Here are some things going around town to make you consider giving the weather a big ol' raspberry. 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 ›

Discussions about Black History Month have become as complex as discussions about race. Debating the labels ‘black’ and ‘African-American’ lead to debates about biracial identity and, recently, whether Senator Obama, Joe Biden’s “first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy” friend, is actually African-American. In the same vein, Black History Month has increasingly been relabeled African-American Heritage Month and African Heritage Month, terms emphasizing the present and future as... more ›

This weekend’s comedy smackdown: hundreds of performers from around the country take on your seasonal affective disorder. If you’re still not happy by Sunday night, you’re either not trying hard enough or Sexy Rexy let you down. more ›

When we start getting a little crazy from family overload we find it is best to get out, go to a show or meet up with some friends. We thought we would make it a little easier for you this weekend, here a few things going on around town. As always, feel free to add more events in the comments section. On Christmas Eve, entrance into the Museum of Science and Industry is free. Their... 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 must be something in the air. Look beyond the explosion of neighborhood Summer Fests, “Taste Ofs”, and nationally recognized rock smorgasbords, and you’ll find… still more festivals. Taking a cue from music promoters, local theaters know you’re excited to spend hours upon hours being entertained along some kind of theme. Festivals grab attention, and these festivals grabbed ours: Darknight Theatrical Productions pays tribute to Twilight Zone master Rod Serling, presenting three original one-acts inspired... more ›

City officials have been known to capture the excitement of a cultural festival by declaring “Today we are all Irish!” to a crowd in Beverly or “Today we are all Polish!” to Jefferson Parkers. It’s amusing to think we’ll hear a Commissioner proclaim “Today we are all gay!” when the Gay Games open Saturday night, but Mayor Daley expressed his more than symbolic support earlier this week, thanking the out and proud (and commerce seeking)... more ›

Biographies adapted for the stage are rarely subject to the same scrutiny as literary bios or memoirs. It’s hard to imagine any playwright getting the James Frey treatment, discredited on national television and the blogosphere for bending the truth. And why should they? We go to the theater to understand the world but also to enjoy ourselves and find some degree of escape. To visit (or revisit) a fascinating life set to song can be a joy, and starting this week three theaters give us this opportunity. 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 local theater community weathered the first big snowfall of the season yesterday. Snowstorms can sucker punch a company’s attendance but Old Man Winter was courteous enough to strike on Thursday, when smaller crowds are the norm. Chicagoist spent last night at The Theatre Building, which aside from a few no shows was not affected by the weather. As our curtain time approached, we were informed that two actors were still stuck in traffic and... more ›

During these long, bleak, "Sex and the City"-less winter days, where oh where can single girls (like us) go to learn how to snag a husband? 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 ›

God damn tomorrow cannot come fast enough. Pre-election anxiety + post-Halloween hangover + drizzly Monday = craptacular, any way you slice it. If it were up to us, today would be national Cuddle on the Couch in Pajamas and Watch TV Day, but alas, the party wheels keep on turning. Tonight and tomorrow, there's plenty election action to keep you busy. Here are a few to get you started: more ›

Chicagoist has been pouring over all of the local media sites trying to decide what we want to do this weekend to celebrate Halloween. There's so much going on. Last week we posted on some city-sponsored events and things going on at the big museums. This week we're trying to highlight other happenings around town. I'm sure we'll miss some, so feel free to add or make suggestions in the comments, but here are some things that looked interesting to us: more ›

A few weeks ago, Chicagoist went to and really liked it; at $25, though, it's kind of an investment. But no more, apparently. You can see it for a mere $10 this weekend. Cheap tickets are available for performances Saturday at 10 pm and Sunday at 3 pm and 6 pm. Call the Theatre Building Chicago box office at (773) 327-5252 and mention Chicagoist. 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 ›

?) After all, this is the film that single-handedly destroyed the careers of Saved By The Bell star Elizabeth Berkley (NOO!!!) and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (YES!!!), and it also tried (and failed) to bring the controversial NC-17 rating into the mainstream, thus pissing off Roger Ebert forever. Among its many other virtues, Showgirls notably features an extended conversation between strippers on the deliciousness of dog food. more ›