can stomach that, but for nights when I want an excellent night on the town without the typical Boston scene, Improv is my go-to. I like coming here because it's different every time. And it gets the audience vey involved which is nice. It's been consistently funny everytime I've been except once. It was a Wednesday night, they were trying something new, it was a miss for me. But for the most part, it is painfully, pants-wettingly hilarious. They have obviously built up a strong cast, and I'll be back many times. read more

Had the BEST time at Improv Asylum! My husband took me here to celebrate my birthday last night, and it was one of the best birthday gifts I've received. We had front row seats to this hilarious show--the cast is so talented & I was so impressed with how they can think on their feet and be so reactive to their audience. I was called up on stage and was interviewed, and the cast worked my answers into a skit. I was actually crying because I was laughing so hard. Kudos to the cast and crew--great entertainment. I'm already looking at tickets for next month for when friends visit! read more

The staff were great, comedians were so energized and enthusiastic, place was awesome. Only thing was the show wasn't that funny to me, I was only laughing maybe 1/3 of the time, but that's probably because I have a weird sense of humor. Idk I guess my humor is more like a gen z type of random humor. Also it was my first improv show. Would recommend to the next average joe, but if maybe under 20 yrs old and you watch vines all day this may not be ur cup of tea. Again great performance, super talented cast, but if ur into more weirder humor you be thrown off a bit. read more

Since a lot of the show is improvised it can be either hit or miss. The first time I went it was their Saturday "Raunch" show at midnight and tickets were only $10. The actors were drinking which I think allowed them to get a little goofier and say crazier things. The comedy was really funny and it felt like a bunch of drunk people having fun. The second time I went was for the Saturday show at 10 pm which cost $25. The comedy wasn't nearly as funny, especially the improv. Improv is not easy and the actors were struggling. I saw one of the actresses yawning in between acts. Both times I went it was very hot in the underground theater. The best way to do the Improv Asylum is to go on a Saturday night to the Raunch show. The actors are drinking, can say whatever they want and usually do. Plus it is cheaper (although the Raunch show recently increased in price to $15). I would also recommend getting tickets a few days or a week in advance so that you can get a front row seat and not have people's heads blocking your view. If you do get tickets the day of the show, go to one of the BosTix booths in Faneuil Hall or Copley for a discount. read more

I'm quite a discerning critic when it comes to comedy - I don't laugh at just any Tom, Dick or Harry's 'yo mama' joke (maybe Sara's though). I was hesitant to go at first, but I decided to roll the dice and get tickets to Improv Asylum because of the killer yelp reviews (thank you) and just a general good feeling/intuition about the place. I figured if the commoners could be so positive on the venue, I could probably average about one laugh, two chuckles and a grin every 5-6 minutes. Well, as the 5 stars indicates, I was thoroughly surprised at how good the performers were. I went to the 9pm show on Saturday (which I'm guessing features the A-team) and agree with the reviews below. The cast had great chemistry and it was just amazing how quickly they could turn something so antiquated and asinine like 'Blockbuster' into a source of belly laughs and multiple recurring jokes. It also helped that there was a bride with her bachelorette party attending who wasn't afraid to dish out dirt and give the crew great material. Better yet, with $18 buckets of beer (4 beers), the show became funnier as time passed on. We managed to take down 4 buckets between 2 guys and 1 girl (she can drink.) One critique though - I thought the improv was better than the sketches...maybe the writers should get their game up. Great atmosphere, great cast, decently priced booze, good service... [insert good time here] read more

This is a great place to go for date night. The show is not expensive, it is really funny and it's a different show each time. There are certain parts that are scripted, but even those change up depending on the crowd. I love that the venue is small so you feel intimate with the performers. It is also located in a great spot so you could head out for food in the North End... and walking distance for drinks at Faneuil Hall, the financial district or near the Garden. read more

Finally, the out-of-control laughter I was looking for. If you haven't been to ImprovAsylum on Hanover Street, you must go NOW. Bring your friends, family, boss, boyfriend, whoever, but go. Oh, but take the T or your bound to be searching for a parking spot or paying $$$ for a parking garage spot... The cast on Friday's 10 PM show were hilarious and entertaining and the crowd was packed! I enjoyed the sequence of skits: some planned, most involved the crowd, which consisted mostly of MIT freshmen. Makes for a funny show considering all the Asian and freshmen innuendos. They didn't try to tie all of the skits together like at the one in Inman Square. There was a break and there was booze. One poor, innocent, 18-yr-old freshman girl from MIT was completely unfortunate to be on the stage, but it made for a hilarious improv skit. Of course, following the show, me and my girlfriends hung out with some of the Improv cast and their friends. How that happened? Please don't ask... I can't wait to go back! read more

This place was insanely fun (pun intended, unless it pales in comparison to the IA comedy, in which case... nevermind). Seriously, the performers here are all really talented, and even though goofy, campy humor from my friend and I *occasionally* made it into a sketch here and there (hehe), it still blended smoothly enough that we really loved it. I think it's a testament that a bachelorette party, 30 frat guys during rush week, and a bunch of couples can all have a great time here and enjoy the show. The musical numbers that they use to close each act were pretty great. I really liked their tribute to the T sung to Bon Jovi's "Livin on a Prayer." If I still lived in Boston, I would take their improv class, because I think it would be tons of fun. read more

I've been here twice now, and both times have been uniquely different and extremely funny. My last trip with back a few days before Christmas for their Holiday Show. We were fortunate to sit front row, although you will be able to see the stage from any seat in the house. The small environment really forces you to interact with the actors on stage and gets you in a team environment with the audience around you. They have wine/beer that you can bring into the show and it's at a fairly reasonable price. This is a great show with amazing talent and they really do an incredible production every time that I've gone. Also, I stayed after to 10:00PM show and went to Cards Against Humanity at Midnight for free and that was just as good as the first show. read more

I love this place ! I love the group on Sunday night (and Tuesday I think). The show is always fresh and hysterical ! Guess I'm a groupie !! A great night out. Pretty much PG-13+ which I like too - easy to bring Out of Towners to a show. If they could improve their wine selection, THAT would make it a 5-Star Plus experience !! If you want a fun night to out just escape into nonstop humor then Improv Asylum is your go to destination! read more

I love all kinds of comedy clubs but Improv Asylum was my first time watching improv comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed it because a lot of the performances were being made up as they went. You can get drinks in the lobby and bring them in opposed to a waitress coming to you and hassling you about a minimum like most stand-up comedy clubs so I liked that. The bathroom is really small and come show time there will be a long line of people waiting to get in so run in quick. Have dinner at Taranta's next door and head on over to the Improv for a fun date night. read more

It takes a lot for me to drink beer out of a pitcher but it seemed fitting here. That's how I feel about the Improv Asylum. Now that I'm less than 12 hours away from turning the big 2-2 (tutu, hehe), I no longer feel okay asking my friends to come out to dinner for my birthday and then bashfully giggling when everyone "insists" they pay for my dinner. It makes me feel bad. What makes me feel good? Getting drunk in what really could be a basement, with an overpriced pitcher(s) of beer, and admitting to a packed audience that "I'm an office manager... in the industry." Of course it made perfect sense to me but the cast naturally took that and ran with it... and I was pleasantly impressed with how much I was laughing. Looking around, I saw my friends were having just as much of a good time. Relief sets in. I keep downing beers. A racist joke here. A sexual pun there. $15 tickets for college students. A perfect way to spend a Friday night celebrating my birthday. 22 yurrs ago. I'll be back. Midnight show is free if you go to an earlier showing! And we know I'll need to save those dollars to pay for everyone else's admittance into Sissy K's. Because that's what office managers in the industry do when they get drunk. They think they're way wealthier than they really are. End scene. read more

