They say comedy is serious business. But in this economy, it can be downright depressing.
The recession has hit us all – and hit us hard. Good thing you can still have a good laugh. That is, unless you live in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The region’s long-running improv comedy club is facing foreclosure. Now it’s members are struggling to remember how to make an audience laugh when, inside, they’re devastated.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
They say comedy is serious business. But in this economy, it can be downright depressing.
The recession has hit us all – and hit us hard. Good thing you can still have a good laugh. That is, unless you live in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The region’s long-running improv comedy club is facing foreclosure. Now it’s members are struggling to remember how to make an audience laugh when, inside, they’re devastated.
2 Comments
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I Cry But I Want to LaughImprov, drama, local theater and for me to somewhat a lesser extent musical theater is what keeps the performing arts in my community alive and well. Its hard to hear about comedy club and theater closings and the loss of the great young new talent. There wouldn't be a Second City, Saturday Night Live or Mad TV without new, young comedians; and they NEED a venue. This piece really opened my "ears" to how hard this economy is hurting not only our personal lives but also our culture. It's ironic(?) that the comedy club is being turned into a law office - maybe they can serve more foreclosure notices???!!! Well done piece that through comedy shows us how much we really have to loose in our communities!! |
Intro and Outro
INTRO:The recession is forcing tens of thousands of homeowners and small businesses in the U.S. into foreclosure. But what happens when you foreclose on a comedy club? Does the laughter in a community die? Maria Bartholdi (Bar-THOL-dee) decided to find out.
OUTRO:ComedyCity continues to perform at the Sports Corner in De Pere, Wisconsin. Its old building remains on schedule to be turned into a law office.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After Laughter Comes Tears | Wendy Rene | After Laughter Comes Tears . | Stax Records | 1964 | 00:26 |
| Chicago (adult contemporary easy listening version) | Sufjan Stevens | The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album. | Asthmatic Kitty Records | 2006 | 01:16 |
| Can't Complain | Nickel Creek | Why Should the Fire Die?. | Sugar Hill | 2005 | 01:15 |
| Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms | Frightened Rabbit | The Midnight Organ Fight . | Fat Cat | 2008 | 00:25 |
| Tears of a Clown | The English Beat | I Just Can't Stop It. | Rhino / Wea | 1979 | 01:59 |
| Laughter | Josh Rouse | Home. | Slow River Records | 2000 | 01:35 |
| Downtown Girl | Gerhard Narholz | Honky Tonk Steps. | Sonoton | 2009 | 01:20 |
| Everything That Happens | David Byrne & Brian Eno | Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. | Todomundo Records | 2009 | 00:38 |
| Dusty Knob | The Badly Bent | The Badly Bent. | 2005 | 01:03 |
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Jason Croft
Posted on April 15, 2010 at 02:31 PM | Permalink
A comedy story that laughs through the tears
Heartbreaking tale, but told with a lot of compassion and humor. A wonderful story that takes a specific foreclosure and projects that to what is happening to thousands around the country. A wonderful in-depth narrative. Nice job!