Hidden gem!! We had a great time. The owner was there and was so friendly and welcoming. Everyone is genuinely happy there, and it comes out in the comedy. Can't wait to go again! read more

Westside Improv - The Westside Improv red ball! - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Wheaton, Illinois

So much fun! We laughed and truly enjoyed ourselves. Love the atmosphere and the owner is so very welcoming and personable. Hats off the groups and individuals who go up and perform the improv. So funny and entertaining. Will be going again and again! read more

Westside Improv is an absolute gem. Hilarious shows, welcoming vibe, and a real sense of community. Whether you're in the audience or taking classes, it's pure fun and creativity. A fantastic night out every time. read more

Westside Improv - Graduation Performance. - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Wheaton, Illinois

I recommend as both an audience member and a class student!!! I'm in level three class now and I've learned so much, about comedy but also about relationships, listening, emotion, being brave, confidence, trying things and more. This place is super fun AND is making me a better person. The teachers work hard and truly care about every person attending class. They know your name and give everyone attention and guidance. Best decision I've made this year As an audience member I attend regularly. It's not as professional as second city but it's fun, creative, goofy and a total blast. Every time is new and off the wall. I would pay twice or what they charge for admission. I have so much respect and appreciation for what this theatre provides. I have so much fun! Thank you Jeff, the other teachers, and every improver who performs. This place continues to grow and innovate. You should check it out for classes and for shows!!! read more

Shout it from the rooftops there is a chance for fun and it's senior citzen affordable! I forgot what fun improv can be, the audience is put in the moment along with the players. I loved the variety of ages in the audience and the willingness to engage. iIt really was a fun communal event. Good size, drink service and just darn fun. Do your dining before and walk over. read more

My sister and I went on a weeknight. Parked in the garage nearby for free. I think tix were $15 each and we bought ahead of time which was good bc they were sold out when we got there. We got there about ten minutes prior to start and got the last row of bar seating which I didn't mind bc no tall ppl in front of me but then ppl kept walking past us which was annoying. There were five acts- all were different skill levels and diff acts, some funnier than others of course. Owner seemed nice and participated too. Overall a good time! read more

Finally tried Westside Improv, what an eye opening experience! I have been to improv many other times. Great entertaining show, wonderful space, and so nice to have in the suburbs. I had no idea what a community it creates with the classes offered throughout the week. An opportunity for self improvement, attentive listening, communication skills, pubic speaking all while laughing, having fun and connect with others for some conquering fears in a safe supportive space. The best part, taking this challenge on at any age, stage in life or background. read more

Came looking to laugh. Super excited to have something 'different' to do on date night. Wanted to love it, but it just wasn't funny, witty, or clever. Would have left half way thru, but I didn't want to be rude. Hoping it was an off night. read more

Saw 5 groups perform on a recent Saturday night. Entertaining throughout. Each group has a slightly different approach or premise for the content they create there on the spot! Lots of great energy from the audience--evident that this is a regular spot for many of them. Canned beer, wine, and cocktails available, but nothing fancy on that front. We didn't eat nearby, but there are tons of good options. Loved the venue. Recently updated interior is simple but clean and inviting. We found street parking and there are lots and a ramp within walking distance. read more

We've been going to Westside for years. Great group of performers. Super funny. Best entertainment value in the Chicagoland area! read more

Westside Improv - Westside Improv - Not Sorry - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Wheaton, Illinois

Chicago is, of course, known as a great improv city. But if you think you have to be in downtown, or pay $40 for a ticket to Second City to see great improv, you're wrong. There is phenomenal improv in the suburbs as well! Jeff Ash, who spent 10+ years with the main cast of Second City in Los Angeles opened his improv club here in Wheaton some years back, and this has turned into an incredible gem tucked away here. My wife and I are big improv fans and we've been to Second City and TheaterSportz and several other well-known places in Chicago, and Westside is right up there with the best. Seriously. So good! They have multiple teams that have developed their own unique twist, from "The Unwritten Works of William Shakespeare" to their musical teams, to their all-men and all-women teams, novices and experienced, but their space, the vibe, and the laughs are consistent and very much worth the trip! For a $12 ticket you will NOT do better. Plus they have classes! I am about to finish a Level 1 class and it was brilliant. Can't want for level 2 to get started. read more

Wife and I found this place based off of reviews while we were in town from Seattle. This was fun entertainment and the low price of $12 definitely worth a night out. When we are back in area we will definitely go again. Highly recommend! read more

OMG! This place is amazing. I've been to a lot of improv - Second City, Annoyance, iO, Bughouse - and, I kid you not, this place is as good as any of those! I've been here to see musical teams (Free Range!) and teams that have a theme (The Unwritten Works of William Shakespeare!) and then different house teams doing different sorts of forms (Rad Uncle!! So funny! Boink! Salt Sisters!) They have classes and their students perform sometimes, and they're kind of hit or miss, but you can tell they're getting well-trained at this theater. Most shows have 3 or 4 teams perform in a night, so even if one team has an off night, others will pick it up and it'll be worth it. Honestly, there is a lot of great improv around here (I mean, it's CHICAGO!), and you can certainly pay a lot more than you will at Westside, but this is some of the best stuff you'll find. I'm an improv snob, so, for real, I wouldn't say this if it weren't true. Their Saturday nights sell out and can be packed, and Fridays usually draw a good crowd (40-50? Which is a good crowd for improv!) Sundays typically are only about 20 people, but the vibe is fun and the tickets are even cheaper! They're regularly only $12 (they seriously should raise their prices. But not too much!!) but on Sundays they're only $10. I mean, come on! It's a great little theater with a chill and excellent vibe. read more

The shows are great, and for the price, you can't beat it! We now have a place to go when we need a good laugh and pick-me-up. I took the Level 1 class and am now bitten by the improv bug. Jeff is a passionate teacher of his craft. His class was thorough, hard work, and a lot of fun. The show at the end sounds intimidating, but Jeff gets the energy going in the room, and when the lights go on, you can't help but play and have fun with all that you've learned to get there. Afterward, we were encouraged to stay and celebrate, again, the community that Jeff created. Most of us are on to Level 2, so thanks to Jeff for bringing us together in this fun and supportive community where we become better humans. He has a Youth Class starting, and after seeing my show, our child is interested in signing up read more

Great entertainment for an extremely affordable price. I always leave in a better mood (and with tears) because the performers are HILARIOUS! read more

Went to Westside Improv in downtown Wheaton and had a great time. The groups were very entertaining.Great value $12 plus they now serve limited drinks out of a can. Great time read more

Great show every time! Excited to see the changes and glad they are growing! Great for a date night or a night out with friends. Buy tickets in advance in the website as shows do sell out. You can tell that Jeff really loves what he's doing and wants to see the players succeed. read more

Westside is the best for improving Wheaton's nightlife! Fun shows every Friday and Saturday. $8 they will take a credit card, plus they are a BYOB studio! I took the beginner's class and had a blast! It was the highlight of my week and helped me when interacting with a variety of people and personalities at work. I'm planning to take the advanced class to refine my newly learned skills, too. The people that come to Westside emulate positivity, joy, acceptance, and excitement for a relaxed, good time. I highly recommend Westside for a night out (shows are family friendly) or a class (kids and adults!). Thanks for sharing your studio with our community, Jeff! read more

Westside Improv is the best. Grab a six pack and come out for a show. You'll have a GREAT time. This place has an amazingly positive vibe, and it's a lot more family friendly than improv studios in the city. Also an OUTSTANDING place to take a class. Owner Jeff Ash teaches the introductory 8-week class with charm, wisdom, and tremendous encouragement. Taking that class was one of the best decisions I ever made, and all my classmates would agree. Do yourself a favor and check out Westside Improv! read more

Such a gem in the suburbs! Live comedic entertainment of the highest caliber. We enjoyed our first visit so much I signed up for a class. A hidden treasure in downtown Wheaton. Great way to spend an evening !! read more

We came on a whim for an improv show. For $5 each, we figured it was worth the cost. It definitely was! There were a few different troups the night we were here. Some were better than others but we had quite a few belly laughs and had a great night overall. I definitely recommend it for a nice Saturday night out. It's something different and a very reasonable price. read more

