Tag Archives: Victoria Zielinski
Coming Soon…
Dear Comedy Lovers,
Can you solve this comedy equation?
VIC + PAUL + DANA x (STEVE + RONNY) x 11/19 + 11/20 + 11/21 @ iO West = ?
The answer is soon to follow…
Filed under Art, Comedy, Improvisation, Music
Second Generation Comedy
I don’t know if a sense of humor is hereditary. I don’t know whether jokes are in your genes. But it appears that funny runs in our family.
Later this month — on February 20 and 22 — my daughter Emilia will make her West Coast debut as a standup comic at two clubs in Hollywood. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, you may want to check her out.
I have no idea what Emilia’s going to do onstage. She hasn’t run her material by me. She’s 22 years old — and if you’re old enough to vote, fight in the Army, sign a contract and drink legally – you’re old enough not to clear your jokes with dad. So, I can’t wait to hear her routine.
Emilia graduated from Northwestern University (her parents’ alma mater) last June with a hard-earned degree in journalism and a passion for writing comedy. Jokes and Journalism both require a keen, insightful and objective view of the world. But if Emilia’s currently more interested in a punchline than a newspaper byline – what can I say?
After all, what was I doing as a 22-year old fresh out of Northwestern?
33 years ago, in February 1981 during the winter after my graduation, my comic comrades at The Practical Theatre and I were banging the last bent nails into our newly built storefront theatre at 703 Howard Street in Evanston, Illinois – getting ready to stage our second improvisational comedy revue, Thrills & Glory.
It was the PTC’s third season: our first at the magical 42-seat venue we dubbed The John Lennon Auditorium. Thrills & Glory opened on March 21, 1981 with Rush Pearson, Gary Kroeger, Reid Branson and Emilia’s dad (me) in the cast. We didn’t run our material by our parents, either.
A few months later, we opened our third comedy revue, Scubba Hey! — featuring Brad Hall (my fellow PTC artistic director), Rush Pearson, me and a (very) funny (very) young girl named Julia Louis Dreyfus, whom Rush and I met when we performed together in the 1980 Mee-Ow Show at Northwestern.
This month, The Mee-Ow Show will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Of course, I cannot possibly be that old.
But, evidently, the comedy gene is not solely paternal. Around this same time, as I was earning my last college credits and The Practical Theatre was getting underway, Emilia’s future mom (and my future, fabulous, funny wife) was also doing her own improvisational comedy thing. Victoria Zielinski played the Chicago comedy clubs as a member of a group called Laugh Track: another gathering of Northwestern funny people and Mee-Ow Show veterans.
Vic was in law school in 1981 so she couldn’t be part of the early fun on the tiny stage of The John Lennon Auditorium – but in 1983, she finally joined the cast of the Practical Theatre’s hit comedy revue, Megafun at our Piper’s Alley cabaret space behind Second City.
Three years later, Victoria and I (along with Jamie Baron) joined forces in Art, Ruth & Trudy. We got married in 1990. 20 years later, we wrote and performed The Vic & Paul Show — and we’ve been having fun onstage together ever since.
So, I have to admit, our daughter Emilia comes by the comedy thing honestly.
Emilia’s will perform her first standup set as part of the Miniature Stand-Up Comedy Festival on February 20th in the Leche Lounge at Malo, located at 4326 Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles.
The show starts at 7:30. I’m told that folks should “please be on time as the show will start at 7:45 sharp and seats are limited.”
Emilia will be on a bill with a series of comediennes, including Carmen Faulkner, Christie Campagna, Katie Robinson and Raluca Sanders.
Two days later, on Saturday February 22 at 7:30 PM, Emilia will be doing a set at the famous Comedy Store at 8433 Sunset Boulevard. Tickets are $10.00, plus a two-drink minimum. But, really, if you’re going all the way down to Hollywood on a Saturday night – two drinks is the minimum, right? (Doors open at 7:00.)
Emilia’s two standup shows are the entertaining preliminaries leading up to the main event.
On March 28th and 29th, Emilia and her Snickerdoodlin’ comedy partner and fellow Northwestern alum, Maggie Mae Fish, will perform their original comedy revue, Tyrannosaurus Sketch at iO West on Hollywood Blvd. Joining the cast will be USC’s Daniel Rashid, the son of our fellow NU alums and PTC members, Steve and Bea Rashid. (There’s that damn Northwestern/PTC thing again!)
Both shows are at 7:00 pm. Tickets can be ordered here.
When Emilia, Maggie and Daniel take the stage at iO West on March 28, they’ll do so more than three decades after my Practical Theatre friends and I staged our first comedy revue at the John Lennon Auditorium.
May Emilia and her friends have as much fun as we did back in the day.
And — as it has been for us — may that be just the beginning.
