The Second City's 95th mainstage offering, "No Country For Old White Men," will hit the boards beginning April 13. "As the face of the American Presidency readies for a change, The Second City realizes that there are no clean getaways in No Country for Old White Men. From a You Tube electorate grabbing their 15 minutes of fame to a rare US visit by the British House of Commons, No Country for Old White Men is trading in its Cadillac and country club membership for some sweet, soul food and a side of girl power."
Interviews with Second City castmembers are a good watch. Here's one with Megan Grano.
Also, from Second City's website: "Check out Second City alums Jon Glaser and Tom Gianas in a new video that takes aim at the burgeoning political music video genre":
Some argue that long-form is superior to short-form improv. Some argue that musical improv is superior to "I can act but I can't sing" improv. Some like it hot. If you want all of this, come to the doubleheader of "Get Your Story Straight" by Found in Translation and "Infinite Sundaes" by Second City's Music Improv House Ensemble on Sundays at 8pm at Donny's Skybox.
We don't like getting too far into "forms" or "structures" or "other important sounding words" regarding long-form improv, but Found in Translation's "Get Your Story Straight" is one of our favorites. After an audience suggestion, one improviser puts forth a (partially true?) monologue from which a number of scenes are created. However, in between these scenes other characters monologue their relation to the original monologist, giving unique perspectives on a singular theme. These same characters contribute from the backline during the main monologist's final speech, encapsulating the show (We promise that's the last we'll say monologist). This week, a pedicure-obsessed murderer, who happens to not know the difference between a pedicure and a manicure, was the offspring of the audience suggestion "pedicure," with various side tangents.
We personally think this structure is both interesting for giving multiple perspectives on a story, and, from a performing point of view, gives each improviser a chance to have the whole stage to him or herself (we hate being grammatically politically correct, too, just deal with it so we don't get sued by a he-she). However, the form is somewhat limiting. Only a few scenes really diverged from the pedicure murderer (aka Danny Boy), but these scenes were clearly much more free, enjoyable for the performers, and enjoyable to watch. From these sprang honest observations about relationships, our president, and how the latter could benefit from a picture of a pony riding a rainbow.
Though what relationship couldn't use a pony riding a rainbow?
The second act of the evening is "Infinite Sundaes," so called because they perform every Sunday at 8pm so check, check, check it out, y'all. While they are called Second City's house musical improv team, that does not mean that they improvise house music (We've all already seen "The System is Down.")
Short games held the attention of the audience through a rap battle (complete with guy who suggested both "Oprah for President" and "Oprah for Governor" as rap subjects), an improvised ballet, and various scenes with musical outbursts. However, much like with Found in Translation, Infinite Sundaes best moments came when they were most free. When serenading a French girl from the audience, four men sang "cherie, cherie, amore, marzipan." Clearly one of these men knows little to no French, but that both forces and allows him to be completely free and creative. This improvisation sans net was best
portrayed in the karaoke guessing game, where two improvisers had to sing while two more played charades. Trying to play charades in tune, and rhythm, and possibly even rhyming forced the improvisers to absolutely let go, resulting in the biggest laughs of the night. Both groups were at their best when it was most obvious they were both improvising and having fun.
So, if you like musical short-form comedy, the songs, scenes, and games change every week. If you like long-form singing-is-for-pansies comedy, throw out the suggestion "singing is for pansies." But if you're gonna be a dick about it, no one will give you a drawing of a pony riding a rainbow. -Chris Singel
Saturday before last saw the opening of "Wii the People" at Donny's Skybox at Second City, and The Bastion was fortunate enough to be there.
"Wii the People" is the latest revue from the Second City Outreach and Diversity Ensemble, Brownco. On the whole, it's a well-paced, funny (at times hilarious) concoction of sketches and improv put off by a fun and entirely likable group. From the opening musical piece, "Ambiguously Ethnic", to the closing improv, based on the life of an audience member, the laughs were abundant. Topics ranged from Iraqi comedy clubs to a poetry slam to a handyman with a cure for all problems, interspersed with a number of songs with scene changes punctuated by well-chosen hip-hop excerpts.
