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Second City Doesn't Just 'Do' Dallas …


by Jerome Weeks 21 Aug 2012 2:46 PM

… it’ll do it late-night. And sometimes, perhaps, in full view of passersby. The famed sketch-comedy troupe from Chicago opens the Dallas Theater Center’s new season next week.

CTA TBD

The word is, The Second City Does Dallas the full evening of music and comedy that opens the Dallas Theater Center’s new season — will, occasionally, have a ‘third act,’ particularly on those days with only one performance. This’ll be an after-show session of improv. And it may be performed with the Wyly Theatre’s curtains up. Meaning, the improv routines will be on view to passersby.

Or, put another way, Second City’s satiric target — you, me, all of Big D — will be on display for the occasion, just in case theatergoers forget the topic of the evening. Or the comics need some fresh material for their improv  (the lovely liquor store on view across Ross from the Wyly may prove inspiring).

The reason for those various ‘maybes’ in the lines above is that the show is basically still being devised and tested by Second City vets (director Matt Hovde, composer Matthew Loren Cohen, writers Brooke Breit and Ed Furman) and a passel of Chicago performers, with DTC fave Liz Mikel.

What is certain is that — in keeping with the fabled troupe’s late-night, Windy-City, comedy traditions — the Theater Center will be offering a 10:30 pm performance Saturday, Sept. 29, the better to snag more of our up-till-4, after-hours, partying types.

Here’s the full release.

Dallas Theater Center Launches 54th Season with New Comedy The Second City Does Dallas Created by Brooke Breit, Ed Furman and Casts of The Second City

Tickets On Sale Now!

Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center  •  2400 Flora Street

Previews: August 29 – September 6, 2012  •  Opening Night: Friday, September 7, 2012 at 8:00pm

Full Run: August 29 – September 30

DALLAS (Aug. 21, 2012) – Dallas Theater Center kicks of its 2012-2013 season with the outrageous new comedy The Second City Does Dallas written specifically for Dallas by members of The Second City and directed by Matt Hovde.  The worlds of Chicago and Dallas collide on DTC’s stage in a satirical take on all that makes Dallas great (and not so great).  It’s a fully produced sketch comedy experience in a theatrical, no-holds-barred look at Big D.  The Second City Does Dallas runs at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre Wednesday, August 29 – Sunday, September 30.  Single tickets to The Second City Does Dallas are on sale now online at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org and by phone at (214) 880-0202.

“The Second City is known worldwide for its sketch and improvisational comedy shows that comment on current events, social standards and elected officials,” says DTC artistic director Kevin Moriarty.  “Dallas Theater Center’s goal is to spark a conversation within the community. The Second City Does Dallas was written about Dallas and for Dallas audiences. Amidst the hilarity and in between explosions of laughter it will spark fun conversations for our audiences about who we are and how we’re perceived as a city.”

Diane and Hal Brierley Acting Company member and long-time Dallas favorite Liz Mikel is joined by The Second City’s Frank Caeti, Amanda Blake Davis, Martin Garcia, Scott Morehead and John Sabine.  Texas roots run deep with this group – Garcia graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and Sabine is a Lake Highlands native who attended Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas.  The group takes on Dallas in a hilarious, two-act production of live music, song and scripted comedy on the Wyly stage with Dallas as the backdrop.

“This show is a combination of scenes from the The Second City archive and scenes written specifically to reflect Dallas issues – from culture to politics to social situations – with a loose theme of satirical self-reflection that permeates throughout,” says The Second City Does Dallas director and TCU graduate Matt Hovde.  “We’ve assembled a diverse and talented bunch to lead audiences from topic to topic.  Three ensemble members are resident alums of The Second City, two are rising stars in the company’s performing pool and one is Liz Mikel, whose skills and personality are a joy to work with.”

Director Matt Hovde, an alumnus of The Second City, is making his DTC debut with The Second City Does Dallas.  Original music and musical direction for the production are by Matthew Loren Cohen, another Second City veteran making his DTC debut.  Creating a lounge seat and cabaret style setting so often found in comedy houses is scenic designer Bob Lavallee (DTC: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat; A Christmas Carol).  DTC’s Jennifer Ables (To Kill a Mockingbird; Henry IV); Aaron Johansen (A Christmas Carol); and Charles Parsley II (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat; The Wiz) will provide costume support, lighting design and sound support, respectively.

