A CLOWN CAR NAMED DESIRE Begins Tonight at The Second City e.t.c. Theatre

The Second City e.t.c. has announced the opening of their 37th Revue, A Clown Car Named Desire. Reviewing press are invited to attend the show tonight, June 21, 2013, at 8:00 p.m. at The Second City e.t.c. Theatre (1608 N. Wells Street, 2nd floor of Piper's Alley). A Grand Opening is scheduled for Sunday, June 23, 2013, at 7:00 p.m.

Join the limber and handsome cast of A Clown Car Named Desire for a spectacular night of illusion featuring brave, multitasking mothers expressing themselves; hyper hipsters competing for the ultimate in cool; and long term monogamous couples desperately trying to remember how they got that way. It's a night to remember and the perfect antidote to that mundane and troublesome state called reality.

Jeff Award-winning director Ryan Bernier (We're All in This Room Together) returns to The Second City e.t.c. Theater to lead a mix of new cast members including Carisa Barreca (The Second City's Guide to the Opera), Brooke Breit and Punam Patel, with veterans Mike Kosinski (Jeff Nominated for Best Actor - Revue), Michael Lehrer and Chris Witaske. Alex Kliner makes his debut behind the baby grand as Musical Director/Composer and Kyle Anderson returns as Stage Manager. The producing team for A Clown Car Names Desire includes Chief Executive Officer & Executive Producer for The Second City, Andrew Alexander; Executive Vice President, Kelly Leonard; Producer, Alison Riley; and Associate Producer, Jeremy Smith.

Tickets for A Clown Car Named Desire are available by phone at 312-337-3992 or online at www.SecondCity.com. The show schedule and ticket prices are as follows:

Tuesday 8 p.m. $23.00 (Starting August 6, 2013)
Wednesday 8 p.m. $23.00 (Starting July 2, 2013)
Thursday 8 p.m. $23.00
Friday and Saturday 8 p.m. & 11 p.m. $28.00
Sunday 7 p.m. $23.00

BIOGRAPHIES:

CARISA BARRECA (Ensemble) is overjoyed to be performing in her first revue on the e.t.c stage. A native of Arlington Heights, Carisa has previously performed for The Second City on Norwegian Cruise Lines, at the UP Comedy Club in "What the Tour Guide Didn't Tell You" and at Lyric Opera with Patrick Stewart and Renee Fleming in "The Second City's Guide to the Opera." She is a founding member of Matter Dance Company and was voted Best Choreographer (Chicago Reader).

BROOKE BREIT (Ensemble) has written for and performed with The Second City in the Touring Company, "One Nation Under 1%," "Improv All Stars" and in several revues at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre (Washington, DC) and CENTERSTAGE (Baltimore). She also performs at iO Chicago (Whirled News Tonight) and the Annoyance (Love is Dead, A Woman's Path). Originally from North Carolina, Brooke graduated from Washington University in St. Louis.

MIKE KOSINSKI (Ensemble) is excited to return for his second revue on the ETC stage after performing in the Jeff Award winning, "We're all in this Room Together." Previously he performed all over the world with The Second City, as an ensemble member of ImprovAcadia in Bar Harbor, ME, and in Chicago at The Annoyance Theater, i.O. Theater, ComedySportz, and The Playground Theater.

Michael Lehrer (Ensemble) Representing Flushing, Queens, this is Michael's third revue with the The Second City e.t.c. He's previously appeared in the improvised pilot "Paid Programming" (Official Selection New York Television Festival 2011), was a semifinalist for The Andy Kaufman Award, and was co-host of the Big Ten Network's "Big Ten Tailgate." Other credits include Chicago Underground Comedy, TBS Just for Laughs Festival, and the nationally syndicated Sports Action Team. Michael currently performs at iO Chicago and is a contributing writer for The Second City Network. michaellehreronline.com.

PUNAM PATEL (Ensemble) is delighted to debut her first e.t.c. revue with The Second City. A former understudy for The Second City Touring Company, Punam has also performed at the Upstairs Gallery, iO, and The Playground Theater as well as with "Chicago Live!" and "Second City's Improv All-Stars." A native Floridian, Punam enjoys sunning, laughing, cooking, dancing, eating, riding her bike, and spending time with her favorite droomie, Sarah.

CHRIS WITASKE (Ensemble) Originally from St. Charles, IL, and a University of Iowa alum, Chris toured with The Second City for two years where he was able to see Europe and Peoria. Other credits include original productions at The Annoyance, iO, Baby Wants Candy, SC at Sea, and the Comedy Central Stage. Chris was chosen to represent Chicago at the 2011 Montreal Just For Laughs festival performing in the New Faces of Comedy showcase. Go Cubs!

RYAN BERNIER (Director) is thrilled to be directing this amazing cast. Recent directing credits include The Second City e.t.c.'s Jeff Award winning "We're All in This Room Together" (Best Revue, Best Director), "4 Girls and a Guy - a One Night Stand" with Second City Theatricals, "What the Tour Guide Didn't Tell You: A Chicago Revue" as well as all three of The Second City Touring Companies. Ryan is an alum of Suffolk University where he helped found its first improv comedy ensemble Seriously BenT. Ryan has recently been awarded Suffolk University's 10 Under 10 Honor.

Pictured: Ryan Bernier