Results tagged “sketchfest”

We're sorry to say that last weekend was the first time we'd ventured to Chicago Sketchfest - we had no idea what we were missing. Now in its ninth year, the two-weekend event is the largest sketch-comedy festival in the country. With 113 groups doing 149 shows, it's impossible to see everything. We managed to catch four groups in a Saturday night comedy marathon - if the talent we saw is any indication, you'll want to head to the Theatre Building this weekend. more ›

While we don’t think it’s funny that many theaters are suffering in the recession, it certainly provides prime comedic material. Because when things don’t get better, all you can do is laugh. That’s what Corn Productions is choosing to do with Storefront Theater Musical, a charming and borderline offensive parody of the omnipresent High School Musical. more ›

Saturday night at SketchFest was bigger, better, rowdier, drunker. Performers might have found audiences more forgiving (when friends and family came) and tougher (when the front row was soused). Groups filling the most coveted slots brought energy, harmony, and a bizarre hilarity to the stage. more ›

As a rule, SketchFest organizers don't meddle with the artistic product. But last night we couldn’t help wondering if the troupes were ordered to do pet humor. In three of the four shows we saw Friday, performers became felines for laughs. For the other, a monologist drank like a gerbil. Team Submarine and Brick even used the same “distracted by a laser pointer” gag. A minor complaint, as Friday night treated us to plenty of original material. more ›

The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival kicked off last night and continues through January 13, a smörgåsbord of comedy stylings from 99 troupes from across the U.S. and Canada. Intrepid performers leave the comfort of California and Texas, brave delays at O’Hare, and risk negative comments on their MySpace pages—all to entertain you. Organizers estimate 10,000 of you attended last year’s event and, with fest favorites like Elephant Larry, Canadian Content, Cool Table, and Big News returning, this year’s crowds will likely be just as huge. more ›

Last Call Cleveland will be at Sketchfest Friday and Saturday at 9pm. more ›

See enough sketch comedy and you’re bound to experience a head shaking, teeth gritting night when you’re questioning why you abandoned the warm, comforting glow of your Magnavox. At last weekend’s Chicago Sketchfest, we eavesdropped on a few patrons in that predicament, discussing what they’d like to see abolished in sketch comedy: "Casting a woman in your group for the sole purpose of being 'the girlfriend', 'the spouse', or the object of lust." "Mistaking 'zany'... more ›

Sure, a comedy festival provides exposure and an excuse to get out of town for a weekend. But as the Sixth Annual Chicago Sketchfest gets underway, we’ve learned that comedy troupes also come here to nourish their inner fanboy (or girl) and to network. We contacted three veteran troupes to see how they make the most of these weekends. more ›

We can’t turn our backs for a minute without those creatives making all sorts of trouble. Good for them. Let’s catch up and find more excuses to get out of the house this winter: Comedy/Theater Schadenfreude holds their December Rent Party tonight, where Chicagoist editor Scott Smith will read his correspondence with Richard Marx. Will the mulleted 80s rocker show up? No, but he’ll be played by a special guest. The monthly showcase of local... more ›

It's easy to watch a lot of crappy comedy on TV. "The Daily Show" is always reliable for some laughs, and "30 Rock" and SNL have their moments. But by and large contemporary TV comedy is a wasteland of retreads, anemia and laughless vulgarity. We're becoming increasingly convinced that the future of television isn't television at all. It's the internet. Because there's plenty of really funny stuff online, and most of it is even free. more ›

WORDSFest, a premier collection of local African-American performers and one of the most entertaining events you’ll see this Black History Month, opens tonight at the Theatre Building. The two-weekend showcase shares a path with last month’s Sketch Fest. Each grew from an impulse to bring together and raise the visibility of a talented community, each arrived at the Theatre Building when they outgrew their original space. Both open their arms (and their workshop) to aspiring... more ›

Note: Part 1 of this series is here. The Chicago Sketchfest brings some of the country’s finest comic troupes to town this weekend and next. Fitting really, since a mid-January Chicago vacation requires a hearty sense of humor. Yesterday, Chicagoist profiled a few up-and-comers but we didn’t want to leave out the veteran performers, the very backbone of the festival itself, and the uniquely wacky groups, the pickled liver of the festival itself. Many of... more ›

Railing against winter depression, working hard for the belly laughs, imbibing enough to make their Second City forbearers proud, legions of talented performers and commendable administrators take over Theatre Building Chicago tonight through January 15 for the 5th Annual Chicago Sketchfest. Squeezing ninety troupes over eight nights, the festival boasts one of the most impressive lineups outside Aspen. They’re savvy enough to host tonight’s League of Chicago Theaters’ Theater Thursday event, featuring pre-show beer and appetizers at an area restaurant and mingling with the performers. Click here for tonight’s ticket info (just promise you’ll come back, ok?). more ›

The fourth annual Chicago Sketchfest is happening now – and by that we mean tonight through Sunday – at the Theatre Building Chicago on West Belmont. The “largest sketch comedy festival in the country” promises “83 groups, over 100 shows and 600 funny people,” most of which & whom you’ve probably already missed, since the festival kicked off over a week ago. more ›

As Chicagoist wrote earlier, we'd ideally like to send out the summer in style tonight with Guys and Dolls. But if keeps on raining outside, we've got back-up plans for you (and us). Now, as we all know, Chicago is the comedy capital of the world. There's no better evidence of that fact than our annual Sketchfest, the nation�s largest sketch comedy festival. This past January, videographer Blake Hollon captured all the best moments onstage and behind the scenes. The footage has been compiled into a documentary about Sketchfest entitled, um, Sketchfest: The Documentary. And wouldn't you know it, they're having the premiere screening tonight as a really, really early preview party for the 2005 fest. In addition to the movie, the website also promises "free appetizers, beer, raffle prizes, and more." Excellent. The laughs start at 7:30 at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door. more ›