To Those Who Have Been Snubbed, We Salute You

By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 3, 2010 8:20PM

Post by: Kristy Mangel

Tonight begins Chemically Imbalanced Comedy’s (CIC) sixth annual Snubfest, a festival and contest dedicated to performers who had been snubbed from the highly competitive festival circuit in 2010. CIC is teaming up with sponsors in Chicago and nationwide to award this year’s winners with sweet performance spots at a variety of festivals and venues, and to help lessen the sting of a previous snub. CIC’s Executive Producer and Founder Angie McMahon says of the fest’s mission, “We like to say, ‘Just because you didn't get the job doesn't mean you weren't qualified.’ We give a stage to that performer who won't take no for an answer. They are putting themselves in the center of the target to be judged because they believe in what they are bringing to the table; they think it is worthy and so do we!”

Tonight will have five improv troupes battling for crown of Last Snob Standing, Improv. The winning troupe will be given spots at the Hawaii Festival of Improv, the Twin Cities Improv Festival, and a performance date at the Laugh Out Loud Theater in Schaumburg.

Friday night at 8 p.m. three sketch troupes will showcase, followed by the Last Snob Standing, Stand-up showcase at 10 p.m. The showcase will feature thirteen comics from Chicago and elsewhere, including Louisville, Boston, Indiana, and North Carolina. The winning stand-up comic will receive performance dates for the 450-seat Improv in Schaumburg, and the 200-seat Red Bar Comedy Club in downtown Chicago.

Saturday night is a full night of sketch, with three more sketch troupes showcasing and repeat performances from Friday’s troupes. The evening will culminate with the crowning of Last Snob Standing, Sketch. The winning improv troupe will be given dates at the Philly Sketchfest and the Milwaukee Comedy Festival.
Sunday’s closing performances will feature for the first time a battle of six comedy rock bands, all hailing from Chicago. The winning band will win a one-year subscription to Sonicbids.com and two nights performing at the Westside Comedy Theater in San Francisco.

Local comedy celeb judges will include Jonathan Pitts, Chicago Improv Festival (improv), Kyle Lane, Red Bar Comedy Club (stand-up), Susan Messing, Messing with a Friend (sketch), and Jason Heidemann, Time Out Chicago (sketch). If past years are any indication, stick around Friday and Saturday nights for the raucous midnight after party, in Chemically Imbalanced Comedy’s new home at 1420 W. Irving Park Road.

For performer details and the full festival schedule June 3-6, visit the fest's website.