- Improv Institute
The Improv Institute was an influential bastion of
Chicago improvisational comedy from 1984 until 1994. Every mainstage show was completely improvised from audience suggestions. The troupe had two storefront-theater incarnations, both on West Belmont Avenue on Chicago's North side, first at 2939 W. Belmont (1984-1990), and later at 2319 W. Belmont (1991-1994).Many theatrical productions had their debuts at the Improv Institute, perhaps most notably "
Flanagan's Wake " onMarch 19 ,1994 .The Second City producer Kelly Leonard has stated that the Improv Institute was "my favorite place to see improv, other than The Second City." - "Chicago Tribune ",January 15 ,2004 History
The Improv Institute was founded in late 1983 by John Michael Michalski, who would go on to direct at The Second City in Chicago. The original cast included Michalski, Rick Hall ("
Seinfeld ", "Curb Your Enthusiasm ", "Arrested Development", " Factory"), Kate Kirkpatrick, Patricia Musker (aka Roxy Bellows, also co-writer of "Flanagan's Wake"), Michael Raysses ("The Drew Carey Show "), Andrew J. Sten, andJill Talley ("Mr. Show ,SpongeBob SquarePants "). They were later joined by Ron West ("3rd Rock from the Sun "). Later incarnations of the mainstage cast would include Jack Bronis ("Early Edition ", "Chicago Overcoat ", director/co-writer of "Flanagan's Wake"), Mark Czoske (co-writer of "Flanagan's Wake"), Evan Gore ("Futurama " writer), Ross Gottstein ("Babylon 5 ", "Frasier "),Laura Hall ("Whose Line Is It Anyway? "), Tom Hanigan, Amy Hartl, Phil Lusardi (co-writer of "Flanagan's Wake"), Patricia Musker (aka Roxy Bellows, also co-writer of "Flanagan's Wake"), Bonnie Shadrake (co-writer of "Flanagan's Wake"), and Brad Sherman.Several Improv Institute performers went on to create The Noble Fool Theater Company.
Other notable performers who made appearances at the Improv Institute have included
Rose Abdoo ("Gilmore Girls ", "Curb Your Enthusiasm "), Sean Abley ("Socket"), Mark Belden ("thirtysomething"), Mark Belzman ("According to Jim "), Kevin L. Burrows ("Naked States"), Cindy Caponera ("Drunkboat", "Curb Your Enthusiasm "), Will Clinger ("Wild Chicago ", "ER", "Early Edition "), Kevin Crowley (', "Without a Trace "),Paul Dinello ("Strangers with Candy "),Jon Favreau ("Swingers", director of "Elf", host of "Dinner for Five "),Jeff Garlin ("Curb Your Enthusiasm "),Chris Hogan ("MADtv ,3rd Rock from the Sun "),Bonnie Hunt ("Cheaper by the Dozen", "Life with Bonnie"),Carlos Jacott (', "Big Love ", "Firefly"), Jenna Jolovitz ("MADtv " writer), Jeff Kahn ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin "),John Lehr ("10 Items or Less"), Joe Liss ("Less than Perfect", "Curb Your Enthusiasm "), Michael McCarthy (screenwriter),Adam McKay ("Saturday Night Live "),Susan Messing ,Theresa Mulligan ("Mr. Show "),Joel Murray ("Dharma & Greg "), Aliza Murietta, Peter Murietta,Dave Pasquesi ("Strangers with Candy ,Curb Your Enthusiasm , Factory"),Paula Poundstone , John Rubano ("According to Jim "), Ruth Rudnick ("NCIS"),Horatio Sanz ("Saturday Night Live "), Lynda Shadrake,Casey Siemaszko ("Young Guns ,NYPD Blue ,Biloxi Blues "),Faith Soloway , Matt Tiegler ("Gods and Heroes"), Barb Wallace (screenwriter), Dan Johnson-Weinberger,George Wendt ("Cheers "), andJim Zulevic ("Seinfeld ").See also "The Art of Chicago Improv (Shortcuts to Long-Form Improvisation)" authored by Rob Kozlowski (Heinemann Press, 2002).
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