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New Variety - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NEW VARIETY
New Variety Improv ad
Company	Goodman & O'Donnell
Genre	variety stand-up comedy jazz blues sketch comedy improv
Show type	touring / clubs
Location	Chicago Improv
Creative team
Produced by	Thom Goodman, R. O'Donnell, Scott Siegel
Directed & Staged by	R. O'Donnell
Musical Director	Vince Willis George Goetchell
Production Design	Scott Siegel & O'Donnell
Other information
Years Active	1992-94

The New Variety is an American cabaret created and produced by Thomas Goodman and Richard O'Donnell. It was a fast-paced, ever-changing volley of acts that included jugglers, fire-eaters, stand-up comics, singers, musicians, and sketch comedy troupes. It was hailed by June Sawyer of the Chicago Tribune as a cabaret for the '90s.

History

In February 1992, producers Thomas Goodman (founder of CrossCurrents Cabaret) and R. O’Donnell (co-founder of New Age Vaudeville) teamed up to present the New Variety, located at 400 N. Clark, downtown Chicago.^[1] Modeled after the vaudeville variety shows of the ‘20s and '30s, the New Variety presented an evening’s worth of acts that included jugglers, fire-eaters, comics, singers, musicians, and sketch comedy troupes.^[2]

Venues

New Variety Cabaret

The original location of the New Variety was the upstairs of the Italian restaurant Bellagio. Built specifically for the show, the cabaret was an elegant and intimate 100-seat theater, revealing a sophisticated art deco-style decor. The audience sat at round black tables with green and black chairs around a small black-and-white checkered stage, slightly raised.^[3]

Hailed by the June Sawyer of the Chicago Tribune as a Cabaret for the 90s.^[4] the bill included artistic director and host Richard O'Donnell (billed as "R."), jazz band the Vince Willis Trio, juggler extraordinaire Andy Head, drummer Donny DeMarco Jr., tap dancer Ayrie King, stand-up comedy by John Tamborino, and Saxophonist Sarah Underwood, followed by a crowning performance by the incomparable blues chanteuse^[5] Barbara LeShoure.

Improv Comedy Club

In August, 1993, the New Variety moved to the Chicago Improv, (504 N. Wells)^[6] and was responsible for changing a faltering 3-ring comedy presentation into a successful variety format. The New Variety now offered a more streamlined, commercial show. Acts included artistic director & host R. O’Donnell, stand-up comics such as Paul Gilmartin (Dinner and a movie, host), Kevin Rogers, and Steve Seagren and sketch comedy troupes including the all-girl Nude Coffee, the all-gay The Boys in the Bathroom, and the all-improv The Upright Citizens Brigade. Dr. Boom (who literally blew things up on stage) was the highlight of the evening. ^[7]

The Chicago Improv was a 400-seat theater whereby audience members sat at long tables in a room about the size of your high school cafeteria. Scott Seigel re-designed the original look of the stage to accommodate the New Variety's edgier feel.

Regular Acts

Boys in the Bathroom
Matt Besser
Upright Citizens Brigade (Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Ali Farahnakian, Adam McKay, Rick Roman, and Horatio Sanz)
Dr. Boom
Nude Coffee
Ectomorph (Darren Bodeker, Bart Heird and Jim Kopsian)
Andy Head
Ayrie "Mr. Taps" King
R. O'Donnell (host)
Kevin Rogers
Steve Seagren
The Sound (A cappella group), Paul Mabin, Greg Vaden, Kevin Kent and Keevin Peuse
John Tamborino
Obediah Thomas
Vince Willis Trio
Sarah Underwood

References

^ Kogan, Rick (March 1, 1992), "New Variety takes its first steps", Chicago Tribune, Arts, Pg 2, Section 13
^ Helbig, Jack (July 23, 1992), "The New Variety", New City, Arts
^ Sawyer, June (May 15, 1992). "New Variety A Cabaret For The '90s". Chicago Tribune. No. Arts.
^ Sawyers, June (May 15, 1992), "New Variety a cabaret for the '90s'", Chicago Tribune, Friday, Page 2 - Section 7
^ Belsito, Elaine (July 2, 1992), "New Variety Cabaret Features a Wealth of Entertainment", Windy City Times, Spotlight on Chicago
^ Tucker, Ernest (August 6, 1993), "Improv Adds Some Variety To Its Stage", Chicago Sun-times, Arts & Show, Section 2
^ Adler, Tony (May 27, 1993). "New Variety Offers Slicker Mix in New Digs". Chicago Tribune, Overnight.

Chicago

Music, theater and performing arts in Chicago

Theater
companies

Resident	A Red Orchid American Blues Annoyance Bailiwick Repertory Barrel of Monkeys Black Ensemble Chicago Dramatists Chicago Shakespeare Chopin Court Factory Goodman iO Lifeline Lookingglass Marriott MCA Stage Music Theater Works Neo-Futurists Oak Park Festival Opera in Focus Oracle Productions Organic The Playground Second City Silk Road Steppenwolf Strawdog Theatre Building Chicago Trap Door Under the Gun Victory Gardens
Itinerant	Babes With Blades Child's Play Collaboraction Theatre Company ETA Creative Arts Foundation The Hypocrites Les Enfants Terribles LiveWire Chicago Off-Off Campus Oobleck Organic Porchlight Music Theatre Remy Bumppo StarKid TUTA
Former	BoHo Compass Players Defiant Ethiopian Art First Folio Goat Island Happy Happy Good Show House Illinois Theatre Center Improv Institute New Age Vaudeville New Variety Playwrights Theatre Club The Practical Theatre Company Redmoon

Opera

Current	Chicago Opera Theater DuPage Opera Theatre Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago Lyric Opera of Chicago Music Theater Works Opera in Focus
Former	Chicago City Opera Chicago Civic Opera Chicago Grand Opera Chicago Opera Association Chicago Opera Company Crosby's Opera House San Carlo Opera Company

Music and
dance

Dance	Chicago Ballet Chicago Festival Ballet Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago Hedwig Dances Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Joffrey Ballet Luna Negra Dance Theater Ruth Page Center for the Arts
Choruses	Bella Voce Chicago a cappella Chicago Chorale Chicago Gay Men's Chorus Chicago Symphony Chorus
Symphonies	Chicago Philharmonic Chicago Sinfonietta Chicago Symphony Orchestra Grant Park Symphony Orchestra

Venues

Theater	Apollo Theater Arie Crown Theater Auditorium Theatre Avalon Regal Theater Biograph Theater Briar Street Theater Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place Cadillac Palace Theatre Chicago Avenue Pumping Station Chicago Theatre Chopin Theatre CIBC Theatre Congress Theater Copernicus Center Greenhouse Theater Center Harris and Selwyn Theaters Merle Reskin Nederlander Theatre
Opera	Civic Opera House DuPage Opera Theatre Woodstock Opera House
Music	Harris Theater Jay Pritzker Pavilion Metro Park West Petrillo Music Shell Riviera Theatre Rosemont Theatre Symphony Center The Vic Theatre
Former	Central Music Hall Chicago Opera House Drury Lane Water Tower Place Garrick Theater Iroquois Theatre McVicker's Theater Uptown Theatre

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