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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REVIEW: Four Star Comedy Fest @ Navy Pier

posted on October 10, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Reviews | Comments Off on REVIEW: Four Star Comedy Fest @ Navy Pier

Baby Wants Candy, Cook County, Shakespeare & Tim Meadows

FSCF Logo

I spent my Saturday at Chicago School of Comedy’s “Four Star Comedy Fest” at Navy Pier. They advertised free workshops during the day, along with a free live podcast with Charna Halpern and sold tickets to a show with three of the best improv acts in Chicago along with Uncle’s Brother, (Tim Meadow’s improv group) hosted by Tim Kazurinsky. In short, I will say the following: when there are free improv workshops open to the public, do not assume to learn anything from them. In fact, skip them and go get a drink and discuss the beauties of life, improv and comedy with a good friend. (Thank you, Ayala.) Baby Wants Candy, Cook County Social Club and Improvised Shakespeare are incredible. This is not news, but it needs to be said once again; they are all mind blowing and all for different reasons.

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INTERVIEW: Patrick Poulin

posted on October 3, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | 2 comments

I think I thought I was Ernie.

Patrick Poulin Patrick and I have been good friends since day one of my improv life. He is also incredibly talented- another thing I noticed the first day I met him. Over the course of this year, the more I got to know Patrick, the more I knew he’d make it some day and I wanted to make sure I was able to get in an official interview before he got even busier than he already is. Patrick and I met in the 3rd Beat Room of iO and chatted for a few minutes before a rehearsal one Sunday evening.

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INTERVIEW: Jeff Griggs

posted on September 18, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | Comments Off on INTERVIEW: Jeff Griggs

It took a little while to get over the fear of if I’d actually be funny.

Jeff Griggs

My first day of level 4 at iO, I was supposed to have Bill Arnett. However, Bill was unable to make our first class and to our pleasant surprise, Mr. Jeff Griggs had stepped in to teach instead. I whipped up a few questions for Jeff and asked if he would mind sparing a few minutes to chat with me after class. Not only is he a talented improviser and excellent teacher, he is an incredibly kind person with a closer relationship and personal account to Del that could only be second to Charna. I came to discover that he was from the same small town my dad’s family is from in southern Illinois and while we have opposing favorite sports teams, we do share one same passion: improv.

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20 Golden Nuggets from Colleen Doyle

posted on September 11, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 20 Golden Nuggets from Colleen Doyle

Landed In A Gold Mine

Golden Nuggets

The end of last month concluded my level three class at iO with Colleen Doyle. Throughout class she joked that she was going to make a brochure of all of her tips and tricks for improv. Welp, I took a few notes in class and thought I’d share with you the the top 20 golden nuggets that I took away from Colleen’s class.
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NEWS: Chicago’s Robinson, Bryant and Strong Added to SNL Cast

posted on September 10, 2012 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, News/Updates | Comments Off on NEWS: Chicago’s Robinson, Bryant and Strong Added to SNL Cast

Three Chicagoians Join SNL Lineup

Cecily Strong Tim Robinson Aidy Bryant SNL

It has been rumored for the last week and a half and confirmed on Friday, the addition of three Chicagoians to the SNL cast. Tim Robinson, Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong have officially been added to the SNL cast in time for the season premier this Saturday, September 15th. All three have made a splash in the Chicago comedy community.
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