Here’s what legendary Chicago Tribune writer Rick Kogan (a man of excellent taste and refinement) has to say about the PTC’s residency @ Studio5…
Tag Archives: Rick Kogan
“Practical Radio Theatre on The Air” Onstage at Studio5 April 8 & 9!
Filed under Art, Beauty, Comedy, Improvisation, Music, Truth, Uncategorized
Vic & Paul in Beverly Hills
The Vic & Paul Show is coming to Beverly Hills.
Not Rodeo Drive in the 90210.
We’re talking West 111th Street in the 60655.
We’re talking Beverly Hills on the southwestern edge of the South Side of Chicago. (Known to the locals simply as Beverly.)
Yes, The Vic & Paul Show is going back to Chicago this summer.
And this time, it’s a special homecoming for my wife, Victoria Zielinski – because the show The Chicago Tribune hailed as “Old school sketch comedy done right” will be coming to Vic’s old South Side neighborhood.
The brilliantly funny girl who grew up at 91st and South Hamilton will be performing just 20 blocks from her childhood home when The Vic & Paul Show runs at The Beverly Arts Center at 2407 W. 111th Street from June 15-24th, 2012.
As always, Vic and I will be accompanied by our great friend, fellow Northwestern alum, and ridiculously talented musical director — “the rather impish and thoroughly amusing Steve Rashid”*. Steve also performs his own brand of satirical songwriting in the show: “songs,” notes Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune, “that recall the stylings of Tom Lehrer.”
(*According to The Trib’s chief theatre critic, Chris Jones – and we certainly agree.)
Last year, we appeared on WGN radio personality (and Chicago newspaper icon) Rick Kogan’s radio show, The Sunday Papers — and Rick introduced us by saying, “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.”
Talk about making us feel at home in Chicago after more than two decades.
Vic and I left the Windy City in 1991 to do TV work in Los Angeles – and raise our three wonderful daughters – but now that our kids are of age we’re back on the stage. And according to Chris Jones in The Chicago Tribune, “domesticity has not dulled the itch of Zielinski and Barrosse for a Chicago comedy stage, a couple of hard-backed chairs, and each other.”
We’ve been having great fun trodding the boards once more with Steve at the piano, beginning with our June 2010 debut at Push Lounge in Los Angeles, directed by our good friend and another NU alum, Evanston’s own Shelly Goldstein. A year later, we brought The Vic & Paul Show to Chicago for the first time at The Prop Theatre in June 2011, followed by a great holiday season run at Mayne Stage in Rogers Park.
Now, we’re taking our “Evening of Comedy, Music, Marriage & Martinis” to Vic’s old stomping grounds in Beverly.
If you live in the Chicago area and you haven’t seen The Vic & Paul Show yet, we hope you can join us at the 400-seat Beverly Arts Center for this run. It’s a wonderful venue for the show – and you may want to get there early to check out the rotating exhibitions of contemporary art in The Beverly Arts Center’s four gallery areas: second floor East Gallery, Bridge Gallery, Theater Gallery and Atrium. These exhibits are free and open to the public.
After the show, you can enjoy the best of Beverly, including some of Vic’s girlhood haunts, like Fox’s Beverly Pizza Pub, or a magnificent frozen summer treat at Rainbow Cone on Western and 92nd. And, according to Wikipedia, Beverly is home to more Irish-style pubs than any other in Chicago. Satisfying after-show options abound!
Okay, I know what you’re thinking.
Sure, The Vic & Paul Show is crazy funny, The Beverly Arts Center is obviously a great place to see a show, and all those Irish pubs sound like a guaranteed good time – but how in the world did Vic’s old neighborhood get the name Beverly Hills?
That’s because Beverly is the only area in the City of Chicago that has hills: in fact, it’s located on the highest elevation in the city!
So, this June, it can truly be said that The Vic & Paul Show has reached the top.
Join us at the topographical summit of Chicago for two weeks of grown-up fun: sophisticated and irreverent improvisational sketch comedy and songs performed in a splendid theatre in a vibrant, historic neighborhood.
And did I mention Vic grew up there?
Filed under Art, Comedy, Improvisation
Countdown to Chicago…
As of today, there are less than two weeks before The Vic & Paul Show opens in Chicago for a one-week engagement, June 9-12, at the Prop Theatre.
This past Sunday morning, May 29th, Vic and Steve Rashid and I had a great time on Rick Kogan’s WGN Radio show, The Sunday Papers. Journalist, author, and radio raconteur, Rick Kogan is a Chicago institution. He covered most of our big moments with The Practical Theatre for The Chicago Sun-Times and The Chicago Tribune back in the 80’s – and he was kind enough to invite us on The Sunday Papers to talk about The Vic & Paul Show. You can check out the podcast by clicking on this link: Vic & Paul on WGN
For tickets to The Vic & Paul Show go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/169351
The Practical Theatre Co. Returns to Chicago!
Just one month remains before The Practical Theatre Co. comes back to Chicago for a special one-week engagement at The Prop Theatre from June 9-12.
For Reservations go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/169351
After a two-decade absence from the Chicago stage, Paul Barrosse and Victoria Zielinski — veterans of The Practical Theatre’s hit comedy revues in the 1980’s — are bringing their original two-person improv comedy revue “The Vic & Paul Show” to The Prop Theatre, located at 3502 North Elston Avenue. (Just a few bocks East off the Addison Street exit on the 90/94.)
“The Vic & Paul Show” is “An Evening of Comedy, Music, Marriage & Martinis” featuring sophisticated comedy sketches and musical numbers in an intimate theatrical setting. It’s somewhere between Nick & Nora and Nichols & May (if those famous couples were over-50 parents with grown-up kids).
Vic & Paul are joined at The Prop by their longtime PTC musical director and Chicago area Emmy-winner, Steve Rashid. Chicago native Shelly Goldstein directed the show.
There will be one preview performance on Thursday, June 9th at 8:00 pm. (Tickets $10.) Shows are Friday June 10th at 8:00 pm ($20), Saturday June 11th at 8:00 pm ($20), Sunday, June 12th at 2:00 pm ($15) and at 7:00 pm ($20).
For Reservations go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/169351
Cash & checks only at the door. The Prop’s phone number is 773 539 7838.
Note: Paul & Victoria will also appear on Saturday, May 21st at The Chicago Theatre Symposium, to make a presentation on the history of The Practical Theatre. The presentation will be made between 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM in Room 801C at Columbia College Film Row Center, 1104 South Wabash, 8th Floor.
Vic & Paul are also scheduled to appear on Rick Kogan’s popular WGN radio, The Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan, on Sunday, May 29th at 8:00 AM.
It’s going to be great fun to reconnect with the wonderful city of Chicago!
Practical Theatre: The Last Laugh
I’ve finally wrapped up my four-part personal history of The Practical Theatre Co. To read the final chapter of the Practical Theatre story click here — or click on the graphic above. You can also find a link to all four chapters under “Landmarks” on the right hand side of the home page.
It only took me two decades to finish this project — so please enjoy!
Paul's Voyage of Discovery & Etc. 