Theater events: Sasheer Zamata plays Zanies Rosemont
Exit 2014 laughing
“Saturday Night Live” featured player Sasheer Zamata headlines Zanies Rosemont on New Year's Eve. Known for her impressions of Michelle Obama and Rihanna, Zamata also stars in the web series “Pursuit of Sexiness” available on YouTube.
8 and 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $30 early show; $40 late show includes champagne toast. Two-item food or beverage minimum for all shows. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com.
More NYE comedy
#8220;Last Comic Standing#8221; season two winner John Heffron, whose third Comedy Central special airs in 2015, headlines Chicago Improv in Schaumburg on New Year's Eve. Options for patrons 18 and older include dinner and the early show and a late show with appetizers and midnight toast.
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 5 Woodfield Road, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. Dinner/show $52; show only $27, plus a two-item minimum. 10 p.m. show $52 includes cheese and fruit tray, champagne, party favors and balloon drop. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com.
Enter 2015 laughing
Begin 2015 with laughs courtesy of standup comedy veteran Mike Toomey and WGN TV sports anchor Pat Tomasulo and reporter Ana Belaval. The trio brings the Chicago Comedy Tour to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre for a post-New Year's Eve show as part of the theater's comedy series.
8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $30. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.
What's new
#8226; The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, hosts Holiday Hangover Trivia at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26. The free event includes improv, prizes and board games. Bring a gift to donate to charity and you'll receive a free ticket to an Annoyance show. Also the theater revives #8220;Co-Ed Prison Sluts#8221; for one night only at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31. The $40 New Year's Eve package includes the performance, three drink tickets, food buffet and champagne toast. Lastly, The Annoyance recently announced the opening of a new theater in Brooklyn, New York. Annoyance members began teaching classes in New York in January 2014. Earlier this month, members built a space at the Williamsburg Music Center, which will host a full schedule in January 2015. (847) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.
#8226; iO Chicago's New Year's Eve party includes four improv shows, an open bar and appetizer buffet, late night snacks and music and dancing at 3541 N. Clark St., Chicago. Doors open at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, for the 8 p.m. #8220;Whirled News Tonight#8221; performance. Doors open at 9 p.m. for 10 p.m. performances of TJ Dave, Improvised Shakespeare Company and The Deltones present #8220;The Improvised Musical.#8221; Tickets are $100. They're available at the box office, by phone (312) 929-2401 or online at ioimprov.com/chicago.
#8226; American Theater Company has extended its production of Stephen Karam's #8220;The Humans,#8221; which unfolds during a Thanksgiving dinner with the members of a dysfunctional American family. Performances continue through Feb. 1 at 1909 W. Byron St., Chicago. (773) 409-4125 or atcweb.org.
#8226; #8220;Million Dollar Quartet#8221; has been extended through spring 2015 at the Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show will exchange previously purchased tickets between January and March 2015 if inclement weather makes it difficult or impossible for patrons to get to the theater. #8220;As much as we all love Chicago, sometimes the winter weather takes its toll and makes planning ahead a bit daunting. This winter, if the weather threatens ticketholders from getting to the theater, we are guaranteeing tickets to a future performance,#8221; said producer Gigi Pritzker in a prepared statement. (773) 935-6100 or milliondollarquartetlive.com or ticketmaster.com.
#8226; The Chicago Fringe Festival is accepting applications through Feb. 15, 2015. There are two ways of applying for the unjuried festival: first come, first served (13 slots) which rewards early applicants, and the lottery (47 slots) which takes place Feb. 28, 2015. Artists or companies pay a $25 application fee. If selected, artists or companies pay a participation fee ranging from $250 to $550 depending on the number of performances. Artists or companies receive box office and promotional assistance and keep 100 percent of the box office revenue form their performances. To be accepted, performances must be 80 percent scripted or choreographed. They must also be between 45 and 60 minutes in length and be set up and struck within 10 minutes. For more information, see chicagofringe.org.