R.I.P. Noah Gregoropoulos
Noah Gregoropoulos, a celebrated teacher of improv comedians from Chicago, has died from cancer. He was 63. A graduate of Northwestern University, Gregoropoulous taught comedians …
Continue ReadingTag: improvolympic
improv Olympic in Chicago, Now Under New Ownership?
Remember last year during the pandemic when Chicago’s comedy community asked The Second City and the iO to change their ways when it came to respecting racial diversity onstage and in the business, and the The Second City sacked its longtime CEO …
Continue ReadingChicago iO, The improvOlympic, will not reopen after the pandemic: An End To Another Comedy Institution
First the UCB closed up its doors in New York City. Now comes word that the Chicago theater that gave birth to the Upright Citizens Brigade also will not reopen. Charna Halpern, co-founder and still head improviser in charge of improvOlympic (aka iO), …
Continue ReadingChicago iO, The improvOlympic, will not reopen after the pandemic: An End To Another Comedy Institution
First the UCB closed up its doors in New York City. Now comes word that the Chicago theater that gave birth to the Upright Citizens Brigade also will not reopen. Charna Halpern, co-founder and still head improviser in charge of improvOlympic (aka iO), …
Continue ReadingR.I.P. Michael C. McCarthy
Michael Clayton McCarthy achieved the comedy dream and proved you could do it going in the opposite direction. McCarthy (no relation) became a staff writer for Saturday Night Live at age 24 in 1983, followed that up with two years writing for Sesame St…
Continue ReadingiO Chicago alums to write, direct “Del & Charna” movie
Red Crown Productions LLC announced it’s developing a biopic about Chicago improvising legends Del Close and Charna Halpern, Del & Charna. Kay Cannon will direct the film, off a script from Rich Talarico and Alex Fendrich. All three are alums…
Continue ReadingiO West Is Shutting Down Next Week
iO West, the Los Angeles branch of Chicago’s iO Theater (formerly ImprovOlympic) founded by Del Close and Charna Halpern, is closing its doors for good next week. In an email sent to performers today, iO West Managing Director Zach Huddleston announced that the theater, which has been in operation for over two decades, is shutting down, […]
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