Interview: Cheech Marin Is a Chicano Progressosaurus
Though Cheech Marin first found fame while partnering with Tommy Chong to create some of the most iconic counterculture comedy of all time, stoner humor won’t be the main focus […]
Anthony Cusumano is a comedy writer, performer, and producer based in Chicago. In 2023, he launched The DnA Sketch Show, a recurring variety show, and in 2024 he wrote and directed the critically acclaimed musical Miracle at Century High School.
Interview: Comedian Gary Gulman Brings Grandiloquent to the Athenaeum
When comedy legend Patton Oswalt appeared on the Good One podcast in 2018, he spotlighted Gary Gulman’s “state abbreviations” routine as a “killer” bit he wished he’d written himself. A […]
Review: Fall in Love with the Cosmic Romantics at the Den Theatre
When Elizabeth Messick, the more attractive half of the magical duo the Cosmic Romantics—that’s straight out of her partner Eric Thirstin’s introduction, not my own editorializing—first appears on stage during […]
Interview: The Voice’s bodie on Being a Singer, Songwriter, and Stuntman
When Bodie Kuljian took the stage during blind auditions for NBC’s The Voice in 2022, it took just 20 seconds for Blake Shelton to press his button to indicate his […]
Interview: Beauty School Dropout Loves Everything About Chicago—Except One Thing
Beauty School Dropout has packed more into its first five years than most bands do in their entire careers. Championed by Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz and blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, […]
Review: Second City e.t.c.’s The Chaos Theory of Everything Proves Uneven But Enjoyable
Those who have dived deep into the vernacular of Saturday Night Live are familiar with the “ten to one” slot—the last sketch of each episode, sandwiched between the musical guest’s […]
Review: Dial H for Hilarity at Annoyance Theatre’s Hitch*Cocktails
While Hitch*Cocktails has been a staple of the Annoyance Theatre’s lineup for over a decade, the team behind Chicago’s most frighteningly funny drinking game is raising the stakes with the […]
Review: Strong Performances Elevate Matt & Ben at Jarvis Square Theater
Though their earliest acting credits date back to the 1980s, it’s hard to argue that 1997 wasn’t the true launch of Matt Damon’s and Ben Affleck’s careers. Both featured in […]
Review: An Energized Cat Ridgeway Rocks Subterranean
After my delightful interview with Cat Ridgeway last weekend, as well as several spins of her latest record, Sprinter, I was very excited to see her perform at Subterranean on […]
Interview: Cat Ridgeway Is Bringing Good Vibes to Subterranean
When Orlando-based singer-songwriter Cat Ridgeway and I scheduled an interview for 9 in the morning on a Saturday ahead of her show this Wednesday at Subterranean, I lamented losing an […]
Review: Second City’s This Too Shall Slap Is a Knockout
For 66 years, Second City has set the standard for sketch comedy in Chicago and beyond. Its Mainstage shows are rooted in the theater’s long-perfected formula—a two-hour mix of political […]
Review: Johnnyswim Leaves It All at the Vic
The best thing about working with your significant other is being around your favorite person all the time. The worst thing about working with your significant other is…see above. But […]