Stage 773 Announces 'The First Chicago Women's Funny Festival,' 6/6-10

Stage 773, founder and producer of the popular Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, today announced a new sister festival coming this June - the first ever Chicago Women’s Funny Festival. 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, vaudeville, improvisational, musical and more."

Celebrating the best in local, and national, female comediennes, the first Chicago Women’s Funny Festival runs June 6 - 10. All performances take place at the recently renovated Stage 773 building, located at 1225 W. Belmont. Performance times will be announced with the full lineup on Monday, April 16. Ticket prices will range from $12-$14 and will go on sale Friday, April 27 at 12 p.m. and may be purchased at www.Stage773.com, by phone at 773.327.5252, and in person at Stage 773 box office.  More information will soon be available at www.chicagowomensfunnyfestival.com. 

While the full lineup for the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival will be available Monday, April 16, the festival currently has several popular Chicago artists on the roster, including:  

Messing with a Friend with Susan Messing

Off Off Broadzway

Mary Kay Letourneau Players

Ladies of The Cupid Players

Puterbaugh Sisters Variety

Sherra: Secret of the Ooze (one woman show by Sherra Lasley)

The Art of Making Bad Decisions Cabaret and

Feminine Gentlemen.

“It has always been a dream of mine to produce a festival featuring the best female comedic talent in Chicago. When I began to talk about this festival, many talented women from around the country showed interest so I widen the scope to include national  and Chicago talent.” said Executive Producer Jill Valentine. “With the support of everyone at Stage 773, the performers that we are scheduling to appear and the fact that everyone loves to laugh; we are confident this festival will be a success and we will watch it grow for years to come,” continued Valentine.  Working alongside Valentine will be Liz McArthur, who will serve as associate producer. 

Brian Posen, Stage 773’s Artistic Director and Founder of the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival is beyond thrilled to have this festival take place at their new space “Jill Valentine is one of my all time favorite people and is a great Chicago talent.  She knows funny and this festival will be great for women and comedy and the people who love them.” 

Valentine has been the executive director of the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival since the festival’s inception in 2000. She is also Stage 773’s director of operations and performs in several popular and critically acclaimed groups in Chicago: The Cupid Players, Off Off Broadzway, Feminine Gentleman, The Deltones and several others. 

Liz McArthur hails from St. Louis and has worked with The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival since 2005. McArthur can be seen with groups such as Off Off Broadzway, OneTwoThree Comedy, and Feminine Gentlemen. McArthur is also the founder of SMUSH a Monday night open mic room at Stage773.

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