It's a great 4pm show but don't believe the shit they tell you about the 12pm show. It's only for the ones they choose. If they don't like you then your not in...they proBable don't like you. read more

This was such a funny show!! My family went in and we were able to reserve a row together for the 10 of us. Great night!!

I did not find this place funny at all. I'm just happy the ticket wasn't that expensive and they at least offer free entrance to the later show of playing some weird word game. The bar is over priced and the jokes were not funny. I felt like it was over rehearsed and the comedians were not really great with any impersonations or accents. I was honestly disappointed... read more

I have a pulse. I do, I swear. And it's not funny. Or clever. Or creative. Or improv. Ok that last one is a partial lie. It's only part improv. A lot (nearly half) of the show was sketch comedy and not improv. And then there is the issue of their go to character was the stereotypical gay guy with a lisp. It can be funny once or twice (and it was mildly amusing the first time), but beyond that it's merely an act of desperation. I went with high hopes, maybe that was my problem. The bar is cool and I'm glad they reopen it at intermission. The set up of the stage is also neat, and I appreciated those aspects of it. But in terms of the comedy being comedic, it was an epic fail. Needless to say, I will not return or advise anyone I know (or don't) to go. read more

This place, man...this place. It's amazing and hilarious, of course. But let me tell you why... 1) It's super sketchy being in the basement of a CVS, which they play up at every show. It starts off ironic, perfect. 2) The owners/founders are absolutely epic and in the Wednesday night shows (which are by far the best, because it's pure improv for the whole night). 3) The skits and music numbers they put together are especially pop culture relative and consistently changing. 4) Half of the people on the house teams (on Tuesday nights) are from local colleges' improv teams, so it's nice to see the new talent throughout Boston. 5) You can embarrass the hell out of your friend on their birthday, anniversary, whatever other special occasion by secretly calling and reserving them the volunteer spot ahead of time. 6) There are often epic group deals and special private show events. I've gotten discount tickets through my college and been to a private show (and certainly loved both, duh). 7) Their videos, broseph. Look them up. Seriously. So if you're in town and want something fun to do, go here. You'll laugh, you might cry if you value Boston too much to make fun of it. But it's certainly fun for all. read more

I enjoyed my stay in Boston for several reasons but this place was not one of them. Although I did enjoy the comedic entertainment, Improv Asylum didn't seem very inviting. The bartender was snobbish and seemed to enjoy cutting off anyone who was trying to have a good time. We felt out of place so we bounced during "intermission". We were upset that this highly recommended place ended up being a disappointment. read more

My first encounter with Improv Asylum was via free tickets and a group outing. Since then, I've begun taking classes as well as attending various shows. The experience is AWESOME!!! It hasn't just helped me with acting, it's helping me with my job and life in general. Basically, it helps me get out of my head and deal with whatever comes my way. And it's incredibly fun. No judgement, no 'failing', lots of laughs. read more

I laughed twice during the whole show, along with the 2 friends I went with. Maybe just an off night, but everyone who was laughing was pretty....umm...inebriated read more

Was just an awful experience when we went. Everyone who worked there was arrogant and uninviting (which is why I was told they would be prior to arriving). The improv was not that enjoyable. read more

Husband and I saw the Friday night main stage show and laughed through the entire thing. We liked that they mixed in some scripted skits along with the improv. Most seats have good views (there are only four rows, in a circle) and there is a bar. The location right near all the North End restaurants makes this place perfect for a date night out. Tickets are a bit pricey but we used a groupon and it was very affordable, so definitely look for a groupon. read more

I want to the Saturday midnight show and had a blast! Best improv I've been to, beats anything I've seen in NYC. Haven't seen the main show, but I will this week. This place does true improv, where they get suggestions from the crowd and run with it, kind of along the lines of "Whose Line is it Anyway?" All beers are $4 during the show, which isn't bad. If you catch the 8:00 or 10:00 P.M show for $20, you get in the midnight show for free. You should definitley take advantage of that, there are plenty of places to eat/drink in . Otherwise the midnight show is $10:00. New York has always been my favorite city by a long shot, but if I keep coming across places like this in Beantown, that may change. read more

I'm a little disappointed in my experience here. My friends and I came for the midnight show and it ended up being very short. While it was entertaining, I was hoping for a full hour at least. The venue is not very cosy for an improv place, but that may just be because its in a big city and probably draws a crowd. I think I need to attend another show before completely writing it off. read more