The Second City Does Dallas begins previews on Wednesday, August 29 at 7:30pm with a Pay-What-You-Can performance.  Tickets to this performance will be available for purchase online at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org.  Only unsold tickets to the PWYC performance will be available for purchase at the box office the night of the show.  DTC’s Stay Late program will alternate between facilitated dialogue with the audience and a member of the cast and a The Second City Third Act.  Tickets for The Second City Does Dallas are on sale now.  Ticket prices start at $15 and are available online at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org or by phone at (214) 880-0202.

Dallas Theater Center thanks the following production sponsors for their generous support of The Second City Does Dallas: Assistant Producing Partners Jackson Walker L.L.P. and Ebby Halliday Companies.

FRANK CAETI (Ensemble) Second City credits include: Touring Company, two resident company stages (Chicago e.t.c. & Las Vegas), and Reverie, a nonverbal sketch comedy show. He was a series regular on the FOX’s long running sketch show MADtv. Other credits include: Key and Peele, Reno 911, NCIS, The Jay Leno Show, numerous commercials, iO West, and UCBLA. Frank is one half of the acclaimed duo, FrankenMatt with former Saturday Night Live writer Matt Craig.

AMANDA BLAKE DAVIS (Ensemble) is a veteran of The Second City, where she wrote and performed in 5 original revues. Shows included Disposable Nation, Campaign Supernova and Studs Terkel’s Not Working, for which she received a Jeff Award for Best Actress in a revue. In Chicago she improvises with Armando Diaz Experience, Virgin Daquiri, and Baby Wants Candy. She performed in the History of Chicago and Sex, Love & The Second City at the UP Comedy Club and the original musical Broads on Boards at the Annoyance Theater. Amanda is from Auburn, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Providence College in Rhode Island.

MARTIN GARCIA (Ensemble) is a proud graduate of The University of Texas in Austin, Martin moved to Chicago in 1994 to study improv and sketch comedy. He traveled with The Second City Touring Company before going on to write and perform in six revues with The Second City, receiving Best Actor nominations for his first two revues. He also performed with The Second City in Las Vegas and in 2010 directed an all Latino Second City revue. TV credits include Early Edition and ER. He recently filmed an independent film entitled Los Scavengers and was proud to write and perform his first one-man show: Martin Garcia: It’s a One-Man Show … for a Reason. See Martin on the web in a short he wrote called BANG! @ http://youtu.be/9ks5yzR_vgI.

LIZ MIKEL (Ensemble) is a member of the Brierley Resident Acting Company. DTC roles include: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat; The Wiz; Dividing the Estate; A Christmas Carol; Death of a Salesman; Give It Up!; A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2009 & 1991); In the Beginning; The Who’s Tommy; Crowns; Ain’t Misbehavin’. Broadway and Off-Broadway: Lysistrata Jones. Regional: Cape Playhouse, A Contemporary Theater, Arkansas Repertory Theater. Local: Casa Mañana, Dallas Children’s Theater, Jubilee Theater, Theatre Three, WaterTower Theatre. Tours: Ain’t I a Woman; Blind Lemon Blues (Geneva and Paris); Blues in the Night. TV/Film: Past Life, Friday Night Lights, Sordid Lives The Series, It’s in the Water, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins. Awards: Leon Rabin Award, DFW Theater Critics Forum Award, D Magazine, Dallas Observer, Dallas Voice, Column Award.

SCOTT MOREHEAD (Ensemble) If you happen to find yourself in Chicago, get a slice of deep dish pizza then go see Scott perform at The Second City’s UP Comedy Club, iO Chicago with The Late 90s, or The Apollo Theatre with Baby Wants Candy: The Completely Improvised Musical!

JOHN SABINE (Ensemble) grew up in the Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas and attended Dallas Jesuit. After graduating from Santa Clara University with a BA in Theatre and Dance, he moved to Chicago to attend Second City’s Comedy Studies Program. He has studied at the Second City Training Center and iO. He can be seen around Chicago performing with The Late 90s and Second City’s Improv Extravaganza Explosion. He recently performed in The Second City 2: Less Pride… More Pork in Cincinnati.

BROOKE BREIT (Co-writer) has written and performed with The Second City in the Touring Company, One Nation Under 1% and several revues at Woolly Mammoth Theatre in Washington, DC and CENTERSTAGE in Baltimore. She also performs at iO Chicago and the Annoyance. Originally from North Carolina, Brooke graduated from Washington University in St. Louis.

ED FURMAN (Co-writer) is a co-author of the wildly popular Rush Limbaugh! The Musical and Rod Balgojevich: Superstar with Mr. TJ Shanoff and Chicago’s longest running musical Co-ed Prison Sluts (Annoyance Theatre). He has co-written shows in conjunction with theatres in Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Arizona, Baltimore, and more. He also wrote and performed in three Mainstage Second City revues. Since leaving the Mainstage he has co-written two children’s plays, a very adult play (Doublewide Lust), a best-selling book (Cube Monkeys, Harper- Collins), and numerous scenes, short films and commercials for corporate America.

