Practical Theatre Company Celebrates 44th Anniversary With Shows

Evanston, Ill. — Nearly four decades after leaving their storefront theatre on Howard Street in 1985, The Practical Theatre Company — an improvisational sketch comedy troupe that launched the careers of Julia Louis Dreyfus and Saturday Night Live veterans Brad Hall, Paul Barrosse and Gary Kroeger — is re-establishing an ongoing presence in Evanston with a residency at Studio5 — where they recently sold out a limited run of their comedy hit, “Vic & Paul & Dana’s Post Pandemic Revue.”

The PTC@Studio5 residency will feature a variety of shows — including sketch comedy, stand-up, film nights, parties and more — hosted and performed by Practical Theater Company members and guest artists from Chicago’s theatre and music communities and beyond. The shows will take place almost every weekend from March 18 through July 2.

“When we first started the Practical Theater Company, we always had the most fun creating colorful, zany characters that were full of energy, having fun with current events, politics, and the human condition. We loved the sense of community that we created with our audience — and we’d love to recreate that same atmosphere at Studio5,” Barrosse said.

The highlights of the residency will include the Practical Theater Company performing a comedy revue in an old-time radio show format for a live audience, complete with hand-made sound effects and comedy hijinks, taking place April 8 and 9, as well as a new sketch comedy revue that will run every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 8 through July 2.

In addition, the Practical Theater Company will be hosting a party on April 15 to celebrate the company’s 44th birthday, where the company hopes to rekindle the joyous spirit of its musical parties on Howard Street, with songs and performances by Practical Theater Company members backed by Steve Rashid and the Studio5 All-Stars.

Other shows that are part of the spring line-up include a screening of a 1944 Preston Sturges comedy, with commentary by Barrosse, Victoria Zielinski and Dana Olsen (March 18); a celebration in honor of Shakespeare’s birthday, featuring readings of Shakespeare and original sketches inspired by Shakespeare’s plays featuring Barrosse, Zielinski and Olsen -- with Tom Mula and Richard Henzel (April 23); an evening of silent films, scored live by pianist Larry Schanker (April 3); and two evenings of stand-up, featuring Emilia Barrosse, a writer on the hit show VEEP, Josh di Donato, and, from Hollywood, Carla Collins (May 13 and 14).

The Practical Theatre Company was originally founded by Barrosse, Hall and a group of fellow Northwestern University students in 1979, with a goal of performing improvisational comedy and new plays. The group held its first show on April 11, 1979, at Shanley Hall on the campus of Northwestern University with a performance of Clowns, a play about two improvisational comedians written and performed by artistic directors Barrosse and Hall. After leaving Northwestern, the company produced a string of successful comedy shows in Chicago throughout the 1980s, and several of its members catapulted to fame when they were hired by Saturday Night Live for the 1982 season.

After a two-decade hiatus, The Practical Theatre Company reunited in 2010 when Barrosse, Zielinski, and musician Steve Rashid began doing shows together in Los Angeles and Chicago. The trio later joined with Olsen, a fellow Northwestern alum, to perform a series of holiday comedy shows at Studio5. Olsen is a screenwriter best known for writing The ’Burbs, and George of the Jungle.

When Barrosse and Zielinski moved from Hollywood back to Evanston permanently in the fall of 2022, Barrosse decided it was time for the Practical Theater Company to have a more consistent presence, which led Steve and Bea Rashid to suggest a residency at Studio5. “Now that our kids are fully functioning adults, it’s time for us to get back to doing what we love, which is performing comedy in front of a live audience,” Barrosse said.

The company’s new spring sketch show, which has yet to be named, will bring Barrosse, Zielinski, and Olsen back for more hilarious fun, and the show will feature a mix of original Practical Theater Company comedy sketches as well as new sketches and songs about everything from current, timely topics to amusing observations about everyday life.

The music will be performed by Rashid, co-artistic director of Studio5, Jim Cox on bass and Don Stiernberg on guitar.

Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at all shows.

Tickets are on sale now at https://www.studio5.dance/calendar.

EVENT DETAILS

March 18, 8-10 p.m.

Preston Sturges Film Night

A celebration of Preston Sturges, the classic comic film writer, director, and producer, featuring a screening his funniest movie, The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek. Hosted by Victoria Zielinski, Paul Barrosse and Dana Olsen, who will provide commentary and engage in Q & A with the audience.

Tickets: $15 for general admission, $20 for cabaret seating.

April 8 & 9, 8-10 p.m.

Practical Radio Theatre on the Air

A comedy revue in an old-time radio show format — with hand-made sound effects and other classic radio craziness! Vic & Paul & Dana perform with special comedy and musical guests, accompanied by pianist Larry Schanker, the Practical Theater Company’s original musical director.

Tickets: $30 for general admission, $40 for cabaret seating

April 15, 8-10 p.m.

A Practical Birthday Party

The Practical Theatre Company got its start on April 11, 1979, at Shanley Hall on the campus of Northwestern University with a performance of Clowns, a play about two improvisational comedians written and performed by artistic directors Brad Hall and Paul Barrosse. To celebrate the PTC’s 44th birthday, the company rekindles the joyous spirit of their parties at the John Lennon Auditorium on Howard Street, with songs and performances by PTC members backed by Steve Rashid & the Studio5 All-Stars. A night of singing, dancing, laughter and cocktails!

Tickets: $10 for general admission, $15 for cabaret seating

April 23, 8-10 p.m.

The Bard’s Birthday

Victoria Zielinski hosts a unique celebration of Shakespeare’s birth with readings from his plays and sonnets — and original comedy sketches inspired by The Bard of Avon. Tom Mula, Richard Henzel, Paul Barrosse and Dana Olsen will join Victoria onstage to perform selections from the greatest body of literary work in the English language. Come celebrate the 459th birthday of the incomparable Bard of Avon with an evening of classic poetry, drama — and of course, comedy!

Tickets: $20 for general admission, $25 for cabaret seating

April 30, 8-10 p.m.

Silent Comedy with Larry Schanker

The brilliant pianist Larry Schanker plays a live score for three short silent comedies by Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. Hosted and with commentary by Victoria Zielinski, Paul Barrosse and Dana Olsen.

Tickets: $15 for general admission, $20 for cabaret seating

May 13 & 14, 8-10 p.m.

Stand-Up Comedy Night

Hosted by Dana Olsen, the Practical Theater Company presents a night of stand-up comedy featuring Emilia Barrosse (who has written for HBO’s Veep and the truTV sitcom Tacoma FD) with veteran comedy festival performer Josh di Donato and, from Los Angeles, Carla Collins — honored as the 2015 Comedian of The Year by the Southern California Motion Picture Council.

Tickets: $15 for general admission, $20 for cabaret seating

June 8 to July 2, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8-10 p.m.

The Summer Vic & Paul & Dana Revue (Title TBD)

Featuring Victoria Zielinski, Paul Barrosse, Dan Olsen and Steve Rashid & the Studio5 All-Stars, plus a troupe of talented dancers — this sophisticated adult comedy revue will combine classic PTC sketches with new material and songs for an evening of comedy that will start the summer off with lots of laughs.

Tickets: $35 general admission, $50 cabaret seating

Where: Studio5, 1938 Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202

Info: 847-328-6683 or http://studio5.dance/

Tickets: $35 for general admission, $50 for cabaret seating