ComedySportz Chicago Set for Musical Improv Festival and More This Summer

ComedySportz Chicago announces the following summer 2015 special programming:

· ComedySportz will send a team to the Chicago Musical Improv Festival on Sunday, August 16, 2015, 7 p.m., for a 45-minute show at the iO Theater, 1501 N. Kingsbury St., tickets at 312-929-2401. Padraic Connelly will host two teams including Nicole Devin, David Dritsas, Jason Stockdale, Keith Whipple, Ryan Williams, and Alida Vitas-Dow playing a selection of new and old musical improv games from ComedySportz, Chicago's home for game-based improv.

· ComedySportz Alumni Weekend, August 20-22. Retired players slated to play include Liz Reuss, Lynda Shadrake (Thursday, 8 p.m.); Joanne Cloonan, Pat Dwyer, Sara Fox, Geoff Isaac, David Miller, Erin Pallesen (Friday, 8 p.m.); Jon Forsythe (Friday, 10 p.m.); Erin McEvoy, Butch Jerenik, Sue Salvi, Music Director Jon Schickedanz (Saturday, 6 p.m.); Paul Bianco, Joanne Cloonan, David Miller (Saturday, 8 p.m.); Katie Dufresne (Saturday, 10 p.m.); and The Hot Karl reunion tour (for ages 18+) featuring almost the entire original cast of Christy Bonstell, Marla Caceres, Tim Chidester, Eric Lindberg, Bethany Remely, Randy Smock, and Zach Thompson (Saturday, 12 midnight).

· After a successful run at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights last fall, ComedySportz returns to the suburbs at the Leela Arts Center in Des Plaines, running Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. from August 21-September 12. Tickets are at 800-838-3006.

· The Theater Crossover, a friendly competition among Chicago's comedy theaters including Annoyance, iO's "Whirled News," the Playground and MCL, will be performed over the weekend of September 10-12.

· Dual Duel returns to the CSz Chicago Theater on Wednesdays, 8 p.m., from September 30-November 18. The show runs 90 minutes and tickets are $8 ($4 for students with ID). Two-person improvisation teams perform in 10-minute slots, then the audience votes. Winners move on to semi-finals and then finals, with the final winners receiving $200. The show also features a headliner teams that performs a longer set at the end of the evening.

· The Salmagundi, a weekly House Team challenge, runs Thursdays at 10 p.m. for 50 minutes starting October 1, tickets are $5. Two resident house teams, rotating each week, unite to accept a changing weekly challenge consisting of musical improv, genre nights or a whole show of entirely new games.

· On Wednesday, August 5, at 9:30 p.m., following the House Party shows, ComedySportz Chicago will perform a FREE 30-minute long form improvisation set with ComedySportz Twin Cities' players.

· On Sunday, August 16, 9 p.m., ComedySportz player and noted stand-up comedian Jamie Campbell will present his final show before moving away from Chicago. Tickets are $5.

· The Spiked Punch comedy game show opened June 25 and runs Thursdays at 10 p.m. through August 27. Tickets are $5, or FREE if patrons see the 8 p.m. ComedySportz show beforehand.

· The ComedySportz House Teams of Atomic, Omega, Zephyr, Caliber, Chaos and Flamingo now perform weekly, on Sundays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. (Wednesday run concludes September 9). Regular tickets are $5. College students get $3 tickets with ID, and all audience members also get a FREE pre-show sampler workshop with a ComedySportz School of Professional Improvisation instructor on Wednesdays from 7-7:45 p.m., from July 22 through August 26 (must purchase a $3 or $5 ticket for workshop entry).

· The Midwest Invitational runs the weekend of October 15-17, hosting players from national ComedySportz cities including Boston, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Portland and San Jose.

CSz Theater Chicago is located at 929 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657. Transportation options include Belmont El stop (Red, Brown, Purple lines); self-park paid lot at 3130 N. Sheffield, paid street parking; Divvy bike station on Belmont and Wilton; SpotHero.com. Handicapped accessible.

CSz Theater Chicago is part of the Belmont Theater District and offers a full service bar with no drink minimum. Tickets and info at 773-549-8080, www.CSzChicago.com. Comedy for everyone.

$23 for Thursday, 8 p.m. ComedySportz show

$25 for Friday, 8 p.m. ComedySportz show

$15 for Friday, 10 p.m. The Blue Show (ages 18+)

$23 for Saturday, 6 p.m. ComedySportz show

$25 for Saturday, 8 p.m. ComedySportz show

$23 for Saturday, 10 p.m. ComedySportz show

$10 for Saturday, 12 Midnight Blue show (ages 18+)

$5 for Sunday, 7 p.m. House Party ($3 for students with ID)

$10 for Monday, 8 p.m. 100 Proof and the Chaser (age18+)

$5 for Wednesday, 8 p.m. House Party ($3 for students with ID)