1,000 funny people come together for Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival
Elgin native Kelly Bolton loves tackling life's biggest questions through a humorous lens.
The veteran comedian takes a humble look at her own life as one of the solo acts featured in the 17th annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. The fest, one of the largest of its kind in the world, runs Jan. 11 through 21 at Chicago's Stage 773.
Bolton's “Only Adequate,” one of the fest's 130 performances, is at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, in the Pro Theater.
“It's a tongue-in-cheek look at where I am in my life; I'm 37 and single, still renting,” Bolton says. “I have a good life, but some people might consider it only adequate.”
Bolton also performs with the group Party Cops at 11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19.
The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival attracts more than 1,000 artists and 10,000 fans. This year, returning SketchFest vets such as Bolton join new faces and local favorites with award-winning international ensembles to create a comedic melting pot, organizers say.
Headliners include award-winning L.A. sketch comedy troupe The Cool Table. Also on the schedule are local comedic groups The Cupid Players and Clown Car to Sicily, and international ensembles like Hot Thespian Action from Winnipeg and Hot Raw Fire from Montreal.
“SketchFest has become a staple in the comedy community here in Chicago, as it is an opportunity for writers, performers and comedy lovers to gather under one roof and celebrate all things funny,” said event executive producer Jill Valentine. “Groups from all over the country come together to see each other's work and support one another. It really is an amazing tradition for the comedy community. There is nothing quite like it!”
Bolton grew up in Elgin but didn't discover a passion for comedic performing until moving into the city for college. It was then she began volunteering at SketchFest and saw how much fun the comedians onstage were having. She learned how to write sketch, formed a group and has been performing ever since.
“(When I'm on stage), I want people to forget where they came from that day and just be able to laugh,” says Bolton, who works full time and performs on the side.
Her first appearance at SketchFest was in 2006, and over the years she's loved seeing the festival grow and transform. She's seen trends come and go. One year, for example, the use of props was really popular.
“As the comedy evolves, people evolve, and it's hard not to learn and take something away each year,” she says.
The festival also functions as a reunion for participants.
“Everyone in the comedy community, we're all busy doing shows,” Bolton says, “and the one thing I love is the chance to see what everyone's working on, to see what they've created this year, and have that opportunity to take it all in.”
Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival
<b>When:</b> Various showtimes from Thursday, Jan. 11, through Sunday, Jan. 21
<b>Where:</b> Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, Chicago. www.chicagosketchfest.com
<b>Tickets:</b> Performances $15 each, weekend pass $125, all-festival pass $250