If you find yourself in need of some laughs after a strenuous week of classes, then your answer is right here in Rock Island.
Comedy Sportz, over on 19th Street, is an exciting and fun night out for people of all ages.
I recently attended Comedy Sportz on a Friday night, having no idea what to expect going into it.
To my slight surprise, it was a night full of laughs. You  walk into what initially looks to be an old theater but reveals to be a high energy venue. The atmosphere is nothing but boisterous and fun highlighted with crazy light effects and popular music constantly playing.
The energy that comes from all seven cast members themselves is undeniable and contagious. Comedy Sportz is open and relevant to all ages, from school-aged children to adults.
There is a bar located in the back that also serves food. They have a special deal that if you buy and attend the first show, you get free admission for the following show at 9:30pm, which is unrated and strictly for those 17 and older.
I was seated in the front row, and to my right was a birthday party consisting of ten year old boys. Behind me was a group of middle-aged coworkers. All of us ended up having a great time.
The whole concept of Comedy Sportz is a battle between two teams each consisting of three middle- aged men broken up into various improv games, similar to the TV show “Whose Line is it Anyway”.The teams are judged by a referee as well as the audience at the end to decide which team wins the show. The material is censored and is altered for the appropriation of young kids, but still quite funny.
One particularly amusing game was called “Doppelgänger,” and required two comics to locate audience members they felt resembled themselves the most.
The “ABC Scene” skit had the comics create a scene where the first letter of their sentence started with the first letter of the alphabet and continued all the way through the alphabet.
“Dinner at Taylor’s” demanded that the comic chose an audience member and try to create a scene involving a typical night at his/her home where he/she is controlling the direction of the scene.
Even if you are someone that hates audience participation like me, you needn’t worry because they only choose those from the crowd that volunteer.
Augustana’s very own Robert Chaney is the DJ at Comedy Sportz and has been working at Comedy Sportz for about 3 years. Robert is a Junior studying History, on the Augustana swim team, and an active member of the Roundel fraternity.
He provides all the piano accompaniments and music selection that never fail to make each skit even more enjoyable.
ComedySportz is located at 220 19^th Street, in the District.
Tickets for the event are $12, and it’s best if you buy your tickets beforehand online. Shows are Friday and Saturday nights at 7pm and 9pm. Overall, it is a great deal of fun for groups, solo or even date night.
Make sure when you stop by to say “hi” to Robert Chaney up in the booth!