Improv Asylum = great time. I was an Improv virgin and had high hopes for the show and I was not disappointed. I loved the small underground feel of the place. The performers were pretty funny although, as someone else pointed out, a lot of the scenes did not seem too improvised to me. I had a blast, especially the first half of the show which, for some reason, was a lot funnier than the second half. Maybe they fizzled out? Not sure. The only thing that I would recommend is that they dump the kitchy cheap black suit uniform. It was pretty cheesy to say the least. I am really excited to come back for their grand reopening in 6 weeks. In the interim I will keep shopping around for my next improv fix. read more

I love the Improv Asylum! I've been a few times with several different people and everyone always has a good time. I'm always looking for different things to do at night and this is something I know I can always count on to be entertaining. The cast changes, but still always very funny. They do a great job of bringing people on stage to incorporate into skits. That is probably by far my favorite part. Also the bucket of beers is great, and the wine isn't bad either. I bought my tickets on Goldstar for $10 plus the $3.50 service charge, which is also an extra plus because it's extremely cheap! I definitely recommend! read more

What great fun! It was a really nice evening out and I loved the cast. It was as if we were watching SNL in Boston. The Saturday show is half skit/pre-created material and half improv which is a lot of fun. They asked the audience questions and picked on a few in the front row. Quite harmless and a lot of fun. If you've ever been to w comedy show you know you can be a "victim" and you totally could be here. It's in the basement of a cvs which makes for a super cool vibe in their black box style theater. The actors were great. A nice range of comedy and they were mostly spot on. Their funniest skit of the night was basically a take on the real housewives and was HILARIOUS!!! They have a small bar that is a full bar but makes mediocre at best drinks. The bartender was very sweet but it's not a "fancy" type bar at all, just a little space for a few beers while you're watching comedy. Bathrooms were meh ! As to be expected in an improv theater located in the basement of a CVS... Check them out for sure. Great fun!! read more

Eric has been here a few times and decided to drag Valerie along on a date night over the summer with two couples he worked with last year. After snagging a cab in the pouring rain from the Back Bay, we ducked inside to meet the others for the show. First and foremost, there is a bar. The bar is good, although a "bucket" of beer runs you a pretty penny, only contains four beverages, and there is no way they're giving it to you without two people and two valid IDs (not that this is a bad thing...just makes the line at intermission that much longer). During the later show staff also roams (okay, they walk around the small venue) with buckets of beer for sale, sparing the short walk through the venue to the bar area in the outside lounge/lobby. The second point worth mentioning is that this could single-handidly serve as part of one of the most incredible date nights in Boston, with reasonably priced tickets and rush tickets available for those with a college ID.the location is wonderful, being in the North End and within walking distance to great food and pastries (you burn off many calories laughing...we think). There are a few reasons why the Improv Asylum is amazing. Number one, the talent. The people that they put on stage are absolutely hysterical; in fact, they are so funny that oftentimes they make themselves laugh (especially at the late show.) Which brings us to the next piece of amazing-ness - the Midnight Show. The Midnight Show at the Improv is free if you have tickets to one of the earlier shows, and is so worth sticking around. The sketch and improv only gets funnier as the actors indulge in a few beverages. All of these things are amazing...but the most amazing part of the Improv Asylum might be the pasta nights on Wednesdays. The staff from Improv walks next door to one of the fabulous North End eateries and grabs a few trays of pasta, which is absolutely delicious. Get there early, though, as once it's gone, there's no more to be had. The ambiance of the entire place is pretty nice, and what you might expect of a cheaper comedy club. The bathrooms are small and usually draw a line right before shows and at intermission. The seats are wooden, but the show is not incredibly long so you won't be too uncomfortable. Make sure if you're going in a group you get all the tickets at once or arrive at the same time, as it seems like the staff has difficulty in accommidating changes in seating arrangements. Also, if you're not down with being involved, try to stay away from being in the first couple of rows as the cast has no issues with calling out members of the audience. In short...new, different, delicious, and hysterical. Great value for great times. read more

