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Let me tell you something about slow comedy: it really pays off in the end. I got to play with some of my section mates at The Annoyance Theater as part of a show called SQUISHT. This show was just stupid-crazy-fun with an ensemble of over a dozen improvisers oddly dressed up as “snakes” playing alongside improv teams that got invited to make mostly goofy scenes. When the show started we were at the audience and saw the first two acts of the show. I have to confess, I was perplexed at what I was about to get into, because I knew I wasn’t going to able to play it that stupid, that crazy and that funny. Too many dick jokes for what I was able to deliver. Also, the focus of the show was on delivering good lines, not good scenes, and as a non-english speaking improviser, this kind of threw me off. When I got off stage, after being in just one scene at the end of the show and doing something I hated, I felt lousy, regretfull and really disappointed at myself. Disappointed at improv too. After weeks of working on truth in comedy, emotional responses and “deep shit”, this felt like a real setback. With this frustration taking over me, I left The Annoyance feeling, well, annoyed, and headed out to iO to go see one of the two shows Dummy (Jason Shotts and Colleen Doyle) were playing in Chicago this summer. It was the best thing I could’ve seen after what I went through: a sweet, grounded, slow, real, endearingly gross and comical show about a couple who is trying to figure out the future of their relationship, of themselves, as they get a paralyzed dog as a pet. They slowly built they’re relationship, embellishing it with cute and funny details, serenely making me feel joy, sadness, shock, distress, empathy, tenderness and a true connection with both the characters and the improvisers. And like that, my faith in improv got restored. I do think I was able to enjoy Dummy’s show on a deeper level because of the Annoyance experience, so, it really did pay off in the end.

#shows

Chicago, the birthplace of urban blues. Before going there I knew I wanted to do two music-related things: buy a Wilco record and go see the blues. At Reckless Records I was able to get “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” and at Kingston Mines I got to see Joanna Connor.

“Hear blues, drink booze, talk loud… you’re among friends.” is Doc Pellegrino’s (owner of Kingston Mines) motto and this place gives you just that. And dancing too, if you feel like it. Joanna Connor is a great performer, she has a strong stage presence, at ease and a great guitar player. I loved her show. I wish I could’ve seen more blues concerts and artists, but 5 weeks is just not enough to do everything you want at this gigantic city! But I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting some chicago blues soon enough…

#places

Food flashback part 1: Mushroom and Meatball Stuffed Pizza from Giordanno's / Chicago Hot Dog from Devil Dawgs / Pizza Pot Pie from Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder / Mastodon Burger from Kuma's Corner / Ceviche and Lobster, Chicken and Beef Tacos from Uncle Julio / The Great Gatsby Sandwich from The Bourgeois Pig / Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon from Yolk / Frozen Yogurt from Red Mango / Green Boba Tea with Honey Tapioca Boba from Bea & Tea

#food #places

Chicago truly is the city of improv and although most of my time was spent at iO, there are several theaters and venues throughout the city where you can go and see improv shows. So, here are some of the out-of-iO shows I was able to catch: Baby Wants Candy at The Apollo Theater. Great musical improv show that I already mentioned in a previous post. Sand at Quenchers Saloon. I was a bit reluctant in going to this show because I don’t really enjoy watching improv in bars. And after seeing 5 opening acts that ranged from uninteresting improv, to choreography and poetry reading, I really started dreading my choice. But Sand ended up doing a great show with a form that I hadn’t seen before. Three improvisers with great acting skils created three different characters and explored them on stage in a montage of scenes. One of the best shows I saw in Chicago. Messing with… Tara DeFrancisco at The Annoyance Theatre. This is Susan Messing’s show where each week she improvises with a different player. When we saw she was going to have Tara DeFrancisco on, a mass of people from iO went to see them. I was really curious to see how two strong and scene-controling improvisers would be compatible with each other on stage during the whole show, and it was a beautiful thing to see. Both Messing and Tara played at the top of their intelligence and were able to ground even the most intense and potentially damaging scene moves. A real lesson in the form of a show. ComedySportz at ComedySportz Theatre. iO is all about long form, so it was a welcoming change of pace to go see some a show at the worldwide licensed short form organization that is ComedySportz. Two teams of improvisers “played” each other woth a sports-like mentality for the win. Since the show was at 6pm, this was a good, clean, family safe show, which was fun. But it lacked the edge and danger that I admire and sometimes look forward in an improv show. Most of the players were very good at playing the games, and were super fast and energetic, displaying a wide range of skills. All in all, a good experience. It was also interesting to see how comercial improv can work. I know I missed a lot of shows in other venues such as Second City, Stage 773, Playground or CIC, but it just gives me more reasons to go back to Chicago. Call me Mr. Optimistic.

