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The Chicago Reader

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Arts & Culture, Comedy Aug 4, 2020
iO past, present, and nonfuture

Remembering the comedy theater’s humble beginnings and reflecting on its dramatic end
- By Jack Helbig
- Tags: Comedy, iO Theater, iO, ImprovOlympic, Charna Halpern, Del Close, Upright Citizens Brigade, comedy, improv

Music, Music Review Jun 19, 2020
Recommended
Improvising trio Icepick renew jazz’s love affair with the El on their third LP, Hellraiser
- By Bill Meyer
- Tags: Music Review, Icepick, El, public transportation, Sun Ra, Nate Wooley, Chris Corsano, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Experimental Sound Studio, Option series, COVID-19, Hellraiser, Fulton Street Collective, jazz, improv, improvisation, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Apr 29, 2020
Improvising at a distance

Instructors adapt to online comedy and improv courses.
- By Kerry Reid
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Abby Wagner, Annoyance, ComedySportz, coronavirus, COVID-19, Dave Maher, Improv, iO, Jimmy Carrane, Online classes, Second City

Arts & Culture, Comedy Apr 29, 2020
Remembering Michael McCarthy

Tributes from actors, comedians, and friends of the Chicago comedy legend.
- By Sheri Flanders
- Tags: Comedy, Michael Clayton McCarthy, Second City, iO, Saturday Night Live, improv, Monday Night Live, POV

Arts & Culture, Comedy Oct 29, 2019
Video
Live! From Chicago! It’s your favorite podcast

Part hangout, part celebration, part theater of the mind, live podcast recordings are a performance medium all their own.
- By Dan Jakes
- Tags: Comedy, Chicago Podcast Festival, podcasts, live podcasts, Action Boyz, Jon Gabrus, Ben Rodgers, Ryan Stanger, Code of Silence, Chicago Improv Productions, Chicago Theater Works, Pordcast: The Ride, CityWalk, Universal Studios Hollywood, Jason Sheridan, Westwood One Podcast Network & Audio Insights, Matt Besser, Improv4Humans, Upright Citizens Brigade, Assscat, improv, Apollo Theatre, Del Close, Kelly Opalko, Please Make This, Spencer D. Blair, Laura Petro, Hobert Thompson, Nick Wiger, Woodfield Mall, Video

Arts & Culture, Comedy Jun 5, 2019
Shannon Noll uses comedy to defy expectations and define themself

Comedian Shannon Noll is using their new webseries and photo project to subvert expectations of gender and sexuality.
- By Brianna Wellen
- Tags: Comedy, Shannon Noll, Just Call Me Ripley, Corner Gulch, comedy, stand-up, improv, webseries, photography, top surgery, nonbinary, coming out, gender dysphoria, Cassie Ahiers, Columbia College, Droppin’ $cience, Trash Baby Does a Solo Show, iO, Kaitlin Larson, Lauren Walker, Matt Brown, Gary Pascal, Karly Bergmann, pixelation, Becca Brown, Max Thomas, Abby McEnany, Michael McCarty, Second City, Jon Wes

Film, Small Screen Dec 20, 2018
Diagnosis: Boring uses surreal comedy to demonstrate the distortional logic of depression

The Chicago-made webseries takes a radically different view of mental illness.
- By Brianna Wellen
- Tags: Small Screen, Diagnosis: Boring, comedy, webseries, Frank Spiro, Ana Silva, depression, mental illness, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, surrealism, Annoyance Theatre, Matt Damon Improv, improv

Arts & Culture, Comedy Dec 17, 2018
The Second City’s Algorithm Nation or, The Static Quo feels stuck in the system

The 107th mainstage revue features talented performers, but it’s strictly by the numbers.
- By Brianna Wellen
- Tags: Comedy, Second City, Algorithm Nation or the Static Quo, Tawny Newsome, Jeffrey Murdoch, Nate Varrone, Ryan Asher, Tyler Davis, Emma Pope, Kimberly Michelle Vaughn, comedy, improv, Trump era

Columns & Opinion, Savage Love Nov 1, 2018
How to get your groove back after giving birth

A pelvic floor physical therapist comes to the rescue. Plus: Dan gives advice to a straight woman in love with a gay man.
- By Dan Savage
- Tags: Savage Love, Dan Savage, Savage Love, pelvic health, post-natal sex, sex toys, kink, trans woman, improv

Blogs, Bleader Oct 15, 2018
Chicago International Film Festival and more of the best things to do in Chicago this week

Pop-Up Magazine's Fall Issue tour and other goings on Mon 10/15-Thu 10/18.
- By Julia Hale
- Tags: Arts, Music, Film, art, performing art, visual art, music, film, culture, theater, Chicago International Film Festival, Pop-Up, magazine, improv

Blogs, Bleader Oct 5, 2018
Indivisible Chicago’s Blue Wave Rave uses improv to mobilize political action

"Improv actors are like the best canvassers ever!"
- By Julia Hale
- Tags: Politics, Theater, Comedy, Arts, politics, theater, improv, comedy, arts, culture, Second City, Annoyance Theatre, iO, Indivisible Chicago, canvassing

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Oct 4, 2018
Recommended
Interrobang's White Rabbit, Red Rabbit turns improv into a matter of life and death

Every week, a different actor takes the stage to lead the audience through this participatory experience.
- By Dmitry Samarov
- Tags: Theater Review, White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, Interrobang Theatre Project, Nassim Soleimanpour, Stephanie Shum, improv, audience participation, Stanford Prison Experiment, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Aug 29, 2018
Recommended
You & Me masterfully bridges theater and improv comedy

Michael Patrick Thornton invites everyone from theater newbies to high-powered actors to play alongside him.
- By Dan Jakes
- Tags: Theater Review, You & Me, Michael Patrick Thorton, Filament Theatre, improv, Cory Ardin, Michael Shannon, Amy Morton, Atra Asdou, Sadieh Rifai, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Review Jul 27, 2018
Recommended
The cast of Anarchy improvises a full-fledged rock musical

And you know what? It's really good!
- By Steve Heisler
- Tags: Performing Arts Review, Anarchy, Annoyance Theatre, improv, musical improv, Applebee's, Becca Brown, Recommended

Blogs, Bleader Apr 30, 2018
The guy who quit Second City

Dan Bakkedahl had one of the best improv gigs in Chicago. Why did he give it up?
- By Aimee Levitt
- Tags: Archive Dive, Arts, Comedy, Dan Bakkedahl, Second City, Kabir Hamid, improv, Sony Pictures Teleivison

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Dec 21, 2017
Thirteen holiday shows that will delight (or disgust or bore or just entertain) you

Hell in a Handbag's 20th annual production of Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer is among the yuletide highlights.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Barney the Elf, the Other Theatre Company, Dixie Lynn Cartwright, Roy Samra, Christmas Bingo: It's a Ho-Ho-Holy Night, Late Nite Catechism, Vicki Quade, Nuns 4 Fun Entertainment, Royal George Theatre, A Christmas Carol, Goodman Theatre, Henry Wishcamper, Tom Creamer, Larry Yando, Charles Dickens, The Christmas Schooner, Mercury Theatre, John Reeger, Julie Shannon, L. Walter Stearns, Hellcab, the Agency Theater Collective, Will Kern, Rusty Schwimmer, Profiles Theatre, American Blues Theater, It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, It's a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra, Bedford Falls, Gwendolyn Whiteside, Camille Robinson, John Mohrlein, Michael Mahler, The Nutcracker, E.T.A. Hoffmann, the House Theatre of Chicago, Haley Seda, Chris Matthews, Q Brothers Christmas Carol, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, Michael Jack Hampton, Terry McCarthy, Graham Thomas Heacock, Kristoffer Bottrall, Black Ensemble Theatre, Sammy: A Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr., Daryl D. Brooks, Kenny Davis, This Way Outta Santaland (and Other Xmas Miracles), Theater Wit, Mitchell Fain, The Santaland Diaries, David Sedaris, Meghan Murphy, Yippe Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Christmas Musical, MCL, Die Hard, Alan Metoskie, Michael Shepherd Jordan, Gary Fields, The Customer Is Always Right? Holiday Edition, the Annoyance, improv

