The Last LAF

All Good Things Must Come to an End This is the most difficult post I've had to write and coincidentally, it will also be my last. Today marks a day I was never convinced would come. Today, LAFS is two years old. It has been an incredible two years, absolutely incredible filled with more excitement, laughter, awe and humility than I could have ever dreamed. However, today is bittersweet, because today is Read More

INTERVIEW: Charna Halpern

The Mother of Improv Comedy I first fell in love with improv at iO's Clark Street location. iO changed my life, but my story is not unlike many others. Charna created a world at iO that many call "home" and it has become the center of their universe. Charna Halpern is one of the most influential people in improv, has paved the path for hundreds of comedians over the last few Read More

INTERVIEW: Matt Besser

Focus on the Game. Matt Besser is one of the founding members of Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). UCB started as a Chicago-based improv team composed of Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh and Amy Poehler and has transformed into a well-known comedy establishment in New York City and Los Angeles. These folks not only formed UCB but Besser, Roberts, Walsh and friends regularly perform together as ASSSSCAT. ASSSSCAT will be performing, with a Read More

INTERVIEW: Dan Bakkedahl

Just make a choice. Dan Bakkedahl has made his mark on Chicago's comedy scene. Coming up in the late 90s and early 2000s, Dan spent a lot of time at iO and Second City. Since his departure, you may have seen him on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Community, Veep, Legit or a number of other television appearances. He was also in The Heat with Sandra Bullock and Melissa Read More

INTERVIEW: Carisa Barreca

Do everything, because you’re going to need all of it. I am declaring Carisa Barreca Second City's sweetheart. One of the most beautiful, talented, kind and humble ladies I have ever met, Carisa has a heart of gold and nothing but good intentions. With a lifetime of performance background, she can do just about anything you throw at her. I was so lucky to be able to sit down with Read More

INTERVIEW: Scott Adsit and John Lutz

Hitting Your Mark in Hollywood Thanks to Aren Zolninger from Chicago Improv Productions, I was able to sneak in a few minutes to interview Scott Adsit and John Lutz before they took the stage for their "Super Secret" midnight show at Stage 773. As we were waiting for the show ahead of us to clear out, Scott, John and I stepped into a back hallway with CIP staff and a Read More

INTERVIEW: Tim Baltz

If you’re not listening, you’re going to miss the joke. After months of trying to nail down both of our schedules after Tim left Second City's Mainstage, I was finally able to meet up with him to talk life and comedy. I had the pleasure of meeting Tim last Fall at Jimmy Carrane's Improv Nerd and for obvious reasons, I was dead set on interviewing him. Tim is extremely passionate Read More

INTERVIEW: Ted Tremper

Just love what you love and let that be the work that you do. It was a true pleasure interviewing Ted, as I have an incredible amount of respect for him as a person, performer and filmmaker. He's so talented and is such a genuinely kind human being. We met at iO on a late November morning and, truth be told, divulged a great deal of personal details, some of which Read More

INTERVIEW: TJ Jagodowski

I am truly the luckiest person I know. TJ Jagodowski is not only one of the most brilliant improvisers I have ever seen, he's also one of the nicest guys I've ever met. I've bumped into TJ a number of times around iO, but it wasn't until the end of October where I had the pleasure of taking a class taught by him. This man is a poet and every Read More

INTERVIEW: Jet Eveleth

Dream big and then do it. I met Jet at her apartment where she lives with her improviser beau, Brett Elam and his sister Erica. We chatted about where her name came from, some of life’s big questions, drinking sake before bed to live longer and then she told me the details of the secret she’s been keeping from everyone for the last two years… Alright Jet, the first thing I Read More
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INTERVIEW: Jessica Rogers

posted on November 14, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | Comments Off on INTERVIEW: Jessica Rogers

I always made improv my mistress
Jessica Rogers

Jessica was my first improv teacher at iO. She started it all for me, so I’ve been eager to sit down and chat with her for months. After many failed attempts to meet up, I was finally able to sit down with Jessica, catch up on life and ask her a couple questions about improv and comedy. As we sat at the Starbucks on Wells and North, before Jessica headed up to teach her Second City teen improv class, we people-watched, talked about improv crushes and ventured into conversations about how improv really has the ability to change to world.

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Just Keep Runnin’

posted on November 7, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Blog | Comments Off on Just Keep Runnin’

You can have everything you want, you just can’t have it all at once.

Forrest Gump

Do you ever wonder, “What the hell am I doing with my life?” Yea, me too. Most recently this past weekend, but if there’s any one thing I can say I’ve learned is to “just keep going.”

I think this can be applied to anyone at any point in their life, actors and improvisers included. The biggest issue I run into, and I know I’m not the only one, is that I want everything. I’m not talking about materialistic things, I’m talking about the abstract things that are, in some ways, still tangible. I want to figure out what I love and I want to do it. Not only do I want to do it, I want to be good at it, great even. I want to be responsible and have a future. I want relationships, real relationships that matter and last. I want to like multiple things and have time to enjoy them. But how?

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INTERVIEW: Jason Lord

posted on October 31, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | Comments Off on INTERVIEW: Jason Lord

I would love to parade off of intuition for a long time.

Jason Lord

I have the pleasure of working alongside Jason at my full time job. Jason is, to many people, quite a pleasant surprise. He is always very professional at work, but when you witness his hilarious and often times outrageous comedic performances and projects, you can’t help but wonder if he is living a double life. Jason is one of the brightest, wisest and most articulate individuals I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and I am very grateful to him for sitting down with me for a few minutes inside a conference room to discuss life and comedy.

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Life Is Good

posted on October 24, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Life Is Good

Think about it.

Kiley and Paige

Life is good.

I know this is not a groundbreaking statement. This is not news to your ears and you will not tweet this statement out because it’s the latest trend. But, I think it’s true and you owe it to yourself to take a minute to think about it.

I just interviewed Jessica Rogers, an incredibly talented Chicago director and improviser, (which I’ll post in a few weeks) and when I asked her if she had any final comments, she looked at me with a small smile on her face and said, “Life is good. Life is really good.” And she’s right. And I’ve been thinking about that for the last two weeks so I thought I’d share my thoughts with you.

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INTERVIEW: Eleanor Hollingsworth

posted on October 15, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | Comments Off on INTERVIEW: Eleanor Hollingsworth

I don’t think I’m very funny. I think I’m pretty honest.

Eleanor HollingsworthInterning at iO has allowed me to meet some truly incredible people. Not only meet some of them, but work with them, assist them in furthering their careers and even becoming friends with them. One of these such people happens to be Miss Eleanor Hollingworth. One of the happiest, most positive and kind people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting working in the box office at iO. I interviewed Eleanor in the box at iO, just a recorded conversation between two gals about this crazy improv world we have both been sucked into.

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