Celebrate An Improviser Who Isn't Around Anymore!

[Biddle]

I was just thinking about improv peeps who've either moved on or who have just disappeared altogether and I thought perhaps you guys might have similar stories. Folks who showed up, played with you a little bit and then have just sort of faded away.

I thought that we might write a short paragraph about them. Introducing them, as it were, to the new folks and to other people who might miss them too. If you have pictures, maybe you could post them too.

I would be happy to start.

Phil Festoso - Man, Phil Festoso. What a great guy. And a smart, capable, funny improviser too. I worked with Phil as the lights and sound op for "Clueless", back in 2004. Phil was relatively new to the improv scene. And he wanted to be involved, but not as a performer. So, he worked backstage with me. He was wildly enthusiastic about the show and about improv. He was taking classes at IO and would come in to rehearsals, pumped up from something that he'd discovered that day at class. His enthusiasm for the artform was a lot of fun to be around.

After "Clueless" closed, Phil performed in the first cast of "The Monday Show" for me. I could tell then that his schedule was beginning to be stretched thin by his duties to his family. But he made most of the rehearsals and all of the shows. He was really great in the show. He brought a much older man's perspective to the show. He was very generous sharing details about his life and his family with us.

I haven't seen Phil in 2 or 3 years now. I sent him a few emails and left a few voicemails and I never heard back from him. I heard from Edison that Phil's work really picked up and that he walked away from improv to spend more time with his family. Which is, of course, a good reason to leave.

Phil was a great guy. He and Dave Ries and I started Lunch Bunch together. Because we wanted to meet up and geek out about our show and about the improv stuff that we were doing. Phil and I also played City of Heroes together, in the early days of the game. My first few games were played, along with Phil.

[Fooomfh]

he's still around, just not in the improv community. or he might be riding a book through the air and collecting clouds. either way, i miss watching Tom Blandford on a regular basis. so intense and committed. if you've ever seen him perform, you probably feel the same way.

[Arnie]

I miss performing with Tom Blanford.

[PatTracy]

Upon first glance, Paul Elsberg (who's around town, but not doing improv at the moment) is a gainfully employed, buttoned-down, extremely polite gentleman...so I fucking love the fact he possesses this fantastic, unexpected uber wackiness. He's kind of Stephen Colbert-esque in that way. He always takes risks on stage, is as smart as a whip, and was an awesome teammate.

I miss making things up with him.

[BenSeeder]

Craig Uhlir.

I think he's out in Vegas, but he was so fun to watch. One of the most hilarious people I've ever seen on stage. Tons of genuine emotion, charisma, and intensity.


Pure Uhlir.

[Monahan]

I've never seen a performer play more from a place of joy than Case Clay. I think he's in Kentucky raising horses now, but goddamn was that guy funny and engaging in a way that made everything he did onstage exciting. Shouldn't there be a JTS Brown reunion show coming up at some point?

[macarthur31]

I also second Case Clay. A sweet performer, and even better person. Monahan, I think you're right about how he was "exciting." He was this brilliant combination of sincerity and mischief.

In the spirit of the thread, I'd like to recognize Mike Brumm. I got to play with him towards the end of the Genealogy run. So smart and funny. I found him to be a thoughtful, playful person on and off the stage. If I remember correctly, he went off to NYC and now he's writing for Colbert.

[carebear]

I third Case Clay! He was the very first person I thought of. Could he be anymore fun?

Carrie

[Craig Cackowski]

Shouldn't there be a JTS Brown reunion show coming up at some point?

CIF, 2008.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x178/craigcackowski/JTSBrown.jpg

[Telfer]

Hestor Piggins.

[POPS]

Grondy. and Those Guys.

[bhite]

Bumper Carroll.
I think he's still in town. The man could do no wrong: committed, always seemed to bring a joy to what he did, great characters and always gave a piece exactly what it needed. If it was time to ease up, he was there. If it needed a burst of energy, he was on it. During an Armando, I once saw him roll on the ground wailing for 5 minutes and Grondy had to mime for a solid 4.5 while the audience just died. He's the only person I've ever seen heighten a nervous breakdown.

[Biddle]

Bumper Carroll.
I think he's still in town. The man could do no wrong: committed, always seemed to bring a joy to what he did, great characters and always gave a piece exactly what it needed. If it was time to ease up, he was there. If it needed a burst of energy, he was on it. During an Armando, I once saw him roll on the ground wailing for 5 minutes and Grondy had to mime for a solid 4.5 while the audience just died. He's the only person I've ever seen heighten a nervous breakdown.

I absolutely agree. He was also very approachable to new improvisers. He was one of the first people that I met, when I moved to Chicago. He was on the SC touring show cast and answered some of my questions about SC and improv. He was a big help.

And he was, as you say, brilliantly funny. I saw audiences die for him over and over again.

Thanks for posting that,
COB

[Miss Mason]

CIF, 2008.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x178/craigcackowski/JTSBrown.jpg


Ohhh, Cacky. You made me miss Jed Resnik A LOT! I celebrate him. I miss you too Craig.

[Crago]

I miss Rachel Mason. She used to be in my favorite show entitled, "4 Douchebags," until she suddenly passed away from Elephantitis of the Scrotum. She was barely able to do a dinner scene towards the end of her life. Here she is pictured below in that once-famous show.

http://www.ryanwilliambush.com/crago/images/MyPicture.jpg

Shine on Rachel Mason, wherever you are. I always felt your heart was as big as your balls.

[buntwanter]

I miss Vapo Rubbins.

Guy was a fucking genius.

[Egoodness]

I must add my voice to the Case Clay Rocks Chorus. Playing with Case was a continual reminder of why we all started improvising in the first place. I just hope the horses get it.

Isn't Grondy on a boat somewhere? Uhlir is in Vegas. I saw him scream about pancakes one night. It may have been a sketch show but still. He made pancakes funny again. Bumper and Jen. Ah...so many. I miss everyone in that JTS Brown picture. Great photo, by the way Mr. Cacki. I'd just had a birthday.

My 12th.

[ritty]

Well, not to mention Ed "Egoodness" Goodman himself who isn't around Chicago anymore. It's one of my few regrets in life that I didn't get to improvise in Chicago with Ed. We make up for it when we can, though.

Here's a picture of me and him and these two hookers we murdered one night:

[illades]

Here here to Case Clay. I miss watching that guy play. So patient and so smart.

I also miss watching Ed Furman play.

And especially my old friend Laurel Coppock. I miss watching her and improvising with her. She's one of the funniest people I've ever played with.

[improdude]

Grondy. and Those Guys.

i thought this thread was for improvisor's who aren't around anymore. those guys were at the 2007 sketch fest. they did a show called cta rick. hiraliosity! and they have their own website, thoseguys.com they do sketch showcases at the io, they are all over chicago. i see them post their vidz for peeps to check out on this board all the time. did they break up? i hope not.

:confused:

[Fooomfh]

different Those Guys.

Those Guys was a sketch group around 2001ish that included John Lutz, Matt Chapman, Jim Carlson, Craig Uhlir....and a few others? am i way off?

[improdude]

oh good, same name different guys. thanks for the clarification.

[Shotts]

Yeah. I miss Those Guys. But mostly, I miss DeWalt. I'm sorry he died.

Of AIDS.

Yeah, I said it. AIDS.

[carebear]

Here here to Case Clay. I miss watching that guy play. So patient and so smart.

I also miss watching Ed Furman play.

And especially my old friend Laurel Coppock. I miss watching her and improvising with her. She's one of the funniest people I've ever played with.

I also missy me some Laurel Coppock. One of my all time favorites, on and offstage. That girl is hiarious to the max and a killer actress and writer. And pretty, and nice and smart. BONER!

Also, Christina Gausas looks EXACTLY the same now as she did in that old photo. Beautiful. Miss her too.


