IMPROV | defrancisCo (+ bonus RoundRobin!)

Critically acclaimed original improv show that draws one member at random to improvise with seasoned veteran Tara DeFrancisco plus more!
About this Event

defrancisCo (+ bonus RoundRobin!)

Sunday, Aug 2 l 7pm l $12 online, $15 at thedoor

Critically acclaimed original show defrancisCo is a "punk rock improv show" (Tribune) that believes amplifying and celebrating your castmate is the most incredible thing you can do - even if the castmate has no dang experience at all. Born from a dare as a one-time piece, this "Show of the Season" (Chicago Sun Times) and Reader Recommended (Chicago Reader) was quickly beloved in two longterm residencies (iO Chicago, The Nest Theatre + Comedy Arts Center) since 2010, and now tours to bring the joy anywhere it can. One member drawn completely at random plays a fully improvised set with seasoned veteran Tara DeFrancisco (iO Chicago, The Nest, Second City, ComedySportz, HERE: The (Improvised) Musical) after a quick meeting & short download of only 3 rules - always leading to tons of laughs and often heartfelt, magical moments. (BONUS! - RoundRobin means an extra scene or two, often with additional improv vet(s) - so this show will have more chances to play and celebrate community.)

Performer Bios:

Tara DeFrancisco believes in the power of connection & collaboration of comedic work on a cellular level. Globally, she is celebrated for her hilarious and encouraging work on platforms like Instagram (285k) and TikTok (110k), with multiple viral messages shared to millions around the world. As an improviser and comedic performer, she is primarily known as a veteran of 9000+ shows on multiple world-renowned stages, including iO Chicago (defrancisCo, Armando, HERE, Chaos Theory, The DelTones), Second City (TourCo, Dysfunctional Holiday Revue, understudy of Mainstage/etc), and ComedySportz (Chicago + CBus).

She is the Co-Founder, Artistic Director, curriculum designer, instructor & mainstage performer at the revered Nest Theatre in CBus, OH; The institution and all its productions is one of the first spaces to institute a working Code of Ethics and offer paperless scholarships to underamplified groups in the arts. Tara is the creator and President of The Improv Retreat, a summit sold out annually for hundreds each year reinvigorating their joy for improvisation, created in 2012. As an instructor, Tara is honored to be brought all over the world for her bohemian-yet-professional approach to scenework - leading things like sketch revue creation, duoprov, musical work, organic Harolds, stand-up clinics, and more; She is also a guest professor for Ohio University (Athens) and has been an Adjunct Professor for CCAD’s Acting for Animation program. Most notably, her greatest love is for defrancisCo (the first show choosing a castmate at random, “Show of the Season” by Chicago Sun Times) and HERE: The (Improvised) Musical – a two person improvisational show performed with Rance Rizzutto, called “Nothing Short of Genius” by NPR and rated 4 stars by the Chicago Tribune, “Critics Choice” by Sun Times, “Not to Miss” by Chicago Reader; HERE been brought as a headliner to 24 countries and 95+ cities worldwide to date. She is very honored to do this work.

Rance Rizzutto has been professionally improvising since 1999 on stages all around the world. Starting in Portland, OR with ComedySportz, Rance soon found his calling as a mainstage performer after a big move to Chicago to work professionally in improvisation. He sustained multiple tours with Second City Theatricals aboard Norweigian Cruise Lines, heading to Hawaii, the Caribbean, and multiple countries throughout Europe. In Chicago, he most connected with iO Theatre where he became an adored mainstage performer and host featured on such beloved teams Chaos Theory, The Deltones, Armando – and later, lauded two-person touring duo, “HERE: The (Improvised) Musical” which tours globally as invited headliners at festivals, schools, and performing arts centers. Incredible host, teammate, and curriculum designer, his improv and prior work experience have enabled him to help businesses grow utilizing improvisation principles for their communication and team unity needs. He is the Co-Founder, Training Center Director, instructor & mainstage performer at the revered Nest Theatre in CBus, OH. He is a mainstay at The Improv Retreat, a summit running annually for hundreds each year to invite adults to reinvigorate their joy for the arts. In addition to his hosting hundreds of live industrials, you can catch him on an internet game show (One Hot Dollar), and you may have seen Rance in television commercials for Hewlitt Packard or Sears or hear his voice in animated commercials for Sears as well (as a bear, in case you’re wondering). He has been a Guest Professor to the Ohio University School of Performance (Athens), as well as an Adjunct Professor of Acting for Animation at Columbus College of Art & Design. His life has completely transformed due to enrichment from improvisation, and finds great passion in the potential energy and fun in the comedic arts he is fortunate to have as a career.