#shows

Let’s do some math. There are 5 weeks in the summer intensive and you get one teacher per week. Which means you get to learn from and pick the brain of 5 different veteran improvisers. There are 9 sections in the intensive, so, there are 9 teachers working simultaneously with each section. This also means that you miss out on a lot of really good improvisers while you’re there. Luckily, there’s a way to kind of surpass that and get involved with other teachers than those that were assigned to your section: workshops.

And I know what you’re thinking: aren’t 4 days of improv per week from 11am to 5pm and 2 to 6 shows every single night enough improv? Do you really need more training and take on additional workshops?! Nope, it’s not enough and yes, you do!

I was able to register for 3 workshops (actually there were four, but I’ll explain that in another occasion). Finding and Playing the Game with Bill Arnett (I actually had Bill on week 4, but I’d already registered for this workshop before flying to Chicago); Scenework with Craig Uhlir; and Short Form in Long Form with Tara DeFrancisco.

On all of these the focus was put on specific tools and principles, setting aside the bigger picture of the Harold or the teamwork we were developing within our sections, which was a good thing. This was also an opportunity to get to know and improvise with other students from different sections and expand our collective bonding. But make no mistake, this is also iO’s way to cash in a few extra dollars. But who’s really thinking about money when you’re investing on expanding your “improviser’s toolkit” and having so much fun doing it? Just eat $1 tacos for a few days and everything will be fine.

#iotraining

The Mission Theater is a venue-within-a-venue inside iO and it has been directed by the great improvisers TJ Jagodowski and Dave Pasquesi. As a project, it was created to compete with Second City as a place for sketch comedy, but it seems things didn’t turned out as planned and its programming will be managed from now on by iO. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to catch Undressed, the sketch show directed by TJ and Dave while it was running. However, I will take with me some fond memories of this place. This was where I watched TJ and Dave, true masters of the improv craft, perform for the first time. I got to see them several times afterwards, both alone and with guests (on the last show of the season, Michael Shannon made an announced appearence) and every show had its own special theme and highlights — and a lot of detailed talk about food. It was amazing. I also watched some interesting shows by Tone (improv) and Crickets (storytelling). On a personal level, this was the venue for our week 3 of classes with Todd Edwards and where we dwelled with 2-person scenes and a lot of strong emotional moments. Finally, the Mission Theater was the stage where I got to perform as a part of the international student show where I did a 7 minute scene with my partner Henrique in Portuguese about cold blood, cowardness, dead rabbits and rocking horses. I will miss you.

#shows #places

Follow the fear. Fearlessness is one of the core aspects of an improviser. Yesterday I went up a 412mt, 103 stories high skyscraper (aka Willis Tower, fka Sears Tower) and challenged my fear of heights. I stood on the ledge and looked down. I started to tremble, got dizzy, my legs were stiff and my heart started to race. Then, I took a step forward. Then another, and another one. Before I knew it, I found myself inside a glass cube over the streets and rooftops on the tallest building in Chicago. To my surprise, only a few seconds after the initial scare, I started to feel comfortable and having fun in this unexpected place. Chase the fear, conquer the fear. This is what I pursue in improv, the ability to truly turn fear into fun. Every step can be a step forward, so just take it.

#places

Play the scene you feel compelled to play, not the "right" scene

Bill Arnett

#improvquotes

Week 4, the Harold. Time flies when you're having fun, right? It really does, and my fourth week at the summer intensive just came and went like speeding car. Luckily, I was able to really enjoy the ride. This week we focused on the harold, the all mighty form from iO. I was a bit anxious about it because a whole week dedicated to this structure (although it's much more than that) seamed too much, but Bill Arnett took us where we needed to go and we focused on perfecting our scene work. The audience does not care about form, it only cares about the scenes, how they are played and the emotional and intelectual connections we are able to create on stage with it. With that in mind, we took on the harold throughout the week with a new perspective and worked on improving our openings, game scenes and different beat scenes.

