Lola Balatro Archives -

Talking with Lola Balatro about its secrets and the Night of Unrelenting Splendor

Entertainment, Interviews / By Teme Ring / Leave a Comment / March 29, 2016 / Cork Kangas, Jeff Madden, Lola Balatro, Paul Thomas

Every so often you listen to an album and then and there you’re committed for life. It’s happened for me a handful of times. Earliest on, it was The Jackson Five’s Third Album. Then came Carole King’s Tapestry, Earth Wind and Fire’s All ‘N All, Heart’s Dreamboat Annie, Black Sabbath’s Paranoid, Nirvana’s Unplugged, Hole’s Live …

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The Defiant Thomas Brothers return for limited run in even more politically correct world* and talk to me

Entertainment, Interviews / By Teme Ring / Leave a Comment / August 27, 2015 / Chicago Improv Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Lola Balatro, Paul Thomas, Second City, Seth Thomas, The Defiant Thomas Brothers, U.S. Comedy Arts Festival

I am talking with the Defiant Thomas Brothers and they are all of those things. They are Thomases, being Seth Thomas and Paul Thomas. They are brothers in comedy, creativity and fame, if not genetics. They are also defying my terrier-like attempts to get them to spill the secrets of their magic. There has to be a …

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Your Chicago Comedy Calendar for July 2015

Calendars, Entertainment / By Teme Ring / Leave a Comment / June 30, 2015 / Adam Burke, Annoyance Theatre, Arguments and Grievances, Baron Vaughn, Chicago comedy, Chicago Underground Comedy, Chris Bader, Chris Redd, Colin Jost, Comedians You Should Know, Cork Kangas, Daman Wayans, Dan Peff, Danny Kallas, Dave Helem, Dave Paquesi, David Heti, Dobie Maxwell, Felonious Monk, Godfrey, Hope Rehak, Improv Nerd, iO, Jeff Arcuri, Jeff Madden, Jim Flannigan, Jimmy Carrane, Joe Machi, Joe Rogan, John P. Hopkins, Jorin Garguilo, Joseph William Reese, Kate Berlant, Katie Rich, Kellye Howard, Kelsie Huff, Ken Sevara, Kevin Hart, Krista Atkinson, Kristen Toomey, Laugh Factory, Lee Brophy, Lola Balatro, Loni Love, Margaret Hicks, Marlon Mitchell, Miss Spoken, Mission Theater, Natalie Jose, Nate Weatherup, Pat McGann, Patrick O'Hara, Patti Vasquez, Paul Thomas, Rajiv Satyal, Sarah Gallagher, Scott Duff, Scott Morehead, Sean White, Second City, Susan Messing, Tamale Sepp, The Comedy Exposition, Tim Walkoe, TJ and Dave, TJ Jagodowski, Todd Glass, Zanies

My rule for this calendar was there had to be comedy every day! As if it’s a challenge. It would be harder in Chicago to find a day without comedy. Certainly in July, you won’t need to restrict fire power to the Fourth. Comedy fireworks are all month and no mosquitoes. (Please confirm details to …

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Comedian Paul Thomas Warms Up January

Entertainment, Interviews / By Teme Ring / Leave a Comment / January 4, 2015 / Anjee Oliver, Chad Briggs, Chad Wilson, Defiant Thomas Brothers, Hardtryer Entertainment, Jeff Madden, Lola Balatro, Meaghan Strickland, Paul Thomas, The Paul Thomas Effort

Most New Year’s resolutions are unappealing, but this year I can’t resist. Fighter-trainer Kurt Grasa (oops, don’t look up what his last name means in Spanish) promises to make me “an all-around whole participant on this planet” in five minutes a day with his just released “Mixed Life Arts” program. His methods are somewhat unusual. …

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