Wednesdays @ 9:30pm, February 1 through 22, 2012.

The Annoyance Theatre & Bar, 4830 N Broadway (just north of Lawrence Ave), Chicago, IL 60640.

$10 tickets are available at 773.561.4665 or AnnoyanceProductions.com.

Patrick Raynor: not as creepy as his poster.

“Genius”
- Centerstage Chicago

“Fascinating”
- NYTheater.com

“Exhilarating”
- Time Out Chicago    

“It’s a nice change of pace when sketch comedians actually treat their audience members like smart human beings.”
- Chicago Tribune

Think you know sketch comedy?  You haven’t seen anything until you’ve experienced the convention-defying, silly and cerebral scenes of the tim&micah project.  The titular writer/performer duo of Tim Soszko and Micah Philbrook have now assembled the best of their critically-acclaimed work in the tim&micah project: COLLECTION, appearing at the newly-renovated Stage 773 every Saturday in October.

Like previous revues, COLLECTION is painstakingly constructed to immerse the audience in a mind-bending, non-stop theatrical experience that Flavorpill calls “a roller-coaster combination of physical, intellectual, and just plain absurd comedy.”  Doing away with the structural conventions of sketch comedy, their scenes morph into each other through dance and performance art transitions, weaving what Time Out Chicago calls “a web of scenes straight out of a David Lynch fantasy.”

You never know what to expect, except the highest caliber of thought-provoking comedic enjoyment, as the tim&micah project continues push the boundaries of sketch comedy.

Need more than that?  Watch this video.

Yeah, that’s right. Go see these guys.

the tim&micah project: COLLECTION
Saturdays @ 10:30pm, October 1-29, 2011.
Stage 773, 1225 W Belmont Ave (Belmont & Racine), Chicago, IL 60657.
$15 tickets are available at Stage773.com or 773.327.5252.

Learn more about tim&micah at timandmicahproject.com.

View more excellent tim&micah videos at http://bit.ly/9AcRoB

5pm August 26 until 11pm August 27.

8 actors. 30 hours. No script. No sleep. No sanity.

The brave members of local improv troupe K.C. Redheart will test their wits, endurance, and sanity as the core group of “marathoners” going without rest while improvising for 30 straight hours in this fundraiser for Namaste Charter School and the Playground Theater!

But they are not alone!

In effect, the marathon is 30 unique shows, as each hour the marathoners welcome guests from around the city to improvise with them, including performers from the Second City, iO, ComedySportz, the Annoyance Theatre, and K.C. Redheart’s home, the Playground.  With the help of so many different performers, the Playground Improv Marathon will showcase the diversity and vitality of Chicago’s improv scene. There will be short-form games in the style of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, experimental and narrative long-form shows, family-friendly shows during the day, and anything-goes sets during the late night hours. As an added bonus, the audience will witness the Marathoners’ transformation from well-adjusted adults to sleep-deprived comedy nutjobs by the end of it all. And most importantly, all of the proceeds go to charity.

What is K.C. Redheart?  Since it was formed in 2008, K.C. Redheart has become one of the most respected, experimental, and flat-out fun improv teams in Chicago.  Now a full-fledged Playground Member Team, K.C. Reheart was originally a product of the Playground Theater’s Incubator program, which first assembled its members: Karisa Bruin, Margaret Conway, Nick Leveski, Mark Logsdon, Dave Maher, George Serad, Adam Shalzi, Bill Stern, and Katie Thomas.  K.C. Redheart has since performed its narrative-bending long-form improv formats at festivals such as Out of Bounds Comedy Festival in Austin, TX and i3 in Raleigh, NC. Recently, their improvised play-within-a-play, Process, was named a “Critics’ Pick” by Time Out Chicago with critic Jason Heidemann saying, “Improv this good can’t help but put a smile on your face. Go see [K.C. Redheart]…I’ll go with you.”  Process is currently running every Saturday at 8pm at the Playground until the launch of the Marathon.  Go see it, and take Jason Heidemann with you!

