STAGE 773 (The Pro) $50

1225 W Belmont AVE Chicago, IL 60657

Where are we? Why am I here? What am I thinking? Get the basics out in a way that isn’t basic at all—get specific and take your improvisation to the next level. Get some character, so you don’t stand there as yourself and argue until we’re all bored to tears. Lots of specificity to pull out the comedy instead of hoping you’ll be funny and then wanting to kill yourself.

Susan Messing, a NJ native and graduate of Northwestern University’s Theatre School, has been an improviser and comedian for almost thirty years.  She is an alumna of the iO Theatre, Second City’s Mainstage, and a founding member of Chicago’s infamous Annoyance Theatre.  Susan created and has taught her curriculum at iO and iO West, The Annoyance Theatre, The Second City, and around the globe. Susan is an adjunct instructor for DePaul University, The University of Chicago, and The School at Steppenwolf.  Her standup act with her puppet, Jolly, was featured at the HBO/US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, and on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and NBC’s Late Fridays. Her most impressive bit movie role was as a bad stripper in a halo brace in Let’s Go to Prison!  Every Tuesday night she performs at the iO with Blaine Swen in Blessing, Thursday nights in her own critically acclaimed show, Messing with a Friend, now in its 11th year at The Annoyance, and Friday nights with The Boys at The Second City. She was in the lineup for the TBS/Just For Laughs festival all five years of its residence in Chicago.  She presented ‘Braving the Unknown’ at TedXUofC in 2014.

• “Improviser of the Year” – Chicago Improv Festival

• “Best Improviser” – Chicago Reader

• “Funniest Woman in Chicago” – Chicago Magazine