Comedy workshop reaches out to adults
An improvisational comedy club in Schaumburg hopes to reach out to a new, more adult audience than it's had the past year and a half.
When the Chicago Comedy Company opened in the Streets of Woodfield shopping center in November 2005, its aim was to both train and entertain young people in improv in a positive way.
And while that's still the hope of one-time employee-turned-owner Lillian Frances, she wants to add a later show to appeal to those with just a slightly less G-rated sense of humor as well.
By "adult" humor, she means simply the prime time TV of today, not anything raunchy, she said.
As part of the plan, Frances also intends to start serving food and alcohol at the 9:30 p.m. shows as well.
The theater also will change its name to the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club sometime this fall, when the other changes fall into place.
Schaumburg trustees Tuesday helped Frances begin making these changes by granting permission for a kitchen to be added to the club at 601 N. Martingale Road, Suite 171, in the Streets of Woodfield.
She's now in the process of applying for a liquor license.
Improvisational comedy is largely driven by suggestions shouted out by the audience, along the lines of the TV show "Whose Line is it Anyway?" with Drew Carey.
Frances said there's no intention to be confused with the nearby Improv comedy club at Woodfield Shopping Center. Despite its name, the Improv offers nationally known standup comedians, not improvisational comedy.
The Chicago Comedy Company was founded by Steve Matuszak, who'd formerly been a certified drug and alcohol abuse prevention specialist.
His intention in opening the club was to provide theatrical training for young people by social workers who had theater, comedy and improv experience themselves.
The show and workshops were proposed to carry strong anti-drug and alcohol messages designed to connect with teens. The comedy would strictly avoid swearing and profanity.
Even with the changes she's proposing, Frances intends that spirit to remain.
"I want to retain that audience that's been built up over the last year and a half and expand it," she explained.