MATT HOVDE (Director) Directing credits include: The Second City’s 100th Revue: Who Do We Think We Are?; Sky’s The Limit (Weather Permitting); Studs Terkel’s Not Working (Jeff Award Winner, Best Director); Chicago Live!; America: All Better!; Rod Blagojevich: Superstar; Campaign Supernova; Between Barack and a Hard Place; How I Lost My Denverginity; and The Best of The Second City. He is the artistic director of The Second City Training Center, and is a founder of the Galileo Players sketch group. Matt was born in Chicago, grew up in Omaha, and graduated from TCU.

MATTHEW LOREN COHEN (Music Director and Original Music) is a classically trained pianist. Past credits with The Second City: Less Pride… More Pork at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Charmed and Dangerous at Centerstage; It Takes a ‘Ville at Actors Theatre of Louisville; The Second City Does Arizona, or Close but No Saguaro at Arizona Theatre Company (music direction, original music); and Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company; Miracle at 1280 Peachtree Street at the Alliance Theatre (music direction). Off-Broadway: The Nuclear Family (music director); New York City: Jason & Ben (music, lyrics, book),The Next Big Broadway Musical! (co-creator and music director); Chicago: Best Musical! (creator, music director),Broads on Boards (music director; music, lyrics).

BOB LAVALLEE (Scenic Designer) DTC: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat; Cabaret; A Christmas Carol (2005-2011); Production Designer, PBS, Barney and Friends; Senior Designer, Peter Wolfs, Dallas; Resident Designer, Casa Mañana, Fort Worth, 65 productions, children’s theater/musicals: Dreamgirls (Dir. David Thome); Lettuce and Lovage (Dir. Kent Paul); Chess (Dir. Rob Marshall); My Way (Dir. Joel Ferrell); Fort Worth Opera; Three Decembers, Amphibian Stage; Three Days of Rain, (Dir. Adrienne Campbell-Holt). Set Design: The Verizon Academic All American Hall of Fame Awards, Waldorf Astoria. Film Production Design: Searching for Sonny (Dir. Andrew Disney).

JENNIFER ABLES (Costume Support) DTC:To Kill A Mockingbird; Henry IV. Alabama Shakespeare Festival: Charlotte’s Web. Oklahoma Shakespeare Festival: Macbeth; The Winter’s Tale. University of Texas at Dallas: Dr. Calagari’s Cabinet; The Comedy of Errors; Monkey: The Quest to the West; Alpha Male; R.U.R.; The Way They Shine. WaterTower Theater: As You Like It. Risk Theater Initiative: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Florida Repertory Theater: All My Sons; The Underpants; Absurd Person Singular; Sly Fox; Amy’s View. Jennifer has been the costume shop manager at DTC since December 2008 and holds an MFA in costume design from Florida State University.

AARON JOHANSEN (Lighting Designer) DTC: A Christmas Carol. Before moving to Dallas six years ago, Aaron received his B.S. in theatre design and technology with an emphasis in lighting design from Ball State University. By day Aaron is Master Electrician for Dallas Theater Center. Lighting credits include: Ruth, Turn of the Screw and Macbeth (Kitchen Dog); Pluck the Day (Second Thought Theatre); Baby, the Musical (PFamily Arts); 2010-2011 Gala and numerous parties and dinners (DTC); Hair; J.B.; Coppelia; Cabaret; Erratica; The Colored Museum and numerous dance pieces (Ball State).

CHARLES PARSLEY II (Sound Support) is happy to be back for round three after having a great time designing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat and The Wiz. He has worked for DTC as Mixer, Master Electrician and Sound Supervisor dating as far back as A Christmas Carol ’97. Chad has also spent ten years touring as Mixer, A2, or Assistant Designer for shows such as: Jersey Boys; Spamalot; Avenue Q; Hairspray; The Producers; Rent; The Full Monty; Kiss Me, Kate; Cinderella; Cabaret; Contact.

