5 awesome Chicago based comics bring Black Box Comedy shows to Edison park every weekend featuring the best in the city, and touring comics alike!
MIKE WILEY
Born in Chicago, Mike Wiley has been in the stand-up comedy game since 2002 and emerged from the same Chicago comedy generation that gave rise to some of the most talented/well-known comedians in the industry today. As well as Chicago, Mike Wiley regularly performs all around the Midwest and has opened for a variety of acts such as Doug Stanhope, Josh Blue, The Latin Kings of Comedy, and platinum selling industrial heavy metal band Powerman 5000.
Mike Wiley has performed at several comedy festivals including The North Carolina Comedy Festival, The Charleston Comedy Festival, New York International Fringe Fest, and Chicago Snubfest, not to mention he has performed with the USO at Illinois Great Lakes Naval Base. He has self-published his own comic book series called “Doofus 2 Death”, and in 2012 released his first comedy album, “Inconducive To Comedy”.
Mike Wiley prides himself on not only being funny, but also smart and innovative. Whether he is talking about childhood or marriage, or even molecular structure or astrophysics, Mike Wiley’s jokes will always be equally intelligent and absurd.
TIMMY WHITZELL
One of the very few comedians to come out of Portland, Maine, Timmy Whitzell comes from a humble place and his comedy shows that. In 2007 he moved to Chicago as an aspiring comic, and solidified himself as a formidable presence on the Chicago Comedy landscape,. Since 2012 he's been headlining dozens of shows across the region and loving every minute of it. His name used to be Timmy Brochu if you care to look up his album on Spotify, "Timmy Brochu - Xanadu" is on there and will give you a crisp idea of what he's all about. Tim is co-owner of the theater and in July of 2016 opened for the amazing Christopher Titus on a two city weekend tour!
DAVID RADER
David Rader started performing five years ago as a regular feature act at Laugh Comedy Club in Bloomington, IL. During that time, he opened for Dave Landau, Paul Hooper, and Stewart Huff. David moved to Chicago three years ago, where he has been a producer for Kick Punch Stand Up and Desperate Collectors. David has also performed at the Laugh Factory and the Milwaukee Comedy Festival. He has also toured the Midwest extensively.
RACHEL MCCARTNEY
Rachel McCartney has performed in way too many bars to still look so out of place in them. Based in Chicago, she is a regular at the Laugh Factory, and recently made her Comedians You Should Know debut opening for Drew Michael at his album recording. She has also performed at the Comedy Exposition, the Green Gravel Comedy Festival, and the Orlando Indie Comedy Festival.
The Chicago Tribune once described her as a "New Year's treat," which probably made more sense when the article was published in early January. In less calendar-sensitive praise, local legend Peter-john Byrnes once called her "Chicago's foremost grammar comedian," and she plans to have that distinction carved into her headstone.
We're ecstatic to have Rachel here with us. She's one of the most gifted comics on the scene today.
CASEY HARTENBERGER
Like David Rader, Casey Hartenberger also comes from Bloomington, IL roots and was a regular fixture for the local Laugh Comedy Club. While getting his comedy start in Central Illinois, Casey also spent five years as the voice on morning news, sports and entertainment for multiple radio stations. During his time in Bloomington, Casey had the pleasure to open for Natasha Leggero and the Bob & Tom Comedy All-Stars Tour, and was the winner of Illinois State University’s Last Comic Standing. Casey now brings his goofy mix of happy thoughts and worry thoughts to Chicago’s WIP Theater and Black Box Comedy.