Upcoming Shows
Click on the calendar events, or scroll down past it to see full show descriptions.
An Afternoon with The Gee's:
55 Years of Hilarity and Heart Sunday, May 19th @ 3:30pm Join us for a side-splitting journey through the zany escapades of the Gee's, a couple celebrating 55 years of marriage. From honeymoon hilarity to empty-nest antics, this comedic romp explores the absurdities and joys of lifelong love. But amidst the laughter, there's a touching reminder of the enduring power of commitment. Get ready for an unforgettable evening of laughter, tears, and reflection with the Gee's. |
Life’s a blast with Val & Jeff Gee. Married in 1970. Irish twins circa ‘73. Flew across the pond in ‘83. Started their own business in '85. Became American citizens. Acquired two sons-in-law. Got 3 grandkids. Did all kinds of crazy stuff like climbing to Base Camp, Mount Everest, Val going all spiritual and shaving her head; Jeff beating cancer; starting a comedy Fawlty Service dining business in Lake Forest, hired to do standup comedy on the train from Wilmette to Chicago, performing The Queen and Prince Phillip at the Winnetka Follies to drowning in the recession, climbing back out, writing books, telling stories, and still keeping their corporate business afloat after 38 years. Their target audience is everyone who wants to laugh out loud at life. www.youtube.com/@TheGeeSpot158/videos
Skeeball Dreams: Stories and Songs of a Moment in Time
Sunday, June 2nd @ 3:30pm Storyteller and Writer Kathy O'Neill is joined by singer and musician Mark Piekarz for an afternoon of stories and songs. The duo captures 1970s and 80s in New Jersey, from O'Neill's POV. The program is a funny and poignant look back at how time and place shapes us forever. |
Kathy O'Neill is a writer and storyteller in the Chicago SLAM story tradition. The award winning writer, arts producer and journalist has been published in New City, Book and Film Globe and ABCNews.com. She has read her stories at a sold out performance at Steppenwolf Theatre and such productions as Is This a Thing?, Story Lab Chicago, Do Not Submit and This Much is True. Recent performances include the Irish American Writers & and Artists Salon with the late Malachy McCourt. O'Neill trained in writing and storytelling under Scott Whitehair, and at the University of Limerick Frank McCourt Summer School at New York University.
Mark Piekarz is a classically trained tenor who has performed at the Steppenwolf Theatre, the Newberry Library, solo concerts in Polish at Prop Thtr, the Chicago Public Library, and has performed with the CSO under the direction of Riccardo Muti. His knowledge and skill at performing Yacht Rock is uncanny, and impressive, considering his age.
Both will perform at the 2024 Rhinofest this month, a long running and critically acclaimed fringe festival, with Piekarz performing a full concert in the Polish language, and accompanying O'Neill on her show; The Women of Watergate.
Mark Piekarz is a classically trained tenor who has performed at the Steppenwolf Theatre, the Newberry Library, solo concerts in Polish at Prop Thtr, the Chicago Public Library, and has performed with the CSO under the direction of Riccardo Muti. His knowledge and skill at performing Yacht Rock is uncanny, and impressive, considering his age.
Both will perform at the 2024 Rhinofest this month, a long running and critically acclaimed fringe festival, with Piekarz performing a full concert in the Polish language, and accompanying O'Neill on her show; The Women of Watergate.
Mark Nutter has written three short fiction collections (‘Dancer on the Ceiling,’ ‘Giant Banana Over Texas,’ ‘Sunset Cruise on the River Styx’). He’s also written music and lyrics for the stage ('ReAnimator the Musical,’ ‘Christmas Smackdown,’ ‘The Bicycle Men’). www.marknutter.com
As of December 2024, Tom Wolfe will have been writing and/or performing comedy for forty years. He has done standup, sketches, cowritten plays including, with his wife Barb Wallace, ‘Early And Often’ at the Famous Door Theatre in Chicago and written, produced and performed comedy on WXRT radio. Tom and Barb spent nearly twenty precious years of their lives toiling in television and during that time Tom also did some writing for film with Mark Nutter and their friend Boyd Hale. Tom would like to dedicate this performance to anyone in the room who thinks Tom Wolfe somehow owes them a performance.
As of December 2024, Tom Wolfe will have been writing and/or performing comedy for forty years. He has done standup, sketches, cowritten plays including, with his wife Barb Wallace, ‘Early And Often’ at the Famous Door Theatre in Chicago and written, produced and performed comedy on WXRT radio. Tom and Barb spent nearly twenty precious years of their lives toiling in television and during that time Tom also did some writing for film with Mark Nutter and their friend Boyd Hale. Tom would like to dedicate this performance to anyone in the room who thinks Tom Wolfe somehow owes them a performance.
Patrick Curtin is a native Chicagoan who discovered improv and storytelling in his mature years. His role models are Grandma Moses, Quentin Crisp and Betty White. He is a native Chicagoan that lives with his spouse, Armand. Patrick is an overachiever, sharing stories at the Irish American Heritage Center, Steppenwolf, Second City, Backyard Stories, This Much is True, Outspoken, Chimera Loft, You’re Being Ridiculous, Story Lab Chicago, The Moth, Inspired Live Lit, Fillet of Solo, Story Sessions, Soul Stories Live and Goodman Theatre GeNarrations.
Director Dorothy Milne has over twenty productions at Lifeline Theatre, where she is an ensemble member and served as artistic director from 1999-2019. She is a founding member of Sweat Girls, a storytelling collective that formed in 1993, leads the Lifeline Storytelling Project, which formed in 2011 and co-curates the annual Fillet of Solo storytelling festival.
Director Dorothy Milne has over twenty productions at Lifeline Theatre, where she is an ensemble member and served as artistic director from 1999-2019. She is a founding member of Sweat Girls, a storytelling collective that formed in 1993, leads the Lifeline Storytelling Project, which formed in 2011 and co-curates the annual Fillet of Solo storytelling festival.
My Dad, His Chimp, and a Serial Killer
By Jonathan Pitts Sunday, June 23rd @ 7:00pm This riveting one-man show is based on a real-life incident that happened in 1964 when Pitts' dad, David Pitts, was traveling across America in a van with Spanky, his ice-skating chimp, going from LA to Duluth for Ice Capades rehearsals. Outside of Las Vegas, Pitts picked up a hitchhiker -- a serial killer who kidnapped Pitts and Spanky for 3 days. This unique show weaves between absurd comedy and horror and is an exploration of America and its relationship with celebrities, chimps, violence, and wide-open spaces. |
Jonathan Pitts is an award-winning international improviser, coach, director, producer, and storyteller. He's performed and/or taught in 27 countries and over 100 cities. He's created 3 devised improvised theatre productions, "Storybox"; "The Oracle" and "The Silent Movie" that have been performed globally. He's done live storytelling since 2002. He's the former Founder & Executive Director of Chicago Improv Productions; Co-Founder & Producer of Chicago Improv Festival; Creator & Producer of College Improv Tournament. 3 times New City named him a "Top 50" Chicago theatre player. He taught at The Second City, and for 7 years he was Around The Coyote's theatre/performance curator. Currently he can be heard as the narrator of the feature film, "He Went That Way" (with Jacob Elordi & Zachary Quinto), which is a different take on the same events his one-man show is based on.