HELLTRAP and The Hideout Part of a Comedic "Renaissance" in Chicago

“The audiences are smart [in Chicago]. In LA … you sort of pander to the audiences more. Here you can joke about whatever and your audience will get it,” said Quincy Jones, an L.A. based comedian when discussing what separates Chicago from other comedy hubs across the country. Though it was once said that if “you really want to make it in the business” of comedy Chicago is more of a finish line, rather than a starting point, there’s an axiomatic understanding that there’s something special about the current world of stand-up in Chicago, both on stage and in the audience. Zach Freeman of The Chicago Tribune took a closer look at some of the venues and shows paving a new road for comedy in Chicago, HELLTRAP NIGHTMARE and the Hideout both making the list. Freeman says it best, “Successful local shows like “A Dope Comedy Show” (along with others like…“Helltrap Nightmare” at The Hideout, and the long-running Lincoln Lodge at Under the Gun) are consistently making the case that Chicago audiences are here, clued in and ready to line up for good comedy.”