Filed under Art, Comedy, Improvisation
Just 4 Days Until The Funniest, Most Rocking New Year’s Party Ever!
A splendid time is guaranteed for all this New Year’s Eve in Evanston, Illinois. (Which is, of course, just 5 minutes from anywhere by rocket car!)
But why party in Evanston? Why not join the throngs in Times Square, on Bourbon Street in New Orleans – or at Monty’s Steakhouse in Woodland Hills? Because the big little town north of Chicago is where you can enjoy “Mr. Olsen’s New Year’s Rockin’ Neighborhood” at 27 Live — Evanston’s newest nightclub.
The fun begins at 8:00 PM with a one-hour comedy variety revue for the middle ages — hosted by screenwriter/comedian Dana Olsen, and featuring yours truly and my wife Victoria Zielinski of “The Vic & Paul Show”; our tall, blonde friend and fellow Practical Theatre founder, Brad Hall; the great Steve Rashid tinkling the ivories; Rockin’ Ronny Crawford hitting the rim shots on drums; and narrated by Stewart Figa, who will also grace the show with his powerful singing voice.
If you were among the standing-room-only crowd that caught “Mr. Olsen’s Neighborhood” at the Wilmette Theatre last June, you’ll have some idea of the fun to be had when Mr. Olsen and his neighbors get together to sing, dance and look back on the craziness of 2013 with laughter and comic camaraderie.
Then, at 10:00 PM, the kids (of all ages) will start jumpin’ when Riffmaster and The Rockme Foundation take the stage for two sets of classic rock & roll and original songs written by a bunch of guys who grew up listening to the best records ever made and played on the radio. Wit, harmony, the big backbeat — and passionate guitar playing that would make Chuck Berry proud of his children.
After Riff and the Rockmes ring in the New Year, a DJ will keep the dance floor jumping until 2:00 AM.
It’s all happening at 27 Live, featuring a great stage, bar, whiskey lounge, and restaurant in a 14,000 square foot space that’s perfect for a New Year’s Eve crowd. 27 Live is located at 1012 Church Street, just steps away from both the CTA Purple line and Metra Davis stops.
Valet Parking is available.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at door – with a $100 Dinner Package available (includes a 5 course dinner).
Tickets are now on sale at www.27live.com
Or get them at this link.
See you on New Year’s Eve!
Filed under Art, Comedy, Improvisation, Music, Uncategorized
Mr. Olsen’s New Year’s Rockin’ Neighborhood!
There will be no better place to be this New Year’s Eve than in Evanston, Illinois – that little college town just north of Chicago.
But why party in Evanston? Why not Paris, or Rome, or the Greek island of Santorini? Why not join the throngs in Times Square – or at Monty’s Steakhouse in Woodland Hills?
Because Evanston in where you can be a part of “Mr. Olsen’s New Year’s Rockin’ Neighborhood” at 27 Live.
The fun begins at 8:00 PM with a one-hour comedy variety revue for the middle ages — hosted by screenwriter/comedian Dana Olsen, and featuring yours truly and my wife Victoria Zielinski of “The Vic & Paul Show”; our tall, blonde friend and fellow Practical Theatre founder, Brad Hall; the great Steve Rashid tinkling the ivories; Rockin’ Ronny Crawford hitting the rim shots on drums; and narrated by Stewart Figa, who will also grace the show with his powerful singing voice.
If you were among the standing-room-only crowd that caught “Mr. Olsen’s Neighborhood” at the Wilmette Theatre last June, you’ll have some idea of the fun to be had when Mr. Olsen and his neighbors get together to share some laughter and comic camaraderie.
Then, at 10:00 PM, the kids (of all ages) will start jumpin’ when Riffmaster and The Rockme Foundation take the stage for two sets of classic rock & roll and original songs written by a bunch of guys who grew up listening to the best records ever made and played on the radio. Wit, harmony, the big backbeat — and passionate guitar playing that would make Chuck Berry proud of his children.
After Riff and the Rockmes ring in the New Year, a DJ will keep the dance floor jumping until 2:00 AM.
It’s all happening at Evanston’s newest nightclub and concert venue, 27 Live, featuring a great stage, bar, whiskey lounge, and restaurant in a 14,000 square foot space that’s perfect for a New Year’s Eve crowd. 27 Live is located at 1012 Church Street, just steps away from both the CTA Purple line and Metra Davis stops.
Valet Parking is available.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at door – with a $100 Dinner Package available (includes a 5 course dinner).
Tickets are now on sale at www.27live.com
Or you can get them at this link.
See you in Evanston on New Year’s Eve!
Filed under Art, Comedy, Improvisation, Music, Uncategorized
Mr. Olsen’s New Year’s Rockin’ Neighborhood!
There will be no better place to be this New Year’s Eve than in Evanston, Illinois – that little college town just north of Chicago.
