Chicago City Limits
Chicago City Limits (CCL), is the longest running improvisational theatre company in New York City, New York.[1][2]
| Formation | 1977 |
|---|---|
| Type | Improvisational Comedy Theatre Company |
| Website | www.chicagocitylimits.com |
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History
Chicago City Limits is New York City's seminal improvisational theatre company, founded in 1977. George Todisco started the group in Chicago with actors participating in the workshop program at The Second City, studying under Del Close. Among the players were founding members Todisco, Linda Gelman, Bill McLaughlin, Carol Schindler, Paul Zuckerman, Rick Crom and Christopher Oyen. Oyen served as The Second City's stage manager, and Todisco, McLaughlin, Schindler and Sandy Smith (an early member of the troupe), all appeared in "The Del Close Farewell Salute to Chicago" in 1978. In 1979, Chicago City Limits relocated to New York, performing regularly at Catch a Rising Star, the Improv, the Duplex, Folk City and other notable NYC clubs. It established its own theater in the summer of 1980 on W 42nd Street, thus creating NYC's most successful improvisational theatre to date, and the last improvisational theatre in NYC to offer the New York company salaried positions.[3]) After setting up the theater on 42nd Street (1 year), the troupe relocated to the Jan Hus Playhouse at 351 E 74th St. (14 years) and, later, at their own theatre, once again, at 1105 1st Avenue (9 years), at The Broadway Comedy Club on E 53rd St. (9 years) and returned to the Jan Hus Playhouse (2 years), before suspending its run in 2016. The group no longer has a performance space, but tours sporadically and occasionally offers workshop opportunities.
CCL was a three-time recipient of The Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) Award. The Chicago City Limits National Touring Company received the first MAC Award given for Best Comedy/Improv Group in 1987 and again in 1988. The New York Company won again in 2008. In 2011, Top 10 New York City by Eleanor Berman rated it one of New York City's top 10 comedy clubs.
Resident Company alumni (NYC) (listed chronologically)
- George Todisco (Founding Member) ø
- Linda Gelman (Founding Member) †ø
- Bill McLaughlin (Founding Member)
- Carol Schindler (Founding Member)
- Paul Zuckerman (Founding Member) ø
- Rick Crom (Founding Member/Musical Director))
- Christopher Oyen (Founding Member) ø
- David Regal
- Eddie Ellner (Musical Director)
- Judy Nazemetz
- Terry Sommer
- John Cameron Telfer
- Rick Simpson
- Judith Searcy
- Harry Prichett
- Wayne Barker (Musical Director)
- Wendy Chatman
- Carole Buggé
- Carl Kissin †
- Gary Adler (Musical Director)
- John Webber
- Leslie Upson
- Andy Daly
- Frank Spitznagel (Musical Director)
- Denny Siegel
- Sean Conroy
- John O'Donnell
- Joe DeGise II ƒ
- Victor Varnado
- Joe O'Brien
- Annie Schiffmann
- Rob Schiffmann π
- Tara Copeland
- Mike Leffingwell
- Eugene Cordero
- Morgan Phillips
- Kimmy Gatewood
- Travis Ploeger (Musical Director)
- Canedy Knowles
- Kobi Libii
- Stefan Schick
- Rick Hip-Flores (Musical Director)
- Malachi Nimmons, Jr.
- Julia Young
- Assaf Gleizners (Musical Director)
ƒ- Co-Director
ø- Co-Producer
†- Director of The Chicago City Limits National Touring Company
π- Musical Director (Touring Company)
œ- Accompanist
National Touring Company alumni (listed alphabetically)
- Pete Aguero
- Jessica Allen
- Larry Bell
- Tony Carnevale
- David Chernicoff
- Jeff Clinkenbeard
- Claudia Cogan
- Mike Colasuonno
- Jamie Denbo
- Colton Dunn
- Brian Finkelstein
- Jason Fletcher
- Sharon Fogerty
- Adrianne Frost
- Danny Glover
- Alison Grambs
- Wendy Herlich
- Suzanne Hevner
- Sharon Jensen
- Lisa Jolley
- Anthony King
- Rachel Korowitz
- Meg Sweeney Lawless
- Emmy Laybourne
- Annie Lebeau œ
- Beth Littleford
- Simone Lutz
- Jono Manelli œ
- Michael Martin
- Andy McCann
- Robert McCaskill †
- John McMahon π
- Caitlin Miller
- David Miner ø
- Jim Mironchik œ
- Julie Mullen
- Jen Nails
- Doug Nervik π
- Susan Peahl
- Eddie Pepitone
- Joe Perce
- Molly Prather
- Ian Prior
- Mary Purdy
- Steve Purnick
- Deb Rabbai
- Amy Rhodes
- Charlie Sanders
- Michael Sansonia π
- Celia Schaefer
- Ben Schecter œ
- Paul Scheer
- Jeff Scherer
- Danielle Schnieder
- Rory Scholl
- Joe Schwartz
- Ann Scobie
- Ges Selmont ø
- Eliza Skinner
- Rich Sommer
- Chris Tallman
- John E. Ten Eyck
- Peter Tolan ¥
- Greg Triggs
- Nelson Walters
- Amy Wilson
ƒ- Co-Director
ø- Co-Producer
†- Director of The Chicago City Limits National Touring Company
π- Musical Director (Touring Company)
œ- Accompanist
¥- Hired, no performances
Some past revues
Dented
He She It
Chicago City Limits: Population 5
Blizzard of ‘81
Chicago City Limits in Sensible Shoes
Chicago City Limits: Greatest Hits
Chicago City Limits in 3D
Chicago City Limits with Clam Sauce
Chicago City Limits Behind Bars
Nancy Get Your Gun
Choice Cuts
X: The Roman Numeral
Current Jam
Taking Liberties
Taking More Liberties
10 of Inequity
The Best of Chicago City Limits
Everything Kills
Scandals of '89
Saddam You're Rockin' the Boat
Power of Suggestion
The Official Comedy Team of the Olympics
Unconventional Wisdom
Generation Ecch
Let Loose the Dogs of Improv
Two Johns Kissin Leslie
That's What You Said
Right to Laugh Party
chicagocitylimits.comedy
Subpoenas Envy
Lame Duck Soup
Chicago City Limits Turns 20: Now And Forever...And We Mean It.
Y2K You're OK
Chicago City Limits Gets amBUSHed!
Unconventional Humor
Chicago City Limits on Ice
Hus on First
Video
- Chicago City Limits Performance Clips.
- Chicago City Limits with Leslie Upson, Andy Daly, John Cameron Telfer, Carl Kissin and Gary Adler
- Experimental Interactive TV Project in 1980.
- George Todisco speaks to Rick Crom about the origin of Chicago City Limits.
External links
References
- Vincent Frontero (1991). What's free and cheap in New York. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
- Andrew Rosenberg, Martin Dunford (2011). The Rough Guide to New York. Penguin. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
- "Upright Citizens Brigade and the Case for Paying Improvisors".