CIF Keeps Laughs Coming All Week Long
The second half of the Chicago Improv Festival was even bigger and better than the first. Thursday night I ventured over to Rob Belushi’s Comedy Bar in River North. I watched Mission IMPROVable perform a short form set and then I got to watch Jon Barinholtz & Friends. Jon played with Jamie Moyer, from Second City in Los Angeles, and Sam Weiner from The Onion. I feel like I’ve been missing out on comedy because I just discovered Jamie Moyer. I’m on a personal quest find more of her work because she had me rolling with laughter. In my opinion, she was the highlight of the show. Friday night, I posted up at The Gorilla Tango and watched Hitch*Cocktails, Ballpark Theatre Company, Mannerhouse Manor and Improvised Philip K. Dick. Saturday I caught Meowsers, JED, Beirdo, Jimmy Jet Johnnie at Donny’s Skybox at Second City. I had never heard of Beirdo before, but I really enjoyed their set. They played very smart and very fluid and I was happy to hear there was improv going on in Philly.
I was privileged enough to not only get to witness the secret midnight improv show Scott Adsit and John Lutz put on for CIF improvisers, but I also got a few minutes to interview them too. (Thank you Aren.) I then saw the 154th and final show of the festival with the always brilliant, Improvised Shakespeare Company and the 30Rock show with Scott Adsit, John Lutz and Kay Cannon at UP Comedy Club at Second City.
Below are a couple write ups of my favorite shows:
