Daily Rehearsal: a look at the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival

Daily Rehearsal: a look at the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival

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1. DCASE’s DCA Storefront Theater Fall 2012 lineup has been announced; they’ll bringing stuff from WildClaw Theatre, Sideshow Theatre Company and BackStage Theatre Company, as well as The Ruckus Theatre Company, Route 66 Theatre Company, The Theatre Exchange and Praxis/High Concept Laboratories. 

2. The full lineup for the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival won’t be announced until Monday, April 16, but those acts that have been revealed thus far are: Messing with a Friend (aka Susan Messing), Off Off Broadzway, Mary Kay Letourneau Players, Ladies of The Cupid Players, the Puterbaugh Sisters, Sherra: Secret of the Ooze (one woman show by Sherra Lasley), The Art of Making Bad Decisions Cabaret and Feminine Gentlemen. Executive Producer Jill Valentine says, “It has always been a dream of mine to produce a festival featuring the best female comedic talent in Chicago. When I began to talk about this festival, many talented women from around the country showed interest so I widen [sic] the scope to include national and Chicago talent.” Valentine and associate producer Liz McArthur are both members of Off Broadzway and Feminine Gentleman.

3. Hit the Wall from The Inconvenience has been extended as part of Steppenwolf’s Garage Rep; 5 performances have been added and the show will run through April 15. 

4. The National Association of Broadcasters is giving Second City a Spirit of Broadcasting Award.”For over 50 years, The Second City has been a leader in innovative comedy and theater, and a training ground for some of America’s finest comedic performers and writers,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith in a statement. “Every day, millions of broadcast TV viewers bear witness to the influence it has had on both comedy and drama. NAB is proud to honor The Second City with this special award for all its contributions to the entertainment industry.”

5. Porchlight’s 2012-13 season will launch in September 1 with A Class Act, followed by a new The Gifts of the Magi, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill and Pal Joey. Perhaps a little more esoteric than this past season (which included Sondheim, Larson and Fierstein), no? 

Questions? Tips? Email kdries@wbez.org.