A few weeks ago, on one of the first chilly nights, I sat in the grass wearing a mask and watched my first live comedy show in over six months. It was like a light was reignited in my body and in my face—real laughs from real people! It was clear the audience around me felt it too; even if not all the jokes landed, there was barely a silent moment in the crowd, which spanned from a spacious Logan Square backyard to the boulevard.
Under the state’s Phase 4 reopening plan, outdoor gatherings with adequate social distancing, mask wearing, and surface-disinfecting are allowed, and indoor venues can operate at 50 percent capacity with seats six feet apart, but those that also serve food and drink must operate at 25 percent capacity.
Backyard Sessions by Trigger Warning ComedyEvery second Friday 8 PM, Lakeview, (location disclosed with ticket)
Comedy Pickup10/17-10/31: Sat-Sun 5 PM, various locations, instagram.com/comedypickup, free.
Lincoln Lodge show with Deanna OrtizFri-Sat 8 PM, Lincoln Lodge, 2040 N. Milwaukee, thelincolnlodge.com, $10.
Ms. PatMon 10/19-Thu 10/22, 7 PM, Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, chicago.zanies.com, $35.
Out in the Open MicThrough 10/30, Fri 7 PM, various locations, instagram.com/outintheopenmic, free.
JP SearsSun 10/11: 5, 7, and 9:15 PM, Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, chicago.zanies.com, $40.
Social Distance Comedy with Sarah PerryFri-Sat 7 PM, Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, laughfactory.com/clubs/chicago, $30.
Ollie says the tour has attracted people who might not ordinarily like comedy and makes it accessible to those on their daily outdoor activities. “Part of the issue sometimes with the exposure of stand-up is it seems so mysterious and dark to most people that the idea scares them, but [with Comedy Pickup], people get to come out and have a really good time at something they would never see,” Olle says.
Zanies Comedy Night Club downtown also opened with only 50 seats and a heavy set list of nearly 30 shows for fall. The downtown club opened July 9 and the Rosemont location plans to open October 9, says Bert Haas, executive vice president of Zanies. He admits that booking shows at both clubs has been stressful and some comedians are still wary of performing in person, but he’s excited for several upcoming shows. Highlights include comedian JP Sears, rising stand-up comic Dan LaMorte, Ms. Pat, and the all-Spanish show by Nacho Redondo.
