The TV Dinner Hour, has a book, music, and lyrics by Richard O'Donnell.[1] In the summer of 1986, it was originally produced and staged by Amy McKenzie, and featured the New Age Vaudeville comedy troupe at the Glidden Lodge resort in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin.[2]
Chicago, CrossCurrents
On March 10, 1987, It officially premiered at the CrossCurrents' cabaret theater, 3206 N. Wilton St., Chicago, Illinois.[3][1]
The TV Dinner Hour was one of the cult hits of the Chicago comedy boom of the 1980s.[1][4][3]
Production
Principal creative team
The TV Dinner Hour was performed by the New Age Vaudeville Theater Co., members of Actor’s Equity Association (AEA). The set, props and videos were shot by NAV production designer Peter Neville, and produced by McKenzie and O'Donnell.
Kogan reviews
Del Close as the Rev. Thing in The TV Dinner Hour
The TV Dinner Hour had a successful run and was praised by Rick Kogan of the Chicago Tribune as "...a great show, uproariously funny and searingly intelligent."[3] He went on to write that New Age Vaudeville's talent was in presenting "...such TV fare as game shows, rock videos, sitcoms, kiddie shows, religious programs, and horror movies [that were] transformed into fodder for devilish fun."
Kogan continued, stating, "Improv guru Del Close had a spectacular running routine as the Rev. Thing of the First Generic Church of What's-His-Name". He also hailed the production as "Marvelously written by Richard O`Donnell and snappily directed by Amy McKenzie," and praising the ensemble, writing, "The TV Dinner hour included bravura comic acting by Megan Cavanagh, Bobby McGuire, Todd Erickson, O`Donnell and newcomers to New Age Vaudeville, Michael Dempsey and Lisa Keefe."[3]
In conclusion, Kogan surmised that both productions, An Evening with Elmore & Gwendolyn Putts and The TV Dinner Hour (running concurrently), were, "Among the most polished and clever productions of the season, a pair of devilishly inventive and challenging shows that won over critics and audiences."[4]
^ abcBommer, Lawrence (March 12, 1987). "Theatre: The TV Dinner Hour". Windy City Times.
^Gerds, Warren (July 25, 1986), "New Age Vaudeville's TV Take", Green Bay Press Gazette, TV & The Arts
^ abcdKogan, Rick (March 20, 1987). "Comedy Uneven in Del Close's New Show and The TV Dinner Hour - double review". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
^ abKogan, Rick (May 3, 1987). "Vaudeville Troupe Takes Leave of City". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
February 22, 2023
dinner, hour, american, sketch, comedy, review, written, richard, donnell, directed, mckenzie, performed, vaudeville, theater, company, chicago, megan, cavanagh, michael, dempsey, lisa, keefe, richard, donnell, todd, erickson, bobby, mcguirecompanynew, vaudevi. The TV Dinner Hour is an American sketch comedy review written by Richard O Donnell directed by Amy McKenzie and performed by the New Age Vaudeville theater company in Chicago The TV Dinner Hour L R Megan Cavanagh Michael Dempsey Lisa Keefe Richard O Donnell Todd Erickson and Bobby McGuireCompanyNew Age VaudevilleGenreSketch ComedyMusