Torture of two lovers in front of a red theatre curtain

Neighborhood News: Logan Square’s Lincoln Lodge is the epicenter of Independent Comedy

Torture of two lovers in front of a red theatre curtain

Chicago is the undisputed king of comedy venues, as well as venues to learn and hone the craft of comedy. 

Whether it’s improv, stand-up, or any other form, there’s a place to practice, learn, grow, and get feedback, whether it’s The Second City, the Laugh Factory, Zanies, or IO (formerly Improv Olympics).

For the past 24 years, a small Logan Square comedy group grew up to showcase and nurture top talent at the  Lincoln Lodge Theater, 2040 N. Milwaukee Avenue. As founder Mark Gearymaintains,  they’ve earned their reputation as “The Nation’s Longest Running Independent Comedy Showcase.”

“Producing stand up comedy in a not-for-profit model had never been attempted on a professional scale before so we faced many learning challenges in our early days,” said Geary to Voyage Chicago.  “Convincing not only the community but also the stand-up comedians of the validity and advantages of a non-profit approach took a lot of time and patience.”

“(Mark) really wanted independent comedy to still have a space,” according to a 2020 feature in The Reader. The Lincoln Lodge started as an open mic night at the back of a pancake house (the now- shuttered Lincoln Restaurant,) growing into three theaters, the mainstage ‘Red’ with a capacity of 115 people, ‘Brown’ with 50 people, and ‘Blue’ that seats 40 people. 

The Lincoln Lodge is unique from other clubs. They are a non-profit comedy club with no drink minimum and comedy shows six nights a week.  Their flagship show, The Lincoln Lodge, takes place every Friday and Saturday night and features a mix of national and international headliners, local legends, and Lincoln Lodge alumni. 

The Lincoln Lodge theater and shows are for all ages, though they warn that acts may contain adult-themed material and attendance of minors is at the parents’ discretion.

Their mission is to showcase Chicago’s finest up-and-coming and touring comedians. Over the years, they’ve hosted Amy Schumer (Inside Amy Schumer), Hannibal Burress(Broad City), Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live),T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley), Marc Maron (WTF Podcast), Janeane Garofalo (Saturday Night Live), Natasha Leggero (Last Comic Standing) and Kristen Schaal (Flight of The Conchords). 

In addition to comedy, there’s always something brewing. Take, for example, their monthly ‘Sex and the City’ trivia nights, which promises “to test your knowledge of one of the most iconic shows of all time.”

New Year, New Classes

As they say on their website, “We know everyone has a story. Our classes aren’t just about nailing the punchline; we help you unearth your one-of-a-kind comedic voice. Whether you’re a comedy newbie, simply looking to get out of the house, or are a comic stuck in a joke rut, we’ve got a class for you!”

Beginner’s Luck: Stand-Up Seminary 

The Stand-Up Seminary is a beginner’s foundation course that strives to give prospective performers the confidence and skills they need to begin a career in stand-up comedy or just have some fun trying a new experience.

The weekly 2-hour sessions of this course focus on:

  • Joke structure
  • Development of material
  • Finding an attitude and persona
  • Connecting with an audience
  • Creating a cohesive set

Fem Com is a beginners’ foundation course that strives to give women and non-binary performers the confidence and skills they need to begin a career in stand-up comedy.

Students will spend five weeks in a supportive environment while learning the fundamentals of writing and performing stand-up. 

The class requires no previous stand-up comedy or writing experience and culminates with a live performance of the five minutes of material developed in class. 

The Lincoln Lodge hosts too many events to list here!  For more information and tickets, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago