Stage 773 Presents

The Nation’s Largest Sketch Festival January 3-13, 2013

Executive Producer Brian Posen

Director of Operations Jill Valentine

Technical Director Brian Peterlin

Public Relations SHOUT Marketing and Media Relations Jill Evans La Penna James Juliano

Associate Producer Tim Soszko

Marketing/Advertising/Ticketing Jack Short

Stage Managers Brian Peterlin Emily Claibourne Vicki Kunz John Craig

House Managers Billy Sullivan Tim Soszko Kelly Bolton Stacey Smith Reeny Hofrichter Katie Johnston-Smith

Group Concierge Stacy Smith

Resident Crafter Danni Parpan

Website/Designer Brian Peterlin Sam Wells

The Festival 1 PROFILES

(long pause) Astronaut Theatre The “live taping” Astronaut Theatre performances of the performs non sketch comedy series burlesque sketch (long pause) combine comedy that separate video and live elements, with mixes the hilarity of the mundane with every scene directly linking to the next. an abundance of weird characters, a few The members, all in or near their thirties, pop culture references, and the occasional create material reflecting a feeling of giggle at things once deemed un-giggable. suspended anticipation of a life one is not And who doesn’t like an over-the-top song living to his or her fullest yet. and dance number? We certainly don’t not like it. 4 Days Late America: land of the free ATC Teen and home of Honey Boo Boo. 4 Days Late thinks The ATC Comedy American life is ready for Troupe is made up a satirical smack down. of advanced teen Silence your iPhone 5, pour performers from the Actors Training Center yourself a big gulp and let’s get ready to at the Wilmette Theatre. The unfiltered RUUMMMMBBBBLLLE! creativity of these kids will leave you dazed, amazed, and energized. 45 to an Hour One man’s daily Awkward Silence struggle just to deliver Awkward Silence your food on time, and is a seven year the reason he’s always old sketch comedy group, which means late: you. developmentally we respond to the mood of music through movement and dance Acid Reflux and show greater body awareness as we Acid Reflux is back for imitate and distinguish among various year two at Chicago body shapes and combine motor skills like Sketchfest! Founded running to kick a ball, rolling after landing 7 years ago in the from a jump or traveling in rhythm to suburbs of Chicago, the troupe has since music. But, to be clear we’ve been funny performed all over the midwest. Seeing an since birth. Just ask our parents. Acid show is like being at an unsupervised slumber party...there’s probably drinking, BARRETTA probably fondling, and lots to laugh at. Ber·et·a, n. A gun Pajamas encouraged. manufacturer. Bar·et·ta, n. A ‘70s All Grown Up TV cop. Bar·ret·ta, n. Ashley Black, Jeremiah A compound word Howe, Jose Molina, for Carisa Barreca and Kevin Sciretta, the Cristy von Rautenkranz, couple and sketch duo who want to make and Nick White are you laugh almost as much as they want all grown up. Like to eat candy for dinner. Carisa Barreca and seriously, they have jobs and wedding rings Kevin Sciretta are BARRETTA and stuff and get pregnant on purpose. And they totally get it now. Like they are winning at being grown ups and at life. Seriously. 2 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 3 PROFILES c o n t. PROFILES c o n t.

Barry Hite: Boat Cell Camp Cookies & Cream Charisma Machine Boat performs Cell Camp’s twisted Nnamdi and Ben bring a Barry Hite: Charisma sketches so good your style, unexpected , mixture of 25% grounded Machine explores head may explode. and innovative usage of character work 50% people who really Boat is sharp, satirical, multimedia stands out and ridiculousness 35% fun and love themselves, and often surreal. You will love Boat and continues to create buzz. 15% math to a new two the awful situations Boat will love you back. SNL alum Garrett Morris person sketch show. they get into, and the reasons we can’t stop called the group “brilliant” watching. Charisma Machine was written Bri-Ko while Time Out Chicago Cowboy Villain by one guy: Barry Hite, features two other We are a kid friendly dubbed Cell Camp one of the “best and Cowboy Villain fellas: Jeff Murdoch and Joey Romaine and show. brightest” at the 2009 Chicago Sketch isn’t challenging, was directed by Matt Hovde. There may be Comedy Festival. Expect raunchy language, satirical comedy a T Shirt cannon. nudity, gay sex, regular sex, cartoon about real life issues British Teeth violence, awkward situations, dated humor and relationships. It’s nonsense about Big Pink Loser Known for their zany and less! pirates, aliens, classical literature, and Macy The date is character-based Gray. If you’ve ever wondered what the December 21, comedy and fast- Charles characters of Oscar Wilde would say about 2012, and the paced witty dialogue, A cerebral and the internet or how a James Bond mission world is on edge. British Teeth take audiences on a romp imaginative sketch duo would play in Chicago...then you should At exactly 6pm, through the foibles of humanity! From from Seattle, Charles write for us. all news channels will be counting down lesbian mothers to raunchy bikers to is intelligent without until midnight in hopes that the world murderous six year olds, this is character- sacrificing accessibility, CRASSUS will continue, and life will go on....but will driven sketch comedy like you ain’t never seamlessly combining Though not nearly it? “We’re Still Here” will take you on a seen before! highbrow and lowbrow sensibilities into as vicious as roller coaster ride of laughs, tears, and fear, a brand of humor they call unibrow. their malevolent, exploring the ancient belief that 12/21/12 is Butch LaRue Winners, “Best Sketch Comedy” and “Best greedy, violently quite possibly the last day on Earth. Join Big Butch LaRue is like Writing” at the 2012 LA Comedy Festival. beheaded Ancient Roman namesake, Pink Loser on the quest to find the truth.....is a refreshing shot of sketch comedy power duo CRASSUS still this The Great Period of 13 b’ak’tuns (look it Jameson. It makes Chloe Sevigny’s plans to ravish you with laughter, hopefully up)? Or will mankind finally come together your night fun and Fanny Pack while amassing great wealth but avoiding as one race, culminating in a Hands Across memorable, but shoot Two kindred weirdos their own messy decapitations. You know: the World rendition of “Kumbaya”? Also, too much of it, and you’ll wake up next to have issues. Get comedy. there will be an eagle. a dirty spinster with camel toe. Chicago ready... they’re gonna Theater Beat calls the “caustic and biting talk this shit out. Creepy Hug Billy Sullivan Presents: wit of Butch LaRue fresh, funny, and a Just as the Beatles Thoughts from the bawdy good time!” See the show described Clam Bake achieved worldwide Easel Board by ExpressMilwaukee.com as “a slightly Clam Bake is made up renown for telling dick A unique solo show (with more literate SNL.” of two girls that you on The Ed Sullivan some guests), Billy takes wouldn’t bring home Show, Creepy Hug also you along on a roadtrip Cake-n-Hatred to mom. Heck, most began as a comedy group. And now they to the absurd. With Formed at boys hesitate to bring want to sing you their hits. Since 2005 they characters, scenes, gimmicks and maybe Training Center Chicago, them home at all. have amassed several original songs, the even a man’s inner thoughts are brought Cake-n-Hatred performances Regardless of any criticism (mostly by their highlights of which will be performed for to light. Nothing too absurd, obscure or are an honestly satirical parents) they continue to put on stage your aural pleasure. even silly. shows that say exactly what what they find funny. With their edgy and everyone is thinking. Cake-n- controversial sense of humor it doesn’t Dark Hatred credits include Des Plaines Comedy matter if you leave their show laughing or Productions Festival 2012, Chicago Sketchfest 2012, and offended, they consider it a job well done. In WHY THE LONG the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival 2012. FACEBOOK, Dark It’s a dose of semi-sweet comedy sure to Humour Productions rot your funny bone. explores this optimistic & narcissistic virtual 4 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 5 PROFILES c o n t. PROFILES c o n t.

world. Why is bullying, sexism, reality TV, Double Blind Date EVIL that even fantasies have their flaws. and the pursuit of the American Dream Stepping into the EVIL is a two person Superheroes with insecurities, bed time no longer discussed face to face, but on unknown, Double sketch show that turns stories gone wrong, and a first date Facebook? Whether we’re helping ghosts Blind Date takes a whacky absurdist lens mistaken for a terrorist plot are a few of the meet girls, allowing creationism into the relationships and encounters, dresses them on the things people many things Flying Kittens will show you classroom, or teaching children that books up, takes them out for a nice dinner, and don’t like to talk about. in their unique sketch “2 Scoops of are not simply tossed aside first generation promises to call them again. Smart and EVIL is about frontier lawyers, seven foot Reality.” iPads, Dark Humour Productions finds the silly, heart warming and grabby, Double tall ladies, and men named Gary. EVIL is funny in desperate times, and then filters it Blind Date explores the ins and outs of Russian roulette with nine shots. EVIL is, For Science! through happy glitter before posting it as modern life and why it’s so wonderful to whether you like it or not. For Science! our status update take a chance on something or someone. would be It’s hard to meet people, but Double Blind Exquisite Corpse incredibly boring in the dark. Intensely Delirious Confetti Date can’t wait to meet you. Exquisite Corpse is visual and physical, For Science focuses Have YOU ever pure, uncut sketch. on using the stage as an imagined space wanted to reach Drew’s Tumbler Produced in Chicago, the larger, more complex and fantastic than out farther than Drew’s Tumbler group has performed any real location. Absent of talking heads just a Television remote!? Well, now you performs sketches two seasons of and situational comedy, the group focuses can, because the TV shows you LOVE are that celebrate the eleven original sketch on exploding simple concepts or games crawling out of the screen and onto your absurd, mock musical shows. Come winter 2013, they enter into full world-views and pushing them to lap. Now you can laugh, cry, and be easily theater and often end in violent death. their third season. Performing at Stage absurdity. influenced by every single television wave The performers call on their backgrounds 773, iO, Chicago Sketchfest, they were you see! as both improvisers and musical theater recommended by AV Club and Chicago FUCT performers to weave together characters, magazine. They also make award-winning FUCT is the most Department choreography, and verbal abuse. If that videos. Taste it. claymoreproductions.com outrageous comedy Of Homeland isn’t enough for you, they also perform a troupe in the Universe. Obscurity sketch that involves rollerskate dancing. Fancy Woman With exception of The Department of Born of iO’s writing d;lkfgjsd; from NCG 17-456. They are Homeland Security Drop The Root Beer program, Fancy pretty rad. (D.O.H.O) is made And Run Woman spent up of 4 extremely talented and attractive Seattle’s darkly 2012 writing and GayCo Productions boys from Elmhurst Illinois.Together, they whimsical sketch performing “The Written Show” at iO’s GayCo Productions is hope to bring everyone closer with their comedy troupe Drop Del Close Theater. Their material runs celebrating it’s 17th inspiring sketches and funny jokes. Just The Root Beer And Run has been all the gamut from dick jokes to politically- year of being the kidding! They’re here to make you laugh! around Washington and the American themed dick jokes. Each group member premiere LGBT sketch Or Cry (out of joy). west performing it’s fast paced and surreal has a hand towel with Fancy Woman comedy group in the Windy City. GayCo sketch show that’s as loud as it is silly and embroidered on it. creates intelligent and thought-provoking Desperation, as stupid as it is well-rehearsed. sketch comedy based on gay and lesbian A Celebration Feminine Gentlemen themes that will either entertain, educate, No one loves you, Drunk Monkeys Mr. Liz McArthur and Mr. and/or laugh your g-string off. GayCo is no one understands Jen Ellison and Erica Reid Jill Valentine are shining proud to have been a part of SketchFest you, and this train is headed to Evanston. like to drink weird things their shoes, waxing their since the beginning and plans on making Desperation, A Celebration brings you light and tell you about them. mustaches and putting it’s 11th appearance it’s best yet! humor from dark places. What started with a a sock where it should be for the world simple fascination with Disaronno has premier of Feminine Gentlemen. Why not Generation Sext Dishbelly turned into a fun (and educational) web buy them a drink and expect nothing. A sketch show about Dishbelly’s shows are series and stage show. They aren’t afraid to They’ll take a Vodka & Diet Coke. this generations point loud, fast, and outrageous! try anything...ok, maybe sometimes they of view on the simple Bringing you songs and are a little afraid. Flying Kittens things in life. Love, life, and technology. scenes of lives you’re not While real life has A sketch comedy show about how much used to seeing, Dishbelly its challenges, it’s dumber we are than our smartphones. has a biting tongue and a sharp . important to remember 6 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 7 PROFILES c o n t. PROFILES c o n t.

GUNNER Vatterott and Brady Novak. Brady Novak comedy shows together for the last 7 Jeremy GUNNER is Julie has been in several episodes of NBC’s years, including appearances at New York The product of Marchiano and Carley perennial show ‘Community with Chevy Sketchfest, DC Comedy Fest, San Francisco miscommunication Moseley. Focusing Chase’. Chevy Chase was an actor in the Sketchfest, and Chicago Sketchfest 2010- and mistaken identity, on character and feature film ‘Fletch’ which is a movie based 2012. Invite all of your friends named Jenn. Jeremy produces relationship driven plots, we work to on a series of novels by Gregory McDonald. original material that produce material that is both relatable I’m Different, Not Dumb is satirical and silly, for the sake of both. We and satirical, while striving to write what is Hey Ladies In her One-Woman show like jokes, games, sports, and games. smart and silly (for the sake of both). We’ve Tri-State County Fair is a “I’m Different, Not Dumb” been told we pack a punch. rip roarin’, mudslinging, Ali Clayton uses stand- Jessica cream filled, and deep up, video, and sketch Jessica is four people Half Way Certain fried musical hullabaloo. characters to recount exploring the tiny - Cupid Class This musical sketch revue is inspired by the difficulties she faced connections made Songwriting the trashy, but true experiences of the growing up with learning from scene to scene, Showcase southern gals of Hey Ladies. From the big disabilitys, her short stent second to second. Schooled in Theatre, Halfway Certain is haired and God fearing to the grace & in rehab (13 months), and having a real Dance, Film, Communications, Economics, a musical sketch charm of the southern belle, we’ll go from “hot mess” of a family. Born and raised in Electrical Engineering and Public Policy, revue written and performed by the county to county meeting pageant girls, NC Ali finds plenty of time to make fun Jessica experiments with variations in Cupid Master class. These 12 students met trailer trash, Bible Thumpers, and every of her southern drawl and fancy redneck pace, rhythm and tempo and attempts to once a week for 10 weeks to write and Paula Dean in between. upbringing. Ali’s been featured in TBS Just connect with the audience through rich develop songs under the direction of Brian For Laughs Chicago for the past three years characters, patient scene work and an Posen, Ranjit Souri, and Jill Valentine and Hey Pearl and was honored to be a top ten finalist in acute sense of play, leading to shows that musically accompanied by Sam Lewis and Andi and Tyler are two NBC’s Stand-Up for Diversity contest in NY are engaging and, above all else, fun. Ryan Brewster. girls with boys’ names this past September. who write and perform Just Bust A Move Happily Ever sketches, solo pieces, Immaculate Lizzy, Michelina, and Laughter (HEL) song, and dance. An unlikely pair (Andi was Reception Kirsten are back in this “Happily Ever Bar Mitzvahed; Tyler is from Texas), these “Immaculate energetic tribute to Laughter or HEL, is two ragtag dreamers bonded over mutual Reception” combines the crazy moments a sketch comedy pasts in high school and America’s two favorite in everyone’s lives. This fast-paced show group from Vassar mutual presents like eating dinner in bed. past-times: Television and sitting. This will leave you laughing in the aisles, and College. Composed of Freshmen through They like to start with intriguing, awkward, sketch show is the product of a Second pondering your own insane experiences. Seniors, HEL dabbles in the quirky and or sometimes absolutely terrifying City Training Center writing class paired Join Just Bust a Move as they dance their hilarious. Using our liberal arts education, characters and social interactions, and with an awesome all-star cast. Pry yourself way through competition, embarrassment, we perform a wide variety of satire and build their scene work from there. out of your couch cushions and away from and misunderstandings. commentary--because seriously, what else that Netflix, because we have cowboys, are we going to do?” Hi Betty! vikings, even a time-traveling Kanye! Just the Tip A group of really funny ladies, Just the Tip (Jessica Heavy Flo who capture the insanity of Inside Films Antes, Meg Grunewald, We are HEAVY FLO, an the female mind! Letting it Inside Joke Films is Julia Lippert, & Bess all female sketch all hang out over their belts the young, curly- McGeorge), brings comedy group from and telling it how it really haired combo hilarious and crowd Chicago! We are loud, is, showing that there is more of them to of Jonathan pleasing characters, proud, and pretty. love than just their witty senses of humor. Braylock and Ramy situations, song, and Making the everyday trials in life hilarious!!! Youssef. The African/Arab American duo dance based on their unique experiences Heavyweight combines clever humor, , and satirical point of view. These ladies HEAVYWEIGHT is Honorary Degree and the occasional rap song to create a have been seen in The Chicago Sketch a comedic sketch The members of high-energy show that is uniquely their Comedy Festival, The Big Little Comedy organization including Honorary Degree own. Check out their online sketches at Festival (Grand Rapids, MI), The Pink Line Brady Novak, T.J. have been writing and insidejokefilms.com! Comedy Festival in Chicago, and the Miller, Mark Raterman, Brady Novak, Nick performing sketch Women in Comedy Festival in Boston. With 8 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 9 PROFILES c o n t. PROFILES c o n t.

training from The Second City, iO Chicago, your walkman? Everyone’s favorite all- see their favorite movie but are stopped Nashville. The Band and The under their American comedy team, Listen, Kid!, has along the way as numerous characters Comedy-rock band Nashville belts, you’re sure to experience comedy delved into the dopest, dumbest decade attempt to inhibit their fun. The cartoon is about three things: Rock ‘n delivered to you hard and fast. Just the Tip and proven why just the mere mention of pair (an Irish super hero and a Norwegian Roll, America, and Equality. is sure to bring you pleasure. Arsenio brings a smile to the corner of your domestic goddess) jump through hopps in Band members Chester lips. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the Tim an attempt to get the favorite mid theater A. Hardwick, Maximillion Kerpatty Allen jokes. Can you say Euuugggh? seats, a large buttered popcorn, and a large Barfield, and Billy Piccadilly will take you Finally, Kerpatty cherry cola all without being late! on a comedic and musical journey through will do what it does Lola Balatro the challenges of being an analog band in best by making the Post-grunge acoustic Missing Earl a digital world. Accompanying them will be time to answer all rockstars Lola Missing Earl uses everyday Dale “Blast ‘Em” Hammershaw, the hardest- of the philosophical and metaphysical Balatro defy labels, objects, like trash can working roadie in show business. questions that have been rolling around but be certain that lids and cardboard for in your brains. This show will be not only their lyrical imagery skillfully melds breakdancing to create a No Offense exceptionally informative but amazingly the profundity of a poet laureate with sonic landscape and visual Vassar College’s oldest boring. Also, if you believe any of this, you the libido of a longshoreman. These cornucopia that’s pure, sketch comedy group, are in the wrong place. enigmatic troubadours marry street- “stomp”-ing fun. In real life, they perform No Offense, will be wise arrangements from the school of sketch comedy about unstoppably horny performing a range of material including LAFORCE & WHITAKER hard licks with textbook popology to dads, tiger thieves and everyday Bruce sketches, videos, and musical numbers Short Comings: And generate a sonic fury that should inspire Springsteens, using tools like raps and featuring Judy Garland and Ken Burns. Our Other Stories Of a Life Half all regurgitating emo-core wannabes to jokes. Fiercely unique, occasionally dark, group is over 30 years old, and so are our Spent Short Comings is recalculate their paint-by-the-numbers and unabashedly stupid, Missing Earl will jokes! written and performed McRock. make you laugh, ponder your existence by Rachel LaForce and and empathize with America’s lost police Nose Complaint Casey Whitaker. LaForce & Man vs. Self officers and office workers. Nose Complaint is 4 Whitaker have been performing together Man vs. Self is a one man years old and we’re for over three years. They are best friends. show featuring one man, Mocktail officially Grown Ups. Writing partners. And both have a crush on Tim Stoltenberg. A sketch Mocktail pushes the Yep, that’s right. A-dults. the same guy. Short Comings consists of show with lots of original very boundaries of We both have real jobs, own real art, and two person scenes, solo performances, and characters, physical bits, comedy through its one of us has a real girlfriend. That’s a 50% songs. Short Comings is directed by Scott and some improv all blended together in fresh look at everyday dating average. When you round up in Goldstein. Tim’s own unique comedic style. life and human emotion. Mocktail seeks to grown-up land it’s100%. Yeah, math is for answer important questions that plague adults too idiot! Come see Nose Complaint Les Emotions Matt Griffo us all, like: “What’s the meaning of life?”, and we’ll help improve your Grown Up- Les Emotions is a french Justin Time (the “Is there a god?”, and “Who just farted?” iness. inspired style sad ) tries These fresh young know what’s sketch show featuring desperately to steal happenin’. Off Off Broadzway song, solo pieces, and two the show from musical Off Off Broadzway person sketch. Written and Matt Griffo and his cohort Mrs. is Chicago’s premier performed by Sarah Shook drummer Kevin. As you hear hilarious Sandwich artists by all lady burlesque and Punam Patel, it explores original songs, Justin will try using clown day and joke makers parody troupe. The Broadz are back with relationships between women and pushes tactics and cabbage to win over the by night, these four bigger tutus, fouler mouths and larger the boundaries of emotional highs and hilarious musical stylings of the comedy ladies found each than life characters. Come and get your lows. band. other somehow in this cruel cruel world. fill of singing, dancing and anything goes Though many have tried to tear them humor. These chicks were Voted Best Listen, Kid! Mick & Weege Hit the apart, their mutual love for unicorns, Audience Hecklers by the Chicago Reader. Long for the days Movies! Harry Potter, and gambling has held them of Seattle grunge, Chris Blake and Sherra together. Come see them hit a home run... Oh Theodora Trapper Keepers, Lasley are Mick and Weege. once every 15 shows. Oh Theodora performs and fannypacks? These two film loving best silly, story-driven sketches Struggling to play your audiobooks on friends go on a journey to that take what you know 10 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 11 PROFILES c o n t. PROFILES c o n t.

about comedy and twist it. They celebrate perform their inventive and physical ProDunKtiOn deconstructs a deeply flawed world, the absurd, shun the traditional, and have comedy, in their newest show “Peter n’ Hi! Thank you for driving the audience to consider the one simple goal: To put on the most fun Chris Explore their Bodies”. A send up of joining us and impact of their life on the world around show you have ever seen. Narnia and Lord of the Rings, this sketch welcome to FEMALE them, and their role in society as a whole. comedy play has won Just For Laughs- HELL. Travel with Just kidding. It’s a bunch of dick jokes. One Ton Two Best Comedy at the Montreal Fringe, and us as we explore all Headed Teen earned Pick of the Fringe at the Vancouver of the hilarious and terrifying issues that Reformed Whores Chicago comedians International Fringe Festival. Don’t miss ladies experience, from first date disasters What do you get when you and performance what critics are calling “...possibly the to masturbating in your sleep. With combine an accordion, a artists Dean Evans funniest thing I have ever seen...” (Uptown experiences from Daytona Beach, D.C., San ukulele, and two southern and Jay Torrence create a highly physical, Magazine, Winnipeg) Jose, Ohio, and New York, ProDunkTion belles who’ve washed away interactive, sketch comedy show that pulls will take you on a whirlwind adventure to their sins but forgot to from their multidisciplinary performance Phat Beethoven the deeper, darker crevices of the female rinse out their mouths? The backgrounds in Neo-futurism, Clown, Four guys - one energetic, psyche through sketches, songs, and musical/comedy duo Reformed Whores, of Mime, and Improv. Using their bodies bit heavy, dumb show. We viscous hilarity. course! Fronted by Marie Cecile Anderson to transform space and to portray many promise you’ll get it. If you and Katy Frame, these lovely ladies sing different characters, Torrence and Evans don’t, you’re an idiot. Quixotic about everything from venereal diseases paint a colorful portrait of the world as Quixotic is a to drunk dialing with sweet harmonies they see it. From mermaid-no-face girl to Play On’s gay themed and old-timey flair. Watch them struggle to the eccentric director of every 80’s , Code Red Vines sketch comedy clean up their act at this knee slapping, toe these characters will emotionally blackmail Code Red Vines is Play company with a tapping, hoedown. you into seeing the unique perspective of On’s kids comedy team multi-orientation two theatrical outsiders looking in. featuring young writer/ perspective. True to our namesake, our Robot vs. Dinosaur actors ages 8-13. The team has been quixotical take on comedy is impractically Robot vs. Dinosaur Parpan & McCormick: together for four years, and performs romantic, often silly, and always revisits last summer’s Attorneys at Guffaw regularly at The Book Market in Glenview. eccentrically unpredictable. Playing mostly horror-themed sketch Danni Parpan and Molly They are coached by Second City faculty for bar crowds, Quixotic has perfected the comedy show, Wait, McCormick are ballsy, and Play On founder/director, Lisa Bany- ability to grab the audiences’ attention Wait . . . Don’t Kill Me! Our Vincent Price- abrasive, and downright Winters, author of ON STAGE: THEATER through well-crafted low brow, while type host, Uncle Trevor, takes you on a hilaricle. If you like boring GAMES & ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS, and by driving home our strongly relevant themes haunted house tour of those things that things, dry sandwiches, or paper cuts Second City Alumn and actor Jack Farrell. through smart sexy comedy. go bump in the night: witches, ghosts, and between your fingers, this show is not This year’s sketches include “Deadkinz,” West Coast rappers. It will rejuvenate your for you. If you like most other things like a commercial for some very disturbing Rabbit Rabbit love for live theater--or should we say… seeing people trip in public, people who stuffed animals, and “Bungling Burglars,” a “Highly energetic and DEAD theater? are funny, a good camel toe, or laughing musical scene about some less- darkly subversive”, you will enjoy this show. than-intelligent criminals. Rabbit Rabbit returns Sad On Vacation to Sketchfest for a Sad On Vacation returns Paul Thomas: Pretty/Windy fourth year. Recommended by The Chicago from Los Angeles to their Comedogenic Theatre Reader and called ‘the best thing we’ve hometown of Chicago to Your standard wanna- Company seen all weekend’ by two Canadian guys present Butt University—a be racist, mentally After performing to a packed house in at last year’s Sketchfest, Chris and Andrew sketch show comprised of challenged actor, and last year’s Sketchfest, Pretty/Windy has delight in twisting traditional comedic their best material since out-of-touch pedophile type characters are a new revue of their best sketches and tropes into surprising and innovative moving out West two years offered in this wickedly run-of-the-mill solo songs from their recent, hard-rockin’ year. shapes. ago. Let’s party. sketch show by Paul Thomas. With puppets, puns, dancing, singing, and piano-playing, Pretty/Windy will wow and Ray Bradgary Salsation Theatre Peter n’ Chris woo you with their signature literate wit Ray Bradgary is a dark, fast- Company, NFP Canadian Comedy and unique brand of variety comedy. paced revue starring Brad Daylabor Dreamin’ Award nominated Einstein and Gary Pascal, two is a sketch comedy Sketch group Peter Chicago improv and sketch show exploring the n’ Chris return to comedy veterans. The show current wave of minority empowerment 12 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 13 PROFILES c o n t. PROFILES c o n t.

culminating from being once thought of Shock T’s Soul Fools Machine – a scrappy irreverent group being a small player in popular culture The best part of a Soul Fools in The Real whose members have been hailed by to now being a force to be reckoned rock show meets the Fools of Cook County-- nytheater.com as “individually hilarious with. Salsation ponders the universal best part of a comedy What would happen if and a collective force to be reckoned theme through the prism of the Latino show: The Shock T’s WalMart took over the with.” They are also founders of The New experience. are a three-person comedy band bursting world? How about if the Movement (comedy theaters in Austin with high-energy songs. With strong vocals Amazing Race contestants ran into the and New Orleans). Recommended by the S-Cubed; (York and clever lyrics, audiences are always Survivor contestants? Soul Fools put their Wall Street Journal as a must-see group, Sketch ) drawn in by the power of three voices and twist on everything pop culture in their Stupid Time Machine gets 90% of their stands for Super Sketch one guitar. new show The Real Fools of Cook County. sketch ideas by sneaking into the dreams Suburbanites, and that of children. is exactly what this Side Effects Sparkle Hour! group of talented York High School students Born in Boulder, CO and Find your inner Super Kudzu is all about. Many of its members have relocated to Chicago, sparkle, and live Super Kudzu came to performed at the Chicago Sketch Comedy Side Effects is an EPIC! This hour-long chew bubblegum and Festival since 2006, the Teen Comedy eclectic mix of crazy musical extravaganza make smart dumb Festival and at other youth performance characters and strange situations. They voyages into the life of Chicago performer cerebral silly sketch venues. Come play with us. produce scenes set in the real world with Philip Markle on his quest to become... comedy, and they’re all out of bubblegum. absurdism seeping through the cracks Philip Sparkle! Journey with him as he Formed in Los Angeles, Super Kudzu is one Scuzznick Productions that are both engaging and entertaining. encounters Wizard children, homosexuals of the first two house sketch teams to be The founding Relatively new to the festival scene, Side galore, a mysterious Lady out to get her officially based out of the iO West theater members of Scuzznick Effects just finished a performance with the revenge, and possibly...the meaning of in Hollywood. As a team, Super Kudzu has Productions (Sean 2012 New York City Sketch Festival through life.* If you’ve been wondering, “Where has been invited to perform at the 2012 Los Conway, George Miller, the Peoples Improv Theater. all the whimsy gone?” then come and... Angeles Improv Comedy Festival, 2012 Michelle Pestlin, Richie Sparkle, Bitch! *Note: Only if the meaning Seattle Sketchfest, and the Laugh Factory’s White, Sarah Wurz) Snack Boys of life includes unicorns and butterflies. first ever (and, um, last ever) sketch have been writing and performing sketch Recently expelled showcase. comedy in Chicago since 2009. 2012 from a top notch Stir Friday Night Sketchubator attendees may remember boarding school This Asian American Sweet Tired Kitten our business meeting scene that resulted for “having 2 much Life, we’re Stir Friday Sweet Tired Kitten in each cast member pounding 4 PBR tall swagggg”, the Snack Boys are Mike Migdall Night. Each year in presents: Slightly-Off. Kelly boys and a Four Loco chaser. Our 2013 and Adam Levin. Ha HA! our show we choose a and Mary Catherine are Sketchfest show continues the theme of theme, and bring you a variety of sketches two co-dependent best Overconsumption. Snooty Pageant on that theme. This year: this Asian friends and roommates Snooty Pageant is written American life. Being Asian, in America. who just can’t find a way Shakespeare’s and performed by Katie And what it means to laugh. to live life without each other. This show Female Women Dufresne and Stacey Smith chronicles the obstacles and successes in Shakespeare’s (the ladies of Brouhaha). Stitched their own “slightly-off” relationship, as well Female Women is The two tackle themes such Three solo shows are stitched as the “slightly-off” world around them. an absurd romp as love, war, poverty, and together. Erin Johnson, Jack These quotation marks are used loosely, as that delves into politics through a woman’s eyes as if she Farrell and Wolfgang Stein this show is inspired by actual events. the feminine mystique of the Bard. Ever were drugged and/or desperate. Utilizing bring characters with a dark Mainard and Alicia Queen will perform all music, puppetry, clowning, costumes, side to life. Scenes, from one- Tandem of Shakespeare’s women in this offbeat make up, great hair, rapping, bad hair, person to all three actors, will leave you in Two lovely ladies performance with a sketch comedy feel. By food, dancing, noises, instruments and, “stitches”. who use new ways juxtaposing modern trends and viewpoints if allowed, extreme pyrotechnics. Please to deliver sketch with the classical nature of the Bard, note: No pyrotechnics will actually be used. Stupid Time comedy. Entertaining Shakespeare’s women will come to life in But bad hair definitely will be. Machine the audience with humor and putting this era of technology, advertisement, and From the ragged an artistic spin to it. Wanting to leave the general nonsense. coast of New Orleans, audience with a little more to remember. comes Stupid Time 14 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 15 PROFILES c o n t. PROFILES c o n t.

Technology Pun The Backrow The Cupid Players The Interns As part of David Soaring Defeats, Musical sketch Gretchen Eng, Danny Knoell’s graduation the Backrow’s comedy. Voted Best Galvin, and Andi from The Second twelfth Sketch Comedy Sharavsky have been City Directing consecutive show at the Sketch Festival, Group in Chicago writing and performing Program, he had to cast, direct and present is all about those moments when you – By the Chicago together for the past four years as part of a 6-week run of a completely original completely lose and yet feel fantastic. Reader. “Must See”-Time Out, “A rarity in Vassar College’s oldest and wisest sketch one-act comedy revue, written by the When you’re crushed and elated at the sketch Comedy”-Windy City “The work is comedy group. Now, they’ve put together performers he cast. Creating material same time. Come watch these deathless far better than some far more expensive a show about what happens when you through improvisation as well as written sketch vets languish and thrive in their relationship-musicals in town. Cupid is full graduate college with an arts degree. We pitches, the cast enjoyed the collaborative favorite feeling ever! of wit & zest.” - Chicago Tribune, “Sharply wanted to call it a show about nothing, but process so much that they decided to Original...will make you laugh”- New City apparently that tagline’s taken. remain an ensemble after the conclusion The Business “Cupid brings sketch comedy to a level that of the showcase. What you are about to see The Business is a transcends scat humor and predictability.” - The Kitchenettes is the culmination of their second creative sketch comedy Chicago Arts & Entertainment The Kitchenenttes are process together. group that a musical improv and has previously The Dancing Pig sketch team based in The Alliance performed at , the Since 2009, The Chicago IL. When not Sketch Group Upstairs Gallery, CIC Theater, Studio BE, Dancing Pig has performing their Youtube hit “Scenes from Threat Level the 2012 Milwaukee Comedy Fest, the been writing a Kitchen,” they perform regularly in bars Rainbow, a new 2012 Abbie Fest in Chicago, and the 2012 and performing and on stages around the city. Armed with Alliance sketch Chicago SketchFest where their scenes sketches from the point of view of four a guitar and their , they ask you to join musical. Looking at were “inspired, absurd and exhibited average albeit mentally unstable white them In This World. Hollywood, relationships, and everyday life remarkable fearlessness and comic guys. No topic is off the table, from with their unique blend of straight and gay. prowess” as described by TimeOut Chicago. everyday situations to pirate mutiny and The Late Live Show The Alliance takes on everything a little sex robots. Sit back, relax, and let The The Late Live Show takes the differently. The Comic Thread Dancing Pig’s comedy make you feel like a classic late-night talk show BEST GROUP, 2011 better, smarter person. It will happen. We experiences and presents it The Assemblers LA Comedy Fest, Promise. for a live theater audience. (pH Productions) AUDIENCE CHOICE, You can expect off-beat The Assemblers is a 2012 Chicago Fringe The Dirty Shame jokes, an interview with a sketch comedy show Fest, RUNNER UP, The Dirty Shame special guest, as well as sharply-written that explores all 2012 Shadowbox comprises brothers characters and sketches. With critics calling aspects of the modern Sketch Comedy Fest. TCT was recently Lee and Matt Barats it “surprisingly deft” and “eccentrically dark,” day superhero and described as “surrealistic comedy [that who make full use The Late Live Show is one show you don’t his (ahem…or her!) universe. What type bends] the edges of logic in any particular of their chemistry, want to miss! of insecurities, neuroses, and down right direction with enough grace that you truly combining sharp and often physical scenes absurdities cause a person to dress like don’t know what’s coming next. And you with solo characters to create a world that The Mutiny a freak and violently keep crime at bay? really don’t care because there’s a 90% balances the grounded and absurd in The Mutiny is a What happens in the often-unexplored chance that it’ll be exceptionally funny” smart ways. Their show has been described handpicked sketch team corners of a comic book world? From (Express Milwaukee). We couldn’t have as “intelligently mischievous,” which sounds at iO West amassed from counseling for caped crusaders to illicit put it better ourselves! TCT prides itself on pretty cool. the Los Angeles sketch use of paraphernalia, this show will have unique and interesting characters, has fun comedy scene. Their show fully explores everyone who’s ever had a hero laughing with lots of costumes and sound effects, The Good weird ideas and deeply commits to them in their seats. Marvel as pH gives the comic and regularly ventures into ridiculous and Crazy -- especially the dumb ones. Pledge your book genre the dose of kryptonite territory without a hall pass. Comedy is loyalty and prepare to die. it deserves. uncomfortable. Comedy is everywhere. Comedy is the constant voyeur watching us and sneaking up to remind us what we all think and never say. 16 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 17 PROFILES c o n t. PROFILES c o n t.

