Michael Patrick Thornton Takes on Two-Person Improve Show YOU & ME

The Second City Training Center's Blackout Cabaret (230 W. North Ave.) presents YOU & ME a two-person, entirely improvised, no suggestion set with Michael Patrick Thornton (Artistic Director of The Gift Theatre) and a special guest artist for every performance.

YOU & ME's upcoming performances include:

Friday, February 3 with Fawz Mirza at 9 PM

Fawz Mirza co-wrote, co-produced and starred in feature film Signature Move as well as web series Kam Kardashian and Brown Girl Problems.

Friday, March 3 with James Doherty at 9 PM

James Doherty is a Chicago based actor born and raised on the southwest side. His most recent credits include a workshop with TimeLine Theatre and The House Theatre's Jeff Award-winning play United Flight 232.

Friday, April 7 with Kirsten Fitzgerald at 9 PM

Kirsten Fitzgerald is a Chicago based actor and is the Artistic Director at A Red Orchid Theatre. She was most recently seen on stage in the world premiere of Tracy Letts' Mary Page Marlow at Steppenwolf Theatre and in the world premiere of Pilgrim's Progress by Brett Neveu at A Red Orchid Theatre.

"I keep hearing from my actor friends how fearful and alien improv feels to them and vice-versa with my improv pals regarding theater," says Thornton. "This is an unfortunate and unnecessary perceptual divide. Whether dialogue is written or invented, great scenes are about people needing each other and listening to each other. YOU & ME hopes to playfully re-patch this schism, refresh our faith in collective imagination, and reinforce the liberating truism that for this particular theatrical event, all we need and have is You & Me."

Recent guests include Tracy Letts, David Pasquesi, T.J. Jagadowski, Susan Messing, Francis Guinan, Emjoy Gavino, Gregory Fenner, Martel Manning, Hannah Toriumi and Linsey Page Morton.

Tickets are available for purchase at www.secondcity.com or by calling the box office at 312-337-3992. Tickets are $13 for the general public, $11 for students and $7 for TC students.

A portion of the proceeds from YOU & ME are donated to Roundup River Ranch, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and various non-for-profits.

About The Second City Training Center

The Training Center's mission statement for the Blackout Cabaret is to provide a performance space for Second City Training Center graduates, working Second City actors and alumni, and some of the most advanced improv and sketch comedy talent in the community to showcase their work while fostering a sense of community in a supportive environment.