Recently CIC was nominated for the Emerging Theater Broadway in Chicago award, we recently found out we did not make it to the next level of voting. But we had asked folks if they would like to write some letters of support for us to send in with our application for the award. Here is one of those letters:
To Whom It May Concern:
While studying theatre in college, one of the primary aspects of the art world, that thing which grabbed me the most, was a sense of community, family, and trust among my fellow artists. Upon moving to Chicago, I had no home away from home. On a whim, I dusted off a headshot, polished up a monologue, and headed over to audition for this company called Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theater and their upcoming production of Book of Liz. After living in Chicago for less than a month, I was already cast in my first production.
Book of Liz was a huge success for the company. When we started the run, we were rehearsing where ever we could get a room. Because the show was such a hit, CIC could finally afford a theater space and Chemically Imbalanced had a home at last. The production didn’t just work wonders for the company, I felt I’d gained quite a bit from the experience as well. Those feelings of community and family came rushing back again. It was something I hadn’t felt on stage since I was 19 years old. Not only was I pleased to say I was a part of the little show that could, the show that brought them such success, but I found a Chicago theater home a lot quicker than I had anticipated.
In the past year and a half I have seen the audiences and the interest in CIC grow at an impressive rate. I have worked closely with the people who started this company from the ground up, and I am overjoyed to watch their dreams become a reality day in and day out. I am now a company member at Chemically Imbalanced, as of September 2008, and I am honored and privileged to be adopted into this theater family. With the attention of Chicago theatergoers, Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theater could open their doors even wider, and the theater community in Chicago could feel that sense of family, that little detail that causes so many of us to fall in love with the art form in the first place.
Thank you so much for considering Chemically Imbalanced Comedy Theater for such an honor.
Sincerely,
Casey Pilkenton