The governor went after the teachers unions, but the real threat to schools are the TV weather people, who keep trumping up forecasts to get snow days. I just heard someone on the local news refer to the prospect of two inches as a storm. Of course, the more severe threat to our communities short-term […]
Homegrown taking Milwaukee by storm Read More »
Everyone loves a circus, right? Especially if it’s homegrown. And electric! This Friday, Milwaukee’s Homegrown Electric Circus has a comedy improv show. The usual suspects – Scott Heaton, Mike Walker, Josh Barto and Evan Koepnick – will be performing. It’s a merry seasonal event. The troupe has even composed this verse to share the tidings: The holiday season is upon
Circusmas Greetings! Read More »
You knew it was only a matter of time before someone started exploiting the celebrity of Robby McGhee. T.I.M., The Improvised Musical, glommed onto Robby last year and made him a regular cast member. Patrick Schmitz cast Robby in his original play “The Comedy Kid,” in June and then gave Robby his directorial debut in
Homegrown Robby McGhee Read More »
This Friday, March 18, at ComedySportz, Meanwhile Improv troupe will be performing their monthly show at 10:15 pm. This month it’s a shared show with special guest Milwaukee improv group, Homegrown Electric Circus. We asked a member of each group a few questions about this exciting double-bill! 1.) Tell me a little about the kind
Duel Interview: Meanwhile and Homegrown! Read More »
Over the course of three decades, Milwaukee has been Ground Zero for competitive short-form improvisational comedy through the world headquarters of ComedySportz. Those who wanted to practice long-form improv have, well, improvised their own comedy scenes. The weekly Midnite Show, an uncensored Saturday night performance at ComedySportz, has been going since 2001. Groups such as
Last month, the longtime Milwaukee-based improv troupe Homegrown Electric Circus said it had performed its last show. But Milwaukee continues to have a vibrant improvisational comedy scene. For instance: Tall Boys – featuring James Boland, Robby McGhee, Lee Rowley and Erik Koconis – performs limprov at this weekend's fundraiser for the Milwaukee Comedy Festival. The
Of the chief forms of comedy, the rarest in Milwaukee is sketch. We’ve got plenty of standup and improv. But sketch shows have been less frequent. There’s been Sketch 22 twice a year, and Broadminded comedy with their latest production, “Jerks!” scheduled for the last two weekends of November. Of course, sketch comedy is featured in
Embarrassing sketch comedy Read More »
With the impact ComedySportz has made on training and developing Milwaukee comedytalent over its nearly 30 years, Milwaukee is a hotbed for improv. That’s what makes the weekly Open Improv so unpredictably invigorating. Performers never know who’s going to show up. There can be such a range from novice to pro that everyone learns something
Never in its eight years, has the Milwaukee Comedy Festival had such a buildup. The final official kick off event is the Milwaukee Comedy Showcase at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 31 (aka Comedy Fest Eve). It’s happening at the Next Act Theatre space, the same venue for the fest, 255 S. Water St. The show is
Just a few months ago, Homegrown Electric Circus had to cancel an improv show on account of a blizzard. Now, that storied Milwaukee quartet is playing the weather card again to promote its latest spontaneously divined comedy. Check out this Facebook submission: “Hey everyone, it’s summer and the weather outside is fantastic. I know. I’m
