  |
||
|
Stand and Deliver In a town full of improv and temptations to move elsewhere,the stand-up scene still has its stars By Glenn Jeffers | TRIBUNE REPORTER "In recent years, the scene has developed a number of skilled funnymen and women, as well as venues that have become institutions in their own right. The celebrated Zanies on North Wells Street is Chicago's only full-time club, doing business across the street from Second City and with sister clubs in St. Charles and Vernon Hills. And young comics have for years relied on rooms -- venues that host comedy, like the Lincoln Lodge and Tony Sam's Chicago Underground Comedy. Though the rooms are small, comics can hone their craft and perform several nights a week by hopping from room to room. The most popular rooms are still the Lincoln Lodge, which offers shows on Fridays and Saturdays, and Chicago Underground Comedy, now on Tuesday nights at the Beat Kitchen in Roscoe Village... Chicago Underground, now without Sam (he moved to L.A.), is more of a showcase for the new "room-to-room" comics like Brady Novak, Brendan McGowan and Fay Canale. Though the room's a little bigger than the Lodge, the show still carries the same hangout vibe back when Sam ran it out of Gunther Murphy's. Comics do their sets, then knock back a few and talk shop in the bar. Thank Dan Telfer and Elizabeth McQuern, the show's new producers, for keeping that vibe. The two have retained several local comics by sticking to a tried-and-true philosophy: Give them whatever they want, from extra time to letting them play music on stage. "We want them to feel spoiled," says Telfer, 29, of Evanston.
 Chicago Underground Comedy stands on top of the list of the highly recommended comedy shows to see in Chicago. Click here to read the feature article. They also name lots of the ChUC performers as comics to watch for!(May 2007)
Chicago Underground Comedy was a Critic's Choice and is highly recommended by the Chicago Reader. View the Critic's Choice and The List  View The Columbia Chronicle article(2006) about Chicago Underground Comedy, and it's role in Chicago's comedy scene.  Click here to read the feature article in The Real Chicago magazine. (March/April 2007)
"We wrote a story about this very scene several weeks ago(Stand and Deliver), and to show how much we're on the curve, here's a new showcase of such talent that's scheduled to be on display every week." --Allan Johnson 2005 The Tribune's Allan Johnson Talks about the State of Stand-up in Chicago 
|
||
|
|
||
|
View the Chicago Social article. The article was featured in the January 2007 issue, and highlighted Chicago's growing stand-up scene. The article recommends the show, and highlights ChUC comedians Robert Buscemi, Tony Sam, and Mike Bridenstine. |
||
|
(April 20th-27th, 2006) "One of the more reliable nights of stand-up in the city, the Underground usually has the top local comic's putting their best stuff out there."--TimeOut Chicago Read the Comic Pick's featuring show co-creator, Brooke VanPoppelen. Read the November 17th 2005 Mini-Review. Read the December 6th 2006 Funny Business coverage of ChUC's move from Gunther Murphy's to their new home at the Beat Kitchen. Read the December 27th 2006 "Best of 2006" most memorable jokes article by Comedy Editor, Steve Heisler. Jokes are included from cast members and Chicago favorites, Ken Barnard, Jared Logan, Kumail Nanjiani, Tony Sam, Mike Bridenstine and Robert Buscemi. |
||
|
|
||
|
||
|
York Community High School presents, Laugh For Life  9/18/05
August 24-26th, 2005 Event, Laughing at Lunchtime, a Buffet of Comedy has been selected as a Chicago Reader Critic's Choice for the week of August 19th
"Working with Chicago Underground Comedy has been awesome. Their cooperation with the press and promotional assistance helped us sell out their show. They brought us a show that was not only polished and professional, but fall-off-your-barstool funny. We can’t wait to bring them back to Jokers... I only hope we can book them again before they get too famous for us to afford!" |
||
"Don’t Miss!"
"Best Bet for Entertainment"
Read 
“…you really outdid yourself with the raffle prizes. You had some really great stuff … you have a great relationship with Gunther Murphy’s and the other businesses in the area. Getting the food and location donated is something that many event organizers can’t do and it makes a huge difference in your bottom line. All in all, I was impressed and am very grateful that you chose the Leukemia Research Foundation to benefit from your fundraising event. I think that it is a wonderful tribute to your grandfather, someone who you lost to this terrible disease and you obviously loved him very much. I think that when life hands you something so awful, the two best things to do are to laugh and make a difference…(you and The Chicago Underground) did both! Thanks Again.” 