New space is great. Quality improv shows and classes are fun. There is now drinks being sold at the theatre at reasonable prices. Tickets are also very fairly priced. read more

Gem of a comedy club in Wheaton. Great improv. BYOB makes ordering a drink very easy! We will be going back again

While eating fruit loops, the morning after my first improv show, and reflecting on the last 8 weeks in the beginner's course, I am in awe by how loud my crunching is over my typing. One last bite of my kids' sugary cereal and now, I am ready to sit down and write my review. Dearest Westside Improv, in particular, Jeff & Class, The last eight weeks have been mind-blowing. If I had to put it in one thought, Improv teaches you how to connect with people, whether on stage, on the bus, in a classroom, in a meeting, with your kids, while at the check-out line or in an elevator (awkward silence), or even in the bathroom (maybe keep your connections in the bathroom limited). The last eight weeks have been like therapy (just a lot less expensive and you don't need any insurance card). There isn't a couch, just a dark room with lights and about 12-15 people whom you've never met thinking "Oh sh*t. What have I gotten myself into?" Don't worry, it's not scary, just a little bit (but then again who isn't a little scared trying something for the first time). And just before you decide to slowly slip out the door and call it quits, our awesome teacher, Jeff, pulls us up on stage and we play a little game to get warmed up called red ball. What I truly love about this class was just how much we played. Think the type of play that you did as a kid (minus the tantrums). That kind of play...the creative, imaginative magic that comes when you (as Elsa would say in Frozen) Let it Go...Let it Go...I'm not holding back anymore. You are completely mindful and in-the-moment and there is nothing else like it. You are a kid again. You might be thinking... "I could never do it." The truth is YOU CAN. All you have to do is show up (well, actually sign up and then pay for the class, blah blah blah, then show up). I've learned that life is one big improvisation and all you really need to do is take a breath and take the first step. Thank you for everything. All my best, and then some, Namaste Natalie P.S. Support the arts and go see a show, you'll be laughing so hard, you'll cry. http://westsideimprov.com/ read more

I'm so thankful that there is finally a place in the western suburbs to showcase long form Improv. This place is small, but that just means it's more tightly packed with talent. The prices are great too. This is the exact place you want to go to see a show. Their house teams are very tanlented. read more

I was shocked to find out there was an improv place in Wheaton! This is very bare bones. You need to pay CASH to get in, $5. You can buy a bottle of water for $1. That's all they offer. We went to a show that started at 8pm and got there early, like 7:40 and most people didn't show up until 7:50. It's a big room with chairs and a small stage. We laughed a lot, but I was really cold. We went when it was warm outside too. So I would have given 5 stars, but the temperature at a venue is important to me. read more

Great place. First time here. Great sets of people. Super friendly. Funny af people. It's BYOB.

As a person having confidence issues and social anxiety, I took the Level 1 class after reading a review here that assured me that it would be cheaper and maybe better than therapy (thanks for the tip, Natalie S.). Enrolling was one of the best decisions I've made in my adult life. You will meet and be inspired by amazing, supportive people here. Jeff is a teacher of the highest order. The Friday/Saturday shows are always packed and for good reason. All the performers have million-volt energy and wit. If you have even the slightest thought of trying or seeing improv - do it, and do it here! You will have no regrets. read more

I never came here before and had no expectations. My coworkers recommended to take improv and this was closer to me than Second City or IO in Chicago. So glad I came here! I took the beginners 8 week course and was introduced to 15 awesome people who were so supportive including the teacher and owner Jeff. Every class was so much fun with a ton of laughs and Jeff really knows how to teach. He's super funny and makes the class so much fun always offering such great advice. He also gave us a get-in free card that lets us see any Westside Improv show free for the next 4 months. In such a short time, I noticed myself become less anxious speaking in public and being more vocal at work. I saw my very first live improv show there and it was so cool to see how fast and witty the actors were including Jeff, again bringing so many laughs to the audience. At the end of the class, Jeff strongly suggests all of us to do a graduation show in front of a live audience. At first I didn't want to do it but after the 3rd class, him and my other classmates got me so comfortable I said why not? Fast forward to the graduation show and it was packed with friends and family of the class. We filled the place and Jeff had to turn away non-friends and family that night. Needless to say I was very nervous but in the end we did pretty well. I don't even think there were any sympathy laughs and it was all genuine laughter from the audience. Afterwards you can hear so many people saying their related cast member 'that was awesome!' My friends and daughter thought it was pretty funny and I was so cool for doing improve! It was sooo much fun and went super fast! Jeff and my classmates made me so comfortable I was actually pretty active in the scenes. What's even better is a majority of my classmates hung out after the show and really bonded. Hopefully we'll keep in touch. I now have a place to chill out and get some laughs any Friday or Saturday night. You should definitely watch a show here or better yet take an improve class at Westside! read more

I don't know who said it, and I'm too lazy to look it up, but laughing is good for the soul. One show at Westside Improv leaves my jaw sore for days. Westside Improv is a gem for a million reasons. Here are three: 1. On multiple occasions, while watching a show, I have almost peed in my pants from laughing so hard. 2. It forces you to be present. No one, not even the players know what will happen next. 3. HUGE Deal: It's the best 90 minutes that $8 can buy. Legally, that is. Yes, there 999,997 more reasons to go, which I'd list but Yelp won't give me that much space. Go find your own reasons next weekend! And the weekend after that! And if you need a laugh during the week, or just a humility check, go take a class. I took the Intro to Improv class, and it was a life-changing experience. Cheers to all the swell people who make Westside Improv one of the best reasons to live in Glen Ellyn/ Wheaton area. read more

Great place. Lots of fun. Small, cramped space but it makes it more intimate. BYOB? Are you kidding? Brought a bottle of wine, some plastic cups, and laughed my a** off for ten bucks. read more

Hilarious acts in an intimate environment. So lucky to have this in the burbs. Great for a date night

I love this place! I've been to Westside Improv at least 5 times, and bring a new friend along each time. Everybody is impressed by the shows, the theater is intimate and cozy, street parking is free, and each of the performing troupes are committed to bringing their best! If you're in the mood for a quality unscripted show that keeps you laughing and eager for more, grab a friend and head to Westside. read more

We've been to Westside twice so far and will keep going back. Great time for both shows. I highly recommend it! They will be expanding and adding beer and wine which will be a great addition to the theater. Really looking forward to upcoming shows. read more

Don't just go here on a Friday or Saturday. Get up, take the risk and sign up for a class. That's really where Westside excels...

Who knew Wheaton had top notch improv? Loved it! BYOB!

It was our first time here and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The set we saw had 2 student groups and 2 groups of regular performers. The humor was very witty and I enjoyed the audience interaction. The Dopeyoids were definitely my favorite team of the night! read more

This was my first time here, I had not heard of this place before. My boyfriend and I are trying to visit every comedy club in the Chicagoland area so this is the one I chose last Saturday night. There was a huge crowd - the place was filled! The owner was the kindest and most excited man I've ever met, he was determined to fit us into the place and he did, giving us two front-row seats, last seats in the house. The vibe was friendly and goofy before the show even started and I really did not know what to expect. This was the best comedy venue my boyfriend and I have ever visited, comparing it extremely closely to Second City in Chicago, seriously everyone was so talented I was actually really excited to write this review because I want everyone to know THIS IS the place to go!!! It was seriously great. The owner (I think) should be famous, his improv skills were so impressive I can't believe I had never heard of this place before. REALLY really glad I came here and I'll definitely be back. read more

Great studio, awesome owners, super price and more fun than you'll have anywhere else in Wheaton on a Friday or Saturday night. #shoplocal

Just discovered this hidden gem in Wheaton of all places! $8 well spent on a night of laughs and BYOB. This will quickly become a weekend staple for my husband and I. It's a cozy atmosphere and a well run show. Typically there are 3 troupes that will perform but I suggest a special one hour show be given to the new music troupe who managed to on the fly sing (in tune!) about the goonies/rum island. Seriously a good time! read more