Among the swirl of thoughts going through Second City students' head during class is usually stuff like "Am I funny enough? Do these people like me? Am I good enough? Why won't that cute girl/guy pay attention to me? When will I be famous? How can I make my teacher pick my sketch for our show?"
But have you ever wondered what's running through the comedy writing teacher's head during years of classes, lesson plans, fresh faces and old jokes? Sometimes it's what you'd like to hope: "Wow, this kid's really got something," or "This one is full of amazing ideas," and sometimes it's "You're all idiots, and I can't believe I'm hearing another dick joke."
What happens when a Second City comedy writing teacher gets a chance to tell her story? Lakeside Writing Studio presents "Writing With Nancy," described as a "solo performance with posse."
"Through a series of songs, phone calls and realizations, Nancy Beckett tackles the blank page and exposes her life as a comedy writing teacher and the crisis that brought her there." Beckett is an award-winning playwright on the faculty at Second City's Training Center and Columbia College's Professional Writing Program. The show is directed by Second City's John Hildreth, who also directs the Bastion-reviewed "Wii the People," with musical direction by Rebecca Pavlatos.
"Writing With Nancy" opens Friday, November 9th at Live Bait Theater, 3914 North Clark near Wrigley Field. The show runs Friday-Sunday at 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 pm on Sundays, through December 9th. Tickets are $20.
"A fast-paced musical-comedy-political-sex-farce," Will and Bill, previews for which The Bastion caught a few months back, is feeling ambitious and looking for backers. Check out this clip, a highlight reel that offers a hint of the dickalicious hilarity involved in the story of a President, his Willie (yes, an actual singing, dancing character in the play), and a cute brunette in a blue dress. Remember when Presidential blowjobs were the most worrisome things on our political collective consciousness? Seems kind of quaint now, doesn't it? Sigh.
"The Rocky Horror Show" is one of the few pieces of musical theatre that ventures into the territory of pornography... which is just fine with us. The Bastion caught "Rocky Horror" at the Mercury Theatre on its opening night and had a sexy sweaty funny time.
For those of you out there who are only familiar with the film version of the show, "The Rocky Horror Show" is the adapted stage musical. When the Bastion saw the show, half the audience were movie devotees who showed up in costume, and while they were certainly rowdy and enthusiastic, it seemed as though even the non-superfans got a kick out of the show.
The cast was terrific, led by the absolutely delightful Scott Alan Jones as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Jones holds absolutely nothing back and is a hilariously engaging performer. Molly Callinan and Robert Felbinger were wonderfully creepy and charismatic in their roles as the incestuous brother-sister team Magenta and Riff Raff, and Amy Armstrong was a scene stealer in the duo of roles that she filled. The stage design is a little awkward (the theatre also houses "The Men and their Music", a much different show than Rocky Horror) but the cast dances up a storm in spite of the cumbersome set. Not sure whether it's the work of the choreographer or the director, but some really clever mic work goes on in passing around the hand-held microphones for soloists. There was some slick hand-offs (some phallic ones too!) that made the microphones work as part of the show instead of as a distraction.
"The Rocky Horror Show" is playing at the Mercury Theatre (3745 N. Southport) until December 2nd. The performance schedule for The Rocky Horror Show is Mondays at 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 11:00 p.m., Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $30 to $42.50 and are available by calling the Mercury Theatre box office at 773.325.1700. Comedy aficionados, the tickets may be a little pricier than your average stand-up or improv show, but in addition to a night at the theatre, you get to see a truly amazing set of breasts (the folks seated around us couldn't stop talking about them) and a whole troop of glistening scantily clad writhing bodies. Well worth the ticket price.
The mural on the wall by the Live Bait Theater fascinates The Bastion … and we heard TJ Jagodowski is directing a show there so we hit the joint and hit the joint to see what we could see.
The flyer for the show titillated us: “Refrain, a show by Alex Banks and Eve Porcello, directed by TJ Jagodowski, is an all new sketch comedy revue that thematically utilizes music to demonstrate how repetition is a universal part of the relationships between people, catching characters in moments of reckoning and humorously exploring how these individuals fare when they must face these unforeseen complications.” A tall order.
We thought Eve and Alex to be novices but upon some interweb research discovered them to be part of The Uncomfortables, Sketchfest vets. These kids were smart to hitch their writer’s wagon to a veteran director. We’re sure TJ is responsible for the slick look of the show and the piece’s pacing. Some of our favorite bits included a scene at a Toll Booth, replete with a car crafted out of a wheelchair and flashlights and a music stand booth. Another fave involves the 1812 Overture. Both have TJ all over ‘em. The music does really drive the show, there’s even some of our favorite jazz and classical riffs sprinkled all over the place from Brubeck to Beethoven. We’re nerds and sure that TJ loaned the cast his ipod. Speaking of music, Scattered Maze’s Dan Carr will be playing after the show tomorrow night (10/14). That seems like a fantastic night to us.
