Switch to the
mobile version
of this page.
Latest issue
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
RSS
The Daily Reader, Early Warnings, and Food & Drink e-mails
Mobile
Username
View Profile
Edit Profile
Log Out
Log in
Create Account
The Chicago Reader
City Life
News & Politics
Columns
Music
Arts & Culture
Film
Food & Drink
Events
Ads
Browse
How to place classified ads
Browse News & Politics
Features
Maya Dukmasova
Cannabis
The Ben Joravsky Show
Chicago: Queer & Now podcast
Browse Music
Features
Chicagoans of Note
Gossip Wolf
The Listener
Secret History of Chicago Music
Music Reviews
Best Chicago albums of the 2010s
Bull Horn (paid sponsored content)
Early Warnings
Full music listings
Online events
Browse Film
Features
Movie reviews
Index of older long reviews
Small screen
Film archive: short reviews
This week’s movies of note
Movies of note: new reviews
Featured movie theaters
Browse Arts & Culture
Features
Recommended
Theater reviews
Art reviews
Ghost Light (news & notes)
Theater & Performance listings
Dance listings
Art listings
Improv/Sketch listings
Online events
Browse Food & Drink
Features
Mike Sula
Recommended
Reviews
Sommelier Series (paid sponsored content)
Cannabis
Events
Browse City Life
Community
The Mental Health Issue
Public Service Announcement
The Sex Issue
Shop Local
Sightseeing
Street View
Browse Columns
John Greenfield: On Transportation
Deanna Isaacs: On Culture
Ben Joravsky: On Politics
The Ben Joravsky Show
Chicago: Queer & Now podcast
Dan Savage: Savage Love
Opinion
Browse Ads
Classifieds
Matches
How to advertise
Display advertising information
Classified advertising information
Submit a free Matches ad
Browse Events
Online events
Full event listings
Reader events
Recommended today
Recommended this weekend
This week’s movies of note
Early Warnings (Music)
Full music listings
Theater & Performance listings
Dance listings
Improv/Sketch listings
Art listings
Lit & Lectures listings
Food & Drink events
Cannabis events
Parties
Other stuff
Chicago Reader Book Club
TixReader: Buy tickets
Best of Chicago
Online events
Early Warnings
Podcasts
Articles
Issues
Find a paper
Giveaways
Store
Book Club
Donate
Articles
Clear Filters
Filters
Recommended
close
Categories
Year
Features
Best of Chicago
All Best of Chicago
Arts & Culture
Arts & Entertainment
Best of Chicago Ballot
Buy Local
Cannabis
City Life
Credits
Food & Drink
Goods & Services
Introduction
Music & Nightlife
Reasons to love Chicago
Sports & Recreation
News & Politics
All News & Politics
Back Room Deal
Cannabis
Comics Feature
Culture
Essay
Fall Preview
Feature
Media
News
News Analysis
Our Town
Podcasts
Politics
Reader Investigative Reports
Sports
City Life
All City Life
Comics Feature
Community
Feature
Feral Citizen
Holiday Gift Guide
Pets Issue
Public Service Announcement
Shop Local
Sightseeing
Stay at Home
Staycation
Street View
Windy Citizens
Columns & Opinion
All Columns & Opinion
Identity & Culture
On Culture
On Media
On Politics
On Transportation
Opinion
Savage Love
Staff notes
To Be Blunt
Food & Drink
All Food & Drink
Bar Review
Cooking with Cannabis
Fall Preview
Food & Drink Feature
Food, Drink, and Cannabis Issue
Key Ingredient
Restaurant Review
Film
All Film
Fall Preview
Film Issue
Flopcorn
Movie Feature
Movie Review
Small Screen
Arts & Culture
All Arts & Culture
Architecture
Art Feature
Art Review
Book Review
Book Swap
Books and Comics Issue
Books Issue
Calendar
Comedy
Comics
Dance
Fall Preview
Fall Theater and Dance
Fashion
Feature
Festival
Fiction
Flash Fiction
Ghost Light
History
Holiday Events
Lit Feature
New Year's Eve
Performing Arts Feature
Performing Arts Review
Prairie Pothole
Pride 2019
Pride 2020
Spring Theater and Dance
Theater Preview
Theater Review
Travel
Valentine's Day
Winter Theater and Dance
Music
All Music
Chicagoans of Note
Concert Preview
Fall Preview
Gig Poster of the Week
Gossip Wolf
In Rotation
Music Feature
Music Review
Pitchfork
The Block Beat
The Listener
The Secret History of Chicago Music
Reader
All Reader
About
Announcements
Cannabis Conversations (paid sponsored content)
Classified advertising
Digital Editions
Matches
Press releases
Reader events
Reader partners
All Reader partners
AAXLL Supply Co
Aeriz (paid sponsored content)
Camelot Illinois (paid sponsored content)
Chi High Tours (paid sponsored content)
Chicago Votes (paid sponsored content)
Corvelay Media Inc.
David Jay Collins (paid sponsored content)
Early to Bed (paid sponsored content)
Fufluns Foods (paid sponsored content)
Google Fiber Webpass (paid sponsored content)
GTI (paid sponsored content)
Invictus Media Group (paid sponsored content)
Jane Addams Resource Corporation (paid sponsored content)
Lalamove (paid sponsored content)
Leafwell (paid sponsored content)
Lyft (paid sponsored content)
Merlot (paid sponsored content)
Nature’s Care Company (paid sponsored content)
NeuroMedici (paid sponsored content)
Paradise Media (paid sponsored content)
Poetry Foundation (paid sponsored content)
Reader: Planned Parenthood Illinois (paid sponsored content)
Red Bull (paid sponsored content)
SocialWorks (paid sponsored content)
Steve Allen Media (paid sponsored content)
Tequila Herradura (paid sponsored content)
The Chicago FoodCultura Clarion
The Foley Food and Wine Society (paid sponsored content)
The Lytle House (paid sponsored content)
Tulip Tree Gardens (paid sponsored content)
Venteux (paid sponsored content)
Verma Media (paid sponsored content)
Windy City Times
Other Stuff
Blogs
close
Categories
Year
Features
Issue.Year
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
close
Categories
Year
Features
Features
Recommended
Member Picks
Slideshow
Video
Audio
Critics' Picks
Readers' Poll
Image
Sponsored
Gallery - User Submitted
close
Sort by:
Most Recent
Top Viewed
Number of Comments
Relevance
Loading...
13 results
Arts & Culture
,
Comedy
Dec 17, 2019
Nine places for laughs in 2019 (and beyond)
Because every year we seem to need more and more comedic relief.
By Brianna Wellen
Tags:
Comedy
,
Year in Review 2019
,
comedy
,
Arts & Culture Club
,
Cupcake Comedy Cabaret
,
Gallery Cabaret
,
Just Us Gals
,
Sleeping Village
,
Las Locas Comedy
,
Dstrkt Bar and Grill
,
Low Key Karaoke
,
Northside Bar & Grill
,
The Missy
,
Boxcar
,
The Paper Machete
,
Green Mill
,
Strip Joker
,
Mary's Attic
,
Toasted
,
Comedy Clubhouse
Arts & Culture
,
Theater Review
Dec 10, 2019
Bette: Xmas at the Continental Baths
features hot pipes, but tepid banter
Hell in a Handbag's Midler revue is middling.
By Marissa Oberlander
Tags:
Theater Review
,
Bette Xmas at the Continental Baths
,
Hell in a Handbag
,
Mary's Attic
,
Caitlin Jackson
,
David Cerda
,
Marc Lewallen
,
Tommy Ross
,
Bette Midler
Arts & Culture
,
Theater Review
Dec 3, 2019
Recommended
The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes—Holiday Edition, Vol. 2
adds some sweet dirty fun to the holidays
Hell in a Handbag's franchise decks the halls with campy good feelings.
By Kerry Reid
Tags:
Theater Review
,
The Golden Girls The Lost Episodes
,
Hell in a Handbag
,
Mary's Attic
,
David Cerda
,
Ed Jones
,
Grant Drager
,
Ryan Oates
,
Stevie Love
,
Recommended
Arts & Culture
,
Theater Review
Oct 9, 2019
Recommended
The Facts of Life—Satan's School for Girls
provides a Halloween showcase
Hell in a Handbag's spoof of Mrs. Garrett and
21 Jump Street
is far from a drag.
