OMNI “An Evening of Laughs with Jay Leno”

Hi readers.  Candice Warltier here from Communication Strategies Group, a Chicago-based communications firm.  We are calling on all Leno fans!  We know you love to laugh, and  aChicagoThing wants to hook you up with tickets to a rare Chicago appearance by Jay Leno! This Saturday, April 28, 2012, Leno takes the stage at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, to celebrate OMNI Youth Services 40th anniversary – and we have three pairs of tickets to give away!  Eric Ferguson, WTMX radio “Eric and Kathy” morning show co-host, will serve as emcee and Second City, the world’s premier comedy club, will make a brief performance. Be sure to visit Billy’s Facebook page today for a chance to win a pair of tickets!

OMNI’s “An Evening of Laughs with Jay Leno” presented by Allstate will benefit OMNI Youth Services helps recognize OMNI’s contributions over the past 40 years in providing counseling, services and programming needs for children, teens and their families in Chicago and surrounding suburbs.  Tickets for the gala and performance-only tickets are available for purchase on OMNIyouth.org, check out the special ticket prices for aChicagoThing readers!  At the event, OMNI will be raffling off a Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe Motorcycle signed by Mr. Leno, himself!  Click here to purchase your Harley raffle tickets today.

Proceeds from the performance by the legendary comedian and host of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” will benefit OMNI’s Girls After School Program (GAP) which provides a safe haven after school, teaches life skills and promotes positive self-image for teen girls, REALITY Theatre, a teen troupe dedicated to promoting positive, healthy lifestyle choices through original theatre and the Outdoor Wilderness Therapy and Adventure Program, utilizing outdoor expeditions to overcome presenting challenges, develop life skills and the motivation to pursue a more promising productive future.

Thanks and see you there, Candice Warltier

Tags: An eveving of laughs with jay leno, billy dec, Cadillac Theatre, Candice Warltier, chicago, Comedy, Communication Strategies Group, eric and kathy, Eric Ferguson, facebook, fundraiser, giveaway, Harley Davidson, Jay Leno, Leno, OMNI Youth Services, second city, the mix, the tonight show with jay leno, ticket deals, weekend events

Kevin Farley Does Stand Up Act At Chicagos Laugh Factory

Hi aChicagoThing readers, Carol Johnson here! Capping off an illustrious nightlife career that spans decades at the forefront of cutting edge nightclubs (Shelter, Drink, China Club), amazing restaurants (Cantare, Gibsons Restaurant Group, Il Covo), I’ve joined forces with comedy culture icon Jamie Masada in bringing his standup magic to the Chicago scene.

The legendary Laugh Factory, LA’s Sunset Strip staple for 32 years is now open in Chicago!  This week, Laugh Factory presents Midwest native, Kevin Farley, when the comedic actor, film and television writer and director brings his hysterical standup to Laugh Factory 3175 N.  Broadway in Chicago Thursday, April 19^th thru Sunday, April 22^nd.

Kevin, the younger brother of the late comedian Chris Farley grew up in Madison, WI, then earned a business degree at Marquette before going into the family business selling asphalt for his father’s company.  After six years of literally pouring the pavement, Kevin, at the urging of his big brother, moved to Chicago to hone his craft at the iconic Second City before heading to Hollywood.

Upon arrival in LA Kevin landed roles in the films Tommy Boy and Black Sheep and eventually snagged a starring role as boy band mate “Doug Linus” on MTV’s sitcom 2gether where he received rave reviews. Farley also appeared in numerous TV series including That ’70s Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joey, Just Shoot Me, and Curb Your Enthusiasm among others, before moving on to funny feature films.

Kevin Farley appeared in Adam Sandler’s animated comedy Eight Crazy Nights, The Waterboy, Dirty Work, Cedric the Entertainer’s laugh riot Johnson Family Vacation just to name a few. Farley recently starred in An American Carol playing a cynical, Anti-American “Hollywood” filmmaker on a crusade to abolish the 4th of July. The film, directed by David Zucker, is a parody of liberal filmmaker Michael Moore that uses the framework of A Christmas Carol to lampoon contemporary American culture, particularly Hollywood.  For a taste of his stand up visit: http://www.laughfactory.com/comedians/321/Kevin%20Farley

**Billy Dec is giving away free tickets to each of Kevin’s shows this week! Click here to enter:  https://www.facebook.com/billydec and I’ll see you there! **

- Carol Johnson

Tags: adam sandler, carol johnson, chicago, Chris Farley, Comedian, Comedy, David Zucker, Kevin Farley, second city, The Laugh Factory, Tommy Boy

Improvised Musical Showcase at Chicago’s iO this Friday!

Pick a topic – any topic. Now, with a group of your friends, create a comedy sketch and a song to go with it. You have 1 minute. GO. Not the easiest task. It takes a special person with talent to accomplish such a goal… and have it be funny. Living in the city of Chicago, we have our pick of comedy troupes and clubs. We even have entire organizations dedicated to the craft, such as Second City and iO. With such a great pool of individuals out there willing to share their passion with audiences, don’t you think we deserve to laugh at them and with them?