Refrain runs Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm, October 5th through 20th, 2007. Tickets are $15. For reservations or for more information visit www.refrainshow.com.
-Rachael Mason is affiliated with iO, where TJ Jagodowski teaches, directs, and performs.
Since 2005, Easy Street Players Theater Company has quietly and diligently been putting on some of the best spoofs and comedies around. From "Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical" to "Laugher on the 23rd Floor," Easy Street has shown us just how much fun theater can be. With their newest production, Charles Busch’s "Psycho Beach Party", they keep the good times rolling.
The story is your typical coming-of-age tale of the young Chicklet Forrest trying to find her way in the topsy-turvy world of 1960’s Malibu and its beach party lifestyle. The only problem is her penchants for multiple personalities, one of which likes nothing more than a little S&M with a beach bum while plotting her way towards world domination. Luckily for Chicklet she’s got a philosophy spouting best friend and a psychology student turned beach bum to help her along. And then of course there’s Chicklet’s mom, but that’s another story.
Director David Williams and large cast of ten fills up the intimate studio at the Athenaeum with an infectious energy and wonderful pacing that goes hand in hand with the sand strewn stage and whimsical, hand-painted backgrounds. Even with such a large cast, they worked well together and the stage never felt overcrowded. But that’s not to say there weren’t some standout performances. Meredith Wood, who plays Chicklet, switches in and out of her personalities so fluidly that it is almost not funny; wait for her empowered supermarket check out girl, you’ll be sorry when she snaps out of it. Then there’s Steve Hickson, the reigning Miss Looptopia. He not only shows why he’s Chicago’s king of drag with every uncanny gesture and phrase but how to really wield a jockstrap in heels as Chicklet’s mother, Mrs. Forrest. And make sure to keep an eye on the background work done by the whole cast, you’ll be glad you did. All you have to do is check it out for yourself.
"Psycho Beach Party," Wednesdays through Saturdays, September 27 to October 20, 8pm, Athenaeum Theatre 2936 N. Southport, $15. - Andy Garrett
CIC Stages Sedaris-Flavored "Book of Liz" at the Cornservatory
You're not alone if you've ever thought about how unfair it was that the Sedaris family had enough funny in their gene pool to create not one, but two hilarious offspring. Amy and David Sedaris have each been hugely successful independently, and the brother-sister duo have combined forces on a few occasions, collaborating on a number of stage plays. Their latest collaboration to hit Chicago is "The Book of Liz," which Chemically Imbalanced Comedy is presenting at The Cornservatory Theater (4210 N. Lincoln) until September 30th.
The Book of Liz is a satirical romp that manages to be bitingly funny while still offering a very sweet earnestness. Sister Elizabeth Dunderstock (played by a delightful Sarah Rose Graber) is a member of an Amish-like religious community whose prosperity depends on the sale of her famous cheeseballs (a nod to the cheeseball-making business of Amy Sedaris). She feels unappreciated by the members of the community, particularly by Reverend Tollhouse (Adam El-Sharkawi), so Liz decides to see what the outside world has to offer her. She gets along better than she ever would've imagined, but a potential career opportunity forces Liz to reexamine her values and decide whether this chance to succeed in the outside world is worth changing herself for. The play is surprisingly heartwarming, considering it comes from one author who coveted the apartment of Anne Frank and another who created miscreant Jerri Blank.
Sarah Rose Graber plays the title character with an unabashed enthusiasm that has you rooting for Liz the entire play. Her character's naivety has the potential to become annoying, but Graber's sweet nature luckily prevents that from ever happening. Adam El-Sharkawi as Rev. Tollhouse and Lina Bunte as Sister Butterworth each have notable moments onstage. Bunte adds a multi-dimensionality to the sexually-frustrated chatterbox Sister, while El-Sharkawi rises to the challenge of playing a stern task-master amongst a cast of comedic characters. The standout of the cast, however, was Brian Kash as Brother Brightbee. Kash's character is a self-important blow-hard who tries to resume the community's cheeseball-making duties. The audience loved every moment that Kash was onstage, appreciating his comedic timing and eating up his range of perfect facial expressions.
"The Book of Liz" plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 5 PM. Tickets can be bought by calling the box office at 773-865-7731 or online.