I have been to a Boston improv show before a couple years ago, and I am 99% sure that it was indeed Improv Asylum. I was pulled up onto stage, had a bunch of laughs, and had an awesome time. Last night's show was no different than my first experience. There were a few times my mouth went agape from some of the audience suggestions; to the point that I noticed one person in the audience laughing at my look of shock; but the cast did a really great job thinking on their toes and not relying on overly offensive or disgusting humor to get laughs out of us. I'm pretty sure I have abs now, because I was laughing so hard through the entire show. The show also ended with a recreation of a man's proposal to his girlfriend, and his friend subsequently being completely wrapped up in wrapping paper. Overall, it was a show that was all over the place, and incredibly hilarious. Also, they have a Ryan Reynolds' lookalike actor here. So five stars alone for that! read more

Attending Improv was one of the best evenings I've had in Boston or anywhere else in the states in the past months. Hilarious skits with witty and funny actors. The club is a small, intimate venue where the audience sits around a 360 degree stage. And the best part is that this comedy show is a participatory activity. I reserved my tickets two weeks in advance and was on the front row for a sold out show. Because of our close proximity to the actors, each person in our party was called upon during the course of the show. If you are celebrating something special, you should call the reservations desk to see if the Volunteer package is available. For a small fee, the actors will make up an improv routine about a person in your party. They use your friend's Facebook, Twitter and other social media to develop a one of kind skit. Bottom line: This is a must-do activity for any trip to Boston. read more

For $5 you can beat a deal for some raw and impromptu comedy. First half consisted of a 3 groups competing with a something like a 3 minute act, 2 minute act and 1 minute act. Depending on the teams it could be good or in this case, a tad bit on the yawning side. Wanted to leave at intermission but good thing we stayed because the second half of the act consisted of the more seasoned comedians and turned out to be a funny act. They kind of pick at the crowd to get a topic such as crabs and plate buckling and incorporate an impromptu comedian act. The mc speaker was kind of loud to cause possible hearing problem down the road. They encourage you to hop over to the bar and get a few drinks. Makes the jokes more funny than it really is. Overall not bad for $5. read more

I came here for the "Lost in Boston" show with two other girls. These guys were absolutely hilarious! They know how to play off the audience well. They also offer classes, corporate outings, etc. A plus is that they had a bar. The negative - only a few bathroom stalls for the entire audience during their intermission. You know that's not good, when the men have a line. Another negative.... the poles that are in the way of the stage. If you just so happen to sit in the wrong area, you may or may not be able to see the show. read more

Rotating improv shows with some regulars and some transient performers. They also do business development outtings here. It's funny and creative but not funny in the way people think of when they go to see stand-up comedians. You just have to go in remembering that everything is improvised and these are half actors-half comedians, so you should appreciate their talent as much as their humor. Shows are something like $20 per person. I'd check out their performances more often if the ticket prices were cheaper. read more

This was such a funny show! I had never been so I didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed the cast and the improv. The seats are uncomfortable, but the humor makes up for it. I don't think I could go every weekend, but it's a great alternative to the bars/clubs. The night we went, there was a 14 year old boy celebrating his birthday. I did think he was a bit young to be there, as the humor wasn't exactly "clean". They also embarrased the hell out of a bachelorette; but it was pretty funny as they used some of that material througout the show. read more

Improv, oh Improv....I really thought you were going to be a funnier!! I thought I would be laughing out loud just like all of those improv shows I see on TV! But I think some of the actors here, just tried a little too hard....The jokes just didn't seem to flow quite right...which meant the laughter didn't either. Don't get me wrong. This place is pretty awesome. It is small, and intimate, and right in the north end so you can easily grab some tasty italian dinner or desserts before or after a show which is great. But I definitely think that this place is hit or miss when it comes to the actual shows. So do your research before you go to one, so you can be sure to see a good group of actors, and not ones that just seem to force jokes out of themselves without any thought or reasoning behind them. And I do really like how they try and get the crowd involved, but I actually thought that the crowd would be used a little more, and the whole show overall seemed more scripted and practiced than actual improv, which wasn't really what I was expecting either. But they do have a small bar here and some tables and things, so you can grab a beer after you buy your ticket, and try and drink one during the intermission, but if you are a girl, you won't be able to, because you will be in line in their tiny tiny bathroom the whole time! Man, I hate being a girl sometimes! Definitely a good spot to try out in Boston, and new type of outing to experience too. And they often have discounted shows and tickets so be sure to look into that too!!! read more

