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2009

The Wake

Written by Steve Allen
Directed by Elizabeth Styles

"The Wake" follows a 1930s family struggling with the death of the family matriarch. Authored by Steve Allen

"Had more comdedic moments than I anticipated. Really enjoyed the show. Very entertaining."-Nan Goldstarevents.com User

"strong performances, especially from Eric Bays and Even Absher as brothers at odds" -Joe Janes biteandsmile.blogspot.com

"This is an enjoyable play in a small theatre setting."- craigmclure Goldstarevents.com User

2008

Pimprov

Hailed by critics and audiences a like Pimprov is one of the most original and hilarious unscripted shows in town. Yes its Pimps that improvise its that simple.

"If you want gratuitous humor laced with sharp social-political observations, this is the show.If you want silly portraits of pimps in polyester pants and bling-covered chests, this is the show. If you want to see keenly executed improv, this is the show. Pimprov offers all of these elements because the show's actors really know what they hell they're doing." - Rosalind Cummings-Yeates Centerstage.com

"Because for 45 minutes, I laughed. Flat-out laughed." -Glenn Jeffers Chicago Tribune

"What I enjoyed most were their hilarious, spontaneous dancing (from tap to b-boying) and varied characters. These are no one-trick pimps" - Ryan Hubbard Chicago Reader

Encore Series

The Mike And Duane Show

Starring Mike Ferbrache and Duane Freeman, "The Mike and Duane Show" features comedic songs and their signature selection of comedic mini-rock operas.

Equipped with a guitar and colorful outfits, Mike and Duane have performed to sold-out audiences at the Chicago Improv Festival, WNEP Theater and Second City's Unhinged Series, among others. More recently, they took home the the Audience Prize from the Bass Red Triangle Comedy Tour.

Judy In Disguies with Glasses

"In her one-women show Angie McMahon plays Judy McClure, a nerdy, lisping self-help writer lecturing at a conference for "Young Authors With Low Self-Esteem". McMahon undisguises Judy with flashbacks to low moments, like the time Judy embarrassed herself at a junior high formal with an awkward (and hilarious) seduction dance to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" Along the way McMahon boldy interacts with the crowd; at the performance I saw she applauded an audience member for his bravery in admitting he'd done cocaine, then came back to him after a scene about loneliness, asking concernedly, "Does that look familiar, cokehead?" -Ryan Hubbard Chicago Reader

Double Feature

Double Feature presents a double shot of long form comedy with The Weave and 21st Century Men.

The Weave's cast includes Tim Baltz, Barry Hite, and Clayton Duba

21st Century Men's cast includes Farrell Walsh, George McAuliffe, and Rob White.

Short Attention Span Theater

CIC presents a night of one acts

For Whom the Southern Bell Tolls, by Christopher Durang. Directed by CIC Executive Producer Angie McMahon and featuring Lina Bunte, Tom McMahon, Cynthia Shure, and Tyler Via.

Words, Words, Words by David Ives. Directed by resident artist Sarah Borer in her directorial debut! Starring Brian Kash, Casey Pilkenton, and Chris Froseth.

2B (or not 2B)by Jacquelyn Reingold. Directed by resident artist Dave Whalley and starring Jana Liles and Mike Gillett.

Seasonal Disorder IV

The Annual Deer Run Lane Holiday Party

Written by The Ensemble
Conceived and Directed by Farrell Walsh

Annual Deer Run Lane Holiday Party: The targets are obvious, but the laughs are earned in Chemically Imbalanced Theater's fourth annual, ensemble-created holiday offering. Spiked punch, *Fargo*-worthy accents, sexual sublimation (the lustworthy Brawny paper towel man gets dissected), and a new resident with multiple emotional issues festoon this neighborhood Christmas party from hell. The eight-member ensemble hauls this sleigh full of suburban dysfunction with the vigor of Santa's reindeer. And for all its crudity, the show reminds us that a longing for community is a seasonal hallmark. Audience members can augment their BYOB potables with Christmas cookies handed out by the cast beforehand. ---Kerry Reid

2007

Mr. Marmalade

Written by Noah Handle
Directed by Dave Whalley

"More to the point, the topics covered are truly gripping, universal, the subject has been handled well by the dramatist. This show made me (and other lunatics in the audience) laugh."- Gillian The Artistic Edge

"CIC's manic peaks have more punch...Marz Timms is physically imposing and explosive...Bradley and Larry (are) excellent in (the) show" - Jonathan Abarbanel Windy City Times and WBEZ's 848

