Milwaukee Improv opens this Friday, Aug. 20 at The Corners of Brookfield. It is the Improv’s 25th national location and first in Wisconsin. We previewed the space this week before the club’s opening.

The new venue features a lounge and full bar in its lobby with a spacious 402-seat showroom.

When guests first walk in, they’re greeted by a “legends of comedy” wall which honors the Improv’s 60-year-old brand as well as the many careers sparked on Improv stages.

Spread throughout the lounge area is a variety of regional, Wisconsin and Milwaukee-themed decorations, a series of current comedians’ photographs and an exposed brick wall for visitors to snap photos in front of.

In the back of the lounge area, there is a custom mural installation created by Milwaukee artist David Zimmerman, a.k.a. Bigshot Robot, whose murals can be spotted around the city.

Guests are encouraged to come and enjoy the lounge and bar area before the night’s show. Once it is time for the show to begin, attendees will be escorted into the showroom.

The main stage features another exposed brick wall – this one paying homage to the original 1963 Improv in New York. When renovating that original space into an Improv stage, the club ran out of money before they could finish putting up drywall. So the exposed brick was used as the stage’s backdrop. And the rest was history: every Improv stage built in the year’s since has an iconic brick wall behind it.

In the back of the main showroom, there’s a smaller stage called The Lab, which faces about 50 of the 402 total seats. This area can be separated from the Main Showroom for private parties or intimate celebrations with a Skyfold wall divider. It is billed as the “dream maker” stage – a space where lesser-known standup comedians can kickstart their careers with an open microphone and an approachable audience. The Lab caters to aspiring comedians, with the Improv actively searching out local talent.

Full-service dining is also available during performances. QR code menus are on every seat and allow guests to order food and drinks at any point in the night without interrupting the show. Chef Geno Fontanoza, the Improv’s executive chef, creates all the menus for the clubs nationwide. Some featured items include a Nashville chicken sandwich, the Improv burger, an Italian chopped salad, the staple spinach artichoke dip and wings. Additionally, the Improv offers three mason jar desserts – key lime pie, strawberry shortcake and chocolate brownie.

The first act at the new Improv is Steve Byrne, who will be headlining this weekend. The lineup this fall includes other big acts like Tim Dillon and Bob Saget.