It Still Moves The Lincoln Lodge

On any given day in Chicago, the calendar of events happening throughout the city can seem daunting. It Still Moves looks to separate the wheat from the chaff, spotlighting some of the area’s longest-running comedy, literary, and variety shows.

What it is: The Lincoln Lodge is a comedy and variety showcase, now in its 11th season. Local and touring comics share a small stage in the back room of greasy spoon diner in North Center that most resembles grandma’s wood-paneled basement. The show is a not-for-profit operation, with any money made from shows going directly to the performers and toward the production of other Lincoln Lodge events.

The reach of The Lincoln Lodge extends beyond its weekly show; Mark Geary, the show’s producer and behind-the-scenes coordinator, describes the production as having “a stated mission of investing in a performer’s career.” Comedians like Neil Hamburger, Natasha Leggero, Eugene Mirman, and Fred Armisen have appeared onstage at the lodge over the years alongside up-and-coming local and regional artists selected for their innovative and unique approaches to the form.

A brief history lesson: One wouldn’t think the banquet room in the back (past the kitchen) of the Lincoln Restaurant would be a haven for inventive and progressive comedy, but somehow, the incongruity of it all works. Through its 11 seasons, The Lincoln Lodge has been a shining beacon of consistency in the often-erratic world of Chicago stand-up.

While other open mics and showcases might have a few acts that reliably show up week after week, The Lincoln Lodge selects a group of eight “cast members” at the beginning of each season to take on the many different tasks required to run a successful comedy show. Cast members can be found outside El stops promoting upcoming shows, teaching comedy workshops, and organizing the program for each performance. “We’ve got the advantage of having eight sets of eyes when booking the acts for these shows,” which is something that sets Lincoln Lodge shows apart from other area showcases, according to Geary.

In addition to the weekly showcases, The Lincoln Lodge offers a variety of comedy courses, including the Feminine Comique, the first and only female specific training course in the city. Cameron Esposito, one of Chicago’s most talented comics, approached Geary with an idea for a course that addressed the imbalance found at many open mic nights. Esposito found that a boy’s-club atmosphere was often the default setting at this sort of show, which stemmed (at least partially) from a lack of female comedians in the area. The Feminine Comique was born soon after, providing women interested in performing stand-up with the tools necessary to enrich their acts and succeed onstage.



Why it’s still worth your time: Not a week goes by that the intimate, 90-capacity room isn’t filled with comedy fans ready and willing to embrace the performers onstage. While Lodge shows have no drink minimum, for those interested, there are frighteningly hefty glasses of beer (32 fluid ounces in a thick glass mug) priced to move. In addition to cheap booze, the Lincoln Restaurant offers its full menu throughout the show, for those who like their alt comedy to come with a side of pancakes.