"Through every twist and turn of Lucy's fantasies, the cast maintains just enough comic distance to sweeten an otherwise dour predicament." -Justin Sondak centerstagechicago.net

"...this company spins much of this in a zany, late night comedy manner...one of the funniest things we've seen in a while." -Tim Lowery TimeOut Chicago

"Chemically Imbalanced Comedy throws the focus on Haidle's strong dialogue and character development and on the comic gifts of his cast. (other versions) the play doesn't have nearly the comedic or dramatic power of Chemically Imbalanced Comedy's grittier, more troubling version."-Jack Helbig Chicago Reader Highly Recommended

"The Hot Seat"- Michael Nagrant Chicago Suntimes

The Book of Liz

Written by Amy and David Sedaris
Directed by Angie McMahon

"Sarah Rose Graber has a wide-eyed naifish Shelley Duvall presence as the accommodating Liz, and Brian Kash as her Squeamish nemesis, Brother Brightbee, is a comic delight." Kerry Reid Chicago Tribune

"Sarah Rose Graber, offbeat but not cloyingly so, is winning in the lead role." Zac Thompson Chicago Reader

"we must again praise Brian Kash, who was the best part of CIC's Mr. Marmalade, his hyped-up, almost cartoonish presence is really, truly funny." -Tim Lowery Timeout Chicago

"Pulling it off best are the putty-faced Brian Kash as Brightbee (who could out -sneer Dubya) and Nathan Petts as a sarcastic gay waiter. Meanwhile, Sarah Rose Graber conjures up a believably naive, charmingly sincere Liz for everyone else to play against." -Chicago Free Press

"Brian Kash's smarmy tics and bulging eyeballs as the interloper Brother Nathaniel Brightbee from another Squeamish Community is great." Windy City Times

"The whole production also has a strong center in Sarah Rose Graber's ernest and funny turn as Elizabeth...Oxana (played fantastically by Casey Pilkenton)...Nathan Petts (Donny), and Adam El-Sharkawi (the often bombastic Rev. Tollhouse) all turn in strong supporting performances." -The Centerstage Review, by Dennis Mahoney

"Sarah Rose Graber plays the title character with an unabashed enthusiasm that has you rooting for Liz the entire play. Her character's naivety has the potential to become annoying, but Graber's sweet nature luckily prevents that from ever happening. Adam El-Sharkawi as Rev. Tollhouse and Lina Bunte as Sister Butterworth each have notable moments onstage. Bunte adds a multi-dimensionality to the sexually-frustrated chatterbox Sister, while El-Sharkawi rises to the challenge of playing a stern task-master amongst a cast of comedic characters. The standout of the cast, however, was Brian Kash as Brother Brightbee. Kash's character is a self-important blow-hard who tries to resume the community's cheeseball-making duties. The audience loved every moment that Kash was onstage, appreciating his comedic timing and eating up his range of perfect facial expressions." -Dyan Flores thebastion.org

Seasonal Disorder III

Christmas In Paradise...Arizona

Written By Farrell Walsh
Directed By Tom McMahon

"highlights include a manic, Hispanic ostrich farmer, some great recurring prop bits and an improvised, mid-show audience therapy session with holiday therapist, Judy McClure. The show's an easy holiday pleaser"- Timeout Chicago

"Farrell Walsh's episodic comedy follows the yuletide adventures of an unflappable little girl who gets sent to Arizona to spend Christmas with her loser uncle and ends up helping a Mexican-American ostrich farmer reunite with his family. Walsh occasionally displays a flair for characterization: the excitable ostrich farmer (played with cartoonish precision by Brian Kash) and a slacker border-patrol vigilante are especially vivid. An improvised audience therapy session, held halfway through this Chemically Imbalanced Comedy show and led by a wittily passive-aggressive Angie McMahon, is the highlight." --Zac Thompson

"As with most indie theater productions, you never really know what to expect until you go and check it out. Seasonal Disorder was a riot! Clever from start to finish, we laughed the entire time. Definitely recommended for those who are into the indie theater scene and are looking for some serious non-politically correct laughs!"- Goldstarevents.com Ticket Holder Review

2006

Vietnimization Of New Jersey

by Christopher Durang
Directed by Dave Whalley

A dark comedy about a middle class family waiting for their son to return from the war in Vietnam with his new, native wife. When they arrive, they're both blind and this is the first of many surprises in a play that becomes a scathing, irreverent indictment of the less attractive elements of the collective American character.

"...cool and very hip commentary" -Hedy Weiss Chicago Suntimes

"Critic's Pick" Abarbanel and Barnidge Windy City Times

"Chemically Imbalanced Comedy's engagingly scruffy production reveals Durang's dark comedy to be a timely satire of a nation muddling through a war abroad and political polarization at home. Highly Recommended" - Albert Williams Chicago Reader

"I love the name of your Theater Company"; Christopher Durang (during correspondence for the promotion 'The Fall of Durang')

The Kings Proposal

or the Marriage of Princess Guido

Written and Directed by Michael Govier

The Kings Proposal or the Marriage to Princess Guido is the tale of a King, two Queens, a Prince, a Princess, a servant, three players and a woman named Jo. Don't miss this hysterical evening of mistaken identity, forced marriage, forced puppetry, a play within a play, cross-dressing...and it has swords!

"A committed cast energetically sells the silliness...Highly Recommended" -Jen Goddu Chicago Reader

"...I was having a damn good time...Critic's Pick" -Christopher Piatt TimeOut Chicago

"makes me laugh like a little kid" -Reina Hardy centerstagechicago.com

Seasonal Disorder II

An Original Comedy

Written and Directed by Farrell Walsh

Who the heck goes to Florida for Christmas? Chemically Imbalanced Comedy presents Seasonal Disorder: self help author Judy McClure and her talking Christmas Tree Tinsel counsels the audience through another season of holiday family bliss. Luke and Laura get sent to Boca Raton, FL, to spend Christmas with grandma: but how will Santa find them there? And isn't Florida where people go to die? The kids are worried...

Encore Series

Who' Your Deity

Directed by Farrell Walsh

A sketch and improv show focusing on the relationship between modern life and the changing face of religion. Mixing sketches, improvised scenes that focus on well-defined recurring characters, and audience suggestion based character monologues.

Bad Review

Directed by Angela McMahon

The cast clips out what they feel is the worst review from the Chicago Reader that week. They read it to the audience and then they improvise the show they feel the Chicago Reader would have liked to see.

"Director Angela McMahon crafts a truly professional improv production, with efficient blackouts, precise lighting, timely and clever musical touches, and a perky pace. Highly Recommended" -Ryan Hubbard Chicago Reader

"Critic's Pick" -Steve Heisler TimeOut Chicago

"Best Bet" -Metromix Chicago

Cappin the Week

Directed by Jay Gish

Everything that got talked about during the week gets summed-up and skewered from the world of politics and entertainment, to sports and society. The cast will take any angle to wring the laughs out of the week's news. You'll see sketches, songs, jokes, poems -- maybe even a funny chart. Finally, Chicago has its own place to go for live, top-of-mind, wicked satire. It's Cappin' the Week.

Calamity TV

Directed by Tom McMahon

What the world needs is another reality show . . . who are we to argue? The audience chooses the reality show they've always wanted to see but the networks have been too scared to put on TV.

2005

God

by Woody Allen
Directed by Don Hall

A Greek actor and a writer are discussing how to end a play. Actors, including Doris Levine from Great Neck, Blanche DuBois, and Groucho Marx, pop out of the audience. Peppered with metaphysical and philosophical questions, the play skids along farcically until the actor and writer conclude that it lacks a beginning as well as an end.

"I laughed so hard I was exhausted by the time the show ended" -Tom Williams Chicagocritic.com

"finely tuned, perfectly timed ensemble" -Kay Daly TimeOut Chicago

"The cast goes all out for laughs...larger-than-life comic... hysterical... increasingly intoxicating" -Leah A. Zeldes Pioneer Press

"...wacky...funny bits..." -Tony Adler Chicago Reader

Encore Series

Lick Your Wounds

Created by Ensemble
Directed by Chris Churchill and Angela McMahon

CIC brings you a brand new interactive comedy show! Lick Your Wounds is a Group Therepy session where the audience, with the help of some comedians, will work through the stuff that makes us hate Mondays.

"...quick thinking and, fleshed-out characters, physical comedy, and silliness." - Jenn Goddu Chicago Reader

Gold Star Events Ticket Holders Reviews: July 29, 2005 -Unique, innovative, and hilarious.