ABOUT DALLAS THEATER CENTER:

One of the leading regional theaters in the country, Dallas Theater Center (DTC) performs to an audience of more than 90,000 North Texas residents annually. Founded in 1959, DTC is now a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and presents its Mainstage season at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, designed by REX/OMA, Joshua Prince-Ramus and Rem Koolhaas and at its original home, the Kalita Humphreys Theater, the only freestanding theater designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty and Managing Director Heather M. Kitchen, DTC produces a seven-play subscription series of classics, musicals and new plays and an annual production of A Christmas Carol; extensive education programs, including Project Discovery, SummerStage and partnerships with Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts; and community outreach efforts including leading the DFW Foote Festival and recent collaborations with the Dallas Public Library, Dallas Holocaust Museum, North Texas Food Bank, Dallas Opera, and Dallas Black Dance Theater.  Throughout its history, DTC has produced many new works, including The Texas Trilogy by Preston Jones in 1978, Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men (directed by Adrian Hall) in 1986, and recent premieres of Giant by Michael John LaChiusa and Sybille Pearson, The Trinity River Plays by Regina Taylor, the revised It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, Give It Up! (now titled Lysistrata Jones and recently on Broadway) by Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn, Sarah, Plain and Tall by Julia Jordan, Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and The Good Negro by Tracey Scott Wilson.

Dallas Theater Center gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors: American Airlines; The Dallas Morning News; Haynes and Boone, LLP; Lexus; Texas Instruments and WFAA.

DETAILS AT A GLANCE

The Second City Does Dallas

Material created by the casts of The Second City

Additional original material created by Brooke Breit and Ed Furman

August 29 – September 30, 2012 in the Potter Rose Performance Hall at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre

Music Director and Original Music                           Matthew Loren Cohen

Director                                                                   Matt Hovde

Scenic Design                                                         Bob Lavallee

Costume Support                                                    Jennifer Ables

Lighting Design                                                        Aaron Johansen

Sound Support                                                        Charles Parsley II

Cast                                                                         Brierley Resident Acting Company member Liz Mikel; The Second City members Frank Caeti, Amanda Blake Davis, Martin Garcia, Scott Morehead and John Sabine.

Press Night                                           Friday, September 7 at 8:00 pm

RSVP EMAIL                                          [email protected]

Pay-What-You-Can                                                 Wednesday, August 29 at 7:30pm; tickets on sale online beginning Thursday, August 23; any unsold tickets will be available for purchase at the box office the night of the performance

Previews                                                                 Thursday, August 30 at 7:30pm; Friday, August 31 at 8:00pm; Saturday, September 1 at 8:00pm; Sunday, September 2 at 2:00pm; Sunday, September 2 at 7:30pm; Tuesday, September 4 at 7:30pm; Wednesday, September 5 at 7:30pm and Thursday, September 6 at 7:30pm

Website                                                                   www.DallasTheaterCenter.org

Box Office Phone                                                    (214) 880-0202

Admission                                                               $15 – $85, subject to change

The Second City Does Dallas Performance Calendar

Wednesday               8/29/2012              7:30pm    Pay-What-You-Can, First Preview

Thursday                   8/30/2012              7:30pm    Preview

Friday                        8/31/2012              8:00pm    Preview

Saturday                   9/1/2012                                8:00pm    Preview

Sunday                      9/2/2012                                2:00pm    Preview

Sunday                      9/2/2012                                7:30pm    Preview

Tuesday                    9/4/2012                                7:30pm    Preview

Wednesday               9/5/2012                                7:30pm    Preview

Thursday                   9/6/2012                                7:30pm    Preview

Friday                      9/7/2012                                8:00pm   Opening and Press Night – SOLD OUT

Saturday                   9/8/2012                                2:00pm

Saturday                   9/8/2012                                8:00pm

Sunday                      9/9/2012                                2:00pm

Tuesday                    9/11/2012              7:30pm

Wednesday               9/12/2012              7:30pm

Thursday                   9/13/2012              7:30pm

Friday                        9/14/2012              8:00pm

Saturday                   9/15/2012              2:00pm

Saturday                   9/15/2012              8:00pm

Sunday                      9/16/2012              2:00pm

Sunday                      9/16/2012              7:30pm

Tuesday                    9/18/2012              7:30pm

Wednesday               9/19/2012              7:30pm

Thursday                   9/20/2012              7:30pm

Friday                        9/21/2012              8:00pm

Saturday                   9/22/2012              2:00pm

Saturday                   9/22/2012              8:00pm

Sunday                      9/23/2012              2:00pm

Sunday                      9/23/2012              7:30pm

Tuesday                    9/25/2012              7:30pm

Wednesday               9/26/2012              7:30pm

Thursday                   9/27/2012              7:30pm

Friday                        9/28/2012              8:00pm

Saturday                   9/29/2012              7:30pm

Saturday                   9/29/2012              10:30pm

Sunday                      9/30/2012              2:00pm

Sunday                      9/30/2012              7:30pm

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