Copley Comedy Series Featuring Benker & Preston

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 November 2026, 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.

November 7: Join Tim Benker, Mike Preston and host Steve Cochran for a night of big laughs.

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.

30 years in standup comedy for Mike Preston has included appearances on Showtime’s Comedy Club Network and NBC’s Friday Night. Along the way Mike has self published several books, including The Moron Chronicles, STOP TALKING NOW!, and Sway. Additionally, Mike produced and hosted a cable television comedy talk show in the Chicago suburbs for 15 years.

Steve Cochran is a true radio legend with 30 years in Chicago broadcasting from The Loop to WGN and more. Steve hosted 10,000+ shows on the radio with more than 20,000 guests, and counting. He’s still asking questions today on his LIVE FROM MY OFFICE podcast. Nationally recognized as one of the great interviewers of all time, he has a constant curiosity about all things and an innate ability to make every guest look good. Steve is thrilled to be back on stage doing stand up as he has for many years. He has worked with Lewis Black, Garry Shandling, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan and many more of the funniest people ever. His three grandkids are 10, 6, and 1 and they all think he’s funny… and funny looking. He’s glad you’re here and thanks you for coming out.