Chemically Imbalanced ComedyCIC

The Book of Liz

The Book of Liz by Amy and David Sedaris
Directed by Angie McMahon

Sister Elizabeth Donderstock is Squeamish, has been her whole life. She makes cheese balls (traditional and smoky) that sustain the existence of her entire religious community, Clusterhaven. However, she feels unappreciated among her Squeamish brethren, and she decides to try her luck in the outside world. Along the way, she meets a Cockney-speaking Ukrainian immigrant couple who find her a job waiting tables at Plymouth Crock, a family restaurant run almost entirely by recovering alcoholics. The alcoholics love her. The customers love her. Her Danderfrock fits right in. Things are going great for Liz, until she's offered a promotion to manager. Unfortunately, Liz has a sweating problem, and to get the job, she'll have to fix it. Meanwhile, back at Clusterhaven, Liz's compatriots just can't seem to duplicate her cheese ball recipe, and it's going to cost them their quaint, cloistered lifestyle. They are panic-stricken and desperate, and sure she sabotaged the recipe. Does Liz go through with the operation? Can the Squeamish be saved? Will the cheese balls ever taste good again? The answers to these and so many other questions can be found in the new comedy from the Talent Family, David and Amy Sedaris.

Here is just a few things the Press had to say about our original Production:

"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...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

Cast (*indicates returning cast members)

*Sarah Rose Graber...Liz
*Brian Kash...Brother Brightbee
*Nathan Petts...Donny/Visil
*Cynthia Shur...Cecily/Dr. Barb
*Adam El Sharkawi ...Rev. Tollhouse
*Lina Bunte...Sister Buterworth
Laura Wilkinson...Oxanna
Eric Bays...Yvonne
Bryan Beckwith...Duncan

Directed by *Angie McMahon

Friday and Saturday 8pm
Tickets $18
Sept 10-Dec 18

Preview Thursday Sept 9 8pm Tickets $10

Special Theater Thursday event sponsored by The League of Chicago Theater's
Thursday Sept 16 8pm Tickets $25 includes admission to the show, wine and Cheeseball reception (with Amy Sedaris's original Cheeseball recipes) afterwards, and a talk back with the cast.

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Pimprov

Open Run

Chicago's favorite Improv Group is back for a limited run at the Chemically Imbalanced Theater. Hailed by critics and audiences alike, Pimprov is one of the most original and hilarious unscripted shows in town! Yes... it's Pimps that improvise. It's that simple.

"Politically Correct, No, Funny Yes!"- Chicago Tribune

"More Than Traditional Improv"- Los Angles Times

"Ho'larious"- Now Toronto Magazine

CIC is proud to present this limited engagement with our dear friends of Pimprov. Pimprov creator Marz Timms said "CIC is as close to a home theater as Pimprov has, and looks forward to another great season of quality shows. CIC is a class company waiting to explode."

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The Comedy Showcase

Now in its Tenth season, the comedy showcase is CIC's signature show. See three different improv and/or sketch groups evey week.

CIC House Teams and Guest Artists from all around the city perform weekly. Every show is different and the line up changes from week to week.

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Date	Opening Group	Featured Group	Headlining Group
Sept 4 (Sat)	Seriously Unprepared	Counter Productive Lover	21st Century Men
Sept 5 (Sun)	Scrunchies	Butch Mix	Roboctopus
Sept 11 (Sat)	96D	Black Max	Dummy
Sept 12 (Sun)	TBD	A Dozen Red Roses	Smoker
Sept 18 (Sat)	Fart City	Boner Petite	Counter Productive Lover
Sept 19 (Sun)	Boyfriend/Girlfriend	A Dozen Red Roses	Roboctopus
Sept 25 (Sat)	Angerstein Street	Computer	2Tears Shower
Sept 26 (Sun)	The Album	96D	Ladytown