Standout sketches include a string of horribly politically incorrect racial jokes designed to make the audience simultaneously laugh and squirm, a game of Win, Lose, or Draw from hell, and a fantastic Abbot-and-Costello-esque discussion of the border fence.
On the whole, this was an entirely enjoyable way to spend an hour, and certainly worth the $12 ticket price. The only suggestions we'd have for the production is for the performers to project a little more -- at times the musical accompaniment too easily dominated. But we're sure this is just an opening night glitch.
"Wii The People" (and, yes, there's an obligatory string of Wii puns) runs every Saturday at 9:00 PM in Donny's Skybox until December 8. Tickets can be purchased here. It's performed by Mike Abdelsayed, Frankie Benavides, Elana Elyce, Sherman Edwards, Jamella Sheelo, and Ariel Coleman-Turner. It's directed by John Hildreth, with music direction by Matt Griffo.
Allow us to turn our attention today towards the unsung heroes of urban living. Those managers of the first profession, offering valuable protective services and backhanded bitchslaps. We speak, of course, of The Pimp. And how would such a noble creature perform improvisational comedy? Why, through Pimprov, of course!
But of course, let us not forget the opening act. "Obsessed" began the evening with a series of improvised scenes. Delving into the political landscape, the undertones of an impotent man with a disenfranchised wife due to George W. Bush rang true in our political landscape. Further societal inquiry attacked sexy crime scene shows. A hint, dear reader: Exhibit B was Boobies!
Yet the meat of the show was the pimps themselves. Daddy Jenkins, Hollis (Pronounced "Ho Lease"), Pimpin' Poochie, and Grand Finale (a.k.a. Count Mackula), after some "pimp posing," performed various "pimp scenes," improvised scenes as only a pimp can do. One audience suggestion led into investment advisor Mr. T, a masseuse inmate, and,
as The Bastion affectionately refers to her, Grandma Whoopass. These pimps are so committed, one pimp actually acted like it hurt when Grandma Whoopass hit him with that chair!
However, the most captivating part of the show was the audience interaction. Pimp Daddy Al was at first the usual timid, white grandfather taken from the audience at a show called Pimprov (I guess the elderly will go anywhere their Hoverounds take them!). Fortunately, after some pimp-coaching, Pimp Daddy Al pimprovised his way out of a paper bag and into some dance moves. This is, of course, all before the highlight of the night, in which each pimp grabs a hoe and gets his money/suggestions from that hoochie throughout an improvised scene. Wonderful audience participation kept everyone enthralled, and truly proved that pimprovisin' ain't easy. Or maybe summa dem bitches was just dum.
We jest! Neither we nor the fine upstanding members of Pimprov (and fellow members of the Dean Koontz Book Club, as pictured), truly condone objectifying women. For that just cause, after every show the Pimprovisers have a collection for a women's shelter. The night we attended, these outstanding citizens raised $90 for the Between Friends Battered Women's Shelter.
To support the work of such classy gentleman, or to get your giggles on for guys in pimp costumes, check out their show. It's tomorrow night, Saturday, September 29th, Donny's Skybox, 9pm. And you best have yo' pimp's money this time, beeyotch!
Second City E.T.C.'s 30th Revue - 'Pratfall of Civilization"
This article will be a review of a Second City show for people who have seen Second City shows before, and are at least a little familiar with the theater. If you have never seen a Second City show before this article might help you a little, because I will say to you now, "Go see a Second City show. Yes, you should get out of your studio apartment with the air mattress and go." But for those of you who are around the theater, let's talk about the E.T.C. stages' current show, "Pratfall of Civilization."
