Chemically Imbalanced Comedy presents: The Book of Liz Sister Elizabeth Donderstock is Squeamish, has been her whole life. She makes cheese balls (traditional and smoky) that sustain the existence of her entire religious community, Clusterhaven. However, she feels unappreciated among her … [Read more...]
This week, I switch it up a little to show some love for Chemically Imbalanced Comedy. And what better way to do that than to highlight one of their house teams: A Dozen Red Roses. CIC only has 5 sponsored teams on the books, which really says something about the faith they place in these 8 … [Read more...]
For most independent teams, getting one run at one venue is something to be proud of. That's not enough for the long-form improv team Hugs and Pullups. In June and continuing through July, they have three runs going in three different venues. As of this week alone (7/18-7/25), they have FIVE … [Read more...]
“That’s how you intro some shit.” He was right. “He” is Warren Phynix Johnson, one of the four members of BLACKOUT, along with Sherman Edwards, Ramon Smith, and Darwin Smith. He had just finished introducing the night’s opening group, Challenger, and as he was walking back to the green … [Read more...]
Playing like a child with the freedom of imagination and lack of rules is almost always the emphasis for improvisers, but playing for children is another game entirely. Storytown, an improvised fairy tale, performs for an audience of captivated children and hungover adults every Saturday morning at … [Read more...]
The Shock T's, a musical comedy trio, will begin a five-week run at iO on July 9th. The Shock T's perform covers, original songs, blackouts, and fully improvised numbers. The Shock T's have performed at venues all over the city, including the Playground and Martyr's. They have gained notoriety … [Read more...]
Chicago’s Hottest Up and Coming Comics. Super Cheap BYOB Showcase. A relative newcomer, Studio BE has been presenting a Saturday night stand-up showcase since September of 2009. While Chicago offers an almost overwhelming variety of sketch, improv and stand-up events to watch on any given … [Read more...]
While some people use mindless hours of travel for silent contemplation and growing resentment towards the driver, others use it for writing sketch comedy. What else would you expect from former Second City Touring Company members Andy Miara, Tim Robinson, and Mark Ratterman? Miara, director of the … [Read more...]
Tuesday night stand-up isn't for the faint of heart; just ask any of the comedians from last night’s Chicago Underground Comedy show. The weekly event, sponsored by 312 and held at the Beat Kitchen, showcases a selection of five of Chicago’s top stand-up comedians. While Ken Barnard, Mikey … [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...]
I couldn’t guarantee that the Cupid Players’ “Cupid Has a Heart On: A Musical Guide to Relationships” wouldn’t be at all helpful if distributed in pamphlet form by couples therapists, but it’s probably best off continuing to be performed for entertainment purposes at the iO in the form … [Read more...]
The Just for Laughs festival has partnered with Chicago's Sketchfest to bring an enormous array of local sketch comedy groups to Studio BE this Saturday, June 19. Sketch-travaganza will deliver 3 or 4 groups every hour (with every hour having it's own theme) starting at 6pm and ending at midnight … [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...]
[portfolio_slideshow] If there’s comedy in tragedy, it’d be nice if it had a soundtrack. The new musical, four play sets to music the lives of four 30-something Chicagoans as they confront their failed attempts at love, success in career and familial understanding. four play (all lowercase) … [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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