Susan Messing News

Stage 773 Director of Operations Jill Valentine and co-producer Liz McArthur have announced the highly anticipated lineup for the 3rd Annual Chicago Women's Funny Festival, taking place today, June 5 through June 8 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 over 70 shows, 400 performers into four funny-filled days. The full schedule for the 3rd Annual Chicago Women's Funny Festival may be viewed at www.chicagowomensfunnyfestival.com.

Stage 773 Director of Operations Jill Valentine and co-producer Liz McArthur have announced the highly anticipated lineup for the 3rd Annual Chicago Women's Funny Festival, taking place June 5 through June 8 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 over 70 shows, 400 performers into four funny-filled days. The full schedule for the 3rd Annual Chicago Women's Funny Festival may be viewed at www.chicagowomensfunnyfestival.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.

Last fall NATURAL GAS, the five-year-old house improv team of The Gift Theatre, took up an open run on Friday nights at Wicker Park's The Den Theatre, performing entirely improvised group sets in addition to their standing Wednesday night set at The Gift in Jefferson Park. Now, NATURAL GAS presents YOU & ME-a two-person, entirely improvised show featuring NATURAL GAS ensemble member/The Gift artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton with a special guest from the Chicago improv/theatre community. Upcoming performances of YOU & ME are Fridays Feb. 28 (with NATURAL GAS' Jim Kozyra), March 14 (with Susan Messing) and April 4 (with Keith Neagle) at 10:30 p.m. An ongoing schedule can be found at thegifttheatre.org/shows-events/gas-the-den.

Central Ohioans will receive a huge helping of laughter today, October 24-27 during Columbus' second annual improv festival, Columbus Unscripted. Produced by Columbus Unscripted, the festival will include professional-level improvisational workshops as well as performances by over 20 local improv troupes and nationally acclaimed improvisers, Susan Messing, Megan Johns and Michael Clayton McCarthy.

Central Ohioans will receive a huge helping of laughter October 24-27 during Columbus' second annual improv festival, Columbus Unscripted. Produced by Columbus Unscripted, the festival will include professional-level improvisational workshops as well as performances by over 20 local improv troupes and nationally acclaimed improvisers, Susan Messing, Megan Johns and Michael Clayton McCarthy.

Natural Gas turns five years old in August. Nearly every Wednesday since August 2008, the house improv team of The Gift Theatre has taken one suggestion from the audience to create an entirely improvised world of comedy that is wild, randy and appropriately inappropriate. For the next month a roster of special guest improvisers will join Natural Gas Ensemble members Kyle Zornes, Dan Aho, Ed Flynn, Jim Kozyra, Joey Lesiak, Kirby O'Connell, Carly Olson, John Pantlind, Aemilia Scott, Amy Speckien and Michael Patrick Thornton on the Gift stage for world class Chicago improv in Jefferson Park.

Stage 773, founder and producer of the popular Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, has announced the 2013 Chicago Women's Funny Festival, today, June 6 - 9. Curated by Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival Executive Director Jill Valentine, the Chicago Women's Funny Festival will celebrate not only sketch comedy, but all forms of comedy including stand up, sketch, solo, vaudeville, improvisational, musical and more. Celebrating the best in local and national female comediennes, the 2013 Chicago Women's Funny Festival runs today, June 6 - 9.

Stage 773, founder and producer of the popular Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, has announced the 2013 Chicago Women's Funny Festival, June 6 - 9. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at some of the acts below!

The Second City Training Center opens more Teen/Youth Summer Camps and Adult Summer Immersions for National and International students this year than ever before.

Stage 773, founder and producer of the popular Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, has announced the 2013 Chicago Women's Funny Festival, June 6 - 9. Curated by Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival Executive Director Jill Valentine, the Chicago Women's Funny Festival will celebrate not only sketch comedy, but all forms of comedy including stand up, sketch, solo, vaudeville, improvisational, musical and more. Celebrating the best in local and national female comediennes, the 2013 Chicago Women's Funny Festival runs June 6 - 9. Performance times are Thursday, June 6 at 8, 9 and 10 p.m., Friday, June 7 at 8, 9, 10 and 11 p.m., Saturday, June 8 at 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 p.m. and Sunday, June 9 at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 p.m. All performances take place at the recently renovated Stage 773 building, located at 1225 W. Belmont. Ticket prices range from $14-$15 and may be purchased at www.Stage773.com, by phone at 773.327.5252, and in person at Stage 773 box office. Tickets can be purchased at a discounted rate of $12 if purchased before May 19.

Stage 773, founder and producer of the popular Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, is proud to announce the 2013 Chicago Women's Funny Festival, June 6 - 9. Curated by Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival Executive Director Jill Valentine, the Chicago Women's Funny Festival will celebrate not only sketch comedy, but all forms of comedy including stand up, sketch, solo, vaudeville, improvisational, musical and more. Celebrating the best in local and national female comediennes, the 2013 Chicago Women's Funny Festival runs June 6 - 9.

This year the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival closes with six days of improv comedy. The festival began as an improv festival and the final weekend is always a highlight. This year the festival is welcoming legendary improviser Susan Messing and acts from all across the country. The improv block runs Tuesday, February 12-Sunday, February 17. Tickets to festival shows range $12 - $18 and are available online at www.nccomedyarts.com. Final shows will take place at DSI Comedy Theater, 200 N Greensboro St. and at the Arts Center 300-G East Main St.

Natural Gas Jug Band Christmas, directed by Joey Lesiak and featuring Natural Gas members: Jim Kozyra, Kirby O'Connell, Carly Olson, Amy Speckien, John Pantlind, and Kyle Zornes, will play The Gift Theatre tonight, December 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2012. Lighting and sound design by Scott Pilsbury.

Susan Messing, dubbed "Funniest woman in Chicago," by Chicago Magazine, joins Chicago Ladies in Comedy as guest instructor for the monthly workshop series Breaking the Mold. This 2-hour Master Class explores improv techniques, games, activities and the personal philosophy of a renowned comedienne.

Natural Gas Jug Band Christmas, directed by Joey Lesiak and featuring Natural Gas members: Jim Kozyra, Kirby O'Connell, Carly Olson, Amy Speckien, John Pantlind, and Kyle Zornes, will play The Gift Theatre December 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2012.

Susan Messing, dubbed "Funniest woman in Chicago," by Chicago Magazine, joins Chicago Ladies in Comedy as guest instructor for the monthly workshop series Breaking the Mold. This 2-hour Master Class explores improv techniques, games, activities and the personal philosophy of a renowned comedienne.

TBS and Just For Laughs are thrilled to announce that Emmy(R) Award-winning comedian Sarah Silverman will host two shows at The Chicago Theatre tonight, June 16. Sarah Silverman and Guests will feature some of her favorite comedians, with line-up details to be revealed shortly.