K.C. Redheart presents the Playground Improv Marathon

Friday, August 26 @ 5pm
through
Saturday, August 27 @ 11pm.

The Playground Theater
3209 N Halsted Ave (Halsted & Belmont)

$5 for matinee hours, $10 for prime time hours, or $25 for passes to the entire Marathon.   Tickets are available at the door.

Matinee hours are suitable for all ages, prime time hours are suitable for those 13+, and late night hours are suitable for those 18+.  For those 21+, the Playground Theater is BYOB.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/PGMarathon or The-Playground.com, or call 773.871.3793.

Flunk a class?  Summer school isn’t so bad when it’s taught by the twisted characters of improviser Lisa Linke. The versatile and hilarious Linke has gathered a load of talent together for her brand new variety show, and in addition to being really good, it’s also the recession-friendly night out to recommend, thanks to an insanely reasonable $5 ticket price and the Spot’s half price dining special!

Each week Linke hosts Summer’s Cool as a different teacher persona and introduces the class to an assortment of guest “instructors” to entertain and educate.  Each show boasts 3 guest acts and Linke has hand-picked some of the best local talent, including the stand-up of Cameron Esposito, the magic of Richard Awesome, the sketch comedy of Kerpatty!, the improvisation of Nose Complaint, and more!   Every show is entirely unique and you never know who Linke will be next:  Mr. Wallace, the PE teacher who has to sub into teach Physics; Miss Trust, the overly-sexed English teacher; or Señora McDuffy, just your average Chicago Irish Spanish teacher.

“I wanted to do this show because I have a broad range of friends doing everything from cabaret, to stand up, to sketch and improv, and things in between,” explained Linke. “Plus, I wanted a place to showcase the characters I’d been working on, and most of them were teachers, instructors. It seemed like a perfect fit to have this captive audience ready to watch – like they were a summer school class.”

“I hand-picked the acts – two person improv, stand up from people I know and love, sketch from super smart people and even magic from two guys who make you laugh,” said Linke. “I would want to watch them, so I know the entire show will be great!”

At $5 a ticket, how could this be a more affordable evening?  By enjoying 1/2 OFF an excellent dinner at the venue before the show.  The Spot offers 1/2 off all food items every Sunday after 6PM and their kitchen is open until midnight.  Get their fabulous prime rib for under $10, devour their award-winning bourbon glazed salmon for less than $8, and get their mouthwatering Killer Burger for only $5!

Sketch, stand-up, improv, music, magic… all the cool kids end up at
Summer’s Cool!

Sundays @ 9pm
August 7 – September 4

The Spot,
4437 N Broadway (1/2 block north of Montrose Ave)

$5 tickets are available at the door.

For more information, visit SpotChicago.com or call 773.728.8934.

The cheap and dirty way to describe Darcy & Tess is to call it Strangers With Candy meets Tracey Ullman meets Northern Exposure.  The titular characters, and several others, are played by Chicago comediennes Colleen Murray and Robyn Scott, who created, wrote and independently produced this hilarious brilliance. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: these are the two funniest women I have ever met.  I encourage you to watch the full 21 minute pilot and then follow the show by Liking Darcy & Tess on Facebook.

The nearly unrecognizable Colleen Murray and Robyn Scott as Gerard Little Foot and Cloyce Broome

I’ve had the great honor of lending a small amount of support to this project over the years and I’ve witnessed it grow and evolve into what it is today.  The sheer strength of will and determination of these two ladies is staggering.  They make a great team and they know how to overcome obstacles and get. things. done.

After partnering with PUNCH Films, and assembling an impressive cast including Christian Stolte (The Chicago Code, Public Enemies) and Kate James (Schadenfreude), filming took place last year in lovely Markle, Indiana (front page news in the local paper!).   Then in January Darcy & Tess took on the Chicago Sketchfest, presenting a multimedia sketch show that combined live performance with clips from the pilot.  Chicago 3 Media caught up with them after the show for an interview.