But why party in Evanston? Why not Paris, or Rome, or the Greek island of Santorini? Why not join the throngs in Times Square – or at Monty’s Steakhouse in Woodland Hills?
Because Evanston in where you can be a part of “Mr. Olsen’s New Year’s Rockin’ Neighborhood” at 27 Live.
The fun begins at 8:00 PM with a one-hour comedy variety revue for the middle ages — hosted by screenwriter/comedian Dana Olsen, and featuring yours truly and my wife Victoria Zielinski of “The Vic & Paul Show”; our tall, blonde friend and fellow Practical Theatre founder, Brad Hall; the great Steve Rashid tinkling the ivories; Rockin’ Ronny Crawford hitting the rim shots on drums; and narrated by Stewart Figa, who will also grace the show with his powerful singing voice.
If you were among the standing-room-only crowd that caught “Mr. Olsen’s Neighborhood” at the Wilmette Theatre last June, you’ll have some idea of the fun to be had when Mr. Olsen and his neighbors get together to share some laughter and comic camaraderie.
Then, at 10:00 PM, the kids (of all ages) will start jumpin’ when Riffmaster and The Rockme Foundation take the stage for two sets of classic rock & roll and original songs written by a bunch of guys who grew up listening to the best records ever made and played on the radio. Wit, harmony, the big backbeat — and passionate guitar playing that would make Chuck Berry proud of his children.
After Riff and the Rockmes ring in the New Year, a DJ will keep the dance floor jumping until 2:00 AM.
It’s all happening at Evanston’s newest nightclub and concert venue, 27 Live, featuring a great stage, bar, whiskey lounge, and restaurant in a 14,000 square foot space that’s perfect for a New Year’s Eve crowd. 27 Live is located at 1012 Church Street, just steps away from both the CTA Purple line and Metra Davis stops.
Valet Parking is available.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at door – with a $100 Dinner Package available (includes a 5 course dinner).
Tickets are now on sale at www.27live.com
Or you can get them at this link.
See you in Evanston on New Year’s Eve!
Filed under Art, Comedy, Improvisation, Music, Uncategorized
Last Call for “Vic & Paul”…
After more than two decades away from the stage, my wife Victoria and I, along with our great friend and musical director Steve Rashid, launched our comedy comeback with “The Vic & Paul Show” in June 2010 at Push Lounge in Woodland Hills.
We’ve had lots of fun getting back onstage, doing sketches and musical numbers in a two-person revue format reminiscent of the great Nichols & May — and sharing (mostly) intelligent laughs with our audience. Plus working with Steve Rashid again has been a constant source of joy, musical merriment, and tons of Wisconsin jokes.
Now, after two years of performances in six venues and three cities, Victoria, Steve and I are celebrating the final run of this inaugural edition of “The Vic & Paul Show” with four shows at The iO West Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, August 9-12.
So, blow off NBC’s London Olympics coverage for a night (it’s on tape delay anyway, and they’ll show it all again at 1:00 AM) — and come out to enjoy a summer drink and lots of laughs with us.
For tickets to “The Vic & Paul Show” click here.
Or call the box office at 323-962-7560.
And we hope to see you again with our brand new show sometime in 2013!
Filed under Art, Comedy, Improvisation, Music
“The Vic & Paul Show” Summer Tour Arrives in Los Angeles, August 9-12th!
Tickets are on sale now for the final four performances of “The Vic & Paul Show” at the iO West Theatre in Hollywood. CLICK HERE.
After stops in Chicago and Cleveland, “The Vic & Paul Show” Summer 2012 Tour is celebrating the conclusion of our comedy odyssey with four performances in an intimate cabaret venue on Hollywood Boulevard: The iO West Theatre.
It’s the perfect place to enjoy a cool summer drink and share some groovy music and lots of laughs with Paul, Victoria and Steve.
Seating is limited, so get your tickets now. You can do so by calling the iO West Box Office at 323-962-7560 or by going to the iO West website at http://ioimprov.com/west/io/shows/the-vic-and-paul-show.
We hope to see you in Hollywood, August 9-12th, for a festive end to our great comic adventure!
Filed under Art, Comedy, Improvisation
Just 2 Weeks Before “The Vic & Paul Show” Opens in Cleveland, July 12!
Click on the graphic for more information or to make reservations!
Filed under Art, Comedy, Improvisation
“The Vic & Paul Show” in Chicago!
Last night, Friday, June 15th, The Vic & Paul Show began its 2-weekend run at The Beverly Arts Center on Chicago’s South Side. And a good time was had by all. For tickets to the rest of the run, click here. Come out and see the show, share some great laughs — and enjoy a drink at one of the many fine local Irish pubs. 
Filed under Art, Comedy, Improvisation, Music
Paul's Voyage of Discovery & Etc. 