No TV at the dinner table!” is what most kids hear every night after begging, with a mouthful of mac ‘n’ cheese, to watch the latest must-see dinnertime program. If this sounds familiar, fast forward to Wrigleyville’s Improv Kitchen and break the rules.
At Improv Kitchen, 3419 N. Clark St., each table at the restaurant has its own plasma-screen TV that broadcasts a live improv show while you eat.
“This is not a passive theater experience,” warns cast member Tamara Torok, 26, from the TV screen as the show begins.
Each diner has a front row seat to a hilarious interactive two-part show put on by three actors in a studio next store with a green screen. The actors can hear and see patrons through built-in microphones and a ceiling camera and have no problem giving the audience an enjoyable “bad” time.
Patrons at each table come up with a team name and are notified by the flashing overhead light and anxious cast that it’s their turn to provide information for the game. In one game, “What Happens Next?,” each team adds a usually ridiculous event to the storyline being acted out.
The cast is full of hysterical nostalgic stories. Jennifer Salvant, 29, recalls pretending to be overly made-up Tammy Faye by coloring her face with an orange highlighter. “I had to go the whole rest of the show without knowing if it was there!” she says.
Torok explains the job and shows never get old. “We still crack up and are still shocked,” she says. The same games are always totally different each night.”
For a personalized experience, patrons can bring pictures or DVDs for the actors to incorporate into the show.
The menu has dinner options as well as appetizers and desserts, like delicious homemade ice cream. The bar offers its own TV and a decent variety of wines, beer and martinis.
Shows run Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7, 9, and 11 p.m.; and Saturdays at 7 and 9 p.m. There is a $10 cover charge on weekdays, $12 on weekends. Improv Kitchen is also available for private parties. Call (773) 868-6423 to make a reservation, or log onto www.improvkitchen.com for more information.
– Deena Bustillo
