Guest Author Patrick McManus is a stand-up comic living and working in Chicago. Patrick is a real cool guy who won the 100 Proof Comedy's Chicago's Top College Comedian Competition in 2015. You can follow him on Twitter, though this publication cannot promise he will be consistently funny on there, but you may want to roll the dice.
There are plenty of improv shows in Chicago, but sometimes it is important to see a really good one so you are reminded why this genre of comedy exists. You have your opportunity: Cook County Social Club is returning to the city for four shows Thursday and Friday July 28 and 29. Original members performing this week are Bill Cochran, Greg Hess, Brendan Jennings and Mark Raterman. The fifth member, Tim Robinson, joined the group after its founding and currently writes for “Saturday Night Live” in New York.
The group enjoyed a wildly popular run at iO for seven years, ending in 2013 when its members departed for the various coasts. During that time Splitsider called them an improv group that “transcends all modifiers” performing a show that was “just damn good.” The Chicago Reader named them the best improv group of 2010.
When he was last seen in town in November for Cook County Social Club 10-year anniversary shows, Raterman told the Tribune only to expect that “It’s gonna be an improv show.” Doubtless, the same can be said of this weekend’s shows. It is most likely going to be very entertaining, but that is the magic of longform improvisation. Who knows what is going to happen?
Shows are Thursday 7/28 and Friday 7/29 at 8pm and 10:30pm in the Mission Theater at iO. Tickets are $15.
Preview: Cook County Social Club Returns to IO for Two Performances
Guest Author Patrick McManus is a stand-up comic living and working in Chicago. Patrick is a real cool guy who won the 100 Proof Comedy's Chicago's Top College Comedian Competition in 2015. You can follow him on Twitter, though this publication cannot promise he will be consistently funny on there, but you may want to roll the dice.
There are plenty of improv shows in Chicago, but sometimes it is important to see a really good one so you are reminded why this genre of comedy exists. You have your opportunity: Cook County Social Club is returning to the city for four shows Thursday and Friday July 28 and 29. Original members performing this week are Bill Cochran, Greg Hess, Brendan Jennings and Mark Raterman. The fifth member, Tim Robinson, joined the group after its founding and currently writes for “Saturday Night Live” in New York.
The group enjoyed a wildly popular run at iO for seven years, ending in 2013 when its members departed for the various coasts. During that time Splitsider called them an improv group that “transcends all modifiers” performing a show that was “just damn good.” The Chicago Reader named them the best improv group of 2010.
When he was last seen in town in November for Cook County Social Club 10-year anniversary shows, Raterman told the Tribune only to expect that “It’s gonna be an improv show.” Doubtless, the same can be said of this weekend’s shows. It is most likely going to be very entertaining, but that is the magic of longform improvisation. Who knows what is going to happen?
Shows are Thursday 7/28 and Friday 7/29 at 8pm and 10:30pm in the Mission Theater at iO. Tickets are $15.