#iotraining

Food update part 1: Chicago Hot Dog from iO / Tuna Salad Bagel from NYC Bagel Deli / Pizza from Costco / Chicken Ramen and Turkey Sandwich from Wholefoods / Briscket with Cheddar from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que / Pancakes and Chocolate Milkshake from The Chicago Diner / Sundae from Tastee Freez / Blueberry Old-Fashioned Donut from Stan's Donut.

#food

Drama is understanding a circumstance, while comedy is exacerbating a circumstance.

Todd Edwards

#improvquotes

Last wednesday, our week 1 teacher, Matt Higbee, dared all his students to go out on an adventure after classes: a treasure hunt. But instead of searching for some sort of golden item, we were set out to find our own personal treasure.

Interested? Here’s how it works. Make a group of people. Each one will have a period of 20 minutes where they will be the leader, which means they will be in charge of the destination and activities of the group. During that time the other team members have to support and follow the leader. Everyone will have its turn as the leader and in the end, I promise you, everyone will unearth some shape or form of treasure. Be spontaneous, courageous and empathetic and it will be incredible. In my case, I found beauty. Sad, conflicted, strange, endearing, sweet and exciting beauty. Thanks to the great Matt Higbee, and thanks to Henrique, Georgie and Kristen for this journey within a journey.

#iotraining #beauty

I don't really like musicals, but I'm begining to love musical improv! After seeing a great show from Baby Wants Candy in the first week, the Deltones at iO with the amazing Tara DeFrancisco pulled me in even further to this genre. Fret not my friends, I will not attempt singing on stage any time soon, but you will find me in the audience with a big smile and tons of admiration and jealousy.

#shows

It was a lazy, lazy sunday. After another long week of improv classes and shows, this sunday was all about taking it easy. After a good night’s sleep, I went for brunch at Fat Rice, a macanese restaurant with some portuguese influences. They had Sagres beer, pastéis de nata and plenty of galos de Barcelos. The food was excellent. Afterwards I headed out to Logan’s Hardware, a record shop that has a room filled with retro arcade games and pinball tables. It took me 3 hours of browsing through an extensive vinyl collection and trying unsuccessfully to get in the top 5 of the Walking Dead pinball table, to leave with some new additions to my collection: Richard Pryor, Godspeed You Black Emperor! Local Natives, Blood and Time and Stan Getz/João Gilberto. Following next: deep dish pizza from Giordano’s.

#food #places

End of week 3 with Todd Edwards as our teacher. This was a tough one. A lot of strong emotions running within the group and inside each one of us. We were pushed and we saw ourselves as people, performers and artists in every scene that got created on stage. I do feel that week after week we are growing as improvisers by tackling individual challenges and acquiring new tools. This week I saw my new friends doing stand up, play as guests on improv groups at iO and I'm amazed at how talented they are and how they stand out from other performers. We have so many different personalities and skills between us that I truly feel lucky I ended up in with this group of beautiful people. Teachers, shows and classmates: these have been equally responsible for my personal growth as an improviser.

#iotraining

Burgers and metal, a perfect combination. Kuma’s Corner is every meat loving metalhead’s dream. The menu includes delicious burgers such as Pantera, Mastodon, Metallica, Neurosis, Yob and many others with all the ingredients you can think of and thick beef burgers. Music is loud and fast and you can smell the grill from a block away. If you are planning on going there, you better be hungry!

#food #places

About support: “I’ve got your back” is an improv mantra we’ve all heard and felt. Trust one another. So much of improv is about being vulnerable and giving yourself to your scene partners and making yourself available to them. The willingness to trust strangers on stage, in front of more strangers, is a magical thing. And we see it everyday at iO, at any improv class or show. In only two and a half weeks, dozens of strangers became groups, bonded with each other with ease and care, broke personal and cultural barriers, became friends. And it only took trust and support. Improv people are some of the most loving and caring people you can meet. So do yourself a favor and buy them a drink when you see them. I’m sure they’ll be interested in your stories too.

#iotraining

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