This show is exciting to me, and very interesting. Next door on the Mainstage, Second City is currently running a perfect example of the formulaic Second City show. It is very funny, very political and very current - it is a flawless execution of a Second City show - the only downside to that is that there are little-to-no-risks taken. It has to be scary to take a risk in such an established and successful theater, what happens if you deviate from the formula and fail? Well you would probably be out of a career. Right when I walked into the ETC theater I saw something new - something I haven't seen in the 14 years I have been seeing comedy in that cold room; I saw a video screen that was displaying a live feed of the lobby. Here are the thoughts that flashed in my head: modern, 2007, YouTube, digital short, Andy Samberg, update, moving with the times, trying something new, video! This is exciting! In the comedy community here I have heard people talk about whether or not SC would ever use video in one of its staged shows or if it should. Would it be appropriate? Would it still have the feel of The Second City? Would it work? Something else that is very exciting about this show is that the cast from the last show has been kept in-tact, which usually means there will be a lot of cohesion and chemistry. This was proven to be true, the cast writes well together and is excited to be playing with each other.
The show starts with a very brief opening credit-esque screen on the video-screen and the entire audiences head turns to the right, then lights come up and the heads turn back to the stage. The show opens up in a group song which tells me okay we are still in a Second City show. "Pratfall" has all the usual suspects; the sometimes ham-fisted political commentary disguised as a "scene", the songs with comical rhymes, the blackouts, the relationship scenes - everything is there. Except now a photo is shown on the video-screen that usually shows the environment that the current scene is taking place in - which adds a very nice touch! We see a photo of a messy garage while we watch a great scene showing Alex Fendrich and Niki Lindgren as Andy St. Clair's parents who use their sons method of rebelling, music, to get through to him. The best scene in act I is a father/daughter scene where Andy St. Clair is a worried father leaving his daughter behind at her new dorm, Rob Janas has a hysterical Al Gore impression as the former Vice President mirrors a cult leader and starts having everyone kill themselves by drinking the punch. There is a really smart song that shows a completely normal school girl (Amanda Blake Davis) who is surrounded by un-normal kids, which makes her wish she had a mother who left her, or was a test-tube baby - anything to fit in with her class! Some scenes are better than others as some feel forced or too political/boring/fake, and some scenes are wonderfully hilarious and honest and even surprising. Another fun element about this cast that deviates from the safe formula is that they love to play with their musical director, Chad Krueger. Chad gets up with the male cast members in an audience-participation musical scene that starts on-stage and ends in the crowd with the amigos talking to and trying to sing about audience members. When Chad gets up on stage a few audience members next to me said, "Who's that guy?", which added to my enjoyment - Chad's first line in that scene is hilarious and completely wins the crowd over. The very top of act II features my ALL-TIME favorite audience participation bit, that is also my favorite silent scene! It is so beautiful and funny and the audience member looks so happy by the end of it. It is a huge pop at the top of act II to get things back in gear, and I hope to see that little piece touring for years to come.
So after acting as a slide-show / lobby-camera for the entire show, there is finally a very dangerous - very new scene with Niki Lindgren and Nicky Margolis called "ICE". It features the ladies running through the audience as Immigration police with hand-held flashlights that are VERY bright and also have tiny wireless cameras in them - the video screen puts up the live feed to the flashlight-cam. The house is dark except for the flashlights and the two cast members cover the entire audience talking to people, shoving the bright light in their face and asking them the question, "What about you makes you an American?" I am told that the scene is to end with the girls talking to an African-American audience member, but on this particular night there was none! ZERO! I was in a room full of white people and one Asian, who was performing. So the ladies had to improvise and talk to a tan white person because he was "close enough". This scene is all of the following: dangerous, groundbreaking, fun (it is so fun to watch the audience members turn their heads between the live action and the video screen), loud, opinionated, and funny. This scene is the show. There is something about having people, white and black, prove they are American and seeing the audience members struggle to come up with one shred of American identity that makes an important point to me. Important. Old Second City shows used to feature Scott Adsit cutting up Blockbuster cards because he was angry and had an important point to make. That was dangerous then - this is dangerous now. That feeling was back! The feeling of what I want Second City as a theater, company, comedy insitution, etc. to be. That's what that theater means to me and it was so inspiring and relieving to have that moment back in the show. For YEARS the shows have been hilarious and fun to me, but it has not been important in a long time. "Pratfall" is an important show, and uses comedy to teach you something about yourself.
