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Picture Perfect? at the Second Stage, Fridays February 18 – March 25

Chicago improv group Hugs and Pullups is announcing their latest production, Picture Perfect. Known for their fast pace, relationship driven style of improv, they plan to explore the true meaning behind relationships through seemingly flawless pictures. They will be performing Fridays at 11:00pm from February 18th to March 25th at The Second Stage Theater located at 3408 N. Sheffield. Admission is $5.00. The theater is located near the Addison stop on the El Train Red Line, and can also be reached by the #22 Clark bus, at the Sheffield stop.

Sure, sounds great. Wait, seemingly flawless pictures? What are you talking about?

Awkward family courtesy awkwardfamilyphotos.com

Well, it’s part family psychology and part Awkward Family Photos. It’s every picture you’ve seen from a vacation, or at a family reunion, or just randomly looked at, where you know there’s more happening behind the scenes then this single photo can say. It’s taking a look at the forced smiles, the stiff stances, and the random people running around in the background, and saying to yourself, “I’m glad I’m not there, certainly. I’m sure it’s bad. But…. how bad?”

 

We’re going to answer that for you with a combination of our distinctive style of improv and a brand new improvisational form, created over the course of several months of practice, and designed to dig deeper and deeper into our photographic relics of bizarre memories.

Sounds daunting, but if you’ve seen us perform before (and if not, you can get a taste or two of our style in our list of previous shows) you know we’re always pushing ourselves further and further. This is a pretty big challenge though, so to help us, we have TWO separate teams opening up for us each and every night. These are all home brewed Chicago improv teams, who are ready to make your Friday night a very funny one.

The show is BYOB, because after all, it’s Friday night, and we’re all shaking off the work week. But as an added bonus, if you go across the street afterwords to Nisei Lounge, you’ll get 10% off all your drinks! Now you have no excuse whatsoever to stay serious and sober.

Come see why Hugs and Pullups is one of the best known independent improv teams in Chicago. Join us any Friday in March at 11pm at Second Stage, 3408 N Sheffield, and you’ll walk out with a newfound respect for everybody you’ve ever laughed at in a bad picture.

For questions or inquiries, email handpcomedy@gmail.com. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

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NYC, here we… come?

Well, last night was probably THE busiest night of HnP’s life so far.  It involved a three step mission that will potentially end with us being invited to New York City for the Del Close Marathon July 30-Aug 1, which is a NON-STOP improv show from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, put on by the Upright Citizens’ Brigade each year in honor of Del Close, father of modern improv.

Step 1 involved our rehearsal as usual, beginning with some solid character training, followed by us doing scenes while sitting in an improvised car (aka Shotgun, for all you improv nerds reading this).  Highlight of the night was Jared playing a cross between Foghorn Leghorn and Colonel Sanders, with Meg being his dutiful (and equally stutter-y) wife.  It’s not often we do super quirky shows, but when we do them… it’s weird.

Step 2 involved our first formal photo shoot, headed by none other than Mrs. Felicity Vabulas herself!  She’s like our ninja fan, she stealthily enters the scene to watch our shows or take photos, is super supportive and awesome, and then is content to fade back into the ether while we celebrate.  Oh, and she made birthday cupcakes for both Joe and me too, which pretty much makes her my favorite person right now.

I know that Lindsay is our professional photographer (her daily updated photo blog is here) but sadly, she had to perform her Monday night show, Williams and Martinez, during this time.  So we missed you Lindsay, but still… I got cupcakes haha.

Highlight of this phase: Meg growing 4 inches in the heels she borrowed, and then randomly losing her balance since she was so unused to them.

To close the night out with Part 3 we went over our submission for the Del Close Marathon, and I gotta tell you, it was classic Madmen.  We’re sitting around in formal attire, tired and stressed by the end, going over everything we’ve typed up, checking, double-checking, then going back again at the end and doing it all over.  All we were missing was hard liquor.  Next time guys.

So we may very well end up in NYC over the summer, which would be great, as it’s been 3 whole years since I moved from there.  The time really flies, it’s still hard to believe for me sometimes.  I miss my friends out there, and I’d love an opportunity to see them again, and show them why exactly I left.

That’s all for now guys!  If you want to hear the news as soon as we get it, follow us on Twitter or become our Facebook friend.  You’ll get the latest news, or maybe you’ll just get Brian making things up cause he’s in a meeting that’s going way to long.  Either way, it’ll make you LOL at work and your boss will look at you threateningly.