Saturday, January 30, 2010
Further developments
I have confirmed that Tim Baltz, Brendan Jennings, and Mary Sohn will be joining the ETC cast while Tim Mason moves on to mainstage as Brad Morris will be departing the cast following several revues.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
ETC Shakeup...
I'm hearing reports that both Tim Baltz and Brendan Jennings will be joining the cast of Second City ETC for the next revue. I have no idea if anyone else is coming or going.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
ABD moving on...
Amanda Blake Davis' last night with Second City is set for February 4th.
I wish her nothing but the best!
I wish her nothing but the best!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Limbaugh casting...
Congrats to Brad Morris for being named one of the top five male performers in the city of Chicago!
Rush Limbaugh: The Musical will open on February 3, 2010.
Rush Limbaugh: The Musical will open on February 3, 2010.
Second City Theatricals is proud to present the world premiere of Rush Limbaugh! The Musical at The Second City e.t.c. (1608 North Wells in Piper’s Alley, Chicago, IL). The show will preview Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 2:00pm, open on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 8:30pm and will run Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm until March 24, 2010 at The Second City e.t.c.[...]
Rush Limbaugh! The Musical is proud to reunite the creative team of Ed Furman (Book) and T.J. Shanoff (Music & Lyrics) with Director Matt Hovde (Jeff Award Winner Best Director: Studs Terkel’s Not Working). Lead by Mark Sutton in the title role, the cast includes: Karla Beard, Bumper Carroll, Cayne Collier, Colleen Murray, and Kevin Sciretta. The band includes Musical Director T.J. Shanoff (piano), Trey Stone (bass/keyboard), and Tony Mendoza (percussion). The Stage Manager is Joe Ruffner and the Choreographer is Lisa McQueen. Second City Theatricals President is Kelly Leonard and Production Coordinator is Monica Wilson; Beth Kligerman is Director of Talent. Second City’s Chief Operating Officer is Diana Martinez and the CEO/Executive Producer of The Second City is Andrew Alexander.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Second City to debut Rush Limbaugh musical
Second City will debut Rush Limbaugh: The Musical in February.
It’s the new project from Matt Hovde, director of the Second City hit “Rod Blagojevich Superstar!,” and its writers, Ed Furman and T.J. Shanoff. Local improv veteran Mark Sutton (of Annoyance Theater and “Bassprov” fame) will sing the title role.
“Limbaugh” will run Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Second City’s e.t.c. space.
Like his WLS-AM (890) colleague Blagojevich, El Rushbo is leading a volatile life full of stage-ready drama; on Wednesday, the radio star went to a Honolulu hospital after suffering chest pains on vacation.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Interview with Matt Hovde
Danielle Solzman: Thanks for joining us today. How are things in the Windy City?
Matt Hovde: It’s freezing and wonderful.
DS: I understand that you've been named as the new artistic director for the Second City Training Center. What exactly does that entail?
MH: I’ll be steering the philosophy of the various programs. I’ll also be working to strengthen the connection between the artistic side of Second City and the educational side. I think it’s a great opportunity to take all the great things that happen in the Training Center and make them even more focused and relevant.
DS: What led you to discover improv and sketch comedy? And what have you done to get to where you now?
MH: I’ve been a comedy junkie all my life. I used to memorize Monty Python Sketches and perform them at school, and even in junior high I would stay up late to catch Johnny Carson. Also around that time I caught a Kid’s Show at Second City, and was pretty much hooked. I studied theater in high school and college, and came right to Chicago after I graduated so I could start classes at Second City. Then I just worked on a ton of independent shows, including Galileo Players. And Brad Morris and I did a two man show briefly called Schlitz und Bagels – this was before the internet, mind you - which helped shape my comedic point of view.
DS: You are a founder of the Galileo Players. How did that come to be in existence?
MH: Tom Flanigan, Ron Feldman, and I started Galileo right after we graduated the conservatory together in 1998. We felt like a niche would help distinguish us so we chose to focus on science. For the first few years we focused on writing original sketch revues and put them up in various venues, including Donny’s Skybox, Victory Gardens, and Live Bait.
DS: You directed both America: All Better and Studs Turkel's Not Working. Which production had more pressure? What is the process like as far as transitioning from one revue to another revue?
MH: It’s hard to discuss pressure, actually. There is inherent pressure on any resident production, of course, because you’re trying to uphold the legacy of all the shows that came before you, and you know that your work will get lots of attention from the press, the community, etc. And with this year being the 50th Anniversary of Second City, there was an added amount of scrutiny. But on the other hand, you have to be immune to pressure, because you want the process to be creative, and fun, and spontaneous, and if you’re too worried about he external pressures you may end up suppressing your mojo. I remember once Andy St. Clair coming up to me after a show once – he was upset because he felt too much pressure so I just told him to be like a samurai and block out all external stimuli. He laughed and the very next day created a killer monologue about African politics. Classic St. Clair.
As far as transitioning between revues, Second City shows never close – they simply morph into a new show. When we start developing new material, we slowly start blending it into our current show until eventually there is nothing left of the old show and we have an entirely new revue.
DS: How are the revue names determined?
MH: Lots of fighting, bickering, and pulling teeth.
DS: What was your experience like during the 50th anniversary festivities at Second City being around all these famous alumnni?
MH: The 50th was a humbling and inspiring party. It made me feel deeply connected to the entire Second City family, and motivated me to try and keep doing the best work I can. I had the pleasure of working first hand with some of my idols – Scott Adsit, Richard Kind, Brian Stack, Rachel Dratch, while also the irritation of dealing with crotchety Shelley Berman.
DS: Thanks again for joining us. Is there anything else you would like to plug?
MH: You guys were great – best of luck!
Matt Hovde: It’s freezing and wonderful.
DS: I understand that you've been named as the new artistic director for the Second City Training Center. What exactly does that entail?
MH: I’ll be steering the philosophy of the various programs. I’ll also be working to strengthen the connection between the artistic side of Second City and the educational side. I think it’s a great opportunity to take all the great things that happen in the Training Center and make them even more focused and relevant.
DS: What led you to discover improv and sketch comedy? And what have you done to get to where you now?
MH: I’ve been a comedy junkie all my life. I used to memorize Monty Python Sketches and perform them at school, and even in junior high I would stay up late to catch Johnny Carson. Also around that time I caught a Kid’s Show at Second City, and was pretty much hooked. I studied theater in high school and college, and came right to Chicago after I graduated so I could start classes at Second City. Then I just worked on a ton of independent shows, including Galileo Players. And Brad Morris and I did a two man show briefly called Schlitz und Bagels – this was before the internet, mind you - which helped shape my comedic point of view.
DS: You are a founder of the Galileo Players. How did that come to be in existence?
MH: Tom Flanigan, Ron Feldman, and I started Galileo right after we graduated the conservatory together in 1998. We felt like a niche would help distinguish us so we chose to focus on science. For the first few years we focused on writing original sketch revues and put them up in various venues, including Donny’s Skybox, Victory Gardens, and Live Bait.
DS: You directed both America: All Better and Studs Turkel's Not Working. Which production had more pressure? What is the process like as far as transitioning from one revue to another revue?
MH: It’s hard to discuss pressure, actually. There is inherent pressure on any resident production, of course, because you’re trying to uphold the legacy of all the shows that came before you, and you know that your work will get lots of attention from the press, the community, etc. And with this year being the 50th Anniversary of Second City, there was an added amount of scrutiny. But on the other hand, you have to be immune to pressure, because you want the process to be creative, and fun, and spontaneous, and if you’re too worried about he external pressures you may end up suppressing your mojo. I remember once Andy St. Clair coming up to me after a show once – he was upset because he felt too much pressure so I just told him to be like a samurai and block out all external stimuli. He laughed and the very next day created a killer monologue about African politics. Classic St. Clair.
As far as transitioning between revues, Second City shows never close – they simply morph into a new show. When we start developing new material, we slowly start blending it into our current show until eventually there is nothing left of the old show and we have an entirely new revue.
DS: How are the revue names determined?
MH: Lots of fighting, bickering, and pulling teeth.
DS: What was your experience like during the 50th anniversary festivities at Second City being around all these famous alumnni?
MH: The 50th was a humbling and inspiring party. It made me feel deeply connected to the entire Second City family, and motivated me to try and keep doing the best work I can. I had the pleasure of working first hand with some of my idols – Scott Adsit, Richard Kind, Brian Stack, Rachel Dratch, while also the irritation of dealing with crotchety Shelley Berman.
DS: Thanks again for joining us. Is there anything else you would like to plug?
MH: You guys were great – best of luck!
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