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: Greg Hess

posted on July 16, 2013 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | Comments Off on INTERVIEW: Greg Hess

Be prepared to work really hard.

GregHessHeadshot_Life'sAFunnyScene

Greg Hess is a man of many comedic talents. He is the only member of both my favorite improv troupes, Cook County Social Club and The Improvised Shakespeare Company, and he is also now representing the Chicago comedy community in Los Angeles with the production of his new pilot “Schlub Life.” I was able to catch up with Greg the day after his last Tuesday night run of Cook County and we chatted about shooting this pilot, the beginnings and the closing night of Cook County and what it’s like to work in this industry with your significant other.
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INTERVIEW: Scott Adsit and John Lutz

posted on April 18, 2013 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | 1 comment

Hitting Your Mark in Hollywood

LAFS_ScottAdsit_JohnLutz_KileyPeters

© John H. Abbott, Photographer of CIF

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 couple photographers and shared a few words about working on 30Rock, life lessons and everyone’s favorite funny lady, Ms. Tina Fey.

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INTERVIEW: Casey Whitaker

posted on March 28, 2013 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | 1 comment

Let go and don’t take life so seriously.

Casey Whitaker HeadshotCasey might be the kindest and most hospitable interviewee yet. I met Casey at her apartment where she informed me she had French bread pizza and wine waiting for us. What a doll. As she sat in her prize, plush, vintage chair, we chatted over a glass of wine about her passion for this craft, the hurdles she jumped over to get to where she is and how empowered she feels being an independent woman in comedy. Then we mentioned Destiny’s Child. Everything comes back to Beyonce. Everything. Miss Casey Whitaker, ladies and gents. What a sweetheart.

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INTERVIEW: Timmy Mayse

posted on February 19, 2013 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | Comments Off on INTERVIEW: Timmy Mayse

I try to play every show as if they’re going to take it away from me.

Timmy Mayse

I had never met Timmy Mayse before he walked into Starbucks to meet me for this interview. Timmy had gotten his hands on the TIM review I posted a few months ago and emailed me to thank me. After very little convincing, I was able to persuade him to meet me for an interview, but only knowing what I’ve seen of him on stage, I had no idea what to expect him to be like in real life. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Timmy plays the most loud, boisterous, inappropriate characters on a regular basis. So when he turned out to present himself as a Southern gentleman filled with humility, I was completely thrown off. We had a blast chatting about climbing improv hurdles, his celebrity crushes, painting, his qualms with The Little Mermaid and his background in law. It was a pleasure to sit down with Timmy and I hope you enjoy reading this interview as much as I did conducting it.

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INTERVIEW: Tim Baltz

posted on February 6, 2013 by Kiley Peters posted in Chatter, Interviews | Comments Off on INTERVIEW: Tim Baltz

If you’re not listening, you’re going to miss the joke.

Tim Baltz

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 about a lot of things, but aside from his passion, he is one of the most talented performers in Chicago. Some may argue he is the most talented and versatile performer Chicago has to offer right now. Aside from talking about the ups and downs of the Chicago comedy community, we talked about the greatest lessons he’s learned thus far, how he met his girlfriend on the set of SHRINK, 38 Special and so much more!
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