Joey Bland News

The Improvised Shakespeare Company provides a night of dazzling humor and wit.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Shakespeare plays. While studying abroad in Italy back in college, I performed a variety of Shakespeare scenes, including the infamous Queen Mab monologue. I also got the chance to visit Verona and stand atop Juliet’s balcony. So when a Shakespeare inspired improv comedy company was coming to town, I knew I had to be in the room.

The Second City is just as befuddled as you are by the headlines that self-described 'political prisoner' and 'Trumpocrat' Rod Blagojevich has been released from prison and is back home in Chicago. To commemorate the former governor's commuted sentence, The Second City will resurrect the show no one thought would see the light of day again. Rod Blagojevich Superstar! is set to be staged on Thursday, April 2, 2020. Following the rise and spectacularly bizarre fall of the disgraced former Illinois governor, the ripped-from-the-headlines rock opera will return for one night only as a special concert performance fundraiser for both The Second City Alumni Fund and Gilda's Club Chicago.

There are just a few seats left for The Improvised Shakespeare Company's last few performances during its limited run at The Kennedy Center, and you're going to want to buy a ticket. A group of five outrageously talented performers takes one audience suggestion for the title of a play that is yet to be written and transforms it into a riotous, 90-minute Shakespearean masterpiece before your eyes. If your experience is anything like mine, you will enter the theatre contemplative and work-weary and leave smiling ear to ear, sharing knowing looks with other theatre-goers as if to say a?oedid we all really just witness that?!a?? If this sounds effusive, it's meant to. The Improvised Shakespeare Company is an experience not to be missed. 

Hubbard Street Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton; Andrew Alexander, CEO/Executive Producer of The Second City, Inc.; and Kelly Leonard, Executive Vice President of The Second City are excited to present the world premiere of The Art of Falling, an unprecedented and collaboratively devised production first announced in February 2014 at The Second City.

The Second City's Game Night features Joey Bland, Brendan Dowling, Paul Grondy, Matt Hovde, Megan Hovde, Beth Melewski, Tim Paul, Brett Lyons, Adam Peacock and Sue Salvi. The Music Director for Game Night is Lisa McQueen and the Stage Manager is Meghan Teal.

Hubbard Street Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton; Andrew Alexander, CEO/Executive Producer of The Second City, Inc.; and Kelly Leonard, Executive Vice President of The Second City are excited to present the world premiere of The Art of Falling, an unprecedented and collaboratively devised production first announced in February 2014 at The Second City.

MCL Chicago and Executive Director Aaron Shapiro are proud to announce their September and October performance schedule. All performances take place at the newly renovated MCL Chicago, 3110 N. Sheffield Ave., and are BYOB.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's the Mosh Pit's 5th Birthday! We start off with the Broadway In Chicago Millennium Park concert, and bring you casting news for 'Evil Dead' and Dee Snider's 'Christmas Tale,' plus the latest from the Marriott Theatre, two northside shows about popular music, The Improvised Sondheim Project and Aurora's cast of 'Cats!' I think I need some cake....

The acclaimed musical improv ensemble The Improvised Sondheim Project returns to the stage for an open run at MCL Chicago (3110 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago) starting on August 9th. The Improvised Sondheim Project runs Saturdays at 9pm.

MCL Chicago and Executive Director Aaron Shapiro are proud to announce their August schedule.

MCL Chicago and Executive Director Aaron Shapiro are proud to announce their August schedule.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, one of the world's premier dance organizations, together with event chair Richard L. Rodes and Meg Siegler Callahan, chair of Hubbard Street's board of directors, hosted the Season 36 Spotlight Ball on Monday, May 19 at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park. Scroll down for photos from the event!

THE IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY returns to New York City for 6 shows in 4 nights! January 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2014.

The Improvised Shakespeare Company will return to New York City for five shows in three nights, tonight, November 10-12th, 2013.

The Second City Guide to the Opera, the groundbreaking collaboration by Lyric Opera of Chicago and The Second City, won Jeff Awards for Best Production: Revue and Best Director: Revue during the 45th annual Jeff Equity Awards gala yesterday. The ceremony took place at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. "This is the first time Lyric Opera of Chicago has been nominated, and to win this prestigious award is truly thrilling," said Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director.

UP Comedy Club has announced its remount of Porchlight Music Theatre's smash hit, BEST MUSICAL! A Completely Improvised Musical Comedy. BEST MUSICAL! was developed in 'Off the Porch' Porchlight Music Theatre's new works development program. BEST MUSICAL! will run October 2 - November 6, 2013 at the UP Comedy Club, located at 230 W. North Ave., 3rd Floor of Pipers Alley.

The Improvised Shakespeare Company will return to New York City for five shows in three nights, November 10-12th, 2013.

UP Comedy Club has announced its remount of Porchlight Music Theatre's smash hit, BEST MUSICAL! A Completely Improvised Musical Comedy. BEST MUSICAL! was developed in 'Off the Porch' Porchlight Music Theatre's new works development program. BEST MUSICAL! will run October 2 - November 6, 2013 at the UP Comedy Club, located at 230 W. North Ave., 3rd Floor of Pipers Alley.