ThePIT

Dec 31st (Wed)

Mainstage

• The Comic Thread

  Saturday, Oct 13, 2012 5:45pm
  $8 / $45 (FESTIVAL PASS)
  
  The Comic Thread is one of Chicago’s longest-running sketch troupes at 14 years. The Comic Thread's writers and core performers have been collaborating on stage since 1998 and on screen since 1993. The Comic Thread was most recently described as " surrealistic comedy [that bends] the edges of logic in any particular direction ... with enough grace that you truly don't know what's coming next. And you really don't care because there's a 90% chance that it'll be exceptionally funny." The Comic Thread is Nicolas DeGrazia (cast/director), Matt Birnholz (cast), Daniel Kullman (crew), Daphne Scott (cast), Mark Sheahen (crew), Charles Turck (cast) and Brian Quijada (cast) | Web site
  • Winner: BEST GROUP, 2011 LA Comedy Festival; Nominee: BEST WRITING, 2011 LA Comedy Festival; Tie: FIRST PLACE, 2012 Sketch Thing Competition, Gorilla Tango Theatre in Chicago, IL; Runner-Up: BEST GROUP, 2012 Shadowbox Sketch Comedy Festival, Columbus, Ohio.
  • 2001, 2003, 2005 FOCUS on the Arts Festivals (sold out all three years); 2007 FOCUS on the Arts Festival (invited, then disinvited/banned from future years); 2010, 2011, & 2012 Chicago Sketch Comedy Festivals (sold out all three years); 2011 LA Comedy Festival (only Chicago troupe accepted); 2011 Austin Out of Bounds Comedy Festival (sold out); 2011 & 2012 Milwaukee Comedy Festivals; 2012 Montreal Sketch Comedy Festival (only Chicago troupe accepted); 2012 Chicago Fringe Festival (September)

Musicality and Scenework

June 1st-2nd, (Two-Day Workshop)

Using music to inspire scene work both internally and externally. Developing a musicality to your scenes as well as making up music / songs inside of your format. We will look at the concept of tempo and develop and understanding of how music can lead to unspoken agreement for greater joy and ease of play. We will be beatboxing, freestyling, listening, sharing, making noises you never thought you'd make and moving a lot.

Anthony Veneziale
Sat-Sun, 1pm-4pm

History Philosophy Metaphor

May 25th (One-Day Workshop)

Details, Specifics and Information are always needed for a good improv scene. This workshop teaches you HOW to create those scenic needs while creating enjoyable humor and sound theater as a side effect of generating the best details possible.

Matt Donnelly
Saturday, 12pm-3pm

Getting Out of Your Own Way

June 9th (One-Day Workshop)

here are a hundred things that you end up doing on stage instead of what you want to be doing. Your brain is clouded with all sorts of things that you think you are supposed to do instead of what you are inspired to do. Learn to throw all conventions to the wind and just have fun in your scene work. Learn how to pull from all your learning and find the school of thought that works for you, because it comes out of you.

Asaf Ronen
Sunday, 2pm-5pm

Patterns in Everything

June 21st (One-Day Workshop)

Being in your head has a terrible reputation in improv circles. This workshop is all about being in your head at the top of the scene (a good thing) and then using the information to truly play out of your head for the remainder. One exercise, one technique. Adding pattern recognition to your bag of improv tricks will help you find the comedy faster no matter the form.

Chris Trew
Friday, 2pm-5pm