The Lincoln Lodge in Chicago rents three theaters seating 45, 50 and 120 guests, two classrooms for up to 20 people and a podcast studio, for meetings, seminars, workshops and private events. It is a nonprofit comedy club and training center at 2040 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago.
Seminars and company events
The Blue Theatre seats up to 45 and is presented for seminars, workshops, team-building and private presentations. The Brown Theatre seats up to 50 and suits workshops, performances and private screenings. The Red Theatre is the largest, a 1,235 square foot room seating up to 120, equipped for panel discussions, performances and live recordings. Each theater has a 6 inch elevated stage, stage lighting and a PA system, and the Blue and Brown rooms add a 55 inch smart TV. The Red Theatre has two.
An adjoining conference room can be rented with a theater, for breakout sessions or as a green room.
Weddings and receptions
The Lincoln Lodge does not offer weddings or receptions. The site lists private events such as birthday parties, fundraisers and corporate outings, built around live comedy rather than a dinner format. A reception with a seated meal is not part of the offer.
Rooms and capacities
The Brown Theatre (Theatre 1) seats 50, the Blue Theatre (Theatre 2) seats 45 and the Red Theatre (Theatre 3) seats 120. Two classrooms and conference rooms seat up to 20 people each, with whiteboards, projectors and flip charts available on request. They double as green rooms during shows. A soundproofed podcast studio is available for recordings, for solo hosts or small groups. For a corporate comedy night, the group is hosted in the Blue Room with cabaret-style seating.
Accommodation
There is no accommodation on site. Organizers of multi-day programs need to book hotels in Chicago separately.
Catering
There is no restaurant. The venue has a bar, runs shows with no drink minimum, and offers pre-show private cocktail service for the corporate comedy evening. Food is not described on the pages provided, so ask about outside catering before planning a meal.
History and setting
The Lincoln Lodge describes itself as the nation's longest-running independent comedy showcase and a nonprofit stand-up club and training center. It runs shows six nights a week and teaches six-week comedy courses. It was named best venue for stand-up in the Chicago Reader's Best of Chicago 2025 awards. As a nonprofit, it offers discounted rentals to artists and community organizations.
Getting there
The address is 2040 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647. The pages provided do not describe transit or parking, so check access with the team when you book.