I've seen great improv, I've seen terrible improv, and this fell somewhere near the middle. The acts felt somewhat rote, like they've done them a million times. I chuckled a few times, but hardly split my sides. I actually dozed off during one of the acts. $20 a ticket is too much to pay for mediocre comedy! read more

This place is hilarious. For a first-time visitor, I didn't know what to expect at all. The show turned out to be amazing. The performers are highly talented, with good voices, and great acting skills, constantly coming up with funny skits that kept me laughing throughout the entire show. They really do take a lot of ideas from the audience and their ability to create on-the-spot humor was very impressive. The first half of the show I went to (12/26/08 10pm), however was somewhat frustrating as there were a row of teens that had too many drinks to withhold their obnoxiousness. Luckily, they were thrown out at intermission. The rest of the was great. Also, extra kudos to the fact that Mike's pastry is only a few blocks away, amazing cannolis. read more

I'll admit I'm spoiled, having seen more talented groups perform in both Chicago and Madison. But if you've never seen improv comedy, the Insane Asylum is a good place to start. Great stop for laughs after dinner and cannoli in the North End. Check Bostix.com for discounted tickets. read more

I took a group of kids to the Made-up Matinee, which I guess was a limited-time run. It was on a Saturday at 11am and it was free! I think they were testing it out to gauge interest, but I'm not sure how long it ran after that. I think Boston needs more shows like this one. It would be great if they brought it back. (Maybe not for free, but as an option for kids). I laughed the whole time and the kids loved it too! The establishment itself was cool: nice waiting area with bathrooms and a bar. I am looking forward to going back for a regular show at night! read more

Really fun night out, no matter who you go with. They love audience participation, so feel free to yell out suggestions. Plus, it's in the North End, which makes it easy to go out to eat afterwards. Sometimes you can get student tickets as well. read more

My fiance took me here on a whim one night after a delicious dinner in the North End, and it was so much fun! I love how intimate the place is, you can't get a bad seat. They have a pretty solid selection of beers too, which is nice to have during the show. The sketches were hilariously well done, both the improv and the practiced sketches left me crying with laughter. The night that we came there happened to be a loud (and very drunk) group of middle aged women who kept yelling out during the show and making complete fools of themselves. It really took away from the show, but I noticed that both during intermission and after the show the staff was speaking to the group telling them how inappropriate it was, which i appreciated. All in all I'd go back in a heartbeat, hopefully to see some new material! read more

Gr8. Came here last week for their Main Stage show for boyfriend's birthday. Printed out tickets ahead of time and went in directly for seating. Had garage ticket validated afterwards for just $3. Amazing show, funny skits, and a good crowd of people. Will surely be back for another 90 minutes of laughing + 10 minute intermission. read more

I have to say, I was really disappointed with the show I went to. The cast spent almost half of the show talking to the THREE separate bachelorette parties that were at the show. Half of the first act was a drawn out interview with one bride-to-be in particular. Not only were the jokes not funny, the show really dragged with the awkward focus on that specific audience member. There were definitely some funny jokes though, but they really have to balance the focus of the show more and not spend 20 minutes on one not-very-funny skit. I wouldn't be surprised if the show was lot better on other nights, but I wasn't impressed enough to give it another shot. read more

General admission but the staff works hard at making seating easy and orderly. I purchased the premium seating which gets you a front row seat. The seats are VERY close together, you're not able to move them so be prepared to touch whomever is next to you. Drinks were not great, at least the one I had, the dirty water. The show was very funny! Combination of Whose Line Is It Anyways and Sat.Night Live. read more

A great place for a group outing. They are hilarious here (i have been brought to tears) and I love the crowd participation. I definitely think it makes the experience even better. No matter how many times I have gone, it is different all the time. I highly recommend the improv asylum for a night out in Boston!! read more

