I've seen this group perform 3-4 times now on Sunday mornings through Story Hour Improv- both at the Aubergine space across from the Willy Street Co-op market, and also in Verona at a gorgeous space called Art House 360. Four actors plus a fab musician on keyboards co-create a marvelous- and so funny- improv show for kids, all ages but perhaps geared towards the 3-8 age crowd. The parents and sibs love it, too- lots of laughing and applause. The performance spaces are nice and open and the performers have room to move, incorporate some props, include the audience members. Really talented crew each time. So fun. At Art House there are treats for purchase, comfy seats, and loads of space to move around and explore, if your kid gets extra-wiggly. Aubergine is a lovely space, too. Great acoustics, very bright and welcoming. Tickets are only $6, so it makes for a very reasonably priced Sunday morning family outing! Highly recommend. read more

See all

We had wanted to see their show since we first learned about them right before covid. We never did get over to the Glass Nickel for a show but we saw they were performing at the Fete de Marquette so we made sure to go. I am guessing this was not their regular show but a shortened version since they were doing three different performances at the festival on this evening. The troupe was quite funny. Of course improv can be hit or miss especially when trying to engage with a big crowd that was moving in and out of the tent (many were in the tent avoiding the rain). We definitely had a many good laughs. We now plan to go to one of their regular shows. read more

Monkey Business Institute - Stage at La Fete de Marquette - Performing Arts Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I am surprised more people haven't reviewed this show. I attended the all ages show a few weekends ago with my two children (7 and 9) along with a few coworkers and their kids. We purchased tickets ahead of time which was good because it was a sold out show. The venue is interesting (basement of Glass Nickel Pizza), it was small so space was very limited. I suggest arriving early so you can order something to eat and a drink. They do have a full bar in the basement during the show as well. My kids LOVED it. They had a few different acts, and each time they asked for either an idea from the audience or had a few people (kids) come up and help in the act. My son was super excited to be picked for the last act of the night. Most of the skits were hilarious, but there was one or two that was more funny for the adults as my kids were too young to catch on to why it was funny. We plan to be back! read more

Pretty great show, especially for the price! I recommend getting there early. There were two of us and we got there when the doors opened so we had a 2 top table to ourselves. Many others had to share larger tables with other people. It's improv, so by definition, you never know what you'll get. I greatly enjoyed the comedians. Some of the "skits"/games/sets went on too long, and the host should have ended it as they just weren't going anywhere. Overall, I would definitely recommend!! read more

Hubby and I were looking for something different to do while in town this weekend and he came up with this. The Improv show at 8p was very funny. It seemed to start out a little slow at first, but quickly picked up speed. Very inexpensive for what you get. Great fun and includes audience participation. You don't need to eat earlier at the Glass Nickle, but you can order downstairs as soon as you sit for the show. read more

I've gone to the shows, I've taken the classes and I've gotten used to the feel of a solid belly laugh. If you're looking to switch things up on a Saturday night, head on down to the Glass Nickel on Atwood and catch yourself some improv. The MBI troupe is a mish-mash of top notch talent offering both family friendly and late night shows. The downstairs setting at Glass Nickel for the shows is intimate and prime for getting you slightly out of your comfort zone. The beer you can down during it also helps with that too. And when you're done watching one of the shows, get on stage yourself as you consider dabbling in the variety of classes they offer. The classes are a bit pricey but they're more than willing to accommodate with multiple payment options. Both Brad and Jason are fabulous teachers, devoted to taking the intimidation out of improv comedy one awkward audience recommendation at a time. I'm now in the process of completing level 4 (they have 5 core level classes) and am considering signing up for the music special topics class this summer. I didn't think I could get any more hilarious than I was but surprise, surprise.* *Classes do not teach humility. read more

Rain in the summer with a visiting kid in town... what to do...what to do... AH HA! This was a fun, affordable, Saturday night activity that was kid appropriate. Win!! In the basement of Glass Nickel Pizza every Saturday night there are two comedy shows: an hour long (family friendly) show at 5:30pm or an hour-and-a-half adult show at 8pm. I bought tickets to the family show ($6/person) the night before and I'm glad I did. People were getting turned away at the door because they were sold out. The performers were lively and engaging, drawing kids up on stage to participate in the scenes. Almost everyone there had a kid with them so if you're going out for "date-night" perhaps the later show is going to be more your scene. Seating is at restaurant tables, a host will seat you (we got there about 15 min early and were one of the last groups to arrive). You can order Glass Nickel pizza / drinks and eat during the show or proceed upstairs to eat afterwards (which is what we did with no wait , no problem). All in all, it was a hit with the visiting 12 year old kid and the resident 30-something Mister which made it a success all around. read more

This was an entertaining show! A couple of the later scenes drug on a little, but overall it was a good show. The cast was great and did some amazing things. You definitely want to make a reservation as the venue is tiny. read more

I intended to take my two kids to the family show at 5:30 and bought tickets online and printed them off. I spent the day with the kids at Devil's Lake and then we rushed back to Madison to be on time for the show. We arrived at 5:25 -- five minutes early, and were told that our seats had been sold because we weren't early enough. I wrote the manager who explained that the company is very concerned that customers who arrive at the door without tickets get the chance to attend. Update: I feel better about this business now that the manager has been more responsive by email. I think he is a pretty good business guy actually. Even though I was really annoyed, as a customer, at least he sticks by his product, listens, and is polite on email. But folks should know that this is practice will continue and be warned. And responsive as he was, the manager seems to think this policy of selling seats that are already paid for before the show starts is OK practice. read more

A few of my friends decided to go to the late improv show on Saturday night at Glass Nickel on Atwood. One of my favorite shows is "Whose Line is it Anyway", some of the Improv games were ones that are done on that show. The show was pretty entertaining, I like that they use audience suggestions and just go with it. The host of the show was a little annoying to me (not sure if it's always the same host) I felt that he was trying too hard to be funny. We also had someone from the band VO5 play the keyboard, so there was a lot of imprvo songs which was cool. As someone else commented, some of the acts do get a little drawn out. I would go back to another show, something fun to do on a Saturday night that is reasonably priced (especially during winter!). read more

This was a painful evening. When actor/comedians are expecting to riff off of an idea it certainly helps that they have a smattering of knowledge about things. For example, it's awfully tough to make a subject like alchemy funny when you clearly don't know what alchemy is. Out of the 4 performers, I couldn't see a single member with any talent for improvisation at all. The chuckling and occasional guffaw that came from the audience has to have been attributable to public drunkenness, either that or the troupe had relatives in the audience. I was shocked to see that Monkey Business actually conducts classes on improv. I think that maybe they should consider taking some classes from say Second City who actually can do this kind of of comedy. If they have in fact taken some classes and the performance I saw last night is what resulted, it's best they don't quit their day jobs. 10/23/13 As an addendum, I was contacted by a principal of the troupe following my review and given a full refund for both mine and my wife's tickets. I was impressed by his deep humility at the performance as given and was assured it was an "off night' for he and his troupe. These things do happen so I had to apologize for not being able to see for myself a subsequent show explaining I am not from the Madison area and only make a yearly visit. So, don't let my one time experience influence you overtly. When people believe in what they're doing they generally can deliver and can be forgiven for having off days as we all occasionally do. read more

We were in Madison looking for something fun and a bit different to do. Found this show looking at Trip Advisor and Yelp reviews and decided to try it. Improv is not my husband's thing, but he was a trooper and went along with it for me. He said this show did not change his opinion of the genre. I thought it had it's merits. The emcee of the night (Jan 30th), was great. She was warm and engaging with us members of the audience, and was energetic and great at keeping the improvisors on their toes. The group on stage that night was impressive at taking the random ideas thrown their way, displaying verve and wit, and even if the end result wasn't hilarious, it was entertaining. Our biggest beef of the night was with the venue. It should be noted that this venue has no concern for the comfort of their paying guests. We arrived at 7:30 for the 8:00pm show and were escorted to our seats. The "seats" were bar stools, no backs. For an hour and a half show. I asked if there were chairs available with back rests, and was told no. The online ticketing process did not indicate reserved seating, and when we arrived there were still two tables available with chairs with backs, but for some reason the only alternative the guy at the door would offer us were seats at the bar where "you can lean against the bar, that's the best I can do." I'm not looking for pampering or big cushy seats, but they were clearly only concerned with squeezing in as many people as possible without any regard to the barest minimum of comfort, not to mention being inflexible and unconcerned when told someone has a physical concern. And we were packed in; kudos to the servers who had to squeeze in between the patrons (they did an outstanding job, BTW, great service.) Soon after posting this review, I was contacted by the owner of this business who was extremely kind and sincerely apologetic over our less than stellar experience here. He was refreshingly candid over what he thought went wrong with our night here and shared what was being improved. He told me that they had added more seats in an attempt to turn less customers away, but realized that this was not an ideal situation and were reverting to a more spacious seating plan. He then went on to offer us a future comped show AND dinner, which I would have probably taken him up on if we lived in the area. I certainly did not expect to receive a refund for the show we attended, but that is what he did! A class act, for sure! Based on the other reviews here, and the packed house the night of the show we attended, I have a feeling this business was doing okay, and my review could have been dismissed as "you can't please everyone," but clearly he is proud of his business and serious about his customers' satisfaction. read more

