The Second City’s 2024 Black Excellence Revue, titled “Black By Popular Demand,” is back for the new year and running through May 25, 2024, with plenty of audience improv surprises.
Following up a 2023 sold-out engagement, Rob Wilson is back directing this spring two-hour revue of clever songs, sketches and off-the-cuff improv spanning both current and traditional topics to keep audiences buzzing in the UP stage space in the famed comedy complex 230 West North Ave. in Chicago.
The cast members are returning favorites Arlieta Hall and Adonis Holmes with new additions Breanna Ghostone, Samuel B. Jackson, Deshawn Mason and Faith Valerie. Tony Santiago is associate director and Sean Sykes joins as musical director.
Among innovative and amusing moments are the cast’s interpretation of “shopping promised land” aka the aisles of a neighboring Target store. Standout Adonis Holmes is priceless when he assumes a seat in the audience and does his out-loud narration of the escalating scary scenes of a murderous thriller movie theater experience. The cast cleverly unites to take the audience to visit “Black heaven” as well as the guest potluck menu items contributed via song for a “typical” Black neighborhood gathering.
Samuel B. Jackson and Breanna Ghostone are incredible slipping in and out of the roles of a pretentious Wrigleyville couple meeting an established older and gritty neighborhood couple, the latter worried about “the neighborhood changing with young people.”
Anyone of age during the 1970s will appreciate the cast’s salute to the brain-invading local TV commercial for Andriana Furs, the famed local furrier once based near Evergreen Park.
The cast and the producing team outperform their commitment to showcase diversity in comedy for both a blend of new and original material, classic hits and improvised experiences and perspectives to engage, entertain and amuse mind and soul.
Tickets start at $29 at 312-337-3992 or online at secondcity.com.
What a card
Anyone with a birthday on Feb. 29 likely isn’t too familiar with receiving birthday greeting cards. But in 2000, Hallmark added its special line of leap year birthday cards to mark this special “every four years” event. This year’s memorable card line includes a range of card designs featuring phrases and verbiage such as: “If you have a Leap Year Birthday, do you get four cakes?” “You’ve always been advanced for your age.” “Who else can say they could legally drink when they were six?” For more information, www.hallmark.com.
Leaping another year
It’s amazing how many notable people have been born on the fated date of Feb. 29 for leap year.
Besides the group of “living” notables, here are some famed names from the past born on this day:
* Born in 1468, Pope Paul III was the last Renaissance Era pope.
*Singer and actor Dinah Shore, born in 1916.
* Orchestra leader Jimmy Dorsey, born in 1904.
* “A Star is Born” film director William Wellman, born in 1896.
* Baseball star Al Rosen (the “Hebrew Hammer” Cleveland Indians) born 1924.
* Actor Alex Rocco “Look Who’s Talking” born 1936.
* Policeman-turned-actor Dennis Farina born 1944.
Still alive and celebrating this leap year 2024: Rocker Randy Jackson of Zebra (“Tell Me What You Want”) is 17 (born 1956). Motivational Speaker Tony Robbins is 16 (born in 1960). Football player Cary Lee Conklin (San Francisco 49ers) is 14 (born 1968). Actor Antonio Sabato Jr., singer Steve Hart of Worlds Apart, football player Fabien Bownes of the Chicago Bears, and Olympic diver Chris Devine are 13 (all born in 1972). Rapper Ja Rule is 12 (born in 1976). Actor Peter Scanavino (“Law and Order SVU”) is 11 (born in 1980). Band leader Mark Foster of Foster the People is 10 (born in 1984).
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org.
