Slated to open officially on Friday, Up Comedy Club is Second City's new stand-up and comedy-cabaret theater in the former Tony and Tina's Wedding space in Piper's Alley. The venue offers entertainment seven nights a week, along with midweek matinees. The on-site restaurant and bar serves traditional Chicago fare such as Lou Malnati's pizza, Vienna Beef hot dogs, and Eli's cheesecake.
Available for private shows and buyouts, the space has a 285-guest capacity. Classroom-style seating can accommodate 80, 50 guests can sit in a U-Shape, and 100 can sit in a banquet-style setting. There are two levels of cabaret-style seating, and booths include the Ambassador East's historic Booth One, salvaged from the recently shuttered hotel. (In the Ambassador East's heyday, the hard-to-score booth sat celebrities such as Frank Sinatra.)
Audiovisual amenities, included with rental, include two wireless microphones, two microphones with stands, a full sound system with a CD player, a stage manager and audio and light technician, two 70-inch LCD televisions, and a central screen for PowerPoint presentations. Other perks include an ushering staff and skirted tables.
For additional fees, staff members can arrange for customized Second City performances lasting 60, 90, or 120 minutes. They can also lead groups through team-building activities and workshops in topics such as presentation skills and adapting to change.
