Happy Birthday/ Anniversary, Playground

[John]

Thank you, Playground, for giving me someplace to play.
Thank you for my first team "Warehouse", which eventually became "Photo Booth".
And thanks especially for my current team "Wing Night", who I heart dearly.

Thanks to everyone who volunteers their time to make it a better place, especially those who took on the job of running a co-op.

My personal thanks to Speedy, who I see there all too often, but keep forgetting to thank.

Because of all of you, I had someplace to play when I had no other place to go. Happy Anniversary.

-John

[Edison]

I've only been there for about half of it, but it's been a sweet and fun run.

I have fond memories of pre-show nervousness, warming up for shows in the basement of the space at Lincoln and Roscoe. It smelled musty and the low ceiling and pipes were a constant hazard.
I miss hanging afterward at Tavern 33.

The constant though, is the cool people I've met and played with over the years. I've made some good friends, and it keeps getting better and better.

Happy Anniversary, Playground!
Thanks for giving me a place to play and learn more about improv.
Good times, indeed.

PS: Special nod to the people who run things there. Matt, Rene, and especially Speedy.
Salut!

[hixx]

If there had been no Playground, I would not have found the most handsome man alive to live with me and love me.

But, on the flipside, I wouldn't have had to touch Dave Colan's balls.

So...yup.

Hixx

[Biddle]

Dear Playground,

So, I hear you're ten now, sweetheart. Wow. That's really great. This has got to be a very exciting time for you. Your board has all kinds of crazy hormones running through it, telling you to do this or that. A small blackbox theater can get really mixed up, ya know?

Do you mind if I sit here on your bed with you?

Great.

Listen, if you ever need someone to talk to about the strange and wonderful changes that are happening with your body, my room is right down the hall. Don't be afraid to come in there at any time with anything that you want to show me or tell me or ask me, okay hon?

And if you ever want me to show YOU anything or explain anything to YOU, don't be afraid to ask. We just can't tell your president about it, okay? It has to be our secret. Just you and me, kiddo.

Our special, special secret. Okay?

Your website is really coming along. I bet it drives the boys crazy at school.

Yep, I bet it does.

Ah, God.

Welp. I gotta go. I need another beer and I don't want your Professionalism Committee to catch me in here, alone with you, again. I don't know if I told you this or not, but the last time that happened, I got a Black Eye.

Hang in there, kitty. You'll be just fine.

Oh, and one more thing, if you wake up at night and your bed is wet, that's called "ejaculate". It's perfectly natural and perfectly normal for a healthy, sexually-budding ten year old girl. I do it all the time.

Sleep tight.

Your new stepdad.
Tony.

[Dave Ries]

Happy Anniverary, Playground!

You were the first stage that Chris Biddle ever creeped me out on.

[The Sayj]

Dear Playground,

Thanks for the great weekend. I hope you call me soon. I like you. I mean like, "like you" like you. Ok, I'm gonna go now.
Ok, call me, Ok?

Your friend,
Sayjal

P.S. Are you gonna be at that party at you, that International Stinger is hosting Thursday night? I hope so 'cause I'll be there but if your not it's cool, it's not like I'm going because of you but it'd be cool if you were there Ok bye!

[gotsick]

Happy Anniversary Playground. Thank you for having me.

And ...

thank you for rewarding entrepreneurship.
thank you for being an easy, generous producer.
thank you for nurturing young improvisers.
thank you for having the humblest, most open door in the city.
thank you for encouraging people and teams to take risks, and not judging them when they miss the mark. It's not just a name - you are truly an improviser's playground.

Seriously, we all take the Playground for granted, but we probably shouldn't. It revolutionized independent improv in Chicago, which is now a thriving community unto itself.

I love the Playground. Hooray.

[rachelblewis]

Dear Playground,

Congrats on the big 1-0!

Thanks for the great times with my first improv team in Chicago, the amazing incubator team, Cul-de-sac JUSTICE! BEST NAME EVER!

Thanks for letting me rock some sketch at Grafitti!

Thanks for housing Chewties! from time to time. You have allowed us to really develop and grow as a team!

Thanks for giving me a team to coach!

I HEART THE PLAYGROUND!

-R

[LoLo]

YAY! Happy 10th anniversary. That is a long time.
Thank you for bringing Red Hot Hi-Tops, The MISSfits, and Big Yellow Bus into my life, as well as the chance to perform sketch at Grafitti, which has been such a great experience. I have had so many good times at the PG and hope to have a lot more.
Have a good summer!!
LYLAS,
Lauren

[Omega]

Thank you Playground for...

