Paul Thomas

Defiant Thomas Brothers are back with a new show and I can’t wait to see what they do next!

The Defiant Thomas Brothers are back for a new season from October 1 to November 19 at Stage 773. With that news, 2016 is looking brighter. The Defiant Thomas Brothers’ comedy is about life and reality and their scenes are always undiluted by agendas, messages, and caution. Musically masterful, improbably hummable songs also play a …

Defiant Thomas Brothers are back with a new show and I can’t wait to see what they do next! Read More »

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

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 …

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

Defiant Thomas Brothers to teach master class at Second City

This morning, The Second City Training Center announced a monthly one-day master class to be taught by The Defiant Thomas Brothers. The first class will be March 5. Paul and Seth Thomas, who are brothers in last name and comedy if not technically blood, currently have a prestigious and rare open run at Second City’s …

Defiant Thomas Brothers to teach master class at Second City Read More »

From courtroom to comedy: the unique career of Chicago Comedy Film Festival’s Ray Chao

You know Ray Chao. You may know him from growing up in Morton Grove or from high school at Niles West or from the Game of Thrones trailer that preceded Jurassic World in theaters nationwide last summer. He currently appears in commercials for Ford Motor Co., HP and in a Doritos commercial he created, hopefully …

From courtroom to comedy: the unique career of Chicago Comedy Film Festival’s Ray Chao Read More »

Your Chicago Comedy Calendar for September 2015

SECOND CITY/ UP COMEDY CLUB FIRE UPDATE/ VENUE CHANGES  AS OF 10:00 a.m. 9/14/15        At the top of my list this month is the return of the Defiant Thomas Brothers.Their reunion was the comedy news of the summer. Opening night was to be at Second City this Friday, September 4, but due …

Your Chicago Comedy Calendar for September 2015 Read More »

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

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 …

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

Your Chicago Comedy Calendar for July 2015

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 …

Your Chicago Comedy Calendar for July 2015 Read More »

Comedian Paul Thomas Warms Up January

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. …

Comedian Paul Thomas Warms Up January Read More »