Formation 1977 | ||
Type improvisational comedy troupe Website www.chicagocitylimits.com | ||
Chicago City Limits (CCL), is an improvisational comedy and sketch comedy troupe in New York City, New York.
Contents
- History
- Resident Company alumni NYC listed chronologically
- National Touring Company alumni listed alphabetically
- Some past revues
- Video
- References
Chicago City Limits was founded by George Todisco and first performed on Labor Day 1977 in Chicago. It is New York City's longest-running comedy revue, with a run of over 10,000 performances.
History
Chicago City Limits is New York City's seminal improvisational theater and was founded in 1977 in Chicago by George Todisco with a group of actors participating in the workshop program at The Second City, studying under Del Close. Among the players were Todisco, Linda Gelman, Bill McLaughlin, Carol Schindler, Paul Zuckerman, Rick Crom and Christopher Oyen, all founding members of the NYC company, years later. Oyen served as The Second City's stage manager, and Todisco, McLaughlin, Schindler and Sandy Smith (an early member of the troupe), all appeared in "The Del Close Farewell Salute to Chicago" in 1978. In 1979, Chicago City Limits relocated to New York, performing regularly at Catch a Rising Star, the Improv, the Duplex, Folk City and other notable NYC clubs. It established its own theater in the summer of 1980 on W 42nd Street , thus creating NYC's most successful improvisational theatre to date. After setting up the theater on 42nd Street (1 year), the troupe relocated to the Jan Hus Playhouse at 351 E 74th St. (14 years) and, later, at their own theatre, once again, at 1105 1st Avenue (9 years), at The Broadway Comedy Club on E 53rd St. (9 years) and returned to the Jan Hus Playhouse (2 years), before suspending their run in 2016. The group is still active for touring gigs, corporate events and improvisational training.
CCL was a three-time recipient of The Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) Award. The Chicago City Limits National Touring Company received the first MAC Award given for Best Comedy/Improv Group in 1987 and again in 1988. The New York Company won again in 2008. In 2011, Top 10 New York City by Eleanor Berman rated it one of New York City's top 10 comedy clubs.
Resident Company alumni (NYC) (listed chronologically)
ƒ- Co-Director
ø- Co-Producer
†- Director of The Chicago City Limits National Touring Company
π- Musical Director (Touring Company)
œ- Accompanist
∆- Head Parody Writer
National Touring Company alumni (listed alphabetically)
ƒ- Co-Director
ø- Co-Producer
†- Director of The Chicago City Limits National Touring Company
π- Musical Director (Touring Company)
œ- Accompanist
¥- Hired, no performances
Some past revues
Dented
He She It
Blizzard of ‘81
Chicago City Limits in Sensible Shoes
Chicago City Limits in 3D
Chicago City Limits with Clam Sauce
Nancy Get Your Gun
Choice Cuts
X: The Roman Numeral
Current Jam
Taking Liberties
Taking More Liberties
10 of Inequity
The Best of Chicago City Limits
Everything Kills
Scandals of '89
Saddam You're Rockin' the Boat
Power of Suggestion
The Official Comedy Team of the Olympics
Unconventional Wisdom
Generation Ecch
Let Loose the Dogs of Improv
Two Johns Kissin Leslie
That's What You Said
Right to Laugh Party
chicagocitylimits.comedy
Subpoenas Envy
Y2K You’re OK
Lame Duck Soup
Chicago City Limits Gets amBUSHed!
America Idles
Unconventional Humor
Chicago City Limits on Ice
Hus on First