"Saving" money

Weeks 10-14: Some more missing bits

When last we left our little project, I had just discovered some minor omissions from the plans: specifically, the sound systems for the theatre. So as I worked to pull together specifications for that little addition, a few other items came to light

Audition Notice: SPIN by Penny Penniston

Theater Wit is currently scheduling auditions for SPIN by Penny Penniston, running 4/21/10 - 6/30/10. Rehearsals begin 3/22.

Currently casting:

Ruby Jones, professional tennis player (African American male, 20-30)

Danielle, street kid (White/Hispanic female, 16-18)

Jack, account executive (White male, 20-30)

Aaron, street kid/activist (White male, 18-20)

Ruby Jones may be Equity or non-Equity, all others non-Equity with competitive weekly rehearsal and performance pay.

Audition dates and times in January. For consideration, please send resume (include email) to

Theater Wit

attn: Spin

4720 N Winchester

Chicago IL 60640

No electronic submissions, please.

Mitchell hangs out with Ana Belaval

Mitchell Fain, star of our current show "The Santland Diaries", was up bright and early Tuesday morning alongside WGN Morning News' delightful "Around Town" reporter Ana Belaval, to help spread holiday cheer, live from Michigan Avenue.

A big thanks to Mitchell, who despite the 15 degree temperature (or perhaps because of it?) was in fantastic sarcastic form. At one point, as they had a jolly Santa lurk behind him for the shot (one of his personal nightmares), Mitchell said, "Ummm, Ana, I need to ask Santa there to take six big steps back...I have a restraining order against him".  The entire crew lost it and Santa looked like Mitchell had just accused him of being a rapist. It was awesome. Ana asked Mitchell if he likes children, and he leaned into the camera, saying, "Yes. especially YOURS" He's a friggin' genius, PLUS, he managed to squeeze in several great on-air mentions for the show so I pretty much want to marry him.

The show, by the way, is starting to pack 'em into Theater Building Chicago, now that the season is truly upon us.  So don't wait, tickets are going fast, particularly for next week's holiday week performances starting Tuesday night. For tickets and info, go to theaterwit.org

Back to you, Larry and Robin.

Last chance for Drinks with Crumpet

Enjoy cocktails with Crumpet the elf, a.k.a. Mitchell Fain - who is ALREADY playing to rave reviews in Theater Wit’s 2009 production of The Santaland Diaries - at theWit Hotel, Chicago’s hippest new downtown hangout, 201 N. State Street, this Thursday, December 17th, from 9:30 pm til ?

Crumpet is arriving straight from his evening shift working the “this way out” station at Macy’s Santaland, so he won’t have time to change out of his elf costume.

(Okay, that’s a lie, Mitchell’s really heading down to theWit straight from his Thursday, 7:30 performance at Theater Building Chicago.)

Either way, come help Mitchell and more friends of Theater Wit drown their seasonal sorrows in theWit’s sleek, second floor Library bar. Plus, you can enter-to-win free tickets and get exclusive discounts to The Santaland Diaries, playing now through January 2nd at Theater Building Chicago.

And if you haven't seen The Santaland Diaries, call the Theatre Building Chicago box office at 773.327.5252, or reserve online today at http://www.theaterwit.org. To learn more about theWit, check out http://thewithotel.com.

Stepping into the Empty Space

OK, so between our benefit, Halloween and my desire to see EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF ENTOURAGE EVER FILMED, I have not been writing about progress at the new space, and there has been amazing, astonishing progress. So, here's a quick recap of what happening in our build out:

Week 3-4

This week was mainly about pouring the new concrete for the floor. The final amount, which had been quoted at $21,000 ended up being about $19,000 of which $4,000 was already budgeted so it could have been worse. When the space was clear, the concrete truck came, a sight that delighted my four year old daughter although the noise scared her a little. You pay for the materials, but you also pay for the truck hourly, and given the subcontractor's desire to limit the truck's time, I assume that portion is non-trivial. The truck poured concrete into the bobcat, which then drove it into place and dumped it. The concrete was then shovelled into place by one team, followed by two other guys who specialialized in smoothing it out. I asked if I could write my name in it, and the GC got a pained look and whispered, "wait till these guys leave." They work really hard to smooth it out perfectly, and then some asshole comes along with a sharp stick. Fair enough.

Good food, fine drink and elves

Our annual bbq was this weekend and was a blast. In addition to some truly fantastic food and drink donated by Cooper's and Joey's Brickhouse (if you haven't eaten with our new neighbors, you should make plans immediately), we had a truly hysterical presentation by two of our former performers from The Santaland Diaries. Mitchell Fain and Lance Baker recounting bits from their years of performing our little sketch.

Week 2: Where walls will be

Week 2 has mainly been about beginning the process of creating walls. Here they are, surrounded by exciting heavy machinery that I'm not allowed to touch.

Week 1: Oh God, we're all gonna die!

Demolition is complete. The space as of the end of week 1 looks like this:

Look, we found an old van under the mainstage! (not really). At this point, we can really examine the entire building to look for fun surprises.

Construction Begins!

Friday, at long last, construction finally began.

this pic is also in the demolition gallery

I can’t tell you how excited I was to actually see work happening after almost 6 years of planning. This really has been a long road. I spent about three hours Friday morning putting up some signage in the front window and nominally meeting the subcontractors, but what I was really doing was watching the bobcats chew up the theatre like fucking tissue paper. I tell you, strike with one of these bad boys would take an hour. The above photo is from the old bailiwick shop after about an hour of work by one guy. Now, I did a clean up of this space in the early nineties, and it took three of us TWO WEEKS.