Every show I've been to here has been a blast. All of the shows are very different, and I like that they include various levels of performers. Musical improv here is my favorite, but the short form shows are best for those that are new to watching improv (quicker pace and easier to follow). The house blend is also fun, which is stand-up followed my improv based on the standup. Price for what you get is also amazing! read more

This place was pretty cool, went to the ten o'clock show and was pretty packed. We go seats by the bar, which was cool cause i could get a drink easly and not have to wait for a watress. The performs were pretty good, good improvising, about a two hour show with a break in the middle. Good place to take a date or group of friends the get the crowd involved by asking them questions in which they will improvise on which is what going to an improv is. the crowd when i went seemed pretty into it and enjoyed answering the questions. oh ya and got a pie to go. that glass nickle is the boom. read more

I took my family to the family night improv show at glass nickle and we had a wonderful time. It was so much fun, for adults and kids. The venue for the show felt weird at first but, as more people came in the show started, it was all good times! My only complaint is about the patrons. Some other families came and hid out in the back - they clearly did not understand how improv comedy worked. Props to the Monkey Biz folks for getting those people to liven up, participate, and actually enjoy themselves. By the end of the show, even the grumpy anti-social nagging mother (who literally pushed her kindergardener to the stage while she herself, wouldn't volunteer) was laughing and smiling! We're definitely going again! read more

The Monkey Business folks reached out to me, and I had another opportunity to see a show. We had a great time - the players were great (some were former players at ComedySportz), the show was spirited and fast-moving, and the pizza was delish. Thanks to MBI for offering this entertainment to the community! read more

saw a show at the glass nickel as part of a super cool yelp event (i'm told there are many). i was a virgin to all three. cherry (tomato) (sauce) popped hours later, i'm driving home in the afterglow. if u have a chance to catch their saturday night show DO IT! and if u have a chance to volunteer to act out a scene with them, DOUBLE DOG DARE DO IT! i laughed so hard and loved it so much, i'm hooked and MBI is my pimp. read more

This was our first time at Monkey Business. We were entertaining some friends from out of town and were looking for a true Madison experience. This show did not disappoint! The actors were clever and very entertaining. The food was delicious. The drinks were mixed a little strong but still yummy. The only disappointment was that there were drink specials before the show but not during. We were unaware of this until the bill came. Overall, it was a great night out and we will be returning very soon! read more

This is one of the best comedy shows we have been to in Wisconsin! Since its improv you get a different show every time, and the cast is absolutely hilarious! Audience participation is expected and accepted overall pretty well...we had one MC who was great and one who was kind of rude at suggestions he considered to not be what he was looking for, but nothing terrible. You can't beat the price of the show and make sure to get tickets by Wednesday for Saturday shows because they sell out fast, and it's well worth it! Food and drink are available before, during, and after from glass nickel. read more

I've been to at least a half a dozen shows by virtue of living so close and the shows being so affordable. Each one has been different and carried its own unique appeal. Some have been slapstick and ridiculous, others have been heady and introspective. The cast of characters varies as much as the individuals who form the cast. At its worst it has been a good time, at its best it has been every bit as memorable as a great episode of "Whose Line is it Anyway" ... The space is cozy, fitting about 45 of us in a room with the stage up front -- depending on the groups for the evening that can wind up with mixed groups at a table but that has never been a problem in the times I have been there. Their venue has great pizza and fabulous drink specials! (Glass Nickel Pizza) read more

Fantastic group of talented improv-ers! My husband's a big fan of a lot of the performers from some of their other work (in Blame Society productions, etc.) and so I brought him to see some shows as a surprise for his birthday. I sent Monkey Business a message beforehand, and they went out of their way to gather a big group of the performers my husband's familiar with. He was thrilled, and was especially excited to meet the performers as they walked around after the shows to chat with the audience. (We've seen improv in several other cities as we've moved around the country, and no one we've seen spends time with the audience after shows like these guys do.) Several of them knew about the surprise, and came up to wish my husband happy birthday/talk with us a little longer/sit and have a beer with us. So I can't say enough about their hospitality, but I also want to say we had a fantastic time watching the shows! We saw the Grown-up show and a Late-night Long Form show. The earlier show was short form, and was a blast! The performers worked together really well, kept the energy high and the crowd engaged. And we'd definitely recommend their Long Form shows, based on the one we saw. It's a more theatrical style of show, but just as entertaining as the short form games, and you get to see the performers use different improv skills than they use in short form. They did a great job with this one! Thanks so much Monkey Business Institute! We'll be back again next time we're in Madison! read more