Just how good can a rock musical be that was written in a week with a necromantic main character? Infinitely better than it sounds.
"Love is Dead" centers around a small-town mortician, Orin (played by writer James Asmus), who thinks the jig is up when a forensic analyst comes to town to investigate a string of murders. Things get interesting when a real live woman, Julie (Brooke Bagnall) shows interest in Orin.
The two dead characters Jane Doe and TK Nichols (Lyndsay Hailey and Mort Burke), who only Orin can talk to of course, both have great comedic timing and singing ability; and Megan Johns does well as the kooky forensic analyst Dana Strand. The favorite duo in the play, however, would have to be the Sheriff (Daniel Jessup) and Deputy Don (Nick Vatterott) - complete with Vatterott's version of the bumbling police officer, reminiscent of the classic Bernard P. Fife.
The musical numbers were written by Second City veteran Julie Nichols, with Asmus writing the lyrics. The songs are witty and catchy, "Dead Girls Make Better Lovers" in particular. Director Andrew Hobgood utilizes the small stage well, and despite seeing a "preview", the show looked ready for opening night.
So even if you hate musicals (as I do - "Little Shop of Horrors" being the exception) or didn't like "Six Feet Under" (this is funny! Not gory!), go see "Love is Dead." Never has "I'm sorry for your loss" been funnier.
"Love is Dead" officially opens at the Annoyance theater TONIGHT at 8pm, and runs every Friday through October 26th - late enough to see it one last time before Halloween.
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."
Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Benefits From Poker Charity
Chicago's Chemically Imbalanced Comedy has recruited some charity-minded poker players in their quest to secure some permanent performance space. CIC's executive producer Angie McMahon told the Bastion that "These fellas are going to be hosting a launch party on May 19 at Two-Nine in Naperville from 7:00 to 11:00 PM and have named CIC its charity of choice."
What are they going to do with the proceeds? "CIC is trying to get its own space, and we have been doing lots of research and decided we wanted to raise the funds independently of personal bank loans. I started to look at non-traditional fund raising ideas. My sister saw a chicagopokerlive.com poster, and had been involved in a charitable poker event at her school. I started to look into it and it was all legit. Charitable poker consultants like Bert have actually been around for some time, they're just almost completely unknown to the theater community. So in my effort to give back, and also show how cool I am for beating all the kids to the punch, I thought I would let folks know. These guys are really great, and they are trying to find other ways to help out CIC too."
Pop into the launch party for open bar, appetizers, door prizes, and raffle items, including tickets to Late Night Catechism, Gorilla Tango Theater, ImprovOlympic, Hell in a Handbag, Thunder and Lightning, and more.
Lavender Cabaret Will Beat the Laughs Out of You, the Early Days of Chicago Improv, Lakeshore Books More Big Names
Lavender Cabaret has created a brand new hard-hitting sexy spectacle - Pillow Fight Club. Noted Chicago burlesque princess Michelle L'amour says “This is what happens when you combine the WWE with America’s Next Top model. Hard Hitting Fluff!” What's so funny about that, you ask? Well, Chicago comedians will be on hand to offer hilarious commentary, that's what. For more information about the shows, which begin May 10 at Joe's at 940 W. Weed Street, go here. (Photo is not of featured fighters. We...stole it off the internet. Just FYI.)
A new show called Something From Nothing is opening at the Apollo Theater, and improv nerds will want to be there to see what director Bryan Cohen describes as "a re-imagining of the story of one of the first Harold teams at iO, The Baron's Barracudas...takes place in 1985, during the birth of Chicago's improv community, when students of the Harold created theatre from scratch and centered their lives in a bar called CrossCurrents. The show has been meticulously researched through interviews with ‘those who were there’ including Charna Halpern, Michael Gellman, David Pasquesi, and many others. This play is an homage to the people who first made Chicago-style improvisation worthy for the stage."
The Lakeshore Theater is gearing up for a great bunch of special guests in the next few months, including Reggie Watts and Maria Bamford this month, Taylor Negron and Julia Sweeney in June, Arj Barker and Judy Tenuta in July, and Louis CK and Carol Leifer in August. The Bastion already caught the fantastic Mike Birbiglia show a few weeks back (with amazing opening act and local kid made good John Mulaney), and we can tell you the Lakeshore knows how to bring the laughs.
Cupid is Still Cranky, Lakeshore Shows, Sandy Takes a Break Heading to LA Comedy Fest
The Cupid Players, Chicago's long-running musical sketch comedy group, which is more than happy to poke its finger in the eye of schmoopy romantic concepts of love, is celebrating four years of performances at i.O. with an anniversary show on May 4 at 10:30 PM in the Del Close Theater at i.O. Their one night only special show will feature "audience favorite archival material" which is not currently part of their show.
