This article is provided by one of Phoenix.org’s guest writers. We are still in the process of finding a local writer to compose our weekly entertainment column. If you know of an individual that would like the exposure that will come from a weekly column on the Valley of the Sun’s most trusted resource site then have them contact Phoenix.org.

The Tempe Improv Comedy Theatre

930 East University Drive, Tempe, AZ

Tempe Improve Comedy Theater

The Tempe Improv Comedy Theatre is Arizona’s premier comedy club. The comedians who perform here are some of the nation’s best, and have been featured on Comedy Central, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, and the Late Show with David Letterman. Big names like Jerry Seinfeld, Mitch Fatel, Christopher Titus, and Bob Saget are regular acts here, but there’s plenty of up and coming talent too, making the Tempe Improv one of the best comedy clubs in the country.

Tickets can be a little pricey for big headliners, although most tickets aren’t more than $25. However, the club runs a special deal to make weeknight shows more accessible. If you come wearing one of the club’s t-shirts, you get free admission to all Thursday night shows (except for special events). There’s a $3 “convenience charge” for purchasing a ticket online and/or with a credit card, so pay cash at the box office for the cheapest tickets unless you’re sure a show will sell out.

The venue itself is an intimate theater setting, which means you don’t have to worry about sitting half a mile away from the act. We think the best seats are the front row of the balcony: you get a great view and you have plenty of space – the table seating can get pretty crowded, especially at a sold-out show. However, if you’re on a date, you might want to try and snag one of the high top tables in the back; they seat just two, so you won’t have to deal with strangers putting a damper on your date night.

The club’s 8 p.m. shows are dinner shows. Prices for dinner range from $10-$18, with desserts around $8 and drinks from $5 and up. Like most comedy clubs, the food can be a mixed bag, but we always enjoy the beer battered mozzarella sticks, the chipotle pasta alfredo, and the cheesecake. While dinner prices are a little steep, diners get priority seating (doors open at 5 p.m. for 8 p.m. shows) and a free pass to a future show, so it still works out to a pretty good value. The club’s 10 p.m. shows offer burgers, appetizers, and desserts, but not full meals. Beware, though; if you sit too close to the stage, you might end up becoming part of the evening’s entertainment, since a lot of the acts are known for pulling audience members up onstage!

Be Sociable, Share!

•