is an excellent podcast hosted by Chicago-based writer and comedian . The show is produced by local comedy news site The Whiskey Journal and is now an officially sanctioned WBEZ podcast. Each week, Tim will be checking in with his thoughts on his most recent show. This week's guest was Chicago-based author . Here's what Tim learned from his talk with Samantha!
Read More7 Reasons to check out Seven Minutes In Purgatory by Ian Abramson
7 Minutes in Purgatory is a show produced by me, , in conjunction with The Steamroller, where comedians perform to a camera, and the audience watches live from another room.
We're doing it again, ONCE MORE, on Saturday, June 21st, then not again for quite a while, so you're going to want to check this one out.
Not sold? You can watch the entirety of the first show in a series of Youtube videos embedded below, accompanied by an explanation of why you should watch each set.
Read MoreObsession: The Animotion Story! by Dan Ronan
Shortly after Dan moved to Los Angeles with us, he sent out a work compilation/summary to a management company that was interested in him. (For the record, they snatched him up immediately.) This included things like his bio, resume, headshot, a list of monologue jokes, his original pilot script, a clip of a stand-up set, and the video.
I was already intimately aware of all of this material, except for one other thing he included. It was a very funny and highly personal comedic article about his obsessive compulsive disorder. I had completely forgotten about it until now, and then it occurred to me that almost no one had ever read it. I honestly believe Dan wanted people to read this, but just had no place to put it. I'm excited to share this with everyone, both for people who knew and loved him and for people who never got the chance.
-Joe Kwaczala
Read MoreInterview: Irene Marquette, director and creator of The Raven and The Messenger
Thank god for The Annoyance. There is nowhere else in Chicago that would but such immense support behind an original comedy/drama/musical about Jim Jones that isn't about Jonestown. In addition to the really, really great new Mick Napier-directed sketch show Invisible World, the brand new Annoyance Theatre is staging the world premiere of The Raven and The Messenger a new play created and directed by friend of The Steamroller, Curio Show curator, and Super Human Irene Marquette, and written by The Reckoning's Charlie McCrackin.
The Raven and The Messenger explores the relationship forged between 1960s spiritual leader Father Devine and Peoples Temple leader Jim Jones, who would eventually absorb Devine's followers into the Peoples Temple. The cast features Paul Jurewicz, Greg Hollimon, Sarah Ashley, Laurel Krabacher, and Michael Brunlieb, with original music by Lisa McQueen. The show opens tonight, (Friday, June 6th) at The Annoyance at 8pm and runs every Friday through July 25th.
In anticipation of tonight's premiere, I spoke with Irene about the show and got her thoughts on why media based around New Religious Movement is so engaging.
Read More21 Events That Led To Moral Hazard by Walt Delaney, Chandler Goodman, and Mark Logsdon
, a very good two-man-one-man-show that explores the financial collapse of the mid-to-late '00s from personal and political perspectives, is one of the most interesting comedy shows I've seen this year. After a wildly successful run earlier this year, the show is returning to CIC for another run, this one dubbed Moral Hazard Part Deux: Dead and Loving It. If you missed the show the first time around, this is a great chance to catch this totally unique and captivating show.
Moral Hazard , with a run of shows every Wednesday this month and every Friday in July. As a means of proving a bit of background, the show's creators and producers, Walt Delaney, Chandler Goodman, and Mark Logsdon, have compiled a timeline of 21 events that were integral to the production of the show.
Read More
What I Learned From Eddie Izzard by It's All True's Tim Barnes
is an excellent podcast hosted by Chicago-based writer and comedian . The show is produced by local comedy news site The Whiskey Journal and is now an officially sanctioned WBEZ podcast. Each week, Tim will be checking in with his thoughts on his most recent show. This week's guest was the legendary Eddie Izzard. Here's what Tim learned from his talk with Eddie!
Read MoreAnnie Donley's Teake it or Leave it advise!
Local comedian/person of wisdom Annie Donley is back to help guide those in search of direction, armed with her unique perspective on life and no-nonsense approach.
This is Teake it or Leave it advise
Read MoreWhat I Learned From Hari Kondabolu by It's All True's Tim Barnes
is an excellent podcast hosted by Chicago-based writer and comedian . The show is produced by local comedy news site The Whiskey Journal and is now an officially sanctioned WBEZ podcast. Tim's going to start checking in with his thoughts on each week's show. Upcoming guests include James Adomian, Eddie Izzard, Richard Steele, and many more. This week's guest was the amazing Hari Kondabolu. Here's what Tim learned from his talk with Hari!
Read More