No Shoe Zone, my first improv team I was ever on in the city and you had faith in me at age 19. I still play with many of those folks today.

Black Sheep, my first foray onto a more "professional team. You had faith in me at age 21.

Micetro, because I love Sinead and you all let us have a phenominal time there.

The Midnight, the first and possibly last show I produce in the city. You have faith in me at age 22.

Thank you for having faith in me, at age 10 you're great folks.

[Improviser's Delight]

Oh Playground, you big boy you. Those crazy days and summer improv nights.

Thank you for my very first team in Chicago (RHHT). Thank you for the friends I have made and the learning experiences I have had. Thanks for great coaches. Thanks for hosting solo improv and Andy Eninger. Thanks for dealing with my schedule. Thanks for getting me drunk near a dumpster during fun holiday parties. Thanks for putting me up. Thanks for being flexible.

Shoutout to C.L.O.A.K.A, MJ, Cathcart, Red Hots, O'Rourke, Barbera, Wendy, Eiberger, Sammy, Speedy and the other folks who make this thing work without getting enough money/recognition. I wouldn't have the space to list all the folks who have been kind, hard-working, and supportive enough to allow me to nestle in the fruits of the PG's improv bossom.

The truth is, Playground, even when you mess up, I still love you. Cause I know you are good and built of the most selfless stuff around. Just like the improv you host, the process makes its all worth it.

[benjohnson]

Thanks for being the only place where American Dream could be American Dream.

[kenziecondon]

dear playground

thank you for making the MISSfits and the senate

thank you for cheap rentals

thank you for being nice

thank you for not selling overpriced booze

and thank you also to hendo and shelby and sammy for being supportive, dedicated coaches.

(gayballs)

[Admin]

Dear Playground -

Thanks for being a sucker, and letting me use and abuse you for my egomaniacal self promotion!

This week on Don't Spit the Water:
http://www..com/newsletter/earl.jpghttp://www..com/newsletter/mildred.jpghttp://www..com/newsletter/mystery.jpg

[stonelake]

Dear The Playground-

Thanks for introducing me to Ray Mees and for building and then hosting the spectacular wailing demise of FacePunch.
Thanks for not kicking my ass when I covered your stage with tic tacs.
Thanks for letting me occasionally visit The State of Delaware.
Thanks for hosting the amazing metastization of .
Thanks for letting me back no matter how long I am away.
Thanks for being BYOB.

[Captain Bob]

Dear Playground,

Thanks for your 10 years.
Thanks for believing in me as a coach.
Thanks for all members of International Stinger past and present.
Thanks for the Big Yellow Bus - some of the most fun shows I've ever been in.
Thanks for Mr. Fancypants. The best group of jerks anyone has ever (never) seen.
Thanks for all the wonderful people who put so much damn time into making that ship run as smooth as it can.
Thanks for letting us host the Open Court, the greatest place for new improvisors to perform without feeling judged.

Happy 10 years, Playground.
You Are Great.

[Blounts]

Oh, and one more thing, if you wake up at night and your bed is wet, that's called "ejaculate". It's perfectly natural and perfectly normal for a healthy, sexually-budding ten year old girl. I do it all the time.

Sleep tight.

Thanks for being the only theater in town where this guy plays.

[ParisGreen]

Dear Playground -

Thank you for...

letting me produce the Director's Series for all those years. It was a helluva time and I got to work with some really great directors like Joe Bill, Jen Ellison, Dan Izzo, Jason Chin and Rob Mello.

giving Andy Eninger the opportunity to share Sybilization with the rest of the community. I feel really lucky that I got to be a part of all those sessions as an observer and producer. Seeing improvisers grow as solo performers and Andy grow as a teacher was an amazing and rewarding experience.

Kissing George/Dirty Sweet. We weren't the greatest team, but we certainly weren't the worst. You introduced me to my friend Fuzzy Gerdes, who I still make mischief with today.

providing me with a home for the Belmont Burlesque Revue. Sure, we're renters, but you've been our home base for the last three years. Our fans love the intimacy of the space and the location. We're able to give our audience a different experience than the other burlesque shows in town because of the Playground's unique set-up and we're glad for it.

introducing me to Mark Henderson, who I have been with for seven of your ten years. When I was placed on his Incubator team I thought he was kind of an asshole. He is sometimes, but I love him anyways.

[bagnall]

happy birthday playground!
you are filled with wonderful, smart and funny people.
thanks for giving me so many opportunities to play (starting with those rockstars, dear john deere), not to mention giving sooo many people a place to play.
i wish you many more years.