I recently attended a show featuring Stacked, an all female Musical Improv group. They delivered a “four-part harmony through a wide range of characters and clever play.” The energy on stage was infectious, causing all in attendance to be engaged in the action. Its this dedication that is taking them all the way to the Toronto Improv Festival in about a month. Scenes from recent shows are up on their website. If you need a laugh – or two – take a look!

Catch the ladies of Stacked, Leotard Foundation and Slow Clap! on Friday, September 23 at Midnight in the Del Close Theater. Tickets are $5 or FREE for iO students. Interested in becoming a student? Check it out here.

- Evan Jones
@ewjonesy

Tags: chicago, chicago weekend events, del close theatre, evan jones, free student events, improv, improv olympic, leotard foundation, musical improv group, second city, slow clap!, stacked, toronto improv festival

Tips on using Social Media in Business on Chicago Live!

I laughed yesterday when I tweeted that I was going to be a guest talking about Social Media in Business on a new live show with Cardinal Francis George & Second City, knowing that immediately thousands of people who follow me stopped what they were doing and went… “HUH?!”  That’s what I love about this new show called “Chicago Live!“  It sounds so diverse, entertaining, relevant, alive & Chicago!

This unique Tribune & Second City production is filmed in front of live studio audience on Thursdays at 6:30p, at Chicago Theatre’s Downstairs Stage, hosted by Rick Kogan, featuring special guests that represent the city’s top newsmakers, entertainers, athletes, artists… w/quick sketches by Second City members! After the show, the audience is invited to a reception with the cast, crew & guests.. Seriously, sounds like a blast!

With that, I’m truly honored to be part of the show this Thursday, May 5th! I’m psyched to join filmmaker Melissa Pierce, and Social Media editor & radio host Amy Guth, on stage to discuss the use of Social Media in Business! Other guests will include Catholic archbishop of Chicago Cardinal Francis George ( interviewed by Manya Brachear), Arlington Park’s Howard Sudberry previewing the upcoming race season (interviewed by Phil Rosenthal), Local bluegrass band Cornmeal, and again… Peformances by Second City!

Please be in the audience, enjoy & cheer us on! Tickets: http://trib.in/fLEtrt AND BTW, would love to get some questions, advice, feedback, thoughts… from you about what all you think I should talk about ahead of time!?  Please let me know on Twitter, Facebook and/or comment below as soon as you can! If you can’t make the show, Chicago Live! re-airs on WGN radio the Saturday following the Thursday tapings from 11p-midnight.  Podcasts are also posted to the Chicago Live! website the Friday after each show.Thanks!!!!

Tags: amy guth, arlington park, billy dec, bluegrass, cardinal francis george, chicago, chicago live!, chicago tribune, cornmeal, facebook, howard sudberry, manya brachear, melissa pierce, phil rosenthal, rick kogan, second city, social media, tribune, twitter

Laughing Hearts Comedy Night at stage 773 chicago!

After my improv performance at the iO a few weeks ago I’ve kind of been obsessed with Chicago’s world renowned & thriving improv and comedy scene! Today I’m keeping the laughter going with another amazing comedy event called “laughing hearts comedy night” tomorrow/Wednesday, March 9 at 6:30p at stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont Ave). Even better, 100% of the ticket proceeds go to the american heart association!

This event was shared with me by a facebook friend patricia true agos (thank you!), who’s walked the Chicago heart walk for the last seven years for her mom. her mom was the first person in her hometown to have open heart surgery… at the age of 15! doctors told her she would be unlikely to have children, but patricia is the youngest of five kids. her mom volunteered at the american heart association and coordinated many events on behalf of the aha and more charities until she passed away of heart attack in 2003. since 2004, patricia has raised nearly $13,000 but wanted to do something more. as a graduate of the second city conservatory, she loves to laugh and make people laugh, and with those passions “laughing hearts comedy night” was born.

performers include pastor dave of the best church of god, off off broadzway, the union, the tim & micah project, henrietta pussycat, and more. there’s also gonna be a silent auction with awesome items like chelsea handler autographed books, blackhawks pucks signed by jonathan toews and patrick kane, an adult class at the second city training center, tickets to several chicago theaters, and so much more. check out her site for tix & info, and go! it’s good for the heart!

Tags: american heart association, Comedy, iO, laughing hearts comedy night, open heart surgery, second city

Who do you think is best in Chicago!?

Just voted for the Chicago Reader “Best in Chicago” awards online! Figured I would share my answers since everyone asks me on Twitter and Facebook about my Chicago favs! (BTW, sorry did these fast, was in a rush, sorry if missed anyone!) You should vote too! (Especially for my places! haha) Voting ends this weekend so go to http://bestof.chicagoreader.com/ now!

