Chicago City Limits is a New York–based improv comedy company and New York's longest-running comedy revue. Its resident and touring companies currently perform in New York five times a week at the Broadway Comedy Club, and the touring company performs at colleges, corporate events and regional theatres throughout the country.
Chicago City Limits shows are a combination of short-form, long-form and musical improvisation with some sketches and song parodies.
History[]
Chicago City Limits was founded in 1977 in Chicago by George Todisco and actors participating in the workshop program at The Second City. In 1979, Chicago City Limits relocated to New York, performing regularly at Catch a Rising Star, the Improv, the Duplex, and other noted clubs. It established its own theater in the summer of 1980. The show has run continuously ever since.
Over the years, Chicago City Limits has made numerous TV appearances, including The Today Show, McLaughlin, The Joan Rivers Show, The Jackie Mason Show, Comedy Central, PBS, and Good Day NY. The group appeared in its own TV new comedy series, "Reel News," on the USA network.
The Chicago City Limits touring company performs at colleges, corporate events and regional theatres throughout the country. The group has appeared at such diverse venues as Lincoln Center, HBO's US Comedy Arts Festival, the Smithsonian Institution, The Super Bowl, and the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon.
Classes[]
The Chicago City Limits Training Center offers classes for beginners and seasoned performers. Besides comedy improvisation classes, Chicago City Limits offers workshops on topics such as musical improvisation, character development, improvisation for actors, sketch writing, physical comedy, and stand up.
Chicago City Limits also teaches creativity and team-building seminars for corporations across the country.
Staff[]
- Executive Producer: Paul Zuckerman
- Producer: Linda Gelman
- Associate Producer: David Chernicoff
- Directors: Paul Zuckerman, Joe DeGise II
- Artistic Director: Paul Zuckerman
- Musical Director: Rick Hip-Flores
- National Touring Company Director: Robert Schiffmann
- Technical Director: Elliott Lipsey
Current Cast members[]
Resident Company
- Joe DeGise II
- Annie Figenshu
- Rick Hip-Flores (musical director)
- Stefan Schick
- Rob Schiffmann
National Touring Company
- Tony Carnevale
- David Chernicoff
- Jason Fletcher
- Sharon Fogarty
- Canedy Knowles
- Rachel Korowitz
- Kobi Libii
- Rory Scholl
- Ann Scobie
- Greg Triggs
- Deb Rabbai
Former Tour Co/Resident Co Cast Members[]
- Gary Adler (musical director)
- Pete Aguero
- Jessica Allen
- Claudia Cogan
- Sean Conroy
- Tara Copeland
- Eugene Cordero
- Rick Crom (musical director)
- Andy Daly
- Colton Dunn
- Brian Finkelstein
- Kimmy Gatewood
- Danny Glover
- Wendy Herlich
- Sharon Jensen
- Lisa Jolley
- Anthony King
- Carl Kissin
- Meg Sweeney Lawless
- Beth Littleford
- Simone Lutz
- Michael Martin
- Andy McCann
- Caitlin Miller
- Julie Mullen
- Jen Nails
- John O'Donnell
- Eddie Pepitone
- Morgan Phillips
- Travis Ploeger (musical director)
- Molly Prather
- Mary Purdy
- Amy Rhodes
- Charlie Sanders
- Paul Scheer
- Jeff Scherer
- Danielle Schnieder
- Denny Siegel
- Eliza Skinner
- Rich Sommer
- Frank Spitznagel (musical director)
- John Cameron Telfer
- Victor Varnado
- Nelson Walters
Contact Info[]
- Address: 318 W. 53rd St., New York, NY 10019-5702
- Box Office: (212) 888-5233
- Website: http://www.chicagocitylimits.com/