The Nerdologues The Sean Miller a band. The Xanadudes blend character technology influences communication, The Nerdologues is Explosion driven and at times satirical sketch with live obscure comic book references, and balls- a comedy show that The Sean Miller musical comedy that spans many genres. to-the-wall willingness to look like an ass, explores nerd culture Explosion returns Some would call The Xanadudes low Thunderstood is a multimedia experience through hilarious for its improbable brow. But on the plus side almost nobody that examines the absurdities in life that sketches and personal stories. They have EIGHTH straight year considers them high brow. most people overlook because they aren’t performed at San Fran Sketchfest, Chicago at Chicago Sketchfest! Watch as a happy- as weird and nerdy as he is. Sketchfest, C2E2, and the New York City go-lucky sketch comedy group is suddenly There’s an App Comic Con. They ask questions, like: “Why thrust into situations that some would find for That Two Bunnies don’t the doors on the Death Star fail humorous! Can they band together, defeat Throughout human Eating Flowers open?” nerdologues.com @nerdologues their rivals and make with the jokes in only history, we’ve been Two Bunnies Eating 40 minutes? We’ll see...maybe? Come find waiting for something Flowers (Alex The Nightstalkers out! that will put all Hanpeter, Kyle The Nightstalker is the human wisdom at our Reinhard, Jude Tedmori) is a three-person obstacle in life that The Stuntmen fingertips. Also we can avoid our stupid sketch comedy group. The Chicago trio, forces you in a new The Stuntmen are back mistakes, like getting into wars, destroying formed out of The Second City, has been direction you were - and this time, it’s the planet, sending idiots to Washington, featured regularly in several showcases on not prepared for. This show is a reflection personal. It’s our third and accidentally saying things, in the which they have no business being in. They on how you got to where you are, and year at Sketchfest, and heat of the moment, in our relationships, pledge to lull you in with their puppy dog where you go afterwards. Will you let the it’s going to be our silliest, deadliest, most that can never be taken back. However, eyes and then immediately alienate you. Nightstalker win, or will you overcome and action-packed show yet. Stuntmen are go! we’re running into a few unexpected become the master of your own life. consequences. Ugly and Delicious The Templeton Raised in the swamps of The Pop Tarts Philharmonic Think Tank Seattle, real life couple Straight from the Toronto actors Gwynne Remember the days Nick and Muriel moved “United Kingdom” to Phillips and Briana when you could just to Chicago and thought your hearts, we bring Templeton perform throw on some Phil it would be fun if they to you, international delectably surreal sketch comedy. Their Collins and forget got high by eating pop sensation, THE POP TARTS! Evelyn vignettes are often peppered with hideous about the world? Who too much nutmeg. The experiment was and Beatrice will blow your minds and Edwardian dresses, stinging social satire, even knows where Phil Collins is anymore? a disaster and they learned the hard way rock your bodies with their classic hits, and interpretive dance. They were Man, the world has gotten weird. that nutmeg is a powerful and terrifying including “Can’t Take Me Anywhere” recently awarded “Best Comedy Duo” at the narcotic. Their sketch show “Ragamuffins” and “Cowboy Fantasy” from their newly L.A. Comedy Festival. Thorpedo celebrates all things experimental and released album, Don’t Burn Your Tongue. Thorpedo delivers ridiculous. This musical comedy duo has been touring the tim&micah project a shot of honesty Chicago for a full year - come see what all dear chris, they’re back! enveloped in Uncalled For the fuss is about! finally, the tim&micah character-driven Today Is All Your project have a new show. social satire that makes you think while Birthdays is a comedic, The Puterbaugh i got a chance to see it spitting beer from your nose. You will be philosophical, sci- Sisters early and was once again at the edge of your seat as traditional fi take on birth, Tiffany and Danielle transported to an alternate reality that scenework teams up with audience death, time travel, Darwin’s theory of Puterbaugh are tim&micah created for me. their show interaction, blackouts and metaphysical evolution, hypnotism, sandwiches and the brining comedy duos made me think and feel things days and pieces that shine a light on the human meaning of life. It is intelligent, theatrical, back or at least to the back of every dive weeks after i saw it. don’t miss it! experience. Get ready to stand up, speak free-flowing, stream-of-consciousness bar. There the only comedy duo where out, and laugh hard. hilarity that doesn’t bother with vulgarity there is no straight man on or off stage. The Xanadudes or cynicism. From the company that They run a critically acclaimed variety The Xanadudes are Thunderstood PLANK Magazine called “one of the most show Entertaining Julia at Town Hall Pub not just a sketch Sharp writing, innovative and reliable sketch troupes in every Sunday at 9. Catch there reality show team. They are not un-choreographed the country.” Garage Sale Sisters Got Talent. just a band. They are and untrained dancing, a sketch team that exploits the talents of fascination with how 18 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 19 PROFILES c o n t.

Urlakis and Cusick had a message, it would be that everybody Last year their self- suffers,” said someone who once came to titled two-man debut, the show. Urlakis & Cusick, was hailed as one of What Would Carol Do? the funniest shows of 2011 by Time Out WHAT WOULD CAROL DO? Chicago, who called it “seriously funny is written and performed by stuff, likably geeky and spot-onin its Katy Colloton and directed ridicule.” The Chicago Reader awarded the by Colleen Murray. The show show “Recommended” status and praised is a collection of characters it as “feisty, cerebral sketch comedy.” Come inspired by the extraordinary spend a funny/crude/charming/odd/ quirks that make us ordinary. From Hot magical evening with two guys you would Mess Holly, who laughs when people find more than tolerable in light doses. degrade her, to a Christian man who works at a Chinese restaurant; WHAT WOULD Vampeero CAROL DO? shows that everyone travels a Everybody wants to different path but we all end up crazy. win. In Vampeero’s 4th production - Champeero - Wig Bullies everybody does. Whether Wig Bullies take a it’s the inspiration of an irreverent look at the epic comeback, life’s little victories, or diversity of Twenty-First the exhilaration found in the challenge Century gay life, from between man and technology, Champeero homophobic chicken shares its triumphs in typical Vampeero restaurants to workplace sexual confusion. style - dark, twisted, musical sketch comedy. WILDCARD Together they are Warm Milk WILDCARD but The performances individually they of Warm Milk are are; Carmen, Casey, a dark mixture Greg and Rachel. of sketch comedy, grotesque character They perform regularly at Second City, The monologues, and highly-choreographed Annoyance, iO, The Playground, and The physical buffoonery. Warm Milk is not Upstairs Gallery. This is their second year afraid to bounce between high-concept, performing in Chicago SketchFest and whip-smart comedy and stuff that’s so raw they couldn’t be more excited! WILDCARD and dumb, you’ll be kind of embarrassed believes that there is always two sides to that you think it’s funny. every story, two hearts to every break up, Proud sponsor of Stage 773 and more than two choices at this time slot We’re Matt Weir so thank you for being here! and Chicago SketchFest Moms love proms, dogs fight our Wishbone wars, and dirtbags Theatre Please visit one of our 5 Chicago locations to meet lounge around the Collective Vroom Vroom Room Your High all of your natural and organic shopping needs. in We’re Matt Weir’s cartoon nightmare School Prom - version of sketch comedy. Watch Matt B. tales of young www.wholefoodsmarket.com Weir and Matt J. Weir (the Matt Weirs) get love, awkward teenage romance and very sweaty and very physical as they bring hilarious encounters. their stupid world to life. “If We’re Matt Weir 20 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 21 THE CHICAGO SKETCHFEST 2013 THE CHICAGO SKETCHFEST 2013 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Thrust Pro Box Cab Thrust Pro Box Cab Thursday 3rd Thursday 10th

8:00 PM Warm Milk Half Way Certain Gunner LaForce & Whitaker 8:00 PM Cell Camp Vampeero Jeremy Hey Pearl 9:00 PM Xanadudes For Science! The Stuntmen ProDunKtiOn 9:00 PM Butch LaRue Cake and Hatred Just the Tip The Assemblers Pretty/Windy Paul Thomas: Dark Humour Two Bunnies 10:00 PM Skuzznick Pro. Nose Complaint 10:00 PM Wildcard Feminine Gentlemen Theatre Co. Comedogenic Productions Eating Flowers

