Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Theater for All
Visitors with disabilities will find that some local theaters go the extra mile
to make their performances accessible. Steppenwolf, Goodman, and Look-
ingglass theaters offer sign-language interpretation for deaf patrons and
audio-described performances for visually impaired audiences. Bailiwick
Repertory runs a regular series of plays featuring deaf actors. Victory Gar-
dens Theater, which has a long-standing commitment to accessible the-
ater, has special performances throughout the year that are customized
for audiences with different disabilities. The theater even offers deaf
patrons special glasses that project captions of dialogue onto the frame of
the glasses.
Tips
people and real situations—nothing too experimental. Even though most shows
don't feature nationally known actors, the casts are always first-rate, and the plays
usually leave you with something to think about (or passionately discuss) on the
way home. Victory Gardens sponsors free readings of new works, which are held
twice a month on Sunday.
2257 N. Lincoln Ave. (at Belden Ave.).
&
773/871-3000.
www.
victorygardens.org. Tickets $30-$35. Subway/El: Red or Brown line to Fullerton.
2 Comedy & Improv
In the mid-1970s,
Saturday Night Live
brought Chicago's unique brand of com-
edy to national attention. But even back then, John Belushi and Bill Murray
were just the latest brood to hatch from the number-one incubator of Chicago-
style humor, Second City. From Mike Nichols and Robert Klein to Mike Mey-
ers and Tina Fey, two generations of American comics have honed their skills in
Chicago before making their fortunes as film and TV stars. Chicago continues
to nurture young comics, drawn to Chicago for the chance to learn the tricks of
improvisational comedy at Second City, the ImprovOlympic, and numerous
other comedy and improv outlets.
ImprovOlympic
ImprovOlympic was founded 20 years ago as a train-
ing ground for improv actors by the late, great, and inexplicably unsung Del
Close, an improv pioneer who branched off from his more mainstream coun-
terparts at Second City to pursue an unorthodox methodology. A colorful and
legendary iconoclast (he was an outspoken advocate for the legalization of mar-
ijuana, among other crusades), Close developed a long-form improv technique
known as “The Harold,” which eschewed the traditional sketch format in favor
of more conceptual comedy scenes (the audience suggests a theme for the
evening, then a series of skits, monologues, and songs are built around it). The
method has since been co-opted by Second City, whose vignette-blackout-
vignette format had grown weary.
The ImprovOlympic offers a nightclub setting for a variety of unscripted
nightly performances, from free-form shows to shows loosely based on concepts
such as
Star Trek
or dating. Like all improv, you're gambling here: It could be a big
laugh, or the amateur performers could go down in flames. Monday is an off night
for most other clubs in town, and ImprovOlympic takes advantage with a show
called the Armando Diaz Experience, an all-star improv night that teams up some
of the best improvisers in Chicago, from Second City and elsewhere. Besides Mike
Myers, successful alums include the late Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Andy Dick,
Finds
