Baby Wants Candy

Hysterical, unique, and worth every penny. The talent is outstanding, the performers and band included. I belly laughed the entire time. I would highly recommend to every new comers to the Chicago comedy scene.

This show was hilarious and the most creative thing. They take an idea from the audience and run with it creating an hour long musical. Our «musical» was called SpongeBob goes to Lollapalooza. I want to go back again and see what comes up next!

My friends and I had a blast here. I’ve heard so-​so things about musical improv, but I found this experience incredibly fun. I like improv and am somewhat picky, but this was pretty fabulous. Clever, funny, outrageous… what’s not to like?
Bar is cash only and you can bring your drinks to the show. It’s a small, intimate theater, but you’re not squashed in.
The actors are insanely smart to be able to make up songs on their feet. They commit to what they’re doing and the show is a big success as a result. Go check it out, unless you hate to laugh… in which case I wouldn’t know how to help you :(

I had no idea what to expect when my friend suggested we check this out. I am not usually a fan of musicals, but at $ 7.50 a ticket when ordered through Hot Tix, I figured it was worth the risk. It ended up being the funniest show I have seen in a LONG while. We were rolling with laughter practically the entire time. Best part is they give tickets away at the end and I won FOUR, so I will be back next weekend! Absolutely recommended!
Edit: we returned with our free tickets that we won and the second show was even more hilarious. I was amazed to see no repeated bits from the last performance. These people are fucking on point with their improvisations. Imagine all that could go wrong with a musical the crowd generated called Who You Gonna Call: A Dr. Suessical. It was also interesting to see an all new cast, save for two members. I was so happy to see the show looked to be sold out this time. This troupe deserves it.

Finally got here this past Friday night. I want to get back at some point (might be tough since we are moving back east) to see another show. The play title sucked and yet the actors were able to get things going and keep them going. It was incredibly fun and the space is great. No trouble hearing anything and the best part was that everyone looked like they were having a blast — from the audience to the actors to the musicians.
I wonder if it would make more sense to draw from a hat or have the audience vote on two titles. I get that they have to go with the first one they hear to be clear that it’s truly a random experience but when someone gives you «Donald Duck Goes To Rehab… I Don’t Know?» you should get another shot.
The actors were really good, all of them. I especially loved the woman playing the captain — she was the greatest drunk EVER. Also the guy playing Donald Duck/​one of the Queen’s assistants… although I get the sense that he «freestyles» at every show and that might be getting old. I got the sense from the reviews it happens a lot and the fact that it’s incorporated into each show makes it come across as less improv than improv.
Would definitely recommend it to anyone who lives in or is visiting Chicago. There is a bar in the lobby so grab a drink before the show, it’s only an hour so savor your drink — you don’t want to have to leave to get another. You don’t want to miss any pat of the show.
Oh, and spare yourself some embarassment — there is a sign by the stairs in the lobby by the bar that read, «Upstairs lobby.» Don’t go up there. The doors downstairs open when it’s time to get your tickets ripped and enter. We interrupted the band/​actors.

The great BWC is also at the Annoyance Theatre for the summer (2014). Yay, I get to have laugher and awe at the mastery, creativity, fun, and playfulness during the week and closer to home. Thanks, BWC and Annoyance Theatre!
I was able to hear the dialogue and song lyrics as well as I hear them at the more expensive-​looking Apollo, which is quite well, which is important. Staff at AT were friendly and efficient. I’m definitely going back there to experience more!

the prices are reasonable. they take any college id. not just DePaul. parking is a bit of a pain but the location is easy to get to from just about any public transportation means. it’s a great date night location. There are diners and bars all over to hit up before or after the show, and it’s different every week so if your date likes it, take them next week. it’ll be (usually) some different cast and an entirely new show. It’s absolutely hilarious. I suggest getting there early because during the school year the college kids flood in since it’s so close to campus. They have a bar in the lobby before the show to take the edge off and they don’t qyp you in their mixed drinks.
sit front row. go willing to laugh. and be prepared to wanna head back. it’s never a one time thing.

This place is so much fun to go to with friends. I almost die laughing each time I go. It’s entirely improv, made up on the spot based on an audience members suggestion for the title of a musical (i.e. William Shatner on Ice). A great place to unwind and relax. It’s within walking distance of the DePaul University campus so it’s great for college students (and at $ 5 for students it’s the cheapest entertainment around). I wouldn’t suggest bringing your children or parents though because the comedy can be rather vulgar at times. Also, alcoholic drinks can be purchased at the concession stand which is a nice option.

