Starve A Blog, Feed A Fever

I'm back from the Chicago Improv Festival where I performed my one-man show Eddie Capshaw TONIGHT!

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Eddie Capshaw TONIGHT! is an improvised talk show like Letterman or Conan only instead of featuring celebrities, I interview members of the audience that I draw lottery-style from a pool of volunteers. It's a fun concept and I think it's presented in an original way.

I was the opener of a three-act line-up and the CIF Lounge was packed to standing-room only capacity. I felt bad that I had friends who came but couldn't get tickets. Sometimes I guess it's worth it to pay those mercenaries at TicketBastard.

Surprisingly, I was the only improvised act of the three. Mike and Duane are a musical duo who do acoustic rock operas about the Ice Capades and deliver an epic retelling of The Karate Kid. Jean Villepique performed her one-woman show about her parents' divorce and her own marriage subsequently falling apart.

Yeah, it was an eclectic night - but that's what the CIF Lounge is for.

Overall, I felt like my show was solid and entertaining. There are certainly a few things I want to continue to tweak but improv is one of those things you improve best by performing.

The rest of the weekend I spent hanging out with my friends from NASCRAG. We playtested the third round of this year's tournament, which will be a blast. And I got to squeeze in a few games of my latest obsession, Carcassonne.

And for those of you who have been wondering if Sunny California has softened my hardy Minnesotan constitution, the answer is an unqualified yes.

I spent three days in the dreary rain and wind of Chicago and instantly caught a cold.

-Tom, who apologizes for the long absence and promises some exciting news tomorrow. Seriously, tune in.