If Lollapalooza were somehow artificially inseminated by a school of the performing arts, the offspring would resemble the upcoming Chicago Fringe Festival. Opening September 1 and running for five days, the Fringe will feature 46 performing groups at eight venues in Pilsen. The shows will run … [Read more...]
Saturday Night Live co-creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels made his annual visit to Chicago to scope out the scene and possibly hijack some local talent for his little-known TV show which is currently in its 35th year on NBC. Charna Halpern, co-founder and director of iO Theater, arranged … [Read more...]
They didn’t just kill, they massacred. It’s hard to say if the audience at the Playground Theater in Lakeview had an inkling of what was in store when they agreed to witness a performance by Cook County Social Club on the last night of TBS-sponsored Just for Laughs festival, but they were … [Read more...]
[portfolio_slideshow] Fulfilling its mission to be subversive in language and theme, The Annoyance Theatre has done it again. It’s latest incarnation, “The Swear Jar,” is an equal-opportunity offender. During the 90-minute show, audience members are serenaded with the “A” word, both … [Read more...]
An obvious homage to the days of silent films, “The Better Doctor” is a silent play that deals humorously with the not-so-funny topic of health care and the lack thereof. Bootstraps Comedy Theater, in association with Silent Theatre Company, brings this production to the Prop Thtr until the … [Read more...]
If Godzilla was a comedy festival, he would be “A Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs” which invades Chicago for five nights at 17 venues with over 100 comedians. From June 15-19, some of comedy’s biggest headliners will perform: Ellen DeGeneres, Denis Leary, Cedric the Entertainer, Jerry … [Read more...]
"four play" is a musical comedy/tragedy that follows the lives and loves of four city dwellers who are trying hard to navigate the twists and turns of life with a road map that is full of dead ends and detours into uncharted territory. The best of intentions might lead to hell, but Peter, … [Read more...]
Are you looking for something completely different? No, Monty Python is not doing a reunion tour, but a wacky new live comedy game show will open at The Hideout on June 11. What on earth is Shame that Tune, you ask? It is the creation of Abraham Levitan and Brian Costello, and it features a … [Read more...]
[portfolio_slideshow] You’d better hurry if you want to catch Springtime for Daley at Donny’s Skybox Theater--the last performance is Friday May 28 at 7:30pm. Written by graduates of Writing Level 6 at Second City, the show pays homage to Chicago, Mayor Daley and popular culture, and ties … [Read more...]
A few weeks ago I stumbled upon the Cornservatory Theater in Lincoln Square, and their Original Improv Gladiators show. I have to admit I had no idea what to expect, and my expectations were far exceeded. It was a wild and wacky and campy 2 ½ hours of comedy. This Improv Gladiator competition … [Read more...]
A trio of top notch comedians kept em laughing Sunday night when Uncle’s Brother made another iO appearance. Second City Mainstage performers Brad Morris and Joe Canale were joined by comic journeyman Tim Meadows for an evening of sharp improv. Meadows returned home last year, having begun his … [Read more...]
The Playground Theater recently hosted a 30-hour improv marathon to raise money for the Illinois Coalition of Reach Out and Read. KC Redheart, an incubator team at The Playground, performed the … [Read More...]
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