It’s been a long and winding road, but these two women have brought their vision to the screen and created something really special, and most importantly, really funny.

Television executives, put this on the air tout de suite!

“Side splitting entertainment…had us all laughing so hard it hurt.”
- Allan, Goldstar Member

“Corny jokes and half naked women.  An interesting night out!!!”
- Solvig, Goldstar Member

This is what live entertainment is supposed to be, friends.  A happening.  A gathering of fun-loving peoples for an unpredictable evening full of laughs, variety acts, and yes, even a little skin, tastefully revealed of course.

I ask you, what other show closes with a joyful singalong of “Just a Gigilo” by the great Louis Prima?  (One of my very favorite songs, incidentally.)  The Kiss Kiss Cabaret feels like a respectful tribute to yesteryear, but with a contemporary edge for today’s jaded theatergoer.

If you haven’t been, it’s not too late, because the show is running every Friday night until the sun explodes.

And now this weekly jam-packed neo-vaudeville revue has announced the addition of two new burlesque performers to the ranks of the beautiful Kiss Kiss Cabaret Coquettes!  Special K and Minnie Minx are welcomed with special performances on April 15 and May 20 respectively.

Special K is originally a Wisconsin girl, but found herself lured by the bright lights and cold nights of the Windy City. In her burlesque career, she has strutted her stuff at the Belmont Burlesque Revue, Vaudezilla and at the Windy City Burlesque Festival!  A fan of the fedora and devilishly quick with a flick of her wrist at the poker table, this little lady is all aces!  See her Kiss Kiss debut on April 15.

Minnie Minx makes her Chicago debut on May 20 as a Kiss Kiss Coquette! This fresh-faced young lassie polished up her acting chops on the legitimate stages around Chicago for the past few years, specializing in physical comedy, song and dance! Originally from Skokie, IL, this little lady has a wink and a smile for you, but don’t get grabby fellas, lest this little spitfire pop you right in the Beano! Yowza!

Collectively boasting over 20 years of burlesque experience, the other members of the Kiss Kiss Cabaret Coquettes are Elisa Purls, Miss Kiss Kiss, Naughty Natanya, and Titi Touche.  They have performed with some of Chicago’s best-known burlesque troupes, including the Belmont Burlesque Revue, Vaudezilla, the Girlie-Q Variety Hour, and Varietease Cabaret, and have been featured in the New York Burlesque Festival, the New Orleans Burlesque Festival and our very own Windy City Burlesque Festival.

Much more than just burlesque, the Kiss Kiss Cabaret is hosted with razor sharp wit by Mr. Max Flattery (Chris O. Biddle), who leads the audience through a variety of exceptional acts including stand-up comedy by Adam Burke, magic by the Amazing Tomas and juggling derring-do by That Juggling Guy, Mr. Brad French!  Plus other special guests and guest burlesque performers!  Not to mention the always hilarious live musical accompaniment of the Claptrap Family Orchestra, featuring Ken Raabe on guitar, Mike Gallinari on bass and the accordion skills of Mazurka Wojciechowska.   With great gags, fun surprises and a big singalong closing number, you’ll enjoy an unpredictable evening and see why the Kiss Kiss Cabaret has been selling out week after week!

The Kiss Kiss Cabaret is directed by Chris O. Biddle and produced by Jenn Kincaid, with choreography by Erica Reid, and technical assistance by Greg Inda and Jason Shivers.

Every Friday @ 11pm in an Open Run.

Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N Lincoln Ave (2 blocks south of Fullerton Ave), Chicago, IL 60614.

$15 in advance or $20 at the door, with advance purchase available at 773.404.7336 or GreenhouseTheater.org.

Performances are suitable for those 18+.  For those 21+, Greenhouse Theater Center has a fully stocked bar which sells alcohol before and during each performance.