Got my first free tickets from Unilocal… thank you thank you thank you! We loved it! I’ve gone back so many times, and always bring out of town guests here. They have a student discount too which is great!
Make sure you sit towards the front to make your life into a musical!!! You’ll see what I mean :)

We were lucky enough to see Baby Wants Candy at a private event and had a wonderful time. They started with a classic improv skit based on an audience member’s day (non-​musical) and then proceeded to do an entire improv musical based on a suggestion from the audience, which in this case was something like, «I’m stuck in downward dog.» As to not lose half the crowd with the yoga theme, they intertwined football and a love story into the musical.
Overall, the performance was entertaining. The cast was quick-​witted and clever; they clearly demonstrated that they are well educated as well (in a good way).

OMG! Saw the show last Friday, 4÷1÷11. Holy crap! The best improv I have ever seen (and I have seen a LOT of improv). How could so much talent be crammed into so few individuals? All the music is improv-​ed (the guitar player is awesome), all the acting, lyrics, melodies, harmonies, and choreography. Every piece of a musical invented right in front of my eyes based on a suggestion from the audience!
This night the suggested title was «Nick Cable» which then turned into an epic tale of a demi-​god named Nick Cable who lived in the basic cable system and threatened the survival of the world.
The show was Friday and now it’s Sunday and many of the scenes are still indelibly etched on my mind and making me laugh even today.
…wow…
Jim

I loves me some improv comedy so I was definitely psyched to try out this new musical genre. The musical geniuses on the stage were fantastic. 3 out of the 7+ comedians were memorable in a positive or at least decent way and 1 was memorable… in the grimiest most degrading way possible.
Maybe it was just a tough night or maybe this guy is just sick and twisted, whatever the case, his jokes weren’t even witty, they were just crude and horribly inappropriate. He would be the kind of comedian Michael Jackson would have had at his little Never Never Land theme park.
Absolute failure!
The young college crowd was too busy going with the flow to stop laughing when things got out of hand.
I’ll probably never go back.

Dang, sign me up. How does one get to be a part of such a funny group? I’m sure it’s not easy. But they made it seem, so flawless. Audience members yelled out possible themes for the nite’s performance, and the cast went w/​«Desperate Housewives». The story went as far as random children being hidden in the basement of a rich Housewives home, dirty, un-​kept and unfed, only to be used as servants. It was also a musical, so a lot of the act was in song. The cast was on top of their game! If you love stand-​up, comedy shows, and improv– you’ll find a good fix here.

Improv at it’s finest. The family and I had an enjoyable evening after first attending the Fringe Festival and then heading over to the Apollo Theater for Baby Wants Candy.
I am not a huge musical fan but this musical improv comedy was excellent. It is definitely worth a look see. I recommend you head out to the Apollo and see Baby Wants Candy.

There isn’t much that can be said about Baby Wants Candy that hasn’t already been said in previous reviews. But I figure I’ll reiterate a few things and tell about my personal experience.
The night I went to see Baby Wants Candy, it was a free program in my dorm. I was like «Baby Wants Candy? What the heck is that?» Somehow, though, I was dragged along. I was mostly just reluctant because I had no idea what it was and no one else seemed to know either… and I’m often suspicious of titles that tell you nothing about what they are (though I’m suspicious of a lot of things). I believe the title that was chosen was «Real Housewives of Chicago,» or something to that effect. I was like, «okay, how can they make this into an hour-​long musical and still make it funny?» They somehow managed!
There was probably one song where I was thinking, «okay, move it along, next scene,» but hey, it’s improv. I know I don’t have a tenth of the talent that these people have and I was very, very entertained. The story that night somehow managed to involve British-​accented orphans living in a basement who wound up rising up against the housewives that enslaved them. When the first scene with the orphans happened I was like, «okay, what does this have to do with housewives again?» They managed to tie it into the plot, though, and made it make sense… in its own twisted way.
A splendid time was had by all.
Then again, I love musicals and improv, so maybe I’m just biased.