The E.T.C. theater was originally made to be different from Mainstage, to be a little edgier and to take more risks. Well that feeling is back, the Second City E.T.C. is the pissed off teenager in the family again. While this is by no means a perfect show, there are some boring scenes and some scenes with forced politics, overall what this show does is fantastic - and there are certainly enough "funny" moments to entertain your family from the suburbs. This show merges pieces of the traditional and safe SC formula with some use of photo/video, a lot of audience fun participation, an acting Musical Director, and a question that challenges you to discover about yourself what it means to be an American right now. The E.T.C. stage is the E.T.C. stage again - and there isn't a more fun and thought provoking show to see in Chicago right now.
"Pratfall Of Our Civilization" is written/performed by Amanda Blake Davis, Alex Fendrich, Rob Janas, Niki Lindgren, Nicky Margolis, and Andy St. Clair with musical direction by Chad Krueger. It is fantastically directed by Marc Warzecha whom I can't give enough credit to. Marc has found some sort of balance between the traditional sketch comedy show, while still trying new things and doing what he and the cast want. The show runs Thursdays - Sundays at The Second City E.T.C stage.
Second City News: Pajama Man Continue to "Stop Not Going”, "Barack" in WaPo, Sonic SC in Sun-Times
The Second City has brought the Pajama Men back to Second City. The award-winning duo is playing their show "Stop Not Going" at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph Street through August 19. They were a big hit at the Steppenwolf Garage Theatre last year, and Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez are back again to weave their sketch, character-driven comedy, and improv into their new show. The Pajama Men have been much praised by the Chicago Tribune.
In other Second City news, the Washington Post blog has mentioned "Between Barack and a Hard Place." Chris Cizzilla notes: "Among the sketches: A woman named 'Sillary Tinton' trying to find a hired gun to assassinate Obama. In it, each of the actors proclaimed, 'I am Barack Obama,' before detailing Obama's appeal to every segment of the population. There was even a love ditty for former Vice President Al Gore that included the line, 'I'd like to walk in your carbon footprint.' Classic."
Also, the Sun-Times just published a bit about the Second City performers and/or alum who are involved in the Sonic commercials. A favorite commercial? "a Sonic Island Fire Burger execution in which (T.J.) Jagadowski is going on about how he didn't realize the burger would be so spicy, while (Pete) Grosz expresses amazement at that revelation, given the burger's fiery name. The two actors go back and forth, until Jagadowski brings the banter to an amusing conclusion by remarking on his comic partner's annoyingly repetitive head movements."
Thanks to Jessica Joy for the tip: TJ Miller is making the press rounds on behalf of his ABC show "Carpoolers." Here he is on BuzzSugar, which says "His character, Marmaduke, steals scenes left and right in the pilot, including one where he's interviewing for a job sans pants."
TJ goes on to explain his Chicago comedy roots and says "I obviously love (Carpoolers' executive producer) Bruce McCulloch because of "Kids in the Hall" ... that's one of my comic idols. His show was in my sketch comedy education. So I came to it there and got the pilot out of Chicago and then the pilot got picked up and I got another film out of Chicago and so now I'm in LA, but yeah. I hope to be the rookie of the year this year for network television."
Something's developing at Second City. Part of Second City's Directing Program, "Recent Developments" features a fun cast of six actors, working toward creating a sketch comedy revue. Each week they improvise scenes based on ideas they've come up with, and shape them into entertaining sketches with the help of audience feedback. Not all of the sketches were hard-hitters, but there is a lot of potential for greatness. A couple of scenes went over very well, including one about a family's unwieldy interaction with their mini-van's GPS system. The entire cast is very talented, and Joshua Hanson has great timing and gives those on-the-money, honest reactions that have the audience rolling. Musical director, Sean Sykes, gives impressive underscoring to the scenes, setting the mood but not distracting from the piece. It will be exciting to check back on this group when they have their run in Donny's Skybox this summer, and see what director Mike McKeown does to bring it all together.