Arts & Culture, Worst of Chicago Dec 20, 2017
Why improv is neither funny nor entertaining, according to a stand-up comedian

The form’s greatest sin is encouraging the mediocre.
- By Peter-john Byrnes
- Tags: Worst of Chicago, Improv, improvisational theater, Scientology, cult, Second City, iO, Del Close, Lyric Opera, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, E.T.C. stage

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Nov 29, 2017
A Dickens Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, and nine more new stage shows

A clever mashup of fact and fiction and a "radio show" version of the holiday classic are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Garrett Allain, Jeff Bouthiette, Altered Boy, Pride Films and Plays, Bite Size Broadway, the Annoyance, Bobby Lloyd Webber, Andrew Lloyd Webber, musical parodies, Evan Mills, Mark Walsh, The Customer Is Always Right? Holiday Edition, A Christmas Carol, A Dickens Carol, Madison Street Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Charles Dickens, Kevin Theis, Ned Crowley, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, White Christmas, holiday shows, Cadillac Palace Theatre, Randy Skinner, The Customer Is Always Right? Holiday Edition, improv, Grimoire, Jon Matteson, James Harvey Freetly, It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, American Blues Theatre, It's a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra, Zach Kenny, John Mohrlein, Michael Mahler, This Way Outta Santaland (and Other Xmas Miracles), The Santaland Diaries, David Sedaris, Macy's, Mitchell Fain, Meghan Murphy, Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Christmas Musical, Michael Shepherd Jordan, Alan Metoskie, Gary Field, Die Hard, Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, MCL, Q Brothers Christmas Carol, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Q Brothers

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Aug 30, 2017
Still Dance the Stars and two more new stage shows for the long weekend

Personal stories become fodder for improv scenes in this week's best bet. Plus: death by thee and thou
- By Tony Adler, Max Maller, and Justin Hayford
- Tags: Theater Review, Still Dance the Stars, Chicago Dramatists, Jayme McGann, New Light Theater Project, Bethany Geraghty, Ariana Sepúlveda, Ashlee Wassmund, Told, iO Theater, Rick Bayless, long-form improv, improv, The Tragedy of He-Manlet, Prince of Eternia, Adam "Roz" Rosowicz, New Millennium Theatre Company, Stage 773, Alex B. Reynolds, Hamlet, Skeletor

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Aug 16, 2017
Duck and Cover Classroom, Top-Notch Tuesdays, and six more new stage shows

A locked-room experience from Escape Artistry and a foolproof improv show are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Duck and Cover Classroom, Escape Artistry, Melissa Schlesinger, escape-room game, locked-room experience, The LivingRoom: You Are . . ., Jeffrey Levin, Van Ferdinand, Stage 773, Jorge Silva, Love Stories, Under the Gun Theater, improvisation, improv, Madagascar, Dreamworks, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Rachel Rockwell, Kevin Del Aguila, Joel Someillan, George Noriega, Chicago Shakes, Jordan Brown, Gilbert Domally, Lisa Estridge, Stephen Schellhardt, Murder the Hypotenuse: An Improvised Soap Opera, The Seven Sisters Comedy Variety Hour, Second City Training Center, Shockheaded Peter, Der Struwwelpeter, Heinrich Hoffman, Black Button Eyes Productions, Ed Rutherford, Caitlin Jackson, Anthony Whitaker, Genevieve Lerner, Pavi Proczko, Top-Notch Tuesdays, Chicago Improv Den, Lawrence Collerd, Laurel Krabacher, improv teams, Earl Grey, Stacks, Cherry Street, Candy Crush, 26.2, Pride Arts Center, late-night shows

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Aug 10, 2017
Hair, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and six more new stage shows to see now

