Chicago's new 'Gotta Bingo' plays for laughs

Jane Allyson-D'Arienzo had years of experience in traditional theater — actors on stage, audiences watching quietly from their seats. Then, the former Arlington Heights resident joined the interactive “Tina n' Tony's Wedding.”

“The other actors are performing with you, and the audience is literally another character in the show,” Allyson-D'Arienzo said. “I thought, 'This is awesome, I love this.' So from then on I was hooked.”

Allyson-D'Arienzo continues her exploration of interactive theater in the new “We Gotta Bingo” at Chicago Theater Works, where audiences enjoy a hearty Italian dinner while playing bingo and singing along with the show's characters.

“It's a whole lot of fun,” said Allyson-D'Arienzo. “Every part that happens during dinner time is improv-based on that person's reactions with the characters. If it happens in real life, it can happen in the show. We want the audience to have the most real experience they can have.”

“We Gotta Bingo” follows a bingo bonanza set up to raise money for the merging of two rival Chicago parishes — one Irish and one Italian. It was originally presented by the Actor's Theater of Minnesota in 2004.

Allyson-D'Arienzo's character, Rosa, is a mom who likes to baby her son, grown “mama's boy” Jeremy. He's played by Mitch Conti, a former resident of Glen Ellyn.

“Staying in character when they're calling the bingo numbers, and when I'm sitting at one of the tables, is definitely a challenge,” Conti said.

“We Gotta Bingo” is Conti's first interactive theater experience, though he has performed in many improv troupes before.

“With my improv roots and being the actor I am in Chicago, this has been the most fun combination of both,” he said.

Though the show is especially made for audience and performer interaction, audience members don't have to worry about being singled out. Those who do want to participate will have opportunities as bingo winners, amateur singers and more.

“We don't make you do stuff if you don't want to,” Allyson-D'Arienzo said. “You can just sit and watch and it's perfectly fine. We try to find the people who want to be a part of it.”