Otherworld Theatre Company: Improvised Romantasy

The cast of Improvised Romantasy

Otherworld Theatre Company Presents IMPROVISED ROMANTASY Review - Hard Times and Hard Nips

TLDR: Taking a loose outline from a popular romantic fantasy (aka romantasy) novel, our improv troupe builds a world to parody that plot during their one hour comedy block. This improv cast shows off their improv chops having fun exploiting every trope within those novels for our entertainment. 

Members of the Improvised Romantasy cast

Enter The Land of Dragons

She came falling through the sky, graceful and delicate, but also tough and sturdy like any general leading an army, who is also a woman, would… 

Luckily her dragon is there to catch her fall (even though he was the one who dropped her in the first place). Ah yes, that’s right! Tonight’s performance of Improvised Romantasy takes us to a world of dragons and dragon riders with kingdoms at war fighting against each other. Introduced to the show by our fantasy author and host for the evening, PJ collects a few suggestions from the audience to build into the show like dating green and red flags and then the cast is let loose to establish our plot.

They build this world so aptly named Scorched WetRocksberg because of all the scorched rocks from the dragons and also wet. This particular Friday, they pull from the likes of Fourth Wing with a dash of How to Train Your Dragon. After we get our setting, characters, and conflict we’re off on this spectacular journey during Improvised Romantasy!  

Ever Seen A Dragon Flip You The Bird?

This improv troupe from Otherworld keeps us audience members laughing as they make sure to capture every romantic trope that ever existed in romantasy novels. There’s the unlikely hero trying to make a name for himself. There’s the hardened general who has every single conflicting character trait about her as the main female character (not to mention we also have to call attention to her hard nips because, again, she’s a woman). Then we can’t forget our villains, the evil king and annoying rich kid and no spoilers, but both create some twists to their characters’ arcs as well.

And most importantly, because this is parodying spicy fantasy novels, you can bet there’s plenty of f*cking going on. Of course we’re not going into soft core porn territory, just the usual dragons feeling their heated connection, running offstage, and somehow every single wall, door, curtain, and window is rattling from backstage.   

Aside from hitting all the marks for a romantasy, they also show off their improv skills building on whatever plot points PJ throws their way as well as carrying bits and callbacks through the show. They also use physical comedy and props to their advantage, running flying through the audience and changing into and out of costumes as they transform characters.  

Members of the Improvised Romantasy cast

The After Party Thoughts

Gosh one comedy show parodying Love Island and another one riffing off of Fourth Wing, how lucky can one girl get? Like reality TV, I was also introduced to romantasy via BookTok during the pandemic. Now I’m one of those people that loves reading romantasy as well as making fun of it. The Improvised Romantasy show I had the pleasure of attending last Friday night was fully in the dragon space, but who knows what a different Friday night show will hold for you. 

Improvised Romantasy is a fun show for anybody who loves those books filled with mythical creatures like dragons, fairies, and other magical folk that add a little spice to them. The cast is hilarious and genuinely seems like they’re having fun up there, so if you’re looking for a light-hearted night out and want a fantasy comedy show all wrapped up into one, Improvised Romantasy is the show for you!

RECOMMENDED

When

Now through February 27, 2026

Where

iO Theatre

1501 N Kingsbury St.

Chicago, IL 60642.

Runtime: 60min, no intermission

Tickets

$20+ 

Tickets can be purchased through the Otherworld Theatre website

Photos

Courtesy of Otherworld Theatre Company

CAST

Liam Ryan 

Henry Olson

Melina Arevalo

Joseph Belangia

Lexi Putter

Holly Kuldell

Lazarus Howell

Janice Rumschlag

Molly Olson

Casey Dillard

Brian Graf

Cameron Cylkowski

Cooper Lyke

Aadil Patel