It's really a shame that such a talented and funny cast has to be represented by such a rude, pompous and obnoxious staff. I've been dying to go to the improv asylum for years and finally, this past Saturday I went. I called ahead of time and purchased my tickets over the phone just to be sure. We got there super early just like they told us to and we were the first ones there :) It was raining out and the door staff asked us to wait under the canopy because they were at max capacity waiting for the previous show to exit. We did so happily as others continued to crowd around us. Then they started letting people in but wouldn't allow us and said we had to go to the back of the line...? Are you serious? OK, ok I admit I didn't realize it was assigned seating so that's not as big a deal, but they could have told us that and been nicer seeing that it was the same door staff we greeted when we first arrived. Fine, fine no biggie, so we go down to the bar and I'm so excited! (extreme comedy lover over here!) and literally right when I get in line they announce that it's last call and the bar is closing. Um, we just walked in. So I get to the bartender and she really couldn't be bothered. They treated us like cattle. Look, I'm not asking for them to wipe my ass here and tell me I'm a princess, but at $30 dollars a ticket it would be nice for some kind of friendliness or service, ya know? The show was amazing I laughed so hard. I'm so respectful of these guys, I would not have the balls to do that. But, at one point my friend asked me what one of the performers had said (because his back was towards us) and before I could answer this woman came over and sniped at us to be quit. And seriously, other people around us were talking too and she just came and bitched at us. Every single one of the staff was rude and bitchy and NOT WORTH the show. Sorry to say, the comedy wasn't worth the crap in the beginning and I can catch better or the same laughs elsewhere. Not worth my time and money to go again. read more

You must go here! This is the type of place that can still make you bust a gut laughing, even on the heels of a fight (or "disagreement") with your boyfriend while waiting in line outside to get in. Now THAT'S funny! Highly recommend. read more

First of all... you are all SO talented and I was dying of laughter but Late night sucks. Everyone was so overtired and there was no relation to the audience. Cards against humanity is a great game to play in a group setting but an awful game to play as improv... read more

Awesome way to spend an evening with a date, family (not kids), or friends. Most of the actors are absolutely hilarious so even if you're not a theater-type person, you'll definitely have a good time. I've gone twice the the Mainstage show and had a blast both times. They change up the material so it's never the same twice. The venue itself is awesome. It's a dark basement right in the middle of one of Boston's busiest streets. It's fairly small and intimate, which makes you feel special even though you only paid $15. Spoiler alert they like to poke fun at the fact that they work underneath a CVS. The fact that Improv is conveniently located right on Hanover Street makes it possible for a whole evening out. Dinner and drinks at a nice Italian restaurant beforehand, laugh your ass off at the show, and stop by Mike's Pastry on the way out. ***QUICK TIP*** Purchase your tickets the day of the show at one of the two BosTix booths and get your tickets for half price. You're welcome. read more

No cell service inside. Drink prices are average to high. The show itself was more skit comedy than improve.

Went twice this weekend. This place is well worth the effort. I was lucky to see two different, super talented troupes on back-to-back nights. read more

I really enjoyed this show and the spontaneity of it all! The cast was extremely talented and the laughs were non-stop. The audience participation was well executed but still improvisational and the players really had great chemistry and versatility. Seating is squishy/tight and tix sell out fast, so act if the spirit moves you or you'll be banished to the midnight show...which I actually heard was great because the cast drinks and takes it up a notch, I went to the 10ish show which also entitles you to attend the midnight show for free, but I didn't stay. I would definitely see it again! read more

This place is kind of funny but definitely overrated. Five stars should be reserved for really great places, and there are definitely better places to have a larf than this. On the plus side, it is located near a lot of awesome restaurants, pastry shops and gelato places in the North End. read more

My friend and I decided to go to the Improv Asylum on a whim on a Friday night. Neither of us had ever been to an improv show and we were seriously impressed. We were laughing from start to finish... at least until I shed a tear over a real-life on-stage proposal that the actors had woven into the show . A memorable experience and we are definitely planning on going again! read more

Highly impressed! Most comedy shows that I have been to have crammed tables and two drink minimums, but not this place. There's somewhat stadium seating, and everyone has a great view to the entire stage. You can come and go as you please (of course, in between sets- don't want to be rude) to go to the bar/bathroom and the bartenders are quick to refill a drink- very little wait time in line. I recently went for a date night with the hubs, and I can't wait to go back! The comedians were HILARIOUS! read more

