Susan Messing News

February brings DSI Comedy Theater's largest event of the year. This year, it is giving DSI a chance to showcase a new direction and continue its 17th year tradition of showcasing comedy from up and down the east coast and across the country.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces the 2016/17 winter lineup for LookOut, the company's multi-genre performance series featuring a diverse array of work from both emerging and established artists. LookOut programming takes place in Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre, an 80-seat cabaret-style space connected to Steppenwolf's own Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks at 1700 N Halsted St. Guests can take drinks into the theater. Every Friday a different DJ spins in Front Bar before the performance.

The 13th Annual Providence Improv FEST, will be taking place at AS220 Black Box at 95 Empire St. and AS220 Main Stage at 115 Empire St., in downtown Providence on September 22-24, 2016. 

The 13th Annual Providence Improv FEST, will be taking place at AS220 Black Box at 95 Empire St. and AS220 Main Stage at 115 Empire St., in downtown Providence on September 22-24, 2016. 

The largest Scottish cultural organization in North America, the CHICAGO SCOTS, celebrates three decades of providing entertainment and Scottish culture with a modern twist this June, with their annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Taking place Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18 at Hamilton Lakes, 1 Pierce Place, Itasca, IL, the beloved summer celebration, the largest festival of its kind in the Midwest, will feature an extravaganza of activities and attractions from the Caber Toss to the Highland Dance to the Dogs of Scotland. This family-friendly event is a chance to explore Scottish culture without buying a plane ticket. Event proceeds benefit the CHICAGO SCOTS' principle charities that provide assisted living and first class memory care at two locations: The Scottish Home and The Caledonian House.  

Stage 773 Director of Operations Jill Valentine and co-producer Liz McArthur are thrilled to announce the highly anticipated lineup for the 5th Annual Chicago Women's Funny Festival, taking place June 16 through June 19 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont. The Chicago Women's Funny Festival, the largest of its kind in the nation, features all forms of comedy- from 'highbrow musical improv' to 'relatable stand-up' to 'character driven sketch', as comediennes gather together from across the globe. With over 83 shows packed into four days, Stage 773 has made it easier than ever to discover new groups to love, allowing patrons to filter through art forms, a rating and keywords to find their own taste in comedy. The full schedule and searchable calendar for the 5th Annual Chicago Women's Funny Festival can be viewed at www.stage773.com/WomensFestCalendar.  

The Annoyance Theatre NY has announced that it will open BABY IAN FALLS DOWN A WELL, directed by Annoyance Executive Director Philip Markle and written by & starring Ian Lockwood and Sophie Zucker, for weekly Thursday night performances in April - beginning tonight, April 7, 2016.

The Annoyance Theatre NY has announced that it will open BABY IAN FALLS DOWN A WELL, directed by Annoyance Executive Director Philip Markle and written by & starring Ian Lockwood and Sophie Zucker, for weekly Thursday night performances in April - beginning April 7, 2016.

The San Francisco Improv Festival presents its 11th season of off-the-cuff comedy from top improv and sketch comedians. The San Francisco Improv Festival runs today, September 10, through September 19, 2015 at The Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco.

The San Francisco Improv Festival presents its 11th season of off-the-cuff comedy from top improv and sketch comedians.

For the fifth year in a row, Metro Detroit will welcome the nation's biggest names in comedy as the Detroit Improv Festival hits the Motor City this weekend, August 5-9 at several area venues.

 For the fifth year in a row, Metro Detroit will welcome the nation's biggest names in comedy as the Detroit Improv Festival hits the Motor City August 5-9 at several area venues. Tickets are on sale now for performances ($5 - $25) and workshops ($40) at www.detroitimprovfestival.org. A complete Festival schedule follows this release.

Stage 773 Director of Operations Jill Valentine and co-producer Liz McArthur are thrilled to announce the highly anticipated lineup for the 4th Annual Chicago Women's Funny Festival taking place June 18 through June 21 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont. The Chicago Women's Funny Festival will feature all forms of comedy including stand up, sketch, solo, vaudeville, improvisational, and musical with comediennes from across the globe. The event packs 83 shows, featuring over 500 performers in 161 groups into four funny-filled days. The full schedule for the 4th Annual Chicago Women's Funny Festival can be viewed at www.chicagowomensfunnyfestival.com.

Improvisational comedy, with its roots in Chicago, is growing in popularity in Central Ohio. There are now over 15 improv groups performing around town, with shows happening almost daily in such venues as Shadow Box Theater, Studio 35, the Garden Theater, MadLab, Wild Goose Creative, Shanes Dinner Theater and many other small clubs and bars. More and more people are interested in this form of theater as spectators and from the desire to perform. Many want to try it. They want to get on stage and see if they can make a scene without a script, without a safety net and only a suggestion from the audience.

Braunger's second one-hour stand-up special, "Big, Dumb Animal," was filmed at The Bell House in Brooklyn. In front of a live audience, Braunger delves into why being 39 is lamer than being 40, the absurdity of a quiet Jagerbomb, why his hometown of Portland is too nice of a place, and what it is to be a big dumb animal with an anger problem. Also, how he got the nickname "Peaches."

Braunger's second one-hour stand-up special, “Big, Dumb Animal,” was filmed at The Bell House in Brooklyn. In front of a live audience, Braunger delves into why being 39 is lamer than being 40, the absurdity of a quiet Jägerbomb, why his hometown of Portland is too nice of a place, and what it is to be a big dumb animal with an anger problem. Also, how he got the nickname “Peaches.”

Matt Braunger comes crashing through the woods in his return to Comedy Central in the world premiere of "Matt Braunger: Big, Dumb Animal" on Friday, February 6 at Midnight ET/PT. Braunger's second one-hour stand-up special, "Big, Dumb Animal," was filmed at The Bell House in Brooklyn. In front of a live audience, Braunger delves into why being 39 is lamer than being 40, the absurdity of a quiet Jagerbomb, why his hometown of Portland is too nice of a place, and what it is to be a big dumb animal with an anger problem. Also, how he got the nickname "Peaches."

The Second City is excited to announce more alumni and friends to The Second City All-Star Comedy Benefit line-up including Scott Adsit, Neil Flynn, Mike Hagerty, T.J. Jagodowski, David Koechner, Susan Messing, Katie Rich and Allison Tolman. They will be joining Aidy Bryant, Jack McBrayer, Tim Meadows, George Wendt, Fred Willard and Steven Yeun. The Second City All-Star Comedy Benefit is a special one night fundraising event benefiting Gilda's Club Chicago and The Second City Alumni Fund on Thursday, July 17, 2014 at The Second City Mainstage Theater (1616 N. Wells St). Performances will be at 7:00p and 10:00p. Tickets are on sale now at www.SecondCity.com.

After 15 years, the popular late night improv show THE HOT KARL is coming to a close on June 14, 2014 at The ComedySportz Theatre (929 W Belmont). Since 1999, every Saturday at midnight, some of Chicago's best improvisers and eager audience members have packed into The ComedySportz Theatre for a night of unpredictable and unadulterated fun. Starting in April, THE HOT KARL is celebrating by inviting some of the top names in Chicago comedy to see them off.