Tags: alice in wonderland, amc on illinois, andrew lee, andy lee, arthur murray, ashkenaz, assault.it, avenues, back up, best of, bill and phil movers, billy dec, binny's, carrie seacrist, chicago reader, conan o'brien, connie's, dance center chicago, dj rock city, dr. wax, el tapitio, elevation, equinox, golden triangle, hero fitness, house of blues, house of glunz, hubbard, improv olympic, jim bean club, joe's, kanye west, kinsella landscaping, kith kin, lolla, lookingglass theatre, loveabulls, lovehammers, medinah country club, merchandise mart, metro, niketown, paws, plain white t's, que rico, reeza's, richard's, riverside cafe, rockit bar and grill, rockit wrigley, second city, skinny cows, smart rooms, south of 80, sue, sunda, the peninsula, trex, u of i, u2, underground, vermillion, village cycle, whole foods, wiener circle

Midwest Independent Film Festival Presents "The Best of the Midwest Awards!" by guest blogger : jon landan, team rockit ranch

 I fortunately was introduced to “the arts” at a very early age.  While at Francis Parker School right here in the city of Chicago, I was exposed to some of the greatest talents, both in class and around the city, intriguing me so much I even pursued and landed a couple parts in plays like Oliver, Alice in Wonderland and The Music Man!  As I grew older and moved into other interests, I watched & supported friends from all over the city of Chicago work hard to further their artistic careers, taking classes at The Second City, hustling to improve through practice where ever possible, eventually showing that Chicago & the Midwest has some of the most talent in the country as many of the ones I watched over the years made it on to some of the biggest television shows and movies in Hollywood.

I also have enjoyed watching Hollywood come to us!  Recently it seems more than ever that Chicago and the Midwest have been the home to some of the biggest movies in the world from Batman: The Dark Knight to Johnny Depp’s Public Enemies. And if you think about it, these probably would not have been shot in Chicago & the Midwest without all the hard work done over the years by many of our own local independent film makers, actors, directors, crew… who have been drawing attention to our great part of the country for years!  For that, I think it is only right that we give back and support them, not only to continue to push forward, but to show the world how far we can take it and what we are really made of!

This local success, and more importantly their potential to make even a bigger impact on our behalf, has inspired me to get involved with The Midwest Independent Film Festival, the nation’s only film festival solely dedicated to the Midwest film industry, presenting audiences with regionally produced independent cinema. This film festival dedicated to celebrating and strengthening our film community is year round so you can enjoy at anytime, but I must suggest, all should get involved this week and attend the “BMAs!”  It’s a blast!

The “BMAs” are the “Best of The Midwest Awards” and will not only serve as an excellent opportunity for us to contribute to & support our local film industry, but it will be a great way to meet all that have excelled and represented us in the world of film & entertainment, like acclaimed filmmakers Lori Petty, John McNaughton and Steve Jones highlight the list of scheduled attendees!  See who else will be there on the 1st, including cohost for the evening, our CEO, Billy Dec  —  and check out last year’s photo gallery! 

The event will be this Tuesday, December 1st at Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard, kicking off w/a fun cocktail reception at 7 p.m.  The Best of the Midwest Awards ceremony takes place from 8:00-9:00 p.m.; festivities continue through 10 p.m.  info and ticket/donation are available at www.midwestfilm.org; all proceeds benefit the 2010 Midwest Independent Film Festival…. Let’s support them! (and us!)

Tags: alice in wonderland, batman, chicago, dark night, francis parker school, john mcnaughton, johnny depp, lori petty, midwest independent film festival, oliver, public enemies, rockit bar & grill, second city, steve jones, the music man

chicago 2016 olympics with "cheers" george wendt

i was always, and still am a fan of george, especially when he was norm on “cheers.” i also love his connection with chicago and that he was part of the legendary second city!!  

don’t forget – as my rockit ranch partners and i make our way to copenhagen in these last 5 days until the big decision as to who will host the 2016 games – this is your chance to really help in the final hours by sharing these videos of incredible celebrity support with everyone you know!

Tags: cheers, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, george wendt, norm, second city

chicago 2016 olympics w/ nbc's "tonight show" andy richter

i have been watching conan o’brien since the first day they came on back in the day! and andy, always just cracked me up…totally makes sense that he is a product of the whole improv, second city, columbia college….chicago phenomenon. glad to see he still supports his favorite town that made a huge impact on his life and career….enjoy! 

remember all, how can you show your love for the chi (& the usa as a whole)? take one minute today to tell all your friends & contacts by email, twitter, facebook, phone calls, whatever….& ask all to listen to these wonderful personalities share their stories so the rest of the world knows how great our city (& country) is and how we want to share & strengthen friendships with the rest of our world! don’t forget, i am posting one new celeb interview per day here until the oct 2nd announcement that chicago (& the usa) will be the home of the 2016 olympics! so keep checking out who’s next! thx and…best of luck to all!

Tags: 2016, andy richter, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, columbia college, conan o'brien, improv, NBC, olympics, second city, tonight show