Tonight was my first time here. They had 3 shows tonight. They had the family friendly improv, the adult improv, and what was supposed to be the musical improv. I wasn't sure if I needed to buy tickets ahead of time. I neglected to do so for the adult improv and found out this afternoon that they were sold out. I decided to try the musical improv. I bought tickets ahead of time....which ended up being unnecessary bc the place was pretty empty. When we arrived, we sadly found out that the keyboardist couldn't make it so they were trying something different. I'm up for new things, but not for what they had in mind. They decided to try awkward silence as the theme. Well, they nailed it because it got very awkward, especially in the beginning. There were a few funny moments here and there, but I was always wanting more. I was also disappointed that they asked for a suggestion related to something to do on a rainy night at the beginning of the show. Usually improv groups try to incorporate the suggestion throughout the night, but they only incorporated the suggestion once. I would love to try this place again and definitely plan to. They are moving the late show to Friday nights and the next musical improv is on March 30, which I plan to attend. I'm giving this 3 stars bc the venue was great (Glass Nickel Pizza), my turtle cheesecake was AMAZING, the beer was cheap, and improv is hard. I'm hoping I have better luck next time! read more

I went to the 8pm show on Saturday night (8/11/12) with a friend. It was our second time seeing the Monkey Business show. The first time was about a year ago. To start with, we bought our tickets on their website because the first time we went to a show we bought tickets at the door and almost didn't make it in. I would recommend getting there at 7:15 to get your seats and order your food and drinks because it can get busy. The show was fantastic! It was even better than the one we saw before! These people are legit comedy pros. I've seen improv in Chicago and Monkey Business is just as good without the drive. The show moved along pretty fast and it was funny without being "corny" (which I liked). They used a lot of audience suggestions and no matter what we threw at them, they ran with it. I wanted to laugh my butt off and I did. That's why I recommend Monkey Business Institute. read more

We had a blast! Great food, beer specials, quick accurate waitstaff. Excellent improv!

Took the teenagers to the early show. They loved it, I loved it, food was fine (bar food). Lots of younger kids, but it really is the perfect event or teenagers. Generally dinner out with my crew is frustrating, this was a nice night out with no fussing between the kids, so great night for mom! read more

I encountered Monkey Business first through a friend who took their classes. I went to watch her and saw a sign for the shows. I was so excited to find improv shows in Madison! I have been attending shows every several months since. It's always a good time with lots of laughs and tasty food (Glass Nickel). read more

Our family attended our first Monkey Business show on Saturday night, but it definitely won't be our last! What a fun time! My fiance and I took his daughter along to see the 6pm family show. We were laughing so hard our stomachs hurt from the moment the show started. The performers do a wonderful job of getting the audience involved; asking for topic suggestions and audience volunteers. My fiance had the opportunity to join the performers for a skit, and he had a blast! Also, it was very cute watching the child volunteers. When the show was over, my 11-year-old step-daughter was singing "That was A-W-E-S-O-M-E, awesome!" on the way to the car, and asking when we can see the next show. This is a very affordable, amazingly fun option if you are looking for something to do as a family on a Saturday night. You can even order Glass Nickel food and eat it during the show! I definitely recommend this event. Seating opens 45 minutes before the show begins, try to arrive early to get a good seat! read more

Lots of laughs, good food and drinks. Everyone there is friendly and fun. This is a really a great way to spend an evening out!

Monkey Business Institute consistently impresses me beyond words....mainly because I'm laughing too hard to breathe and move air over my larynx. This team is so fresh, funny, talented, quick and smart that it is difficult to keep up at times. If you're looking for a great night out enjoying things like snorting loudly among friends and strangers, wetting your pants a little among friends and strangers, unintentional spit-takes among friends and strangers, soothing your side aches due to laughing and wishing the world had a lot more Monkey Business in it, you need to hightail it to Glass Nickel Pizza. Now. Go. See it. Hurry. MOVE! read more