May 2 and 3 only, The Lakeshore Theater is presenting "Alphabetical Order," a musical comedy show written and performed by Loyola alum Mark Nutter. Also performing will be Cynthia Carle and special guests The International Fingers. Nutter has performed at Second City and the Goodman Theater, and has gone on to write for Saturday Night Live and Third Rock From the Sun.
Chris Lee and Ben Seeder of Sandy Takes a Break will be performing at the L.A Comedy Festival on May 15 at 8:00 PM and May 17 at 9:30 PM at the McCadden Place Theatre. Check out this interview with Ben Seeder in a Northwestern publication, in which Beth Kligerman, Second City's director of talent, says about Seeder, “Without naming names, his talent puts him in an elite group.” Seeder has also been mentored by Chicago improv master David Pasquesi, all of which indicates we can expect some amazing things from Seeder and company in the very near future. Comedy Central recently posted two videos from the Sandy Takes a Break showcase on their site - videos can be seen on their website, and on their MySpace page.
Hey, want to head out for some fun and free entertainment? Sure you do. April 11 and 12 (that's tomorrow night and the following night), the Lakeshore Theater is staging "The Idiots," and you can sneak in under the radar, if you feel like getting in on The Bastion Idiots Giveaway.
What's the show about?
"Just because you’re smart doesn’t mean you know everything. The Idiots is a brilliant comedy, featuring the sons of two of the world’s most famous scientists, Watson and Crick, credited for discovering DNA. Separated childhood pals who were bound together because of their fathers, these two grown men agree to work together in an apartment that once was their father’s lab. They are challenged to discover something new with hopes of out-doing their fathers and earning their own rightful place in science. What results however is a series of absurd events that could happen to grown men who are smart in science but children when it comes to everything else. Experiments. Heroin. A bumbling stage crew. Paper cuts."
Sex + Guns + Vietnamese Go-Go Dancer = Smart Satire
The Bastion took a trip to The Cornservatory Theater recently to peep “The Vietnamization of New Jersey” by Christopher Durang, presented by Chemically Imbalanced Theater. This satirical comedy about the United States' war-like tendencies is certainly as relevant today as it was in the just-post-Nam era. Of course, that’s bad for the countries that are getting war in their faces, but great for audiences!
Durang represents the hypocrisy and blind ignorance of American society with broadly painted characters who are brought to life by a great cast. Matt Hendricks, Matt Roberson, and Dale Caba all bring the writer’s quick-witted prose to the stage with great energy and presence, while Angela McMahon, Nicole Cobb-Oliver and Laura Mahler provide standout comic performances.
Unfortunately, all the great writing and acting are hindered by the small, 45-ish seat Cornservatory Theater. Don’t misunderstand – The Cornservatory’s coziness is probably great for certain shows. But for “The Vietnamization” — an ensemble play with loud physical humor, violence, gunplay and often multiple dramatic focal points — the intimate confines are a poor fit.
In the end, one can’t help but wonder what the show would be like in a bigger theater. But until Chemically Imbalanced Theater finds somewhere else to show the show, this is the place to go for socially smart, well-acted satirical comedy.
“The Vietnamization of New Jersey” by Christopher Durang, is presented by Chemically Imbalanced Theater on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. through October 8th. For tickets call 773-865-7731.
Written by Jonathan Richman. The Jonathan Richman who wrote this also writes commercials and sketch comedy. The Jonathan Richman who did not write this is an American proto-punk icon.
Among the swirl of thoughts going through Second City students' head during class is usually stuff like "Am I funny enough? Do these people like me? Am I good enough? Why won't that cute girl/guy pay attention to me? When will I be famous? How can I make my teacher pick my sketch for our show?"
The mural on the wall by the 
Since 2005, Easy Street Players Theater Company has quietly and diligently been putting on some of the best spoofs and comedies around. From "Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical" to "Laugher on the 23rd Floor," Easy Street has shown us just how much fun theater can be. With their newest production, Charles Busch’s 
You're not alone if you've ever thought about how unfair it was that the Sedaris family had enough funny in their gene pool to create not one, but two hilarious offspring. Amy and David Sedaris have each been hugely successful independently, and the brother-sister duo have combined forces on a few occasions, collaborating on a number of stage plays. Their latest collaboration to hit Chicago is "The Book of Liz," which 
Just how good can a rock musical be that was written in a week with a necromantic main character? Infinitely better than it sounds.
The Second City has brought the 
Also, the 
