Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

BOOM CHICAGO COMEDY FESTIVAL 2023

Seth Meyers, Brendan Hunt, Amber Ruffin, Heather Anne Campbell, Jill Benjamin, Horace Cohen, Ruben van der Meer, Lara Ricote, and more! Thank you to all the alumni, performers, audiences, staff and volunteers who made our 3rd Annual Boom Chicago Comedy Festival a success! We’ll see you next year! Or well, next week. Our shows don’t stop!

a group of people posing for a photo

FEATURED SHOWS

OUR SHOWS

  • Sold Out

Boom’s most ambitious and funny show! Guest starring Brendan Hunt and Heather Anne Campbell, they’ll share personal experiences with our actors, who then present a show of improvised sketches and characters plucked from these stories.

For Dutch people who like leedvermaak (all of you), or anyone who can appreciate schadenfreude, please laugh proudly at other people’s misfortune. It’s OK!

Every season, we audition new “house teams” from the graduates of the Boom Chicago Academy. Come watch two incredible teams of up-and-coming talent from the Boom community officially step onto the Amsterdam improv scene! Expect big laughs!

Brace yourself for a hilarious take on the (in)famous game as “F*ck Marry Kill” comes to life on stage! Get ready to laugh out loud as the comedic talents of Kendra Borgen, Carly Blair, and Nira Tal.

Step into a world of unpredictable comedy as our cherished regular audience members command the stage. With their quick thinking and genuine connection to our mainstage shows, these talented individuals, who also happen to be dedicated students at the esteemed Boom Academy, will ignite your funny bone like never before!

Experience an uproarious burst of comedy as brilliant and bold women command the spotlight at Boom Chicago. Don’t miss their side-splitting performances during our highly-anticipated 3rd Annual Comedy Festival in Amsterdam!

Witness the rise of improv comedy’s brightest talents at the electrifying Rising Stars Improv Showcase! Prepare to laugh as the brilliant minds from the esteemed Boom Academy take the stage, showcasing their extraordinary skills and proving why they are the crème de la crème.

The famous NYC queer variety show comes to Amsterdam!

Think disco vibes that features dance numbers, comedy, drag, burlesque, music, and did we mention DISCO?!?! Based on a love of the 70’s, DISCOunt highlights a cast of comedians, drag, and burlesque performers, in a clown-filled and chaotic evening.

  • Final Seats!

Two incredible UK improv groups in one show, hosted by Boom Chicago’s two English cast members, Simon and Simon. Finally, English will be spoken correctly and with so much irony, it will confuse the Americans!

We start with the clever and funny Love Factually and finish with supergroup Groundhog.

  • Final Headline Show!

The fantastic Heather Anne Campbell (Rick & Morty) joins the cast for one night only!

Many people’s favorite Boom Chicago show will be filled laughing, drinking and audience suggestions. Great suggestions get free shots! Featuring the hysterical cast plus special guest Heather who was nominated for an emmy-nominated this past Tuesday!

Finally we can spell theater correctly! And this improv theat-e-r, we present two great teams representing the best of the USA. Improvised Jane Austen and Chicago-style improv together in one very funny hour!

Comedy smarties Cum Laude deliver an incredible musical comedy spectacle.

Featuring Tess Tregellas, the lead content creator of Betches, Jaz Zepatos of Millenial Movie Club, and North Coast founding member Douglas Widick, they will have you humming their tunes. Hosted by Boom Chicago songstresses Katie Nixon and Stacey Smith!

Some people can just say funny things, but others are experts in creating memorable and funny characters. Nikk Terault, Arfie Mansfield and Louie Cordon are three people who will have you in stitches, just from the people they play in this hour of improvised and scripted characters.

Three headliners on one stage. 2022 festival favorites Maxi Witrak and Helen Wildy return to the BCCF. This night is hosted by a headliner himself, the incredible Matt Castellvi.

  • SOLD OUT

Superstar Lara Ricote presents a new (work in progress) show! She won best newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Funny Women Comedy Award. We expect great things!

“lived up to the hype” ★★★★★ TIME OUT
“razor-sharp goofball” ★★★★ GUARDIAN
“Lara is blessed with funny bones” ★★★★ THE SCOTSMAN

Sluit je aan bij drie van de beste improvisatieteams van Nederland in één line-up! Flunknarf, Op Sterk Water en nieuwkomers HSV de Honingbij.

Flunknarf zit vol met bekroonde Nederlandse cabaretiers, Op Sterk Water won onze allereerste Bud Comedy Award op BCCF 2021 en HSV de Honingbij is een nieuwe groep waarvan we verwachten dat ze de komende tien jaar de scene gaan domineren.

