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I was chatting with my friend, Matt Elwell, today about ComedySportz. I have known Matt for about 8 years, and even worked with him in Beatbox many years ago. Matt is now the President & CEO of ComedySportz. Matt always supported me in my improv, and was a good person to bounce thoughts of, especially when I auditioned for CSz and didn't get in (2002,2003,2004,2006,2007). I told him that ComedySportz was my ultimate improv goal, but I don't know if i ever shared why.

Before I get into the CSz goal, let me give you some background. First, I never will make the attempt to be an actor/comedian/performer full time. I have a 'real job', which prevents it. I also am too lazy to put all the effort in living the dream. If someone offered me SNL or some big thing, of course I would take it. I just won't work for it. I know, I suck. Because of this, I never wanted to be in TourCo (ThoughtWorks made me travel enough back then), work on a boat, do ImprovAcadia, or try and get on one of the Second City stages.  There are plenty of opportunities (especially in Chicago) to perform regularly with all that audition-for-everything effort. 

Places where a casual improvisor can enjoy the stage include The Playground (my first love!), iO, Annoyance, pH, CIC, ComedySportz, and about 30 other theaters and bars across the city. Really, we are spoiled here. With all of the opportunities come much responsibility. Chicago is flooded with people taking improv classes and doing shows. People come from all over to learn and perform here. It was much easier 5 years ago to get a team going with stage time. 

So, why ComedySportz? Good question. I started performing at The Playground in 2001, and through people there, I got cast in a show at the old ComedySportz theatre (back when it was on Halsted). That place was amazing. Big stage. Nice house. Green room in the basement. A few class rooms. There was even a trapdoor. Remember that? I think I used it in a show once. I was cast as a rapping Groovaloompah in MC Willie and the Music Factory. I auditioned after the show to be in the main ensemble and made it to call backs. Great! First time...CALLBACKS! I continued doing a few other shows, but they were all kids shows like Stinky Cheese Man. Fun, but not the mainstage. 

The first time I watched the show, I was hooked. Fast. Energetic. Fun. Difficult. That's what did it for me. It looked like a hard show. Sure, the common things that people say about joining ComedySportz is that they pay, the houses are great, or that the ensemble is fun. It's all of that, but it's also difficult. I saw ComedySportz as the club in high school that I knew about, but couldn't get in. The Skull & Bones of comedy. The ensemble usually has about 50ish people in it, and only a small group is brought in each year. 

As years went by, the more I auditioned, the more I wanted it. I seemed to get to callbacks every year, but that's it. I would get notes of not big enough characters, or not attacking the scene. I would also see friends I worked with getting in. That's great for them. I wanted it more. I want to play with Jay Olson & Dave Ries. One year, only 3 or 4 people were taken. I would take Ross Bryant over me every time. Still, that made me want it more, until the last audition. 

After the 2007 audition, I decided that I wasn't going to audition again, and that I just wasn't what ComedySportz wanted. Did that mean I didn't want ComedySportz? No way.  It was harder and harder every year.  When Matt called and offered me a "temp contract" to help with all of the buyouts/remotes for the holiday season, I pounced. A few months later, I was invited to join as a full member. Didn't think twice. 

Why did I put myself through all of that? Could I have been happy just continuing playing with Homey Loves Chachi at The Playground? Does the magic of Da Do Run Run really mean that much? 

Even after doing a few years of shows, I still feel challenged. It feels great to take an audience, commit and re-commit to the show, and give them the best time they have had in a long while.  Standing in the stairwell, talking to the 10 year old kid who is in town with a school trip, and then nailing 5 things, I know that kid is having a blast. There are tons of ways to challenge yourself as a performer in ComedySportz. 

I'm a happy and positive person by nature, and that is exactly what the show is, and its hard.

So, thank you Matt. Thank you ensemble. Thank you audience volunteer. Thank you 10 year old kid. Thank you improv.