Aug 5, 2005 - an excellent idea, they take humor and personal trauma from such instances as past relationships, misparenting, and any other memories or thoughts that are sparked by the issues of the improve. members are sharp and friendly, and the event provides an intimate experience that delves into the human psyche and dares to hint at the root of humor

King of the Mountain II

The Super Ultimate Comedy Competition

Three different Improv groups take the stage. The audience votes on who should return to defend there title. Winner was featured in CIC's Saturday Night Showcase

Winner : Clementine

Runner Up: No Means Yes

The King's Proposal or the Marriage of Princess Guido

Written and Directed by Michael Govier

The Encore Series workshop presentation of Michael Govier's comedy that was Highly Recommended by the Chicago Reader and Critic's Pick in Time-Out Chicago

Seasonal Disorder I

A Holiday Cabaret Show

Written by the Ensemble
Directed by Jin Kim

It's a cabaret-filled evening packed with scenes, monologues, improv, and songs.

Gold Star Events Ticket Holders Reviews: Dec 2, 2005: The whole event was very amusing; the sketches were funny and the jazz musicians were AMAZING! My friend and I laughed all through the show and enjoyed the music before and after the show. I feel like I definitely got my money's worth, for sure!

Dec 16, 2005: It was funny and kept us on our toes. We didn't know what to expect from scene to scene.

2004

Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight

by Peter Ackerman
Directed by Tim Smith

Ever been racially slurred in the sack? Ever been subjected to strangers yelling at you at 3am about the most intimate details of your life? Ever been to New York? Six characters from wildly different backgrounds make love, war and hysteria late one night in the cultural, sexual and generational smorgasbord that is Manhattan.

"sophisticated and daring..." -Kerry Reid Chicago Tribune

"charismatic cast..." -Brian Nemtusak Chicago Reader

"hilarious... right on cue...wonderful chemistry" -Beverly Freid Lerner Newspapers

The Man With Pussy Galore

Created and Directed by Paul Baio

An Improvised Parody of Classic James Bond Films

"...tight and funny" -Jennifer Vanasco Chicago Reader

Encore Series

Sister Mary Explains It All

"With incredibly fine acting, a script that never lapses into cheesy, and the incredibly warped ending that is best not spoiled; this is definitely a show to go see." - Cecilia Carboni The Independent (NEIU)

"...fever pitch...fierce...nothing about the script could be deemed even remotely polite." -Nick Green Chicago Reader

"cast was energetic, engaging and cohesive..." -Jennifer Wennig Centerstage.net

The Caped Crusaders

Created by Paul Baio
Directed by Angie McMahon

An Improvised Parody of Comic Book TV shows from the 1970's

Moved And Shaking

Written by Chris Nicoletti
Directed by Marz Timms

An Original Sketch Comedy Show

Chris's Slumber Party

Written by Ensemble
Directed by Tony Mendoza

King Of The Mountain I

The Super Ultimate Comedy Competition

Winner : Available Cup Holders

Runner Up: The Outsiders

Screw Xmas Vol. II

Written by Ensemble
Directed by Tim Smith

Co-Production with Sweetback Productions

"...full out dormitory passion" -Mary Shen Barnidge Chicago Reader

"...beat(s) sitting at home and fighting with the family." -Nina Metz UR Chicago Magazine

2003

The Friday Night Variety Show

"BEST BET!" -Laura Baginski Chicago RedEye

Screw Xmas Vol. I

Written by Ensemble
Directed by Tim Smith

Co-Production with Sweetback Productions

"...very funny" -Nina Metz Chicago Tribune

"...instant Christmas tradition" -Jonathan Abarbanel NPR program 848

2002

Judy In Disguise with Glasses

Written and Performed by Angela (Farruggia) McMahon
Directed by Mark Gagne'

" ...I was absolutely astounded by the intelligence of that improvisation." -Greg Butler Chicago Arts and Entertainment

" ...quick-witted insightful ..." -Lucia Mauro ChicagoTheater.com

"...great wit. Recommended" - Erin Davison TheatreChicago.com

"...simple, perceptive and funny..." -Nina Metz Chicago Tribune

"Highly Recommended" -Kelly Lynch New City Chicago

Mojo

Written by Jez Butterworth
Directed by Justin Thornberg

Co-Production with beYond thAt Productions

"Even more ass-kicking than the Steppenwolf premiere..." -Lawrence Bommer Chicago Reader

2001

The South Paw Sam McClowski Show

Directed by Pat McKenna

Co-Production with Sam Croppen

"...the better to accomplish his mission, which is to 'kick ass'." --Mary Shen Barnidge Chicago Reader

2000

The Saturday Night Showcase

Chemically Imbalanced Comedy's signature show started it all and continues to entertain audiences to date! Open Run!