Jim & Melissa to Bring FREAKY NASTY TRASH to Stage773

Sketch writing duo Jim & Melissa will present their fourth hour-long sketch revue of original comedic material, FREAKY NASTY TRASH, directed by Jonald Reyes, playing Thursdays May 4 - June 8, 2017 at Stage 773 1225 W Belmont Avenue in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.stage773.com. The press opening is Thursday March 4 at 10 pm.

FREAKY NASTY TRASH is written and performed by Reilly Willson and Shelby Quinn .

Loosely inspired by the work of cult filmmaker and self-proclaimed "King of Filth" John Waters, FREAKY NASTY TRASH uses sketch comedy to explore the thread that unites all of humanity - our depravity. With sketches that touch on everything from the soul-cleansing power of pegging to a pair of cute little kids who just want to eat bodyhair at the carnival, this show shines a light on all those weird, nasty thoughts you have in the dark in an attempt to say, "It's OK, we're all a little freaky, a little nasty, and especially a little trashy."

This show is not recommended for children.

IF YOU GO:

FREAKY NASTY TRASH
Written by: Reilly Willson & Shelby Quinn
Performed by: Reilly Willson & Shelby Quinn
Director: Jonald Reyes

At Stage 773, Cabaret Theater 1225 W Belmont Avenue, Chicago

Dates:
Press Performance : Thursday, May 4 at 10 pm
Regular Run : Thursdays, May 11 - June 8
Curtain Time: 10 pm

Tickets: $10 General Admission, Discounts: Students $8 . Tickets are currently available here, in person at the Stage 773 box office, or by calling (773) 327-5252.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Reilly Willson (Writer / Performer): A Maryland native, Reilly grew up a mere 30 minutes outside of the very city John Waters himself calls home, Baltimore. Reilly has been acting and writing in Chicago since 2013 when he moved here after graduating from the University of Richmond with a degree in philosophy. He is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory and a previous member of iO Harold teams Maximum, Blood! and Water from the Moon. Recent Chicago credits include You On the Moors Now (The Hypocrites) and When the Fog Begins to Lift (The Annoyance).

Shelby Quinn (Writer / Performer): Los Angeles by way of Baltimore transplant, Shelby Quinn writes, acts and improvises in Chicago. In addition to celebrating her one-year anniversary collaborating with Reilly as Jim & Melissa, Shelby writes and performs with sketch trio PIGEON, and improvises with Little Oprahs and FURBABY. Currently a student of the Second City's (SCTC) Conservatory program, she graduated from the SCTC Writing and A-E Improv programs, and iO's improv program. Shelby looks forward to traveling and filming with Jim & Melissa, performing in Where All the White Sneakers At (July, Second City Training Center), and shooting webseries Pocky . Recent credits include Second City Training Center's Beat Weekend, the iO Solo Showcase, The Crowd's 6th season of the Co-Op, and Stage 773's Artists Lab.

Jonald Reyes (Director): Jonald Jude Reyes is a writer, performer, & Director from Chicago, IL. As a graduate of Rutgers University (NJ), he went on to learn from Second City, iO, Annoyance, and the Chicago Dramatists. Jonald has performed in the Detroit Improv Festival, Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, and the Just for Laughs Festival (Chicago). As a Director, Reyes has been honored to be named as Chicago Reader's Best of Stage Director (2012, 2013, 2014 & 2016). He is an alum of DirectorsLab Chicago, and has recently been accepted into DirectorsLab New York at the Lincoln Center Theater. His recent projects include Splatter Theater (Annoyance Theater), Fake Quotes Comedy (Second City), Blackfish the Musical (MCL Chicago), and Six Characters in Search of an Author (Stage 773). Jonald is also an Associate Producer for Chicago's Sketch Comedy Festival and Women's Funny Festival. He was the Producer of the Chicago Improv Festival in 2015.

Jim & Melissa: Reilly Willson and Shelby Quinn are 'Jim & Melissa.' The duo celebrate the dark, weird, and ugly in joyfully nihilistic original sketch revues. Jim & Melissa will perform at Austin Sketchfest on May 23 , and at Port Fringe in Portland, Maine on June 20 , 21, and 23. Previous credits include 'The Gun Show,' 'High & Mighty,' and 'Jim & Melissa Save Christmas (And Chanukah, Too).' The two showcased at the Highlarious Comedy Festival in Seattle, and the Miami Improv Festival. Locally, Jim & Melissa competed in Snubfest, and Chicago Sketchfest 2017. Jim & Melissa video content can be viewed at www.funnyordie.com/jimandmelissa.

For more information on Jim & Melissa, visit www.jimmelissacomedy.tumblr.com.

Photo Credit: Devin Henderson

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