Want to see more photos of the show?  Become a fan at Facebook.com/KissKissCabaret.

“Fantastic…strange…a duo I love time and time again.” – Time Out Chicago

“Really funny stuff. Definitely see this inventive, playful, and very well put together show.”  – NYTheater.com

“Doesn’t just meet your expectations — it leaves them in the dust of new and better comedic ideas.” – Downtown Express

Saturdays @ 7:30pm, February 12 – March 12.

Comedy!  Magic!  Girls!  Free food!  The grand opening of the Kiss Kiss Cabaret promises to be an incredible night and a slam-bang introduction to Chicago’s newest burlesque sensation!

Every one of the beautiful Kiss Kiss Cabaret Coquettes will demonstrate an eye-popping display of the striptease arts! Master of ceremonies Mr. Max Flatter will lead the audience through a few slightly tipsy singalongs, and introduce a variety of acts, including stand-up comedy by Adam Burke, magic by the Amazing Tomas and juggling derring-do by That Juggling Guy, Mr. Brad French! Original comedic musical accompaniment will be provided by the Claptrap Family Orchestra, featuring Ken Raabe on guitar, Mike Gallinari on bass and the accordion skills of Mazurka Wojciechowska. With a special appearance by alternative host and emcee Mr. Stick!

Collectively boasting over 20 years of burlesque experience, the members of the Kiss Kiss Cabaret Coquettes include Elisa Purls, Jolie Roberson, Lula Houp Garou, Miss Kiss Kiss, Naughty Natanya, Siren Jinx, and Titi Touche.

They have performed with some of Chicago’s best-known burlesque troupes, including the Belmont Burlesque Revue, Vaudezilla, the Girlie-Q Variety Hour, and Varietease Cabaret, and have been featured in the New York Burlesque Festival, the New Orleans Burlesque Festival and our own Windy City Burlesque Festival.

The Kiss Kiss Cabaret is directed by Chris O. Biddle and produced by Jenn Kincaid, with choreography by Erica Reid, and technical assistance by Greg Inda and Jason Shivers.

The Kiss Kiss Cabaret Grand Opening Gala

Friday, February 4 @ 11pm

Plan your Friday night around catching GEEK SHOW as they take over the Playground’s Graffiti Sketch Comedy Showcase.

All bias aside, I loved their recent peformance at Sketchfest. GEEK SHOW is a little smarter, a little deeper and a little darker than a lot of other groups. Their presentation is tight and efficient and they are truly hilarious. They even blasted the Kinks as their transition music. That’s a formula for sketch comedy excellence.

What is a “geek show?” Well, in the old days, a geek show was a carnival act where a single oaf (the geek) stood in the center ring to commit a bizarre, horrific act that was found disdainful but ultimately entertaining by the masses, such as chasing live chickens, and then biting their heads off. This GEEK SHOW simply chases and bites the heads off of the various idiocies in our modern lives.

Let’s face it, today’s America is overstimulating, complicated, and constantly changing in ways that cannot be controlled. We are an exceptional nation, proud of it’s porn and overeating. Each of us is special, just like everyone else. GEEK SHOW is here to show us how ridiculous it all truly is, and how the ways we cope with it are even stranger. Leave the 2.5 kids at home for this show. Besides, they’re only dragging you down.

GEEK SHOW stars Justin Howard, Jeff Murdock, Tim Reardon and Jo Scott, and is directed by Dunbar Dicks.

Fridays @ 10pm, January 28 – March 4.

The Playground Theater, 3209 N Halsted St (Belmont & Halsted), Chicago, IL 60657.

$10 tickets are available at the door. Reservations may be made at The-Playground.com.

All shows are BYOB and a new guest comedy group opens for GEEK SHOW each week!

If you don’t come to opening night, Jo Scott will CHOKE herself to DEATH.  SERIOUSLY.