"Recent Developments" has its last run this Thursday at 10:30 pm in Donny's Skybox at Second City and features James Asmus, Vanessa Bayer, Christy Bonstell, Joshua Hanson, Tim Heurlin and Wendy Mateo.
Does Improv Work on TV?, MADtv at Second City Tomorrow Night, Edge Comedy
Can the wild animal that is improv make it in the heavily structured tv environment? Some say "maybe not." Improv elite including Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh made a good go of it with "ASSSSCAT: Improv" on Bravo not long ago, and even called on very special special guests like Tina Fey, Andy Richter, Rachel Dratch and Horatio Sanz but even the best of improv, it seems, suffers on television precisely because of the lack of immediacy that a live performance provides. Even though the popularity of the Drew Carey-hosted "Whose Line Is It Anyway," which ran from 1998 to 2004, broadened interest in improv, spoiled a wider audience's expectation of what improv "really is," according to some.
Nevertheless, NBC and a couple of talented Second City main stage vets are putting their all into network improv these days with "Thank God You're Here," an adaptation of an Australian improv tv show of the same name. How is the show going? According to Chicagoist: "There’s no denying that the show would be a thousand times more enjoyable if the core cast (including Nyima Funk and Maribeth Monroe from Second City) improvised with the guests instead of trying to hit certain beats and spit out fabricated lines...we actually laughed out loud a few times." But Dan Kois of Slate goes so far as to say the show isn't really improv at all: "...the supporting performers in the show clearly have seen a script, or at least a list of setups, gags, and plot points to stick to. Which means 'Thank God You're Here' isn't improv, not in any true sense."
Students and alum of the Second City Training Center can call 312-475-3564 to make reservations for a MADtv panel event tomorrow night, April 27, from 5-6 PM at 1608 North Wells. "Meet and hear from cast members of FOX's hit sketch comedy show MADtv at this free event for students and alumni of The Second City Training Center. Panelists include Ike Barinholtz, Crista Flanigan, Arden Myrin, Nicole Parker, Jordan Peele and possibly more. Topics will range from the process of creating and producing their shows, differences between writing and performing sketch for stage and television, working with guest stars, as well as a chance for audience members to ask questions. Patrick Brennan will host and moderate." Hm. "Possibly more." Does that mean that visiting MADtv performers are having too much fun in and around the Chicago Improv Festival this week? We hope so.
Edge Comedy is putting up its "Best of New Faces" show at SEVENS @ The Chicago Center for the Performing Arts (777 N. Green Street) tomorrow, Friday the 27th, at 8 PM. The new faces show will feature Cindy Cornelson, Brendan McGowan, Aaron Eikenberry, and more. The 8 PM "Best of Edge Comedy" show on Saturday the 28th (at the same location) has lined up Hannibal, Cameron Esposito, Fay Canale, Dustin White, Jeff Hansen, and others. Both shows are hosted by Edge producer Dave Odd.
Second City Gracefully Traverses Middle Age, Charna Halpern Finds Long-Lost Del Close Wisdom
Happy 47th Birthday to the venerable Chicago cultural icon Second City, which celebrates the big four seven on Saturday, December 16. If Second City were Demi Moore, it would be undergoing about $100,000 in plastic surgery right about now, and attempting to relaunch its career with a sexy turn in an action franchise, and a hot younger husband. But it's not.
