Copley Comedy Series

Subscriber pre-sale: Feb. 18 at 10 a.m.
Public on-sale: Feb. 20 at 10 a.m.

When it comes to comedy, Chicago is a driving force. The Windy City area has produced some of the biggest names in improv, sketch and stand-up comedy in the country. So we’ve tapped into the talent pool of professional stand-ups that call Chicagoland home when they’re not touring the nation doing what they do best: making people laugh.

Welcome to the Copley Comedy Series. On select Saturday nights through May 2 amazingly talented professional stand-ups take the stage in the intimate 165-seat Copley Theatre. From Zanies, the Improv and Chicago Theatre to the Fillmore, Symphony Hall, HBO and Nexflix, these seasoned stand ups are coming to Aurora intent on showing you a good time – interpret that as you will.

There’s no drink minimum. Come early and hang out in the very cool Copley Bar and just have some fun.

May 2’s line-up:
Headliner: Brian Hicks
Featuring: Des Mulrooney
Host: Tim Benker

But wait, there’s more…

This show is a part of the Copley Comedy Series. Stay tuned for more information and on-sale date for these upcoming shows:

Saturday, February 28, 2026
Headliner: Tim Walkoe
Featuring: Paul Farahvar
Host: Tim Benker

Saturday, March 14, 2026
Headliner: Jeanie Doogan
Featuring: Katie Meiners
Host: Tim Benker

Saturday, March 28, 2026
Headliner: Dwayne Kennedy
Featuring: Jim McHugh
Host: Tim Benker

Saturday, April 18, 2026
Headliner: Vince Maranto
Featuring: Steven Haas
Host: Tim Benker

Saturday, May 2, 2026
Headliner: Brian Hicks
Featuring: Des Mulrooney
Host: Tim Benker

About the performers

Brian Hicks has been delivering knockout stand-up for over 25 years with a style that blends smart writing, quick wit, and razor-sharp crowd work. He’s performed in clubs across the country, making audiences laugh with material that’s fast, funny, and always in the moment. Brian has opened for comedy heavyweights like Bill Burr, Jim Gaffigan, Chelsea Handler, and the Impractical Jokers. He’s a seasoned pro who knows how to work any crowd—whether he’s roasting the front row or dropping a perfectly timed punchline. No gimmicks. No pretense. Just a mic, a spotlight, and one of the sharpest comics working today.

Des Mulrooney is a 25 year old comedian and actor who has performed at theaters and clubs all over America including being a Zanies regular. He recently starred in a new movie alongside Doug Stanhope called, “The Road Dog” which was directed by Greg Gliena (Meet The Parents). The Road Dog was featured on the Joe Rogan Experience and is now streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and on demand. The film received warm reviews from the likes of The Chicago Sun Times, and won multiple awards including Best Picture at the Hollywood Independent Reel Film Festival. A Lot More Fun Comedy Club in Michigan called Des, “One of the top young comedians in the country”. Des was also recently voted, “Best Comedian” by the Chicago Suburbs Comedy Scene. Des is a regular feature for Andy Beningo (Dry Bar Comedy) and has also opened for Chad Daniels, Nick Griffin, Kevin Farley (Tommy Boy), Dustin Nickerson (Netflix), Marsha Warfield (Night Court), Jamie Lissow (Fox), Derrick Stroup, Kellen Erskine and more. Des has performed at the acclaimed 312 Chicago Comedy Festival, he headlined the Chicago area Comedy Shrine at age 19, and has headlined and featured at clubs like Zanies, Comedy Vault, Comedy Cabin, Kenosha Comedy Club, Laugh Factory and more. 

A Chicago comedy veteran, Tim Benker has performed stand-up from New York to Las Vegas, and has co-hosted morning radio shows in Las Vegas and Houston along the way. Tim recently performed the multi-media comedy shows “Men of a Certain Rage,” “The Four Fathers” and “The Idiot’s Guide to Fixing Stooopid.” Tim occasionally appears on the musical comedy stage as his alter-ego, “The Very Famous Lance Vegas.” Credits: Zanies Chicago; The Improv Chicago, LA, Las Vegas; The Funny Bones Chicago, St. Louis, Dayton; Catch a Rising Star Chicago, New York, Las Vegas.