The Last LAF

All Good Things Must Come to an End This is the most difficult post I've had to write and coincidentally, it will also be my last. Today marks a day I was never convinced would come. Today, LAFS is two years old. It has been an incredible two years, absolutely incredible filled with more excitement, laughter, awe and humility than I could have ever dreamed. However, today is bittersweet, because today is Read More

INTERVIEW: Charna Halpern

The Mother of Improv Comedy I first fell in love with improv at iO's Clark Street location. iO changed my life, but my story is not unlike many others. Charna created a world at iO that many call "home" and it has become the center of their universe. Charna Halpern is one of the most influential people in improv, has paved the path for hundreds of comedians over the last few Read More

INTERVIEW: Matt Besser

Focus on the Game. Matt Besser is one of the founding members of Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). UCB started as a Chicago-based improv team composed of Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh and Amy Poehler and has transformed into a well-known comedy establishment in New York City and Los Angeles. These folks not only formed UCB but Besser, Roberts, Walsh and friends regularly perform together as ASSSSCAT. ASSSSCAT will be performing, with a Read More

INTERVIEW: Dan Bakkedahl

Just make a choice. Dan Bakkedahl has made his mark on Chicago's comedy scene. Coming up in the late 90s and early 2000s, Dan spent a lot of time at iO and Second City. Since his departure, you may have seen him on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Community, Veep, Legit or a number of other television appearances. He was also in The Heat with Sandra Bullock and Melissa Read More

INTERVIEW: Carisa Barreca

Do everything, because you’re going to need all of it. I am declaring Carisa Barreca Second City's sweetheart. One of the most beautiful, talented, kind and humble ladies I have ever met, Carisa has a heart of gold and nothing but good intentions. With a lifetime of performance background, she can do just about anything you throw at her. I was so lucky to be able to sit down with Read More

INTERVIEW: Scott Adsit and John Lutz

Hitting Your Mark in Hollywood Thanks to Aren Zolninger from Chicago Improv Productions, I was able to sneak in a few minutes to interview Scott Adsit and John Lutz before they took the stage for their "Super Secret" midnight show at Stage 773. As we were waiting for the show ahead of us to clear out, Scott, John and I stepped into a back hallway with CIP staff and a Read More

INTERVIEW: Tim Baltz

If you’re not listening, you’re going to miss the joke. After months of trying to nail down both of our schedules after Tim left Second City's Mainstage, I was finally able to meet up with him to talk life and comedy. I had the pleasure of meeting Tim last Fall at Jimmy Carrane's Improv Nerd and for obvious reasons, I was dead set on interviewing him. Tim is extremely passionate Read More

INTERVIEW: Ted Tremper

Just love what you love and let that be the work that you do. It was a true pleasure interviewing Ted, as I have an incredible amount of respect for him as a person, performer and filmmaker. He's so talented and is such a genuinely kind human being. We met at iO on a late November morning and, truth be told, divulged a great deal of personal details, some of which Read More

INTERVIEW: TJ Jagodowski

I am truly the luckiest person I know. TJ Jagodowski is not only one of the most brilliant improvisers I have ever seen, he's also one of the nicest guys I've ever met. I've bumped into TJ a number of times around iO, but it wasn't until the end of October where I had the pleasure of taking a class taught by him. This man is a poet and every Read More

INTERVIEW: Jet Eveleth

Dream big and then do it. I met Jet at her apartment where she lives with her improviser beau, Brett Elam and his sister Erica. We chatted about where her name came from, some of life’s big questions, drinking sake before bed to live longer and then she told me the details of the secret she’s been keeping from everyone for the last two years… Alright Jet, the first thing I Read More
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Prohibition Hits ComedySportz This Weekend

posted on January 15, 2014 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, News/Updates | Comments Off on Prohibition Hits ComedySportz This Weekend

Booze and Comedy. Both great reasons to celebrate.

ComedySportz_Prohibition

Starting this evening, ComedySportz Chicago will be transforming into a speakeasy and traveling back in time to the 1920s to celebrate the anniversary of Prohibition for the entire weekend. Join in the festivities as there will be costumes, barrels of booze, live jazz music, bootleggers and to secret code words. I spoke with Bruce Phillips, ComedySportz’ Marketing Lead, about this weekend’s activities and this is what he had to say.

 

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Chicago SketchFest Recommendations: Part 2

posted on January 15, 2014 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Reviews | Comments Off on Chicago SketchFest Recommendations: Part 2

Put ’em up for round two.

Abbaria_Sketchfest

The 13th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival began last weekend. However, it continues this weekend with dozens of great sketch comedy shows Thursday through Sunday. Just like last week, here are my recommendations for shows to see this coming weekend at SketchFest. Get’em while their hot folks!

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The Centennial Post

posted on January 15, 2014 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews, News/Updates | Comments Off on The Centennial Post

100th Post: Recap and Answers

100thPostEvery single post on this blog has been a true labor of love and I can’t believe this is the 100th one. From interviews and show reviews to must reads and life posts, LAFS has escalated from this tiny little home-grown project to being the single one thing that has shaped so much of my life today. I won’t get into all the details about everything I’ve learned or opportunities this blog has given me, (because I already did that not too long ago). But I did want to take a few moments to highlight the various responses I’ve gathered about the greatest insights people have discovered between life and comedy and answer a few questions people have asked of me.

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Chicago SketchFest Recommendations: Part 1

posted on January 7, 2014 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Reviews | Comments Off on Chicago SketchFest Recommendations: Part 1

The Chicago Comedy Vortex is here…

Exquisite Corpse_SketchfestThe 13th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival begins at Stage 773 this Thursday night. Over 10,000 people are expected to flow in and out those doors to see roughly 180 different sketch comedy shows. It is overwhelming, which is why I have pulled out my recommendations of shows to see for this weekend. Next week, I will be posting my recommendations for the second half of Sketchfest. (Hint: Danny Pudi is playing with Siblings of Doctors, get your tickets before they sell out.)
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2014 New Year’s Resolutions

posted on January 3, 2014 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | Comments Off on 2014 New Year’s Resolutions

New Year. New You. Just Like Last Year.

2014Happy New Year’s everyone! This time every year, people find themselves hemming and hawing over what new ways they want to change themselves this year. How much more often will they go to the gym? How many more clubs will they join to meet new people? Will they finally give online dating a shot? You know, the usual. Well in light of comedy and in specific light of Chicago comedy, I bring you the resolutions of some of Chicago’s funny folks.

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