Second City performers will also be teaming up with Rosie O'Donnell for a special event on December 15 on the cruise ship Norwegian Pearl to benefit Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation.
i.O. founder Charna Halpern was cleaning out a bookshelf recently and found a long-lost note from Del Close, about the nature of improv and The Harold. It's some fascinating stuff. Check out Charna's blog entry on that topic. From her transcription:
"DEL’S NOTES ON THE HAROLD
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1. You are all supporting actors
2 Always check your impulses.
3 Never enter a scene unless you are needed.
4 Save your fellow actor, don’t worry about the piece.
5 Your prime responsibility is to support.
6 Work at the top of your brains at all times.
7 Never underestimate or condescend to your audience.
8 No jokes (unless it is tipped in front that it is a joke.)
9 Trust…trust your fellow actors to support you; trust them to come through if you lay something heavy on them; trust yourself.
10 Avoid judging what is going down in terms of whether it needs help (either by entering or cutting), what can best follow, or how you can support it imaginatively if your support is called for.
11 LISTEN"
Today the Bastion introduces a new feature, in the center of our Special Features column, "The Bastion's Video Pic." Our first pick features (yes) TJ Miller, and a new favorite performer, the very busy and incalculably gifted Allison Bills, who keeps her talent sharp in performances all over the comedy landscape here in Chicago.
Friends have tipped us off to her amazing performances with partner Katie Nahnsen (who also works on Sports Action Team) in Getting Serious (currently in hiatus). The two are are eager to find another chance to stage that show (or a new incarnation thereof), which has been described as brilliant, and has earned some second glances from big festival producers. A "Part Two" version of Getting Serious may find a home onstage sometime this spring.
In the meantime, Narna is running upstairs at i.O. Thursday nights at 10:00 with Hans Holsen and Jena Friedman, plus one guest improviser each each week. It's in the early stages of development but is said to be a great laugh.
We're hoping to sit Miss Bills down for a proper interview sometime soon, but in the meantime, she shares this with us:
"Saturday nights at 8:00, I do the i.O. musical, which is also a new project for me. I did my first show this week and it was really fun. I am newer to improvising songs, but it is a fun muscle to be working. Super Fun Time just ended this past Sunday night, which I was doing every week for months, and I've just decided to teach a writing class Monday nights. Next week, I'm appearing in the Reckoning's staging of "What About Bob?" at 10:30 on Tuesday night. I also have a road-show gig I'm doing soon for i.O. and travelling with High Five to St. Louis to perform and do workshops for the university. I'm writing a couple of screenplays and a musical with Jena Friedman, and wanting very much to fill every minute with working and creating. I also coach an i.O. team, teach at i.O. and Second City, and do bizco for Second City."
Seth Meyers at Disposable Nation Opening at E.T.C. Theater Last Night
A Bastion spy was on hand at The Second City last night at the opening of the E.T.C. Theater's new show, Disposible Nation, and caught a glimpse of Saturday Night Live Head Writer, Weekend Update Co-Anchor and super mega dream pie Seth Meyers.
Meyers was also at the after-party, and, according to our source, "he was very kind to all of the comedy commoners, fulfilling the reputation that he has in NY of being the Nicest Hot Smart Funny Guy Ever."
NBC will have access to all shows, talent, and archive materials of Chicago's legendary comedy theater, and The Second City will also beef up its Los Angeles training center, in hopes of establishing a creative exchange that will result in the development of new television comedy projects.
In other Second City news, on November 2 the e.t.c. theater will launch its newest show, Disposable Nation, which explores the material goods, ideas, (and people) we treat like so many snotty kleenex.
Why do we lie? "Because it's easy and it makes us feel good." This point is made again and again as a nicely-sharpened stick is poked in the eyes of homophobia, overt as well as subtle racism, and, of course, that whole riduculous war thing. Lies in the family room, lies in a military recuiting office, lies on an online dating profile - they all spring from the same motivations.
There's a broad range of Chicago comedy experience behind writers and performers Joe Canale, Molly Erdman (a co-founder of Sirens Improv), Ithamar Enriquez, Brian Gallivan, Robyn Norris (filling in for Maribeth Monroe), and Claudia Michelle Wallace. (Almost all of them can be heard as guests on Second City musical director Ruby Streak's "We'll Be Right Back.") Collectively they've trained and performed at several Second City theaters, i.O., The Annoyance, and ComedySportz, as well as being able to claim a wide range of tv and movie credits.
Particularly funny moments included Claudia Michelle Wallace doing an "Oprah parts the Dan Ryan" bit in a sketch about the Almighty O, a musical number about the ban on gay marriage, a few well-delivered points about the debate on immigration, and several sharp blackouts.
In Second City gossip, mainstage performer Maribeth Monroe (who spoke on Ruby Streak's show about her audition for Saturday Night Live) is currently packing her bags for LA, with several years of mainstage and touring company experience to her credit, as well as theater credits including national tours of "My Cousin's Wedding" and "Sex and The Second City," which she co-wrote with current Second City producer Kirk Hanley.
And while we're gossiping, can someone please clarify whether the guy Second City students saw lurking suspiciously around Piper's Alley earlier this week is the real Mike Myers or that Mike Myers lookalike-with-a-Russian-accent we hear is taking improv classes there? Just when we think we know for sure, someone steps forward with another confusing bit of information. If we missed our chance to approach a real live celebrity with the eight millionth bad Austin Powers impression he's had to suffer, we're going to be ticked off.
Some argue that long-form is superior to short-form improv. Some argue that musical improv is superior to "I can act but I can't sing" improv. Some like it hot. If you want all of this, come to the doubleheader of "Get Your Story Straight" by Found in Translation and "
Saturday before last saw the opening of "Wii the People" at Donny's Skybox at Second City, and The Bastion was fortunate enough to be there.
Greetings and salutations dearest readers,
This article will be a review of a Second City show for people who have seen Second City shows before, and are at least a little familiar with the theater. If you have never seen a Second City show before this article might help you a little, because I will say to you now, "Go see a Second City show. Yes, you should get out of your studio apartment with the air mattress and go." But for those of you who are around the theater, let's talk about the E.T.C. stages' current show, "
The show starts with a very brief opening credit-esque screen on the video-screen and the entire audiences head turns to the right, then lights come up and the heads turn back to the stage. The show opens up in a group song which tells me okay we are still in a Second City show. "Pratfall" has all the usual suspects; the sometimes ham-fisted political commentary disguised as a "scene", the songs with comical rhymes, the blackouts, the relationship scenes - everything is there. Except now a photo is shown on the video-screen that usually shows the environment that the current scene is taking place in - which adds a very nice touch! We see a photo of a messy garage while we watch a great scene showing Alex Fendrich and Niki Lindgren as Andy St. Clair's parents who use their sons method of rebelling, music, to get through to him. The best scene in act I is a father/daughter scene where Andy St. Clair is a worried father leaving his daughter behind at her new dorm, Rob Janas has a hysterical Al Gore impression as the former Vice President mirrors a cult leader and starts having everyone kill themselves by drinking the punch. There is a really smart song that shows a completely normal school girl (Amanda Blake Davis) who is surrounded by un-normal kids, which makes her wish she had a mother who left her, or was a test-tube baby - anything to fit in with her class! Some scenes are better than others as some feel forced or too political/boring/fake, and some scenes are wonderfully hilarious and honest and even surprising. Another fun element about this cast that deviates from the safe formula is that they love to play with their musical director, Chad Krueger. Chad gets up with the male cast members in an audience-participation musical scene that starts on-stage and ends in the crowd with the amigos talking to and trying to sing about audience members. When Chad gets up on stage a few audience members next to me said, "Who's that guy?", which added to my enjoyment - Chad's first line in that scene is hilarious and completely wins the crowd over. The very top of act II features my ALL-TIME favorite audience participation bit, that is also my favorite silent scene! It is so beautiful and funny and the audience member looks so happy by the end of it. It is a huge pop at the top of act II to get things back in gear, and I hope to see that little piece touring for years to come.
The Second City has brought the 
Also, the 
Thanks to Jessica Joy for the tip: TJ Miller is making the press rounds on behalf of his ABC show "Carpoolers." Here he is on 