Y

Carrie
=)

[DeWalt]

Those Guys and ThoseGuysFilms.com are different groups/words/people/names.

"CTA Rick" is an old scene, not a show. Those Guys did better scenes I'm sure.

I'm still alive Jason - I just have HIV is all. Me and Magic Johnson go golfing and look healthy because our large ammount of income allows us to conceal our virus. I hope Felt went well Wed.

[Shotts]

Haven't you died of AIDS yet?

That disease is not what it used to be.

[DeWalt]

Seriously though,

I miss Matt Craig a lot - he is probably the most recently departed who I admired a lot in scripted and improvised work, he was so fun to watch but also a good actor. Big influence.

Rebecca Drysdale is my favorite female comedian I have ever seen, so I miss her a lot.

Even though he only recently left I will miss Pete Grosz's class and skill a lot - god that man is fucking good.

Bakkedahl. Villepique. Molly Hale. TJ Miller was always fun to watch, always. Lisa Brooke.

[DeWalt]

Haven't you died of AIDS yet?

That disease is not what it used to be.

I think you should use this in an upcoming Cougars show. or Felt.

Shotts is in both of those shows, guys.

[buntwanter]

Rob Smith, John Connolly, Christine Sinacore...

Tony Seales!!!

[Steev]

Rob Smith, John Connolly, Christine Sinacore...

Tony Seales!!!

John Connolly played in the Cinco de Bob reunion show at the PG anniversary. I always thought he was one of the best "acting" improvisors. Plus, his performance on the back of the cholesterol-ridden Hungry Man Breakfast box was legendary.

[Eckart]

Among many, I miss playing with/seeing:
Case Clay
Mike Brumm
Ike Barinholz
Rob Smith
Brendan Gardiner

I also miss seeing:
Christina Gausas
Stephnie Weir
Kevin Dorff
Bob Dassie

on a regular basis, among others.

[Stacey]

I miss Mike Carr. A more recent transplant in and out - now acting like a monster in Disney World.

[robbersean]

ditto Mike Carr.

[Dave]

Bumper
Bob Skupien
Grondy
Jed
Scott Adsit

[Ldub]

Bakkedahl. Amazing to watch. No fear - on stage or off.

[Fooomfh]

Peter Grosz and Deb Downing

[Peyton]

I miss George MaCulliffe (sp?). He was a grounded and patient improviser who always had characters that were honest and had integrity. Unfortunatley he passed away about three years ago in a tragic motorcycle accident. He will be missed.

[Rich]

I miss Andrew Peyton, every chance I get.

[Resnik]

I can't believe I got name checked twice. Gracias.

I miss everyone.

:)

[LaniandEmi]

I miss Andrew Peyton, every chance I get.

Too true Rich.

Hey, I have an idea! Lets all celebrate already celebrated improvisers that were here 10 years ago, none of us know, and will never read this board!!! Woo hoo!

Alana Johnston. Then. Now. Forever.

The best joke maker on this goofy list.

[Hans]

Eddie Murray of the Baltimore Orioles.

[Fooomfh]

good call, hans. that guy had some GREAT initiations.

[benjohnson]

Best switch-initiator of all time. Hands down.

[Fooomfh]

really? what about Mickey Mantle? i know he wasn't an improvisor, but the guy was amazing from both sides of the plate, despite cutting his own career short with alcoholism.

[Michael Lehrer]

Craig Uhlir is back in Chicago within in weeks people, get ready!

Rob Smith and Joe Carney. Those were the guys I was jealous of as a young improv buck, and after some forced uncomfortnble small talk, truns out they are both really good guys too!

I dont think Carney started the 'Get in my office BLANK," but he certianly helped carry the torch

Rob Smith taught me that people with down syndrome are horny as hell.

Lehrer

[professionalfaker]

Steve Ausmuss - made it on the iO schedule out of nowhere, stayed on for 6 months! Never had a bad show. Ever.