With the holidays just around the corner, the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park has the perfect antidote to seasonal stress: The Second City’s Holidazed & Confused Revue, which offers riotous send-ups of holiday traditions from Nov. 5 through Dec. 31.
Chicago’s most famous entertainment export returns after a four-year absence, having twice brought its world-famous sketch and improvisational comedy to the Playhouse with smash-hit productions in 2010 and 2012, The Second City Does Cincinnati: Pride and Porkopolis and The Second City 2: Less Pride … More Pork.
A sold-out tradition in the Windy City, The Second City’s Holidazed & Confused Revue rolls in with a blast of holidazed laughter to blow away the emotionally-charged chaos of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and everything in between.
“The holidays are ripe for mocking because of the high anxiety of the season that is just compounded by the close proximity to family, the insanely high expectations and wondering which uncle is going to have just enough eggnog to share those unpopular political beliefs,” notes Nate DuFort, producing director of The Second City’s touring companies. “Making light of these things can be a release for performers and audiences alike, and we try not to leave any holiday or tradition off the table.”
The Second City opened its Chicago doors on a snowy December night in 1959 and has been brandishing a distinctly brash brand of comedy upon the world ever since. The world’s premier comedy club, theatre and school of improvisation has helped shape several generations of comedy stars, from John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Martin Short to Steve Carell, Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert.
Part of the fun of seeing a Second City production is the possibility that among the young, exuberant cast members is lurking the next breakout comedy star — and, with the improvisational nature of the show, audiences may well play a part in honing that talent.
Andel Sudik, who is directing The Second City’s Holidazed & Confused Revue, was a cast member in the Playhouse’s production of The Second City Does Cincinnati: Pride and Porkopolis.
“I love performing,” says Sudik. “I love the audience applause and laughter and feeling like I’m allowing people to leave behind their lives for a bit and share an experience. As a director I get to do those same things and, ideally, also give my actors a chance to unlock parts of themselves in the process. I love the challenge and I think my experience as an actor helps me understand what a vulnerable process it is to create comedy and survive in our business.
“I love directing sketch comedy and improvisation,” Sudik continues, “because it’s like a puzzle in which the pieces keep morphing as you put them down, and eventually you’ve helped foster creativity and created something entirely different from what you set out to do.”
The cast of The Second City’s Holidazed & Confused Revue includes Tyler Davis, Katie Kershaw, Charles Pettitt, Emma Pope, Amy Thompson and Nate Varrone.
In addition to Sudik, the creative team of The Second City’s Holidazed & Confused Revue features Brian Heveron-Smith (music director) and Mark C. Williams (lighting designer). Fernando Alvarez and Jenifer Morrow are the stage managers.
The Second City’s Holidazed & Confused Revue is sponsored by The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.
The Playhouse will offer the chance to learn improvisation basics from members of The Second City in a two-hour Improv for Beginners workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.
The class will focus on teaching the building blocks of improvisation to adults with little to no experience as they learn and play with the troupe’s touring company members. The cost of the workshop is $50 per person.
Space is limited, so reserve your spot now through the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888.
Tickets for The Second City’s Holidazed & Confused Revue start at $35 for previews and $40 for regular performances. Prices are subject to change, and patrons are encouraged to buy early for the best seats at the best prices. The show is appropriate for adult and older teenage audiences.
Tickets to 7 p.m. Sunday College Night performances are priced at just $10 for college students with a valid school ID. Student tickets are just $15 on the day of the show for all other performances.
Discounted ticket prices for teens and students are always available for $30 and $45, depending on seat location.
Previews for The Second City’s Holidazed & Confused Revue are at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. The official opening night is Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m.
Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays.
Free Meet the Artists programs that allow audiences to interact with the cast and others associated with The Second City’s Holidazed & Confused Revue will be held after the following performances:
2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23; and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8.
Tickets to The Second City’s Holidazed & Confused Revue are on sale now. For more information, call the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800-582-3208) or visit www.cincyplay.com. Call 513-345-2248 for Telecommunications Device for the Deaf accessibility.
The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available.
The 2016-17 Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre season is presented by Heidelberg Distributing Co., and the Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre season design sponsor is the Allan Berliant and Jennie Rosenthal Berliant Family Fund. The season sponsor of new work is the Lois and Richard Rosenthal Foundation.
The Playhouse is supported by the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.
The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation.