Chicago takes its improv seriously, and there’s no better proof of that than the Chicago Improv Festival. Now in its 15th year, this weeklong fest features more than 75 acts at ten venues. Here are highlights for each day.
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An all-female trio called the Playboys headline Tuesday’s sole show. They’ll be onstage in the E.T.C. space at Second City (6:30 PM, 1608 N. Wells, $15-$20), where all three members have ties: Kate Duffy used to teach there, Rachael Mason and Susan Messing still do. Naturally, the Playboys can be found on a bill with All Girl Revue from LA.
If seeing her with the Playboys isn’t enough, you can get another helping of Susan Messing on Thursday, in Messing With a Friend, her weekly collaborative show at Annoyance. This time the friend is Mollie Merkel, cohost of the vaudeville-style The Mo Show. (10:30 PM, 4830 N. Broadway, $10-$15).
