Chemically Imbalanced Comedy's Blog

CIC: So Lori you are one of the original Company Members with CIC. What is a cool story you can share with us about the early days of CIC?

Lori: There are all kinds of snippets of memories that I have. Snippets of different places that we performed, like in the back of a bar, over a restaurant and so forth. We’ve come a long way and we are still strong.

I remember one of the first performances, if not the very first. It was at our first venue, at a bar, on Halsted. I remember that the whole bar was taken up with chairs and the place was packed. Soon after that, Ang put an improv group together and we became the Wiley Spectacles, one of CIC’s troupes. It was through Ang and the Wiley Spectacles that I met one of my best friends, Sarah Greywitt. That troupe no longer exists, but I remember those days well.

CIC: You are currently a Mom of a beautiful one year old girl. How is it balancing being a mom with your artistic work?

Lori: Thank you. I’m biased, but Madeline is beautiful. We also call her Maddie. She’s my little love, my little joy. My little Munchkin Marie (Marie is her middle name) .

Balancing being a mom, my artistic work and working full time is a challenge, but my husband Dave and I work it out. We have to compromise and carefully pick our projects that we are interested in. For instance, we have both been cast in an upcoming WNEP show, Soiree DADA: Blinde Essel Hopse. It would have been too difficult for us both to be in the show full time. Don Hall, thankfully for us, wanted to cast both of us, but the only way that we both could be involved is if one of us is full time and one is an understudy. The understudy is guaranteed at least four performances. So, that is what we are doing.

It will be challenging finding babysitters and most of all, there will be days that I won’t be able to see my family very much.
I believe, though, that it is good for our daughter to see Mommy and Daddy doing what they love to do.

CIC: You also work with WNEP Theater, what upcoming projects do you have in the works?

Lori: My husband is the Managing Director of WNEP and I am the Business Manager. I essentially write the checks. I’m the money lady. So, we’re pretty busy with that.

I’ll be performing in WNEP’s Soiree DADA show. Dave and I are both incredibly excited about this. Also, WNEP’s storytelling competition, SKALD 8, is coming up and I would like to help out with that. I was in it last year and I would love it if Dave would audition and do the show this year. We’ll be involved somehow. We just did a photo shoot for the SKALD ad and the whole family is in it. Pretty cool, huh? Maddie’s already had a couple of “gigs . ” That’s my girl.

CIC: Anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Lori: You know, I’ve known Ang since our beginning days at the Second City Conservatory back in 1998. I’m very honored to be involved with CIC and to be working with her. My schedule is tighter these days and I may not be able to show up as much as I would like to, but CIC is in my blood. I wouldn’t have it any other way.