By Dan Jakes
Tags:
Theater Review
,
The Facts of Life Satan's School for Girls
,
Hell in a Handbag
,
Mary's Attic
,
David Cerda
,
Andrew Milliken
,
Ed Jones
,
Madison Smith
,
Alexa Castelvecchi
,
Katy Campbell
,
Graham Heacock
,
Gregory Graham
,
Recommended
Arts & Culture
,
Theater Review
Sep 27, 2018
The Artificial Jungle
pays tribute to Charles Ludlam, the patron saint of queer comedy
The campy caper is such a throwback, it borders on family-friendly.
By Dan Jakes
Tags:
Theater Review
,
The Artificial Jungle
,
Hell in a Handbag
,
Stage 773
,
Charles Ludlam
,
David Lipscutz
,
Sydney Genco
,
Ed Jones
,
Shade Murray
,
queer
,
comedy
,
Lanky Yankee Puppet Co.
,
campy
,
Mary's Attic
,
camp
Blogs
,
Bleader
Jan 3, 2017
Bowie Ball celebrates the Starman’s 70th birthday, and more things to do in Chicago this week
Soup & Bread, 50 First Jokes, Smudged Lipstick Revue, and more happenings from January 3-5
By Brianna Wellen
Tags:
Arts
,
Do This
,
Pure Disgust
,
ChiTown Futbol
,
Tuesday Funk
,
Hopleaf
,
50 First Jokes
,
North Bar
,
Soup & Bread
,
Hideout
,
Hug It Out
,
Annoyance Theatre
,
Detention Hall
,
Tim Lapetino
,
57th Street Books
,
Art of Atari
,
Bowie Ball
,
Berlin
,
Sudged Lipstick Revue
,
Mary's Attic
Blogs
,
Bleader
Dec 16, 2013
Reader
's Agenda Mon 12/16:
The 12 Steps of Christmas
,
The Nutcracker Nightmare
, and Red Fang
What's on the
Reader
's Agenda for Monday, December 16
By Jillian Sandler
Tags:
Do This
,
Arts
,
Steve Mosqueda
,
Sean Benjamin
,
Drinking & Writing
,
The 12 Steps of Christmas
,
Christmas
,
Half Acre Tap Room
,
Strangeloop Theatre
,
The Nutcracker Nightmare
,
Mary's Attic
,
Red Fang
,
Logan Square Auditorium
,
Whales and Leeches
,
Cancer Bats
,
the Shrine
,
Radkey
Blogs
,
Bleader
Nov 16, 2013
Reader
's Agenda Sat 11/16:
Mystery Science Theater 3000
25th Anniversary, Break Out!, and
You're Being Ridiculous
What's on the
Reader
's Agenda for Saturday, November 16
By Jillian Sandler
Tags:
Do This
,
Arts
,
Mystery Science Theater 3000
,
Joel Hodgson
,
Trace Beaulieu
,
Frank Conniff
,
J. Elvis Weinstein
,
Museum of Broadcast Communications
,
Chicago Dancemakers Forum
,
Museum of Contemporary Art
,
Break Out!