Go see it.
Improv Musical… what?! I don’t know how they pulled it off, especially our feature for the night – «Auld Lang Zombie.» That’s right, zombie. They even somehow tied in a British talking monkey. Hilarious.
As for improv, there’s a nice honesty coming from people being spontaneously witty and humorous. The troop onstage just clicked even during the times of complete collapse. They spun it like a Seinfeld episode and made fun of one another to keep the flow going. I’ve heard others say the cast that I caught were much better than other variations. Can’t speak to it but hopefully you’ll get lucky and catch a great group. On the whole, you’ll have a good time and the Apollo is such a nice space for this.
Erica Elam is a such a talent. She makes the best drunk girl I’ve ever seen and really stood out amongst the pack. I looked around and hardly saw a dry face. I took some snaps so check those out. :) They’ll tell this story better.

One of the things I love about Unilocal is that it makes me aware of things I might have never known about. «Baby wants Candy» is such a thing.
Improv done to music? How’d they do that? Improv always impresses me as I think I think well on my feet but then I go to one of these improv shows and realize that I am OK at best.
The premise of Baby wants Candy is that they solicit an idea from the audience, and then proceed to do a one hour musical from that one idea. Seriously! With a band and everything. While I suspect the score of music doesn’t change much– I love that one of the players steps up after a couple of opening bars and begins belting out a song. Then the others join in on the chorus and actually sing harmony How’d they do that?
They also make the show have a plot that keeps it hanging together which is often not the case with «regular improv» (is there such a thing?) which are usually a series of small vignettes.
Check Baby wants Candy out. The show is always different and you’ll be sitting there like I did wondering «How’d they do that?»

If you’ve got asthma bring your inhaler, this show is guaranteed to make you wheeze!
I heard about BWC several years ago from a childhood friend whose brother-​in-​law was/​is (?) part of the troupe. I filed the info somewhere in the back of head as something cool I should do and then pretty much forgot all about it. It wasn’t until way after I’d RSVP’d and I realized that BWC was musical improv that I made the connection (I know sometimes I can be a little slow).
Do you remember the nursery rhyme about the little girl with the curl right in the middle of her forehead? Well, just like that… when improv is good, it is very good; when improv is bad it is horrid
OK maybe it doesn’t go exactly like that, but it’s true — bad improv is like some form of cruel and unusual punishment, thankfully I didn’t have to worry about that here. Baby Wants Candy was a hilarious good time. An hour-​long Christmas-​themed improv musical, I was in awe. The cast was really talented, creative and quick-​thinking; it had me laughing so hard I had break out the inhaler (discreetly of course).
The icing on the cake is that they sell alcohol at the theater too, and it’s reasonably priced. If you get drinks, get enough to last the entire show, getting in and out discreetly isn’t really an option.
Bottom line: Good times and lots of laughs. Since the audience dictates the theme of the musical, every show is unique. Check it out, it’s a great way to cure a case of the Mondays.

I STAND CORRECTED!
Ok, so the first time I went I was with a piss poor sport crowd, it was late, they were drunk and old (aka, sleeping), and complaining the entire time.
Second time… MUCH BETTER! I think it greatly depends on the crowd you are with, the friends you bring, etc. Well, gather 100 or so Unilocalers… and it’s bound to be a fantastic time… and it was!
They were honestly… HYSTERICAL. I was laughing my curmudgeon little ass off… and I was completely, totally, abhorrently SOBER. It was just funny. Seriously…
I can admit when I am wrong, and I was. Baby Wants Candy is good stuff. I’d definitely go back again… imrprov is no easy feat, but they know how to put on a fantastic show. And, I loved the holiday theme, because… I’m a nerd like that. And, I don’t care… so don’t judge me!
Well done… highly recommended… I challenge you to find a better show playing on a Monday night at that price point!

We were standing in the lobby waiting to be admitted into the Apollo Theater when I noticed the scowl on my fiancé’s face. I asked what’s wrong and he informed me that he doesn’t like improv and it was late (he’s getting to be a very old man if he thinks 10:30 PM on a friday night is late). 20 minutes later he was laughing hysterically and at the end of the show he was begging the talented actors for more… he may not like improv, but he sure liked Baby Wants Candy!
I too was pleasantly surprised by Baby Wants Candy, although I had a feeling I was in for a treat after reading all the Unilocal reviews! The show starts by asking for a title of a musical and last night’s was «slutty santa». And the spontaneous musical they put on was absolutely hysterical! I kept asking my fiancé… how do they do that??? Genius, I tell ya… these people are geniuses!
Best of all, it’s a new show every Friday night so I can keep going and going… and I plan to!
Thanks for the laughs!