Friday 4th Friday 11th

8:00 PM Listen Kid Creepy Hug No Offense Snooty Pageant 8:00 PM Super Kudzu Stir Friday Night! British Teeth Inside Joke Films Drop The Root Beer The Templeton 9:00 PM Stupid Time Machine Oh Theodora The Mutiny Charles 9:00 PM Heavy Wait Reformed Whores And Run Philharmonic What Would Carol Do/ 10:00 PM Missing Earl Boat We’re Matt Weir Thunderstorm 10:00 PM FUCT Gayco Urlakis and Cusick Peter & Chris The Puterbaugh Crassus Nashville/Lola Balatro The Late Live Show Exquisite Corpse 11:00 PM Sad on Vacation Nerdologues Uncalled For 11:00 PM Sisters

Saturday 12th Saturday 5th 6:00 PM Think Tank The Backrow The Dirty Shame Gretchen & Regina 5:00 PM Improv Nerd Barry Hite: Charisma 7:00 PM Hi Betty The Business Phat Beethoven 6:00 PM The Comic Thread 4 Days Late Cowboy Villian Parpan & McCormick Machine 7:00 PM Robot Vs. Dinosaur Shock T’s Salsation Ugly and Delicious 8:00 PM Super Kudzu The Cupid Players British Teeth Inside Joke Films Shakespeare’s Drop The Root Beer The Templeton 8:00 PM Listen Kid The Cupid Players Happily Ever Laughter 9:00 PM Heavyweight Reformed Whores Female Women And Run Philharmonic the tim&micah 9:00 PM Stupid Time Machine Boat The Mutiny Charles 10:00 PM FUCT Kerpatty Peter & Chris project Man vs. Self/ 10:00 PM Missing Earl Rabbit Rabbit We’re Matt Weir Thunderstorm 11:00 PM Off Off Broadzway Drew’s Tumbler Barretta Bri-Ko One Ton Two 11:00 PM *Honorary Degree* Uncalled For Bri-Ko Headed Teen Sunday 13th

Play On’s ATC Teen Comedy 2:00 PM S-Cubed Mocktail Sunday 6th Code Red Vines Troupe Mick & Weege Department of There’s an App for Billy Sullivan/Ali 2:00 PM The Night Stalkers Just Busta Move 3:00 PM Evil Clam Bake Hit the Movies Homeland Obscurity That Clayton Chloe Sevigny’s Fanny 3:00 PM Side Effects Hey Ladies Stitched Quixotic 4:00 PM Fancy Woman The Good & Crazy Les Emotion Pack 4:00 PM Jessica Flying Kittens (long pause) The Kitchenettes 5:00 PM Big Pink Loser Pedestrians Mrs. The Alliance Sparkle Hour/ 5:00 PM Delirious Confetti Soul Fools The Dancing Pig Immaculate Matt Griffo 6:00 PM DJ Mosquito The Interns Sweet Tired Kitten Reception 6:00 PM Generation Sext Thorpedo Snack Boys Awkward Silence Desperation, A 7:00 PM Cookies and Cream Astronaut Theatre The Pop Tarts 7:00 PM Double Blind Date Acid Reflux Heavy Flo Technology Pun Celebration 8:00 PM Wig Bullies Ray Bradgary Drunk Monkeys All Grown Up 8:00 PM Wishbone Sean Miller Explosion Tandem 45 to an Hour

Schedule subject to change – Schedule subject to change – for up-to-date information, see www.chicagosketchfest.com for up-to-date information, see www.chicagosketchfest.com 22 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 23 History

October 2001 – Brian Posen had the idea for SketchFest to fill a seven-week rental commitment he’d made to .

January 2002 – The first Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival began. It ran for seven weeks and featured more than 30 Chicago sketch comedy groups. About 2000 patrons attended.

January 2003 – The second SketchFest was shortened to 3 ½ weeks and featured 53 performing groups from Chicago and across the country. SketchFest added a panel of sketch comedy experts and weekly forums for performers to exchange ideas and informa- tion.

January 2004 – SketchFest expanded to take over all three spaces in Theatre Building Chicago and put up 120 performances by 71 groups in just two weeks. Two new events height- OPEN ened the festivities – Sketchubator and OctaSketch. January 2005 – SketchFest 2005 became international with the addition of funny Canadians. As if 7.625 x 4.625 performances by more than 83 groups weren’t enough, SketchFest added writing workshops featuring The Onion head writer Joe Garden and The Comic Toolbox author John Vorhaus. Chicago Sketchfest changed its official name to “The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival.” Some patrons had actually called the box office to see if it was a festival about drawing.

January 2006 – Five-year anniversary! 92 sketch comedy groups (that’s more than 700 artists) came together to perform, collaborate, share information and support one another, all un- der the umbrella of funny and love. A rock star event called MasterSketch was added.

January 2007 – The festival was one shy of 100 groups (800 funny people performing) and hit 10,000 patrons. OctaSketch entered its 4th year, and honored The Second City, iO, Annoyance and ComedySportz by having each supply a director who created under its specific style.

January 2008 – This time, SketchFest reached 100 groups. Like past years, the festival was honored to host a mess of new groups and welcomed back some of our old friends.

January 2009 – Sub-zero weather and blizzards… still, 10,000 bodies came through our doors again! SketchFest became trans-Atlantic, hosting some lovely folks from Manchester, England. SketchFest became family friendly for a few hours, when we introduced a mini sketch festival for kids - an afternoon dedicated to Sketch BY kids, sketch FOR kids and sketch EDUCATING kids.

January 2010 – This is the year of, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. 119 sketch comedy troupes per- formed almost 150 shows in the two weekends, and SketchFest experienced record ticket sales.

May 2010 – SketchFest parent company Lukaba Productions takes over management of the The- atre Building Chicago venue where SketchFest has been for nine years! They changed the name of the compan y and the building to Stage773.

January 2011 – The 10th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival is bigger and better than ever! Breaking records again! 129 groups performing 152 shows in 8 days! Awesome!

January 2012 – The 11th year we went from 3 theatres to 4 theatres. 138 groups…162 shows!

January 2013 – The 12th Annual Chicago Sketchfest Comedy Festival is here! We now have 143 groups and 169 shows. We are all happy!

24 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 25 special thanks

Paul Snepsts – The Toronto Sketchfest The Sweet Crew Ed Toolis Alderman Waguespack and his staff Hilary Williams The League of Chicago Theatres Columbia College Chicago Danni Parpan The PIT Keith Huang The Stage 773 Board of Directors OPEN The Entire Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival Staff and Volunteers 4.625 x 3.75

sponsored by

OPEN 4.625 x 1.825

26 Stage 773 The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival 27 OPEN 7.625 x 4.625

28 Stage 773