The Practical Theatre Company Performs New Year’s Variety Show

Evanston, Ill. — Studio5 is pleased to return to hosting live events this December, with two jazz shows on Dec. 3 and Dec. 17, a staged reading of “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” on BLANK, and a hilarious sketch comedy show by the Practical Theatre Company Dec. 29 to Jan. 2.

This is the fifth time that the Practical Theatre Company — an improvisational sketch comedy troupe that launched the careers of Julia Louis Dreyfus and Saturday Night Live writers Brad Hall, Paul Barrosse and Gary Kroeger — has brought its holiday show filled with satirical sketch comedy and musical parodies to Studio5.

This year’s show, titled “Vic & Paul & Dana’s Post-Pandemic Revue,” will star Barrosse, Victoria Zielinski, and Dana Olsen, a screenwriter best known for writing Inspector Gadget, The ’Burbs, and George of the Jungle.

Filled with topical comedy sketches and original songs, this year’s revue will tackle everything from marriage to quarantine to cancel culture, conspiracy, climate change, Olympian gods, William Shakespeare, Rod McKuen, Looney Tunes… and the fragility of major appliances.

The music will be performed by Steve Rashid, co-artistic director of Studio5, along with Ronny Crawford on drums, Jim Cox on bass and Don Stiernberg on guitar.

All Studio5 attendees must be fully vaccinated two weeks prior to the show, and attendees must show proof of vaccination upon arrival. Masks will also be required, and seating will be limited to ensure that guests can be socially distanced. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at all shows.

STUDIO5 DECEMBER EVENTS

Dec. 3 — Mardra & Reggie Thomas and Friends

8 p.m.

Masterful jazz pianist Reggie Thomas returns to Studio5 with his wife, Mardra, a beautifully deep singer who “has the impeccable phrasing of Nancy Wilson, and also the sharp tang reminiscent of Eartha Kitt.” (Mike Stratton, WLNZ Radio). They will be joined by Dennis Carroll on bass and George Fludas on drums. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.

Tickets: $25 for general admission, $35 for cabaret seating

Dec. 17 — The Cellar Boys with Roya Naldi

8 p.m.

Celebrate the holidays with Chicago’s premiere traditional jazz group! The Chicago Cellar Boys specialize in the jazz and hot dance music from the 1920s and 30s (eg. Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong) within stylistic accuracy and wild abandon. Hearing this group is like time-traveling and walking in on an early form of jazz as it was being invented. Their repertoire contains some recognizable pieces that are still played in other contexts, but many that were exclusively of the era and have otherwise been lost to history. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.

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

Dec. 18 — Tom Mula: A Reading of Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol

8 p.m.

Tom Mula performs a staged reading of his beautiful novel, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, which tells Dickens’ famous tale from the perspective of Scrooge's former business partner. Acclaimed pianist Larry Schanker will provide a live piano score to add to the drama. Tom's recording of his reading of the novel was broadcast on NPR nationally for six years and he has performed the story across the country (including here at the Goodman) as a one-man play, and he has adapted it for the stage for larger ensembles. Enjoy an intimate reading of this inspiring, funny, deeply touching story.

Tickets: $25 for general theater seating, $15 for students. Appropriate for ages 12 and up.

Dec. 29 to Jan. 2 — Practical Theatre Company’s “Vic & Paul & Dana’s Post-Pandemic Revue”

8 p.m.

The Practical Theatre Company returns to the Chicago area with the latest in a series of hit holiday shows, starring writer-actors Victoria Zielinski, Dana Olsen, and PTC co-founder, Paul Barrosse. Great, groovy music is provided by PTC musical director and Studio5 impresario Steve Rashid and his Studio5 All-Stars: Rockin' Ronny Crawford on drums, Jim Cox on bass, and Don Stiernberg on every stringed instrument known to man. “Vic & Paul & Dana’s Post-Pandemic Revue” is a smart comedy cocktail, mixing sex, music, variety and vaudeville — while stirring in everything from marriage to quarantine to cancel culture, conspiracy, climate change, Olympian gods, William Shakespeare, Rod McKuen, Looney Tunes — and the fragility of major appliances. It’s an intoxicating comic combination!

Tickets: $30 for general seating, $45 for cabaret seating. New Year’s Eve show is $45 for general seating, $60 for cabaret seating.

Tickets are now on sale at http://studio5.dance/.

Studio5

Where: 1934 Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202

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

About Studio5

Studio5 is a performing arts venue that opened in Evanston in 2016, bringing professional dance, music, and spoken word events to a 123-seat theater. Founded and curated by Dance Center Evanston director Béa Rashid and Emmy-award winning composer and jazz musician Steve Rashid, Studio5 provides North Shore arts-goers with a venue that is both state-of-the-art and intimate, connecting audiences and artists. Studio5 boasts great sight lines; comfortable seats; excellent sound; ample, free parking; and a cash bar that opens a half an hour before each performance.