The world's first improvised parody of public radio is back and better than ever. Featuring some of the best improvisational performers from Chicago and beyond, it's like a payday for your ears - twice a month, eight minutes at a time.

Previews September 16th and 17th

Come see a remount of the hit show that made "Best Of" lists all over the place in 2009!

Featuring most of the original cast, some great new cast-mates, and a sweet new venue in Chicago's Lincoln Park, this show is going to make weekends in Autumn a blast.

For tickets and more info, go to www.frattheshow.com

The day before he is to be married, Wes catches up on his DVR to watch the Royal Wedding. Disgust with his own wedding party ensues, when he realizes his own wedding won't be the same spectacle.

Episode 1

You not only get to see mildly unkempt celebrities in clips you aren't "supposed" to see. Seeing a video like this is also a reminder that, going back to caveman days, we've always loved to stare at good storytellers. Whether animated, on-camera, off-camera, or around a campfire, a good storyteller is always a good storyteller.

For the Malloy family, attendance at the annual Independence Day reunion is mandatory. Pancake Breakfast is the one chance for everyone to get together all year. For Beatrice Malloy, however, the weekend devolves into coping drunk. With her younger brother learning to live with Asperger Syndrome, a father newly-wed to a woman half his age, a mother juggling ex-husbands, and a grandfather who seems to live on the fringe of rationality, Beatrice realizes that the once shining Malloy family has come undone. In between watermelon eating contests, turtle racing and a crab feast, Pancake Breakfast- asks the question: “If family is such a bitch, why do we keep coming back for more?”. Syrup is included.

Recent Press:

Talkin' Broadway:

"Pancake Breakfast balances glorious sentiment, acrid bitterness, and all the hope and fear of unsolvable real life with awesome grace and polish in both performance and staging. "

Time Out Chicago:

"Pancake Breakfast is a quick-moving family comedy that hits many of the tropes of the dysfunctional homecoming consistently and well."

 

Chicago Tribune:

"The New Colony ensemble has crafted one of those happily combustible family dramas that manages to worm its way under your skin by virtue of its familiarity and honesty."

Chicago Public Radio:

"If the worst thing that you can say about a show is it's not quite at the level of August: Osage County, then your talking about a really really fine show."

Dueling Critics talk "Pancake Breakfast" by GaryTiedemann

Hearts Full Of Blood

Between the first run at the NY International Fringe Festival and its Encore Series, "Hearts Full of Blood" had an amazing run in New York. I hope this isn't the last we see of this truly powerful piece of theatre. Lots of people agree, too. Check this out!

(Reply from FHA):

"Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared title to the proposed collateral property back to 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear the title back to its origin."

(Response from attorney):

"Your letter regarding title in Case No.189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have title extended further than the 206 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property area, would not know that Louisiana  was purchased by the United States from France , in 1803 the year of origin identified in our application.  For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U.S. ownership was obtained from France , which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from  Spain . The land came into the possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the Spanish monarch, Queen Isabella. The good Queen Isabella, being a pious woman and almost as careful about titles as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to finance Columbus 's expedition...Now the Pope, as I'm sure you may know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that God also made that part of the world called Louisiana . God, therefore, would be the owner of origin and His origins date back to before the beginning of time, the world as we know it, and the FHA. I hope you find God's original claim to be satisfactory.

Now, may we have our darn loan?"

The loan was immediately approved.

Not only is it a pretty great privilege to bring this incredible show to a fantastic new audience, but plane rides!

Not only that, but eating at places other than home! Excuses for drinking more than usual! Seeing New York friends!  

Hearts Full of Blood will run August 20-29 in New York City. More details to follow. I hope to see you there. Yes, you.