The Amsterdam show sensation! A exciting and original comedy idea where eight presenters have five minutes each to deliver a funny PowerPoint presentation on the most unusual (but true) subjects you can imagine. Drink and learn things at PowerPints… Just add beer!

JULY 12

  • SOLD OUT

Superstar Lara Ricote presents a new (work in progress) show! She won best newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Funny Women Comedy Award. We expect great things!

“lived up to the hype” ★★★★★ TIME OUT
“razor-sharp goofball” ★★★★ GUARDIAN
“Lara is blessed with funny bones” ★★★★ THE SCOTSMAN

The Amsterdam show sensation! A exciting and original comedy idea where eight presenters have five minutes each to deliver a funny PowerPoint presentation on the most unusual (but true) subjects you can imagine. Drink and learn things at PowerPints… Just add beer!

JULY 13

Sluit je aan bij drie van de beste improvisatieteams van Nederland in één line-up! Flunknarf, Op Sterk Water en nieuwkomers HSV de Honingbij.

Flunknarf zit vol met bekroonde Nederlandse cabaretiers, Op Sterk Water won onze allereerste Bud Comedy Award op BCCF 2021 en HSV de Honingbij is een nieuwe groep waarvan we verwachten dat ze de komende tien jaar de scene gaan domineren.

JULY 14

Three headliners on one stage. 2022 festival favorites Maxi Witrak and Helen Wildy return to the BCCF. This night is hosted by a headliner himself, the incredible Matt Castellvi.

JULY 15

The famous NYC queer variety show comes to Amsterdam!

Think disco vibes that features dance numbers, comedy, drag, burlesque, music, and did we mention DISCO?!?! Based on a love of the 70’s, DISCOunt highlights a cast of comedians, drag, and burlesque performers, in a clown-filled and chaotic evening.

  • Final Seats!

Two incredible UK improv groups in one show, hosted by Boom Chicago’s two English cast members, Simon and Simon. Finally, English will be spoken correctly and with so much irony, it will confuse the Americans!

We start with the clever and funny Love Factually and finish with supergroup Groundhog.

  • Final Headline Show!

The fantastic Heather Anne Campbell (Rick & Morty) joins the cast for one night only!

Many people’s favorite Boom Chicago show will be filled laughing, drinking and audience suggestions. Great suggestions get free shots! Featuring the hysterical cast plus special guest Heather who was nominated for an emmy-nominated this past Tuesday!

Finally we can spell theater correctly! And this improv theat-e-r, we present two great teams representing the best of the USA. Improvised Jane Austen and Chicago-style improv together in one very funny hour!

Comedy smarties Cum Laude deliver an incredible musical comedy spectacle.

Featuring Tess Tregellas, the lead content creator of Betches, Jaz Zepatos of Millenial Movie Club, and North Coast founding member Douglas Widick, they will have you humming their tunes. Hosted by Boom Chicago songstresses Katie Nixon and Stacey Smith!

Some people can just say funny things, but others are experts in creating memorable and funny characters. Nikk Terault, Arfie Mansfield and Louie Cordon are three people who will have you in stitches, just from the people they play in this hour of improvised and scripted characters.

JULY 16

Every season, we audition new “house teams” from the graduates of the Boom Chicago Academy. Come watch two incredible teams of up-and-coming talent from the Boom community officially step onto the Amsterdam improv scene! Expect big laughs!

Brace yourself for a hilarious take on the (in)famous game as “F*ck Marry Kill” comes to life on stage! Get ready to laugh out loud as the comedic talents of Kendra Borgen, Carly Blair, and Nira Tal.

Step into a world of unpredictable comedy as our cherished regular audience members command the stage. With their quick thinking and genuine connection to our mainstage shows, these talented individuals, who also happen to be dedicated students at the esteemed Boom Academy, will ignite your funny bone like never before!

Experience an uproarious burst of comedy as brilliant and bold women command the spotlight at Boom Chicago. Don’t miss their side-splitting performances during our highly-anticipated 3rd Annual Comedy Festival in Amsterdam!

Witness the rise of improv comedy’s brightest talents at the electrifying Rising Stars Improv Showcase! Prepare to laugh as the brilliant minds from the esteemed Boom Academy take the stage, showcasing their extraordinary skills and proving why they are the crème de la crème.

LAST WEEK'S SHOWS

  • Sold Out!

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema joins the current cast on stage to open the 2023 Boom Chicago Comedy Festival. Music Improv Spectacular features local and international heroes to tell personal stories that inspire the comedy show.

All proceeds from this event will be donated to InterActing, Boom Chicago’s non-profit theater school for teenagers with autism.

HIGHLIGHTS

CHECK OUT ALL OUR PREVIOUS BOOM CHICAGO COMEDY FESTIVALS!