"The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical" and the unhinged Albee classic are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Decease, I Insist: A Funerarial Comedy, Mass St. Productions, Sophie Duntley, Rebecca Escobedo, Katie Ruppert, Engage! A Choose-Your-Own Sci-Fight Show, Stellar Productions, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hair: The American Tribal-Love Rock Musical, Liam Quealy, Mercury Theater, Gerome Ragni, James Rado, Galt MacDermot, Brenda Didier, Eugene Dizon, Michelle Lauto, Life in 35mm: An Improvised Documentary, the Annoyance, Jordan Wilson, improv, Mark Walsh, Monticello, Thomas R. Geoghegan, Thomas Jefferson, Edgar Allen Poe, slavery, the Declaration of Independence, Sally Hemings, A Puppet Playdate With Grandma D, Pride Arts Center Theatre for Youth, Blue's Clues, Jessica Herthel, Shelagh McNicolas, Jazz Jennings, transgender, I Am Jazz, The Taming of the Shrew, Ridgeville Park District, Shakespeare on the Ridge, Arc Theatre, Natalie Sallee, Teddy Boone, oudoor Shakespeare, Pulse Theatre, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Edward Albee, Chris Jackson, Lewis R. Jones, Nicholia Q. Aguirre, Kate Robinson, Adam Zaininger

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Jul 19, 2017
Something Rotten, The Project(s), and eight more new stage shows to see now

A touring Broadway hit and a youth revival from American Theater Company are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Shakespeare, As You Like It, First Folio Theatre, Skyler Schrempp, Kevin McKillip, The God of Isaac, Frank Collin, Skokie, Dennis Začek, James Sherman, T. Isaac Sherman, Grippo Stage Company, Bruised Orange Theater, I Saw You, personals, OkCupid, improv, Clint Scheffer, Ann Sonneville, Lela & Co., Steep Theatre, Cordelia Lynn, Robin Witt, Chris Chmelik, Michael John LaChiusa, Little Fish, Hello Again, The Wild Party, Kokandy Productions, Nicole Laurenzi, Allison Hendrix, Kasey Alfonso, Kory Danielson, Loose Knit, Theresa Rebeck, Public House Theatre, Eclipse Theatre, Megastasis, Kia Corthron, commutation, Anthony Conway, Aaron Todd Douglas, My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy, Brad Zimmerman, The Project(s), American Theater Company Youth Ensemble, PJ Paparelli, Jess McCleod, Sarah Slight, Monty Cole, CHA, Chicago public housing, Something Rotten, Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell

Arts & Culture, Comedy Mar 17, 2017
Video
How Scott Adsit went from patio serenades to 30 Rock

The comedian headlines the Chicago Improv Festival, where he’ll be awarded for his achievements in the art.
- By Brianna Wellen
- Tags: Comedy, Scott Adsit, Chicago Improv Festival, 30 Rock, Mr. Show With Bob and David, Veep, Big Hero 6, Messing with a Friend, Susan Messing, Mama's Boys, improv, Skull Juice, Sometimes Live, Dino Stamatopoulos, Tina Fey, Glenbrook North High School, David Pasquesi, Stephen Colbert, Robert Smigel, Michael Stoyanov, Bob Dassie, Stephnie Weir, Video

Blogs, Bleader Feb 17, 2017
Andersonville Restaurant Week, Ballet de Lorraine, and more things to do in Chicago this weekend

Black Eye No 3, #BringHer, and more happenings from February 17-19.
- By Jack Ladd
- Tags: Arts, Do This, CLUE: A Drag Extravaganza, Gorilla Tango Theatre, Rest in Power, DuSable Museum of African American History, Sycamore, Center on Halsted, Andersonville Restaurant Week, Lovey Town, Mana Contemporary Chicago, #BringHer, Hyde Park Art Center, NoMI Kitchen, Taste of the Midwest, Ballet de Lorraine, Museum of Contemporary Art, Bobby Lee, Improv, Black Eye No 3, Quimby's

Arts & Culture, Comedy Jan 25, 2017
Recommended
Comedy group Preach proclaims the gospel of spoken word and improv

The troupe is hosting a fund-raiser to benefit the Metropolitan Tenants Organization.
- By Brianna Wellen
- Tags: Comedy, Preach, improv, spoken word, Metropolitan Tenants Organization, TJ Medel, Preach, a Comediac Benefit for Serious Housing Justice, Uncomfortable, sketch, Recommended

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