418 South Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, United States
A historic arts & entertainment venue in downtown Carbondale Illinois
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The Fine & Bawdy Cabaret:
Strange & Unusual, a Burtonesque Burlesque - An Evening of Deliciously Distorted Delight (21+)
Headliner: HELENA HANDBASKET
Featuring:
Wayward Lovers
Unhinged Ghosts
Merry Widows
Peculiar Playthings
Creatures of the Night and
Other Curious Oddities
Come out to The Varsity, where the Fine & Bawdy Wenches take over the Big Room and bring you an epic show of wonders!
Tickets
Get your tickets with your choice of zones:
VIP (Be front and center for all the action!)
Mid-Tier (Close & center, VIP adjacent)
Value (Take it all in!)
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Varsity Improv Welcomes Jason Wild (And Friends) Improv Come
We are doing an Improv mashup!
Get ready for a night of completely unscripted comedy with Wild AF (Wild And Friends), a high-energy blend of short-form games, long-form improv, and unexpected moments featuring the CCHS Terriers Live! improv troupe, Varsity Improv's home troupe Under Maintenance, St. Louis's Stephen Fanning, Southern Illinois theatre mainstay Ryan Patrick, and more! Wild AF is a night of laughs appropriate for the whole family!
Hosted by veteran improviser and Carbondale native Jason Wild, each show brings together a rotating cast of special guests for an evening where anything can happen. From fast-paced audience-inspired scenes to extended improvised stories, Wild AF showcases the full spectrum of improv comedy—smart, spontaneous, and always unique to the audience in the room.
Jason has spent more than 20 years helping build Salt Lake City’s improv scene through Quick Wits and is a partner in The Comedy Lab, Salt Lake City's only dedicated improv comedy theater. Drawing on decades of experience both onstage and behind the scenes, he creates a show that celebrates the art of improvisation while giving audiences plenty of reasons to laugh.
No scripts. No safety net. Just great improvisers, great guests, and a night of comedy that will never happen the same way twice.
Tickets for the show are $10 available in advance here on Eventbrite and $15 at the door on the night of the show. Varsity Bar and doors at 6:30, show at 7:30.
Big Mud De-Medusa presents
The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Pride Edition!
This Carbondale PRIDE 2026, our house shadowcast Big MudDe-Medusa and The Varsity are having an extra-special screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Doors and the Varsity Bar open at 7 with the screening at 8 PM. Join us as we PROUDLY celebrate YOU and why The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the longest-running movie in cinematic history!
Tickets
Get your tickets with your choice of seats & action zones.
VIP Prime (Be front and center for all the action with special VIP Prop & Swag bags!)
VIP Select (Close & center, VIP Prop & Swag bag)
Terrace (Take it all in!)
Upcoming Screenings
Grantchester - S11 Episode 1
WSIU Pre-Screening of Episode 1 of the 11th & final season of GRANTCHESTER
Premiering this summer: the final and 11th season of Grantchester on PBS Masterpiece! Join WSIU for a free pre-screening of the very first episode and get an inside look at the transformative summer of 1963 as characters reconnect with estranged mothers, face promotions that could end crime-solving partnerships, and more. Friday, June 12th at 6PM at the Varsity Center in Carbondale.
Door open one hour prior to the screening.
The Myth of the Angry Black WOman
Join Us for The Myth of the Angry Black Woman in Carbondale! Sunday, June 14 • 4 PM - 7 PM
Carbondale United presents their newest documentary film to break down stereotypes and share real stories about the "Angry Black Woman" myth – come join the convo!
Come experience this powerful in-person event that dives deep into the stereotype and challenges the narrative around the Angry Black Woman. It’s a great chance to connect, learn, and engage with real stories and meaningful conversations. Don’t miss out on this eye-opening and inspiring gathering right in Carbondale!
Doors open one hour prior to the screening. RSVP is required.
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Varsity Improv : Under Maintenance
Come out for the home team! Saturday June 20
Members of The Varsity’s house improv group will write, produce, and improvise a show for their latest residence appearance at the downtown Carbondale venue.
The hour-long show will be hosted by Under Maintenance, our local ensemble led by Macklen Makhloghi, which blends veteran performers with emerging talent, united by a shared passion for improv.
Performances feature a dynamic mix of formats, including fast-paced improv games, long-form storytelling, sketch comedy, and audience interaction, ensuring that each and every show is unique. And, because the group takes its inspiration directly from the audience, every show is wildly different. Come be a part of the experience.
Tickets for the show are $8 and are available in advance here on Eventbrite and at the door on the night of the show. Varsity Bar and doors at 7, show at 8.
FILMS
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY
LIVE EVENTS | THEATER | COMEDY