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
The 16th Annual Chicago Improv Festival was by far the largest to date, with 154 shows, over 165 improvisers on 94 teams from 10 different countries performing on 20 stages across Chicago. This truly was an incredible event and I’m so grateful that I was able to be a part of it. A huge thank you goes out to Jonathan Pitts and Aren Zolninger from Chicago Improv Productions for allowing me to be a part of this event. Read More
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. Read More
Jimmy Carrane is known all over Chicago for his Improv Nerd live show/podcast. Jet Eveleth has been one of the most well-recognized females in improv and comedy in Chicago for years. John Hildreth has made a lasting impression on Second City and has been in the community for over a decade. It is blatantly obvious that these three have been playing together for a while and watching them improvise together is like watching an amusing clunky ballet…with words…and awkward moments of stunted rhythm. Now add Scott Adist, one of the most talented improvisers I’ve ever seen play, to the mix and you know you’re in for a good show. Read More
Residing in Los Angeles, Mannerhouse Manor graced Chicagoans with their presence last weekend at the Chicago Improv Festival. Dressed to the nines, this team wasn’t chancing anything with a first impression. Their commitment to character and the attention to detail was proof enough as to how serious they take this show and it was fun and refreshing to see an improv show approached with such a noble demeanor. Read More
Performed in the style of Alfred Hitchcock, this show never falls short of brilliant. With an A-list cast, including Brit Belsheim, C.J. Tuor, Caleb George, Alex Young, Mike Norris and Mel Evans, they killed this show- pun intended. In the opening scene, Evans and Tuor established that Tuor had killed a prostitute in their home while Evans was out at the social club showing off her new hat. In an effort to cover his crime, he insisted that Evans was to tell anyone who asked that Tuor had picked her up from the social club that evening, but all her socialite friends had seen her take the bus… Read More
