4 comedy mainstays for which The A.V. Club is still totally thankful
More It Still Moves
On any given day in Chicago, the calendar of events happening throughout the city can seem daunting. It Still Moves looks to separate the wheat from the chaff, spotlighting some of the area’s best and longest-running comedy, literary, and variety shows.
Thanksgiving and the subsequent holiday season kickoff has put It Still Moves in the mood for giving thanks and glad tidings. Such a mood is best put to use in this venue by sharing appreciations for the comics, venues, and institutions that have thus far gone unrecognized by The A.V. Club. Presented in no particular order, here are some of the people, places, and things It Still Moves is thankful for this holiday season:
Chad Briggs
Who it is: Chad Briggs is a local comic whose stand-up and character work would fit perfectly within the alternative comedy scenes in New York and L.A. His breakout character, D.K. Ediger, is a highlight at any show, and is the subject of a consistently hilarious web series called Safety Minute!
A brief history lesson: A Texas native, Briggs moved to Chicago seven years ago to study comedy. After a few years of working around town, sharpening his craft, he won the coveted title of “Least Pitiful Human” during the 2009 edition of Impress These Apes! and performed as a semifinalist at the Andy Kaufman Awards in New York City.
Why he’s worth your time: The footage of Briggs’ Apes performance—where he appears as deceased character actor Peter Boyle, sharing a room in purgatory with a carton of eggs—deserves infinitely more hits than it currently has; it’s a perfect example of Briggs’ skewed sensibility and genuine talent as a writer and performer. Whether he’s in character or doing more straightforward stand-up work, any live comedy show with Briggs on the lineup is worth checking out.
The Playground Theater
What it is: The Playground Theater is a nonprofit, improv-centric theater that acts as home base for many of the city’s fledgling improv groups looking to strike out on the scene. The venue’s dive-like vibe adds to the DIY sensibility, and every ticket promises a laid-back experience.
A brief history lesson: The Playground is the nation’s only nonprofit improv co-op, meaning it takes a community-based approach to the daily tasks of running a theater. Its unique structure is in place to establish a network of performers, with 13 ensembles working together to operate the theater in exchange for performance time. Since opening in 1997, The Playground has seen more than its fair share of performers move on to the big leagues. Getting involved the venue seems like a no-brainer for any ambitious, young improvisor.
Why it’s worth your time: Despite its somewhat lofty, high-minded aspirations, the theater often features some of the edgiest, most off-the-wall improv in the city. The Playground also happens to be one of Chicago’s only BYOB theaters, making the already bargain-priced shows a downright steal. With multiple shows every night, there’s always something funny going on at The Playground.
Comedy Of Chicago blog
What it is: Comedy Of Chicago is a blog devoted to everything about the Chicago stand-up comedy scene. The site’s editor, James Allen Kamp, has the cred inherent to running a site with such insider tendencies: He worked as house manager for the Lakeshore Theater until it closed in April 2010. The site caters to fans of Chicago comedy, as well as aspiring comedians, offering advice in the form of blog posts from local luminaries like Junior Stopka and Danny Kallas in addition to live show reviews and scene news.
A brief history lesson: Kamp started the site in the summer of 2010 as an outlet for his growing passion for the city’s comedy scene. The site recently began rolling out videos of performances from local comics.
Why it’s worth your time: The site’s comprehensive approach to stand-up makes it a one-stop well of information for anyone looking to find out what’s new and worth checking out. While Kamp’s passionate reviews are brutally honest and well written, Comedy Of Chicago’s real highlights are the essays contributed by local comics; submissions range from outrageous, behind-the-scenes anecdotes to general advice for up-and-coming comics.
Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival
What it is: The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival is a two-week sketch comedy marathon that features up-and-coming sketch groups from across the English-speaking world. Local performers include Entertaining Julia hosts and scene luminaries The Puterbaugh Sisters and the cast of the currently homeless Late Live Show. The festival is putting up a mind-numbing number of shows Jan. 5-15, 2012 at Lakeview’s Stage 773 theater.
A brief history lesson: Originally called Chicago Sketchfest, the event was first cobbled together by Chicago comedy teacher Brian Posen, who sought to produce a celebration of sketch comedy organized with the performers in mind. Since it’s original run in October 2001, the show has managed to grow immensely without leaving behind its nonprofit roots, bringing in more than 100 sketch groups per year at no cost to the performers.
Why it’s worth your time: Sketch comedy can be a tricky thing: When it works, it can be great, but it can be downright painful to watch when it doesn’t. Thankfully, the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival has enough clout and foresight to justify an application process that seeks to ensure the fest boasts not just the largest quantity of performers of any sketch comedy festival, but also the highest quality. The fest is just what’s needed to distract audiences from the vicious climates of the reliably brutal post-New Years’ winter.
