OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES Arrives At The Perfect Time

Gene-Weygandt-Tim-Kazurinsky-Alex-Goodrich-credit-Dan-RestFrom the moment the first punch is delivered in the Chicago version of Old Jews Telling Jokes, you know that your life, at least for ninety minutes, is going to be a whole lot happier.    Five of the Windy City’s most prolific theater personalities take to the boards of the Royal George Theater and, like a freight train rolling down the tracks at high speed, tell some of the best loved jokes that generations of Jews and goyim have come to love.

Tim Kazurinsky, Dara Cameron, Renee Matthews, Gene Weygandt and Alex Goodrich are perfectly cast and have instant on-stage chemistry and camaraderie together as they tackle the life lessons of such topics as, ‘Business & Money’, ‘Retirement’ , ‘Religion’, ‘Sex After Marriage’, etc.  (Spoiler alert, not all the profiteers of comedy are of the Jewish persuasion in this incarnation, but an actor is actor, and the head of Oz spreads himself as naturally as lox and cream cheese on a rye bagel).Renee-Matthews-credit-Dan-Rest-240x300

There are musical numbers, an interactive video screen to clue you in to the topic at hand and…… one joke, thanks to Mr. Kazurinsky, that my have you even pee your pants a little (the retired ‘nail’ tycoon coming back to check on his business that he leaves to his two sons).

As funny as Old Jews Telling Jokes is (and boy, it is the funniest thing Chicago has seen in years), more than any punchline, the show also emphasizes how important humor is as a tradition.   It can bind generations together; make the most horrid of circumstances a bit more tolerable; and best of all, at a time when there is so much division in our collective humanity, know that we can all still share a unifying laugh. For that reason alone, go see Old (and not so old) Jews Telling Jokes.

OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES  runs through February 16, 2014 at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, through Sunday, February 16, 2014.   Tuesdays – Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 5 & 8pm; and Sundays at 2 & 5pm.   Starting the week of October 7, Wednesday matinees at 2pm will alternate with Tuesday evening performances.  Plus, special holiday performance schedules will be in effect:  

Week of Thanksgiving (and Hannukah!): Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7:30pm; Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 2pm; Thursday, Nov. 28, no show; Friday, Nov. 29 at 2 and 7:30pm;Saturday, Nov. 30 at 5 and 8pm; Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2 and 5pm.

Week of Christmas:  Tuesday, Dec. 24, no show; Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 7:30pm;Thursday, Dec. 26 at 2 and 7:30pm; Friday, Dec. 27 at 7:30pm; Saturday, Dec. 28 at 5 and 8pm; Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 and 5pm.

Week of New Year’sTuesday, Dec. 31* at 5 and 9pm; Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, no show; Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7:30pm; Friday, Jan. 3 at 8pm; Saturday, Jan. 4 at 5 and 8pm; Sunday, Jan. 5 at 2 and 5pm.

Tickets range in price from $49 – $69. * There will be special New Year’s Eve performance pricing. All prices do not include a $1 facility fee.  Tickets for the new block of tickets are now on sale by calling (312) 988-9000; visiting the Royal George Theatre box office, or online at Ticketmaster.com.  Plus, give the gift of humor for Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or the holiday of your choice – with OLD JEWS gift certificates available at the Royal George box office.

Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are available by calling Group Theater Tix at312-423-6612 or visiting www.grouptheatertix.com.

For more information on OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES in Chicago, visit http://oldjewstellingjokesonstage.com .   Follow OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES on Twitter@OldJewsTweeting or on Facebook.