The Historic Fischer Theatre is celebrating the people who spend their days educating, supporting, and encouraging students with Laugh Now, Grade Later: An Education Appreciation Comedy Night. Thanks to the generous support of The Halloran Family Foundation, admission is FREE for education personnel and their families.

And this isn’t just a comedy show for educators, it’s a comedy show by people who know education firsthand. Our lineup features four comedians who have also spent years working in schools, classrooms, and education-related roles. They know the students, the schedules, the surprises, and everything else that makes working in education unlike any other job.

Your Host: Chris Hightower
Known locally as the “Funniest Man in the 217,” Chris Hightower has spent 15 years performing throughout the Midwest, including appearances at the Laugh Factory, Comedy Shrine, and Jokes & Notes. By day, he has spent the past decade working in Danville District 118 in roles ranging from tutor and long-term substitute to his current position as a Home Program Interventionist. Chris is also a member of the Vermilion Heritage Foundation Board.

Em Brown
Chicago comedian Em Brown has performed across the country and appeared as a series regular on HBO Max’s South Side, along with appearances on Laff Tracks, the LOL Network, Tubi’s Laughing in Color, and XM Radio. Offstage, Em has spent more than a decade working in education, including six years as Head of Technology and four years as a full-time substitute teacher in the Chicagoland area.