Well, we did it. Charles Grodin kicked off the Chicago Live! Festival with a brand new form, possibly never attempted before or ever again, and the results were positively supernatural. Our now dear friend Barbara G Meyer, psychic extraordinaire, gave a free palm reading to Jim, audience member extraordinaire, to inspire our show. We learned that Jim (if he had a website you can bet we'd link to it) is an ambitious career man, but needs to focus on the task at hand if he wants to suceed. He also loves his family, though some members can be trying, and has an important choice ahead.

What followed was our humble artistically-licensed take on Jim's future. We saw the office drone who somehow manages to go out for a pastry every time his boss stops by to check in. There was a visit from Great Aunt Sarah. Not "great" because of her age, but because she listens to Broken Bells. Fortunately, an A-Team style Geek Squad (featuring Shaq, Truman Capote and Jeffrey Dahmer) saved the day in the end.

Sure, the tears on your keyboard tell me you regret missing this once in Jim's lifetime event. But don't fret! We've got shows galore this summer. So check out the schedule for details.

We now resume our regular Grodin progamming. 

Horace just wants to remember.  His wife just wants him to get her sweater from the car, she's cold.

A squatter makes coffee, and a trip to the top of Mount Everest gets you a Best Buy gift card and a bag of Reese's Cups.  I don't think Linda will be coming back.

Harvey was a Titanic survivor and has a music box that sings Dixie.  His wife is losing her mind.

Clowns and mimes mourn a dead, but grinning colleague.  Don't look them in the eyes, or they'll kiss you.

Duck.

Posted by Charles Grodin

“Hmmm.  Hmmm.  Yes.  Yes, I see.  Very strong.  Yes.  Yes.  Very, very interesting.”

Not sure if these were cues to begin the conversation, she just sat nodding and smiling.

“And I see you also volunteer your time at the animal shelter.”

“That’s right.  Once when I was little I witnessed a dog being-”

“And you’ve also got musical talents, I see.”

“Yes, last Spring I was named to the Southern Illinois all-regional-”

“But tell me, do you aspire towards excellence?”

“Well, of course I do.  I never once-”

“Because if I’m going to see to it your application be accepted, I want to make damn sure you won’t let me down!”

“I don’t mean to sound pushy, sir, but I think my-”

“Let me tell you a story.  A story about a boy who was once your age.  He sat right where you’re sitting now and he promised me, promised me, dear, that I could forward his application with utmost confidence in his abilities.  And do you know what happened?”

“No, sir.  I can’t imagine-”

“He’s now the president of the Chicago Board of Trade.  Can you imagine!?  The Chicago Board of Trade!”

“That’s terrific, sir, I’ll bet you’re awful-”

“That’s right.  And he owes it all to me.  Do you know when I last heard from him?”

“I assume you-”

“Yesterday.  Just yesterday!  Isn’t that remarkable?”

“Truly inspiring, sir.  I just hope-”

“He calls me as if I were his own father.  And why does he do this?”

“Certainly it’s because-”

“Because without my divine intervention, he’d be half the man he is today.  And he knows it!”

“You are undoubtedly-”

“Now, how can I be sure that you will be the same success as that boy so many years ago?”

“Sir, all I ask is for a chance.”

“Fine then, I’ll inform you of my decision next week.”

Lars posted this

This evening, Charles Grodin will participate in the inaugural performance of the Chicago Live! Festival. As part of the festival's raison d'etre, we will incorporate an non-improv artform into our show. And our guest artist will be professional Chicago psychic, Barbara G Meyer. This is completely uncharted territory for us and perhaps the known improv universe (which is, of course, the entire point of the festival).

So, what strange and fantastic revelations might we uncover tonight?

You'll have to attend to find out...

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