“The Vic & Paul Show” Celebrates the Holiday Season in Chicago at Mayne Stage in Rogers Park.
My wife Victoria and I are returning to Chicago for the holidays with “The Vic & Paul Show”, our original improvisational comedy revue with music. This time, we’ll be performing at the beautiful Mayne Stage cabaret in Rogers Park from Tuesday, December 20 to Friday, December 30, 2011.
As always, Vic and I will be joined at Mayne Stage by our musical director, Chicago area Emmy-winner Steve Rashid, who will accompany us on keyboards and perform his own hilarious brand of satirical songwriting.
“The Vic & Paul Show” is “An Evening of Comedy, Music, Marriage & Martinis.” It’ll be two weeks of grown-up holiday fun — with a nod to Nick & Nora and Nichols & May(if those famously funny couples were over-50 parents with grown-up kids).
Victoria, Steve and I are all Northwestern University alumni and veterans of The Practical Theatre’s hit improvisational comedy revues in the 1980’s. (Art, Ruth & Trudy ring a bell?)
The show was originally directed by Chicago native Shelly Goldstein — a good friend, a very funny lady, and another fellow NU alum. (She’s the groovy girl at right.)
Speaking of Northwestern grads, The Practical Theatre’s house rock n’ roll band, Riffmaster & The Rockme Foundation will rock Mayne Stage on December 30 following the closing performance of “The Vic & Paul Show”. The last time The Rockmes came to town, they packed the house at SPACE in Evanston. Now, they’re coming to Mayne Stage to celebrate the holidays and the return of The PTC to Chicago’s north side. It’ll be a rocking wrap party you don’t want to miss.
Mayne Stage is an ideal venue for all this excitement – a classy cabaret space in an historic theatre building, located on Morse Avenue, just a few blocks west of Sheridan Road and a few short steps from the “L”.
The theater that is now Mayne Stage opened in 1912 as Morse Theater, a vaudeville house and silent screen nickelodeon.
In the 1930s, it was remodeled and renamed the Co-Ed Theater because of its proximity to nearby Loyola University.
From 1956 until 2008 the building housed everything from a synagogue to a shoe repair store. (Shades of 703 Howard St.?)
Recently restored and renovated, this fabulous facility now features a restaurant (Act One Pub) and a 230-seat performance space. Food is also served in the cabaret space during the show – so you can watch “The Vic & Paul Show” and enjoy a nosh with your drinks. It’s a thoroughly civilized experience – and the perfect way to party with good friends during the holidays.
Of course, having dinner at Act One Pub with your friends before the show is the best way to enjoy the whole Mayne Stage experience. Plus, Mayne Stage has several wonderful, fully stocked, full service bars. It’s a wonderful way to get out and celebrate Christmas and New Years — with food and drink, music, and lot of laughs.
Which takes us back to the “The Vic & Paul Show”…
“The Vic & Paul Show” has fun with romance, marriage and the battle of the sexes, but Vic & Paul’s eclectic satiric targets also range from Mayor Rahm Emmanuel to Jane Austen to Greek tragedy, Supreme Court Justices Scalia & Sotomayor, whiskey tasting, and the sorry state of TV news. It’s smart, adult comedy unlike anything since the days of Mike Nichols & Elaine May.
Here’s what the Chicago press has said about “The Vic & Paul Show”
“One of the theatrical events of the year is the return of Paul Barrosse and Victoria Zielinski to the Chicago stage with ‘The Vic & Paul Show’… I know it’s a lofty comparison, but you guys are the new Nichols & May, as far as I’m concerned… As sharp and topical as anything I’ve heard in some time… There must be hundreds, if not thousands, of Chicagoans with fond memories of The Practical Theatre Company… It’s a not-to-be-missed engagement. It should be packed.” Rick Kogan, WGN
“This is something of a homecoming. Zielinski and Barrosse were part of the Practical Theatre Company, which had a string of hit revues here during the 1980s. The troupe was so good it had the honor of being raided by SNL.” Tony Adler, The Chicago Reader
Tickets are available thru the Mayne Stage website: http://www.maynestage.com/The-Vic-and-Paul-Show.aspx
Just choose the performance you’d like to attend, and click “buy tickets”. You can also place orders over the phone by calling TicketWeb (866) 468-3401.
Hope to see you there!
Get your tickets now to assure the best seats in the house.
It’s going to be holiday season to remember!
Paul's Voyage of Discovery & Etc. 
This screams for a cable tv special!
AHEM. I see no mention of the stalwart woman who did your damned lights day in and day out. In lieu of a paycheck, I feel like I deserve SOME kind of shout out in there….
I don’t remember anyone named “Anonymous” running our lights. Our lighting operator is my daughter Emilia — and no more talented, savvy and precise a board op exists. Her timing is impeccable. We are extremely lucky to have her.
I saw the show in LA in summer 2010. It was great. It made me think how long it’s been since this kind of intelligent, sharp comedy that we remember from those Chicago days has been seen on stage. A welcome return to a high calibre of comedy. Also, the Mayne Stage is a great venue. And during the holidays — hey, things can’t get any better than this. Go see it!
Please remind me when you are coming to town for this. Sounds like a great show. I would also love to see Riffmaster from the old NU days and you guys played at ECTV, Evanston Community Television where I am presently on the board. Would love to see you guys. Saw Rush last summer eating mud in Bristol.