Practical Theatre Company Presents a Holiday Revue Dec. 28-Jan. 6

Evanston, Ill. — The Practical Theater Company, the noted improvisational sketch comedy troupe that launched the careers of “Saturday Night Live” veterans Julia Louis Dreyfus, Paul Barrosse, Brad Hall, and Gary Kroeger has recently reestablished itself in the Chicago area with an ongoing residency at Studio5 in Evanston.

This holiday season, The PTC is pleased to be back again staging a classic variety show in their inimitable style at Studio5 from Dec. 28 to 31 and Jan. 4 to 6. The Practical Theatre’s “Ho-Ho-Holiday Revue” is a throwback to the TV variety shows of the 1960s and early ’70s, featuring sketch comedy, improvisation, stand-up comedy, and music in an evening of sophisticated adult fun. Tickets range from $30 to $45, and the New Year’s Eve show will range from $45 to $55.

The show will feature a mix of comedy sketches, original songs, and holiday standards presented like you’ve never heard them before and will touch on everything from pickleball mania and the current political scene to mother-daughter relationships, the Greek gods, the Titan submersible disaster, the Supreme Court, thoughts and prayers, Judge Judy vs. Donald Trump, and select, classic PTC sketches. Plus, lots and lots of upbeat, soulful, holiday music that will make it hard to resist dancing in the aisles.

Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at all shows.

The show stars Barrosse, his wife and fellow PTC member Victoria Zielinski, and screenwriter and fellow Northwestern alum Dana Olsen. The cast will be back by the jazz quintet, The Studio5 All-Stars, led by the PTC’s longtime musical director Steve Rashid. Adding to the fun are blues and soul vocalist Ms. Maura and veteran stand-up comedian Emilia Barrosse, whose TV writing credits include HBO’s “VEEP” and TruTV’s “Tacoma F.D.”

The Practical Theatre Company was founded in 1979 by Barrosse and his comedy partner, Brad Hall, who were still students at Northwestern University. Three years later, after producing a string of successful new plays and comedy revues on Howard Street in Evanston, they joined with Second City owner Bernie Sahlins to open The Piper’s Alley Theatre — where the entire cast of their first comedy revue in that venue, “The Golden 50th Anniversary Jubilee” was hired by “Saturday Night Live.”

In the years that followed, The PTC followed up that breakthrough with the long-running “Megafun” at the Piper’s Alley, the Off-Broadway production of “Babalooney” in New York, and their longest-running show, “Art, Ruth & Trudy” at the Briar Street and Vic Theatres — which teamed Barrosse and Zielinski for the first time. Four years later, Paul and Victoria were married.

After a two-decade hiatus from the stage while Barrosse and Zielinski produced television — and a family — in Los Angeles, The Practical Theatre was born again in 2010 when Barrosse and Zielinski joined with fellow Northwestern alum Rashid to stage comedy shows together in Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Chicago. The trio then joined with Olsen to write and perform a series of comedy shows in Los Angeles and Chicago’s North Shore. Olsen is a screenwriter known for writing “The Burbs,” “George of the Jungle,” and the current hit Nickelodeon series, “Henry Danger.”

“We truly enjoy being back in Evanston,” said Barrosse. “Victoria and I returned to the Chicago area from Los Angeles last year after three decades on the West Coast, raising our family and working in television. Now, after a little more than a year back home — and after doing a variety of shows at Studio5 since our return — we’re delighted to be back in front of a Chicago audience. Chicagoans appreciate sophisticated adult comedy, and they dig an improvisational vibe. They love good music, too — especially blues and jazz. We’re where we truly want to be. And we’re among the folks we love to entertain.”

Tickets on sale now.

EVENT DETAILS

Practical Theatre Company’s “Ho-Ho-Holiday Revue”

The Practical Theatre Company returns with a fun-filled holiday variety show starring writer-performers Victoria Zielinski, Dana Olsen, and PTC co-founder, Paul Barrosse. Music is provided by PTC musical director and Studio5 impresario Steve Rashid and his Studio5 All-Stars. “Ho-Ho-Holiday Revue” is a smart comedy cocktail, mixing music, variety, and vaudeville — stirring in everything from marriage, politics, family, mother-daughter relationships, Greek gods, Trump, Judge Judy, deep sea tragedy, pickleball and more. An intoxicating comic holiday cocktail!

When:

Thursday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 30 at 8 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 6 at 8 p.m.

Where: Studio5, 1934 Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202

Info: 847-328-6683 or https://www.tickettailor.com/e...

Tickets: Raging from $30 to $35 for theatre seating, and $40 to $45 for cabaret table seating. New Year’s Eve show is $45 for theatre seating, $55 for cabaret table seating.