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 unthinkable: a new guest team with a new improv form, on the hour, every hour, for 30 hours. They came out … [Read more...]
Our "3 Questions" series continues with the screamingly successful improv team Michael Pizza. In the two years since Michael Pizza (otherwise known as Brett Elam, Eric Christensen, Ben Kass, and Josh Logan) have been together, they've been named "Best New Improv Group" by Chicago Magazine, won … [Read more...]
Our "3 Questions" series continues by probing the minds of Kellen Alexander, Seth Dodson, and John Hartman of the improv team 1 ,2, 3, Fag! We asked them the same 3 questions separately. Here's what they had to say: 1. What were the qualities of your teammates that drew you to this … [Read more...]
A great philosopher once said, “If you want to know something, ask a question.” We took that advice two steps further: we wanted to know a whole bunch, so we asked three questions. In fact, we asked the same three questions to several improv teams in Chicago, hoping to get a glimpse into the … [Read more...]
Sarah Rose Graber graduated from Northwestern University's Theatre program and received her acting certificate from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She has performed and directed in numerous theaters including Strawdog, Factory Theater, Noble Horse and Chemically Imbalanced Comedy. … [Read more...]
Time to give a shout out to your favorite improv teacher or teachers in another one of our famed reader surveys … [Read more...]
Craig Uhlir was the first improv teacher I had in Chicago, and I couldn’t have asked for a more positive welcome to the city. Not only does Craig teach at Second City and iO, but he performs every week with the improv teams Deep Schwa and Middle Age Comeback...in short, one talented mofo. My first … [Read more...]
9 Actors. 30 Hours. No Script. No Sleep. No Sanity On September 10-11 at the Playground Theater, local improv troupe K.C. Redheart will perform 30 straight hours of comedy as part of the inaugural Playground Improv Marathon, a charity event benefiting the Illinois Coalition of Reach Out and Read … [Read more...]
When you Google Image search "tom selleck 80s", you get 39 pages of thick mustaches and perfectly coiffed chest hair peeking out of Hawaiian shirts. It's inspiring. So inspiring, in fact, that a group of avid Selleck fans decided to create an improv show based on "tom selleck 80s". This probably … [Read more...]
The original idea for the “Regrets” series came from “We Sell Boxes” signs that director and writer Steve Delahoyde had seen on buildings throughout Chicago. The idea of talking to someone whose life had devolved to such a simple and mundane task seemed funny. Collaborating with Justin … [Read more...]
You can tell that Ronnie Feldman, Matt Hovde, and Tom Flanigan are improvisers because they wear lab coats. They also write scenes based on Pi and Darwin’s theory of Evolution. One time, they even performed a song about litmus tests. See? Improvisers. What you may not have noticed is that … [Read more...]
Speaking from experience, I can say performing with Michael Girts is a real treat. The concept of ‘support’ in comedy is often preached by improv instructors, but Mike is a real practitioner of support, both onstage and off-stage. One of the nicest guys in the comedy community is also one of … [Read more...]
It's the Apollo Theatre on a Friday night. After Million Dollar Quartet plays their show to another crowd of tourists, an entirely different musical takes the stage. Baby Wants Candy: The Fully Improvised Musical performs every single Friday night at 10:30 pm with a rotating cast of top-notch … [Read more...]
Seth Weitberg moved to Chicago three days after he graduated from Duke in 2003, and he hasn't stopped moving since. A talented writer, actor, comedian and improviser, Seth boldly goes wherever ambition and inspiration take him. I was lucky enough to snag 45 minutes of his day to have a wonderful … [Read more...]
Third Time’s A Charm For Shelly Gossman After auditioning for Saturday Night Live twice in the past, Second City Mainstage star Shelly Gossman was finally offered a writing job with the iconic sketch show this past weekend. As previously reported by Laughing Parrot Author Alan Klehr, SNL … [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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