CSz Theater Chicago Adds to Holiday Schedule

CSz Theater Chicago announces upcoming special holiday/winter programming in its 28th anniversary season - please add/update listings, and call for photos, media comps, and additional information:

· Thanksgiving Schedule. Added shows on Wednesday, November 25, 8 p.m., and Friday, November 27, 6 p.m. (added shows are $23). There is NO SHOW on Thursday, November 26, and regular shows on November 27 at 8 p.m. and a 10 p.m. Blue Show.

· December Schedule. There are NO SHOWS on December 24 and 25. In addition to regular ComedySportz performances on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., and Saturdays at 6, 8, and 10 p.m., the following ComedySportz shows will be added as well (all of these added shows are $23 each):

o Sunday, 12/20, 7 p.m. (no House Party show)

o Monday, 12/21, 8 p.m. (no 100 Proof show)

o Tuesday, 12/22, 8 p.m. (first day of winter)

o Wednesday, 12/23, 8 p.m.

o Saturday, 12/26, 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m. (regular schedule, so 8 p.m. show is $25; also Kwanzaa & Boxing Day)

o Sunday, 12/27, 7 p.m. (no House Party show)

o Monday, 12/28, 8 p.m. (no 100 Proof show)

o Tuesday, 12/29, 8 p.m.

o Wednesday, 12/30, 8 p.m.

· The High Ballers return for a 90-minute Rat Pack-themed show wrapped up with the holiday spirit, in Holiday High Ballers, a merry night of original music, holiday parodies, drinks and more fun than Santa at happy hour. Runs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on December 2, 9 and 16, for ages 18+ ($8 tickets).

· New Year's Eve. ComedySportz will present special shows on Thursday, December 31, including champagne and party favors at 5 p.m. ($30 tickets), 7 p.m. ($30 tickets), and 10 p.m. ($40 tickets), including a midnight toast with the cast (full service bar open until 2 a.m.).

· New Year's Day. Instead of regular ComedySportz shows, the 6th Annual New Year's Hangover Stand-Up Marathon will be held on Friday, January 1 from 6-10 p.m., $20 tickets. Hosted by Cody Melcher (Tomefoolery), the evening will feature a lineup of Chicago's top comedians, and audiences can show up at any time, and come and go as they please. CSz Theater Chicago's Bolan's Bar will offer "hair of the dog" drink specials, including Bloody Marys and Mimosas, and will remain open after 10 p.m. so patrons can mix and mingle with the comedians, who will include cast members Cody Melcher, Dane Arden, Kaitlyn Grissom, Melody Kamali, Rachel McCartney, Patrick McManus, Shannon Noll, and Jerry Tran, plus guest artists Chad Briggs, Peter-john Byrnes, Sonia Denis, Marty DeRosa, Matt Drufke, Sherman Edwards, Danny Kallas, Xavier Lamont, Zach Peterson, Amy Sumpter, Paul Thomas (as Dan Peff), and Sean White.

· The Craig, an improv comedy show of mini-musicals based on Craigslist ads selected by the audience. The 90-minute show will run on Wednesdays at 8 p.m., from January 6-February 24, and is directed by David Dritsas and features roster members Liz Anderson and Allie Murphy, and Zephyr House Team member Adam Schwartz, plus special guest openers. Tickets are only $8, or $4 for college students with ID.

· Get On Up, the free improv jam based on audience participation, takes a break on December 25 and January 1, and returns to Fridays at 11:30 p.m. on January 8, 2016.

· House Party return on Sundays at 7 p.m. starting January 10, 2016, for an open run - come see up-and-coming improvisors! The December 13 show also features all six teams performing with a holiday flavor!

· Prohibition Fortnight. On January 16, 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment leading to alcohol prohibition was signed into law, ushering in an era of gangsters, bootleggers, and scoundrels that still influence the national character, and especially the city of Chicago. Join ComedySportz over the weekends of January 14-16, and 21-23, 2016, as CSz Theater Chicago is transformed into a 1920s speakeasy with custom drink specials, live jazz music from the Chi-Town Hotshots, a mock gambling parlor, photo opportunities, code words, as the home team, the Downtown Chicago Bosses, temper the Temperance. Costumes encouraged!

· ComedySportz will perform for one night only on Friday, January 22, 2016, 7 p.m., at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, IL. Tickets are $25-$30, and are available at 847-577-2121 and https://tickets.metropolisarts.com/calendar/2016-1-22

· Windy City Regionals.

o January 30, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Chicago Open Regional (for teams not from Chicago) - regular tickets $10/$5 for student with ID. Teams include Full Frontal Comedy from Indiana University, Left Right Tim from University of Colorado, Midnight Book Club from University of Michigan, Some Assembly Required from University of Northern Iowa, Stepford from Savannah College of Art & Design

o February 20, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., College Improv Tournament Windy City Regional Preliminaries (teams from Chicago area) - regular tickets $10/$5 for student with ID. Teams slated to perform include 45 Kings from Loyola University, The Cosby Sweaters from DePaul University, Droppin' $cience from Columbia College Chicago, Latchkey Kids from Loyola University, Noises From the Basement from Dominican University, Occam's Razor from the University of Chicago, Off-Off Campus from the University of Chicago, Red Light School District from University of Illinois-Chicago, and the Titanic Players from Northwestern University

o February 21, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Windy City Regional Finals - regular tickets are $15/$10 for college students with ID.

· Improv Madness! Just like other madness in March, but with a comedy bracket throughout the month. The competition breaks the ensemble into divisions, determined by alma maters or hometowns, which compete over four weeks, culminating in a championship match.

On January 1, 2016, ComedySportz welcomes new Artistic Director Padriac Connelly to take over for Nathan Jansen, who will remain an ensemble member. Pad, a native of Daytona Beach, FL, has been performing and teaching improvisation in Chicago since 2001. He currently teaches at the iO Theater Training Center and the CSz Chicago School of Professional Improvisation, and, in addition to ComedySportz, regularly performs with the long-running Chicago staple Baby Wants Candy: The Improvised Musical. He is an original cast member of the Jason R. Chin hit show Whirled News Tonight as well, which has been playing to sold out houses since 2003. He also may be heard as Father Connelly on the Our Father podcast, and as Clovis the Bridge Troll as a guest on Hello, From the Magic Tavern.

ComedySportz Chicago welcomed 14 new players after a competitive audition process in September. New ensemble members include Liz Anderson, Mark Campbell, Tyler Davis, Ryan Ford, Erin Hickey, Meg Kennedy, Cynthia Kmak, Allie Murphy, Saliha Muttalib, Jason Ronje, Liz Joynt Sandberg, Harz Sondericker, Eric Stallings, and Charly Williams.

CSz Theater Chicago is located at 929 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657. Transportation options include Belmont El stop (Red, Brown, Purple lines); self-park paid lot at 3130 N. Sheffield, paid street parking; Divvy bike station on Belmont and Wilton; SpotHero.com. Handicapped accessible.

CSz Theater Chicago is part of the Belmont Theater District and offers a full service bar with no drink minimum. Tickets and info at 773-549-8080, www.CSzChicago.com Comedy for everyone. Regular ticket prices:

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