,
You're Being Ridiculous
,
Jeremy Owens
,
Mary's Attic
Blogs
,
Bleader
Oct 12, 2012
Sunday in the Park With George
and midnight with zombies: new performing arts reviews
Fresh reviews from
Reader
critics
By Meg Pier
Tags:
Theater
,
Arts
,
Comedy
,
Dance
,
Boobs of the Dead: A Walking Dead Burlesque
,
Gorilla Tango
,
Scarrie
,
Hell in a Handbag
,
Mary's Attic
,
Splatter Theater
,
Annoyance
,
The Death of Life
,
WildClaw
,
Storefront
,
Frankenstein
,
City Lit
,
Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom
,
Strawdog
,
Nightmares on Lincoln Avenue
,
Conservatory
,
Sonday in the Park With George
,
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
,
The Great Fire: A Traveling Truck Show
,
Making Noise Quietly
,
Steep
,
The Amen Corner
,
ETA Creative Arts Foundation
,
Black n Blue Boys/Broken Men
,
Goodman
,
Unnatural Spaces
,
Guld Literary Complex
,
Catholic Repertory
,
American Theater Company
,
44 Plays for 44 Presidents
,
Neo-Futurists
,
Happiness
,
Alluvium Group
,
Oracle
,
The Mistakes Madeline Made
,
LiveWire
,
Greenhouse
,
One Name Only
,
Black Ensemble
,
Ruby Wilder
,
Tympanic
,
Teatro Luna
,
Luna Negra Dance Theater
Blogs
,
Bleader
Sep 14, 2012
"Goofball perfection" to emotion-killing monologues: this week's performing arts reviews
Fresh performing arts reviews by
Reader
critics
By Meg Pier
Tags:
Theater
,
Arts
,
Comedy
,
Dance
,
Iron Stag King
,
After
,
Profiles Theatre
,
Chopin Theatre
,
Annee Pocalypse
,
Mary's Attic
,
Blagojevich
,
A Class Act
,
Athenaeum Theatre
,
Theater Wit
,
Commedia King John
,
Den Theatre
,
Illegal Use of Hands
,
Victory Gardens Theater
,
Impenetrable
,
The Last Five Years
,
The North Star
,
Once Upon a Rom Com
,
Chemically Imbalanced Comedy
,
Gorilla Tango Theatre
,
Shakespeare's Female Women
,
Skokie Theatre
,
Six Dead Queens
,
Greenhouse Theater
,
Spirits to Enforce
,
Studio BE
,
Voices of Strength
,
Columbia College Dance Center
Blogs
,
Bleader
Jul 31, 2009
Women in Comedy I: Stand-up
By Ryan Hubbard
Tags:
Onstage
,
Performing Arts
,
Comedy
,
Arts
,
Zanies
,
Zanies St. Charles
,
Pheasant Run Resort
,
Jokes & Notes
,
Hamburger Mary's
,
Mary's Attic
,
the Improv
,
iO
,
Patti Vasquez
,
Vanessa Fraction
,
Cameron Esposito
,
Mary Lindsey
,
Cyndi Neslon
,
Stefani Jerard
,
women in comedy
,
female comedians
,
female stand-ups
,
Just for Laughs Chicago
Blogs
,
Bleader
Apr 16, 2009
New reviews
Fresh theater, comedy, and dance criticism from the Reader.
By Tony Adler
Tags:
Performing Arts
,
Onstage
,
Arts
,
iO
,
Museum of Contemporary Art
,
Goodman Theatre
,
Stage Left Theatre
,
Links Hall
,
Collaboraction
,
Sketchbook Festival
,
Hydrate
,
The Side Project
,
A Red Orchid Theatre
,
Mary's Attic
,
Striding Lion
,
The Galaxie
,
Theatre Seven of Chicago
,
Marisa Wegrzyn
,
The Typographer's Dream
,
Fifth Floor Productions
,
Greenhouse Theater
,
ETA Creative Arts Foundation
,
Disciples of Clyde
,
Cornservatory
,
Cupola Bobber
,
Compagnie Marie Chouinard
,
Gift Theatre
,
Bare Boned Theatre
,
Long Pork
Blogs
,
Bleader
Mar 19, 2009
Bailiwick's new bailiwick
After giving up its Belmont Avenue home, Bailiwick Repertory is back.
By Deanna Isaacs
Tags:
Performing Arts
,
Onstage
,
Arts
,
Bailiwick Repertory
,
David Zak
,
Bombs Away
,
Dr. Sex
,
Mary's Attic
,
Larry Bortniker
,
Sally Deering
Browse by Issue
Other Searches
Events
Location Guide
Member Search
Movie Showtimes
Movie Reviews
Article Archives
Issue Archives
Slideshows
Comments
Videos
Images
Best of Chicago
About the
Chicago Reader
Reader
Staff
Reader
Careers
Freelancing Info
Contact Us
Advertising information
Distribution Locations Map
Reader
Subscriptions/Back Issues
Reprints
Podcasts
Chicago Reader Book Club
Upcoming
Reader
events
TixReader: Buy event tickets
Store
Support the
Reader
: Become a member
Make a donation
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2021 Chicago Reader
Powered by
Foundation