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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WRITTEN: Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual

posted on January 20, 2013 by Kiley Peters posted in Features, Written | Comments Off on WRITTEN: Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual

Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual

The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation ManualThe Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual is a comprehensive guide to the UCB style of long form comedy improvisation. Written by UCB founding members Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh, the manual covers everything from the basics of two person scene work (with a heavy emphasis on finding “the game” of the scene), to the complexities of working within an ensemble to perform long form structures, such as “The Harold” and “The Movie”. Read More

REVIEW: 12th Annual Chicago Sketchfest

posted on January 16, 2013 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Reviews | Comments Off on REVIEW: 12th Annual Chicago Sketchfest

Another Success.

Chicago Sketchfest

Those of you in Chicago have probably heard of, seen or attended the 12th Annual Chicago Sketchfest at some point in the last two weeks. At the very least you’ve seen it advertised on the back of buses, the inside of El cars and flyered all over Lakeview. 169 sketch shows performed by 145 teams over eight days of comedy taking refuge at Stage 773. With a dozen or so staff members and volunteers managing the hundreds of people flooding the lobby, not only was this chaos well controlled and orderly, it was also entertaining. With a scantily clad male cheerleader, George Washington and half-naked man-rabbit (yes, I’ll venture to say that, in this instance, that is a thing) there was always something to witness while waiting in line for the show to begin. Stacey Smith was proudly sporting a tutu and the bar staff was wearing t-shirts exposing chest hair and nipples, which I assumed to be representative of Brian Posen’s, given this year’s Sketchfest marketing materials. 

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Merry Christmas to Everyone

posted on December 25, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter | Comments Off on Merry Christmas to Everyone

My favorite holiday is Christmas, Jimmy Fallon is one of my favorite comedians and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” is my favorite Christmas song, so I thought this was the most appropriate way to spread my holiday cheer with you.

Merry Christmas everyone! Laugh, love and be safe! We’ll see you again in the New Year!

INTERVIEW: Dave Pasquesi

posted on December 24, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | 1 comment

There’s no teacher like stage time.

Dave PasquesiDave is a busy man. From shooting films to TJ & Dave, his weekly Wednesday night show at iO, this man is hard to track down. However, after a few weeks of rearranging schedules, I was able to find a time to chat with Dave. He is very kind and courteous and above all of his success to date, he is in search of “world domination.”

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INTERVIEW: TJ Jagodowski

posted on December 19, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | 2 comments

I am truly the luckiest person I know.

TJ Jagodowski

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 word he mutters is saturated in truth. As TJ and I met on a Saturday afternoon in early November, we settled down outside Starbucks behind iO, me with my tall soy peppermint mocha no whip and TJ with his steamed apple juice. Aside from asking about the functionality of my e-tip gloves, we chatted about improv, traveling, yoga and what’s next for TJ. Always checking to make sure I wasn’t too chilly, TJ and I had one of the best conversations I can recall in a long time.

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