I havent found many Hidden Gems in St. L yet, but I think we're changing that here.. Maybe?…read more
Okay, you think Comedy and St. Louis - you think Funny Bones, The Helium Club and maybe the Pageant and Fox Theatres
I recommend you add one more to your list, the Improv Room.
Warning: I had received some conflicting info so bear with:
Now first and foremost, I have to explain that this is not your typical standup comic set. These are Improv students (Being taught at ... THE IMPROV ROOM) doing a nice take of "Drew Carey's Improv Ganza" Show (I would say "Who's Line Is it Anyway", but they usually only do one scene per show).
Mind blown yet?
Don't be. Cause you've got an amazing operation here with so MUCH you're not going to realize it, and it's incredible for the cost.
Basically, this is operation is a series of classes, in which you can come in to learn how to do "improv" (ironically, I don't think it's limited to comedy, at least per the website, although that's their specialty).
There are literally three stages in one quaint (Ironically, "out of the way" location, which seems to make it feel safer for parking than you can expect).
It's time to take things out of order: Because of the special fact of the Improv Room.
I will start with the drinks/food:
The food is minimal fare honestly, but that's okay. Sandwiches/Wraps/and Quick Bites. (The good news is that if you're in a show, simply turn on the tea lamp on your table and someone will come to you. My problem was that I picked a lightless table. OOPS on the staff!). {sorry guys; have to take off 1 point since I didn't get to try the food for this error}
The good news was they have bar and a 'Lounge" (of sorts) out front, and the nice young bartendress told me how the building and stages worked (and made a great Vodka Collins beforehand.) and a nice conversation with her about the entire building and company for a while.
And just for warning purposes, the lighting was very dim in the "lounge".. dunno if it was for aesthetic purposes, but it did a very bad job of hiding the "STEPS" up to the stage rooms.. (Yes, i found out the hard way, but held it together)
Anyway, so why do the food first? Because now it's time to talk about the shows. ** and there is some confusion on Yelp and the website (so this will be a "at your own risk" at the moment)
The Shows: Now remember these are mostly improv students, so you're getting some amateurs with a little practice or maybe first timers, so be gentle.
Mondays: You get to watch one of (up to 3) shows of the students doing a scene of some sort (sometimes with audience participation, sometimes without), all of which run about 60 minutes. and then a second "elevated' show with participants who have had more class time. But believe it or not, for you the audience, it's absolutely FREE! Come on, you can't argue that cost, can you?
*NOTE; this is where Yelp and the website differ: The website calendar says they do Monday shows and even have a Monday specific menu, Yelp says it's closed, so if anyone can unconfuse me, please do
* Note: My last attendance was on a Monday show, so I think yelp may be in the wrong here
The keys are the show times; 7:30 and 9:00 PM. Usually you get your choice of one of two shows on each hour process (again, check the calendar for confirmation), and that goes for Thurdsay (fee for the early show, FREE for the late show), Friday (all ticketed/fee-prices) and Saturday (all ticket/fee-prices)
So back to my visit: I managed to find the place in time to make the last bit of the early show (where teams were competing for audience applause) and the late show on a Monday where the featured act was a "LARP" of a Dungeons and Dragons game. (well as much as you can when you're pretending to be doing laundry [audience suggested by the way} as a major quest - final hint: we can say the laundry DIDN'T get done by the end of the scene)
Again, I wasn't expecting professional standup comics, I got stage actors having fun doing unique scenes for laughs. And all at a reasonable price and accommodations.
And looking back through all this. I feel bad that I haven't even mentioned the "Improv classes". Remember how I told you the shows are ticketed and free, and you have to keep asking yourself how do they do them for free?
Think of it as a co-op. Sign up for (I believe) 8 weeks of courses you learn the art of improv (and ironically, I don't think it's all comedy, although I think that's where it's focused) and these free shows are your "tests" along the way.
And just as a warning: I'd minimum age of 16 for attendance, due to potential subject matter, although i don't think they have any rules against kids, and try to keep it reasonably PG+
So go support your young aspiring St. Lou actresses and actors. Go now! Yes now! (but make sure it's a show day!)