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The Upstairs Event Space at iO Chicago Tickets
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About The Upstairs Event Space at iO Chicago
The Upstairs Event Space at iO Chicago sits in the heart of Chicago's Near North Side, a historic hub for improv and live performance. With a total capacity nearing 1,000 across multiple spaces, this venue is ideal for large shows, private functions, corporate events, or intimate gatherings in a creative setting. The Clybourn and The River Room offer flexible configurations to fit your event needs, from theatre-style seating to banquet and standing room layouts.
Whether you’re booking a full-scale show, a corporate mixer, or a private celebration, we’ve got you covered with straightforward planning, dependable service, and access to trusted local partners for lodging and dining. Secure your seats or private space with ease, and enjoy the support of a dedicated team behind every detail.
Venue details: The Upstairs Event Space at iO Chicago is housed at 1501 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60642, adjacent to the iO Theater campus that includes private spaces like The Clybourn and The River Room. The venue area blends performance and meeting spaces with versatile layouts to accommodate varied event needs. The space re-opened on November 3, 2022 after a brief closure, continuing a long-running tradition of improv excellence established by alumni such as Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.
Parking and transit options make reaching iO Chicago convenient. Nearby parking options include 1535 N Kingsbury Lot, 1467 N Damen, and 1571 N Sheffield via SpotHero. Public transit is well-served by the CTA: the Red Line North/Clybourn station is at 1599 N Clybourn Ave, with multiple bus routes serving the area. For guests staying in the city, a selection of nearby hotels and dining options can be coordinated through our recommended affiliate partners to keep your event logistics simple and seamless.
Good to know
Seating, Parking & Venue Information
- Official address: 1501 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60642.
- Venue type: Improv theater and multi-space event venue (iO Theater) with private/event spaces like The Clybourn and The River Room.
- Full venue capacity: approximately 1,000; individual spaces vary (The Clybourn ~170 seated, 350 standing; The River Room ~100 seated, 150 standing).
- Seating configurations: The Clybourn supports banquet, theatre, and standing layouts; The River Room supports seated and standing layouts (per iO’s meeting/spaces descriptions).
- Parking: nearby lots/garages via SpotHero (e.g., 1535 N Kingsbury Lot; 1467 N Damen; 1571 N Sheffield).
- Transit: closest CTA Red Line station is North/Clybourn (1599 N Clybourn Ave); multiple bus routes also serve the area.
- Nearby hotels: Hyatt Place Chicago near The Mission Theater at iO Chicago; Kimpton hotels (Palomar, Monaco, Gray) are listed as nearby options.
- Notable history/events: iO is a long-running improv hub; notable alumni include Amy Poehler and Tina Fey; the space reopened on November 3, 2022 after a brief 2020 closure.