I would leave off two stars for the treatment I received from the bartender, but the act was incredibly funny. We reserved tickets in advance, for a low price we were happy with. However, the senior female bartender (I can tell since she assisted the other bartender in checking out IDs) greeted me with rude, uncalled for comment about a blemish on my face. Totally uncalled for, that ax-wound really put a damper on my night. I hope she gets fired and learns a little more respect before getting into customer service. The show, however, was absolutely hilarious. The actors used the audience extensively, but not in an obnoxious way. I loved their reenactment of a bachelorette and her fiance's life together. Good cast, great show, I was sad when it ended. read more

As long as my ass isn't down on that stage, I'm a big fan of the Improv. The Improv is dank, most of the time smelly, but the bucket of beers makes all that go away. I've been once for fun with my sister and another time for a work function. The Improv staff is hysterical and I give them so much credit for doing what they do. It's got to be so hard! Being there for a company 'team building' event is a great idea. You split up into groups, do activities to loosen up a bit and then you all meet back at the theatre and some very, very brave souls get onstage and do their own improv act or two. At times it's funny; at others it's like watching a train wreck, but all in good fun. And you can't beat the location. I heart the North End! read more

Great, creative, and funny shows are played here all week. The House Team shows are kind of hit or miss on the level of comedy, but the main stage shows, sunday show, and the vanity project shows are always the best. They are a very creative bunch of skilled improv actors here. read more

HIL-AR-EEEE-OUS. Seriously I dont understand how people can be this funny. Best show I think I may have ever seen, I was laughing out loud for the full time. I could have sat and listened to these guys all night They get people from the audience to call out some topics and they perform skits based on them. They also have some skits that they planend out by the improv ones they do are definitely better read more

Improv Asylum is the ideal destination for a night out with friends or a date. I have been here about a dozen times so far over the last couple years. Whether you are going to an all improvised show on a weeknight or the main stage show on the weekend you will most certainly have a great time. The improvisation keeps the show fresh and new every time, and I have always left laughing. If you go on a Saturday night, stay for the midnight "Raunch" show--R-rated all improv show. Raunch is my favorite act out of all they do. read more

This place was awesome. It is a good after dinner date spot. The only downside is the beers cost $5 for a bottle and $6 for a draft. They have about 5 different ones to choose from. It can get a little pricey if you grab a few before during and after the show. I'd suggest drinking before hand. The 1st set is 1 hour then 15 min break. Followed by 30 mins more at the end. The people doing it are absolutely hilarious. I am a tough judge when it comes to comedy but I was laughing all night. read more

Pro: IMPROV show is usually fantastic. Supremely funny. Con: gotta cancel at least 24 hrs in advance. Prepare to laugh your brains out. Amazing talent. read more

Looking for a fun night out, this is it. I've been to the Improv Asylum with friends, on dates, and with a group. Its always fun, I always laugh out loud. If your looking to break up your routine or try something different get tickets to a weekend show and follow it up with dessert & drinks in the North End. I've seen families at the earlier shows. The show is always funny without getting inappropriate. I've never been to the midnight show though. read more

A few of my friends and I went here on Saturday for the 5PM show, which is cheaper at $15 a ticket. It was completely worth it and all my friends thought it was worth every dollar. The sketches were hilarious and they involved the crowd quite a bit as well. I would recommend getting two drinks before the show - there is one intermission where you can get more drinks, they don't allow you to buy during the show. read more

It was My first time at improv, and this show was amazing! It was absolutely hilarious and a good way to take my two friends from back home out for a fun night. read more