What do you get when you cross Who's Line Is It Anyway with SNL? Improv Asylum. Their shows are a bit of sketch comedy and a bit of Improv. They offer Main Stage shows, special shows (like You're a Good Man, Scott Brown) and Grad Shows. All of which are hilarious! The Main Stage and special shows are around $25 (unless you take classes at IA, then you can go to Main Stage shows for FREE!!) and the Grad Shows performed once every 8 weeks or so are FREE! If you are contemplating taking classes at IA definitely check out a Grad Show! They are hilarious and will give you a good idea of what you can work your way up to. Wondering what Improv is? Well, essentially it is on the fly, non-scripted comedy (sketch is done with a script in mind) and it is usually pretty hilarious. An actor will come out and start with a single line and then the next actor will respond. Each actor usually has a certain character, emotion, or idea in mind of how they want to play the scene and react in that way throughout the scene. The actors in the scene usually have no idea what the other person will say next and many come up with some pretty crazy and hilarious lines. Many of the great actors from SNL and other shows started out in Improv at various Improv studios throughout the country. Amy Poehler, Steve Carrell, and Tina Fey are a few that come to mind. (They started at Second City.) My favorite night of the week is when I take my class at IA. I always leave with a smile on my face and usually end up laughing hysterically throughout the class. You never know what someone will come up with next. The class really helps you with speaking and interacting with new people and helps you to think on your feet. It has helped me to become a better actor and has taught me how to create a character or point of view and stick with that throughout my scene. If you are looking for something different, fun and new I definitely recommend taking a class at IA. Whether you are a seasoned actor or have never been on a stage before, you are guaranteed to have fun and learn something new along the way. I have taken classes with Jeremy, Evan and Kiley and all are fantastic teachers and offer great feedback on your scenes and your progress in the class. read more

The Asylum has quickly become one of my favorite things to do in Boston. Every time I have friends or family visiting its top on my list of suggested activities although truth be told it also serves as an excuse for me to go again. Every show is unique and will have you convulsing with laughter. The fact that its right in the North End known for their Italian restaurants is the making for a ideal night out. read more

This place was pretty great! We went on a whim while on a girls' trip in Boston, and we ended up going back again during our 6-day stay. The first night was a 3-man crew, totally hilarious. The second night had some students doing skits first, then a couple of the other guys also joined in. It started out slower but got pretty funny also. It's a nice semi-small black box type space, and you can buy wine/beer at a bar in the lobby area to carry in with you (limit 2 per person at a time). The overall ticket price is cheap enough that you won't regret going no matter what happens during the show (I think it was around $10; there are also discounts offered if you've visited the Museum of Science and/or did the Duck Tour that launches from that location). If you like improv comedy, I'd definitely recommend it! read more

If you're considering checking out this show, I say do it! I was visiting Boston with a group of friends and we decided to check out the Mainstage show. Let me tell you, it was hilarious, we all had an amazing time. The cast members were all great and it was so awesome and impressive how they were able to quickly take audience words/suggestions and make whole skits out of it. One plus is if you but the mainstage tickets you are given the option of staying to see the midnight performance called Raunch if seats are still available. We had such a good time we stayed for Raunch and were definitely not disappointed. I was sad when the show was over, I wanted more! I definitely recommend coming here if you're in the area. Make sure you order tickets in advance for weekend shows because from the looks of it they sell out quick! read more

Hilarious. A mix of singing, dancing, improv and skits. Very intimate setting with seating on all four sides of the stage. Be ready to be entertained. :) read more

My friend took me here, and I absolutely loved it! I thought it was hysterical, especially since you have no idea what to expect. I would almost rather prefer a show like this, instead of your typical comedy show. The audience is involved, and i loved how everyone was so close to the performers. Definitely recommend this place for anyone! read more

I should preface this review with the fact that I'm pretty obsessed with this place. I'm talkin bi-weekly attendance and going for the 24-hour No Rest for the Wicked charity event for 23 hours. Yeah, it's gross. I think I've brought about 20 different people here over the past couple years, and everyone--including my friend's mom--has loved it. The cast members have great chemistry-I love when they laugh at each other's jokes. Plus, offstage, they're incredibly down to earth which has spurred a couple little girl crushes on my and my friends' part. (ack) They're also really conscious about students, which is awesome. Always go online to order your tickets and take advantage of the 2-for-1 student deal. They also have student nights occasionally, where you get in for free if you wear your college t-shirt :] The only thing even slightly negative I can say about IA is that I miss the good ol' days when only a couple sections would fill up and tickets werent a fortune; everything seemed more intimate and thus more funny. But I digress! Go there! Or don't, so I can have it to myself. p.s. I met Dave "Uncle Joey" Coulier here win. read more

This was really fun. And I'm usually quite the critic. It was so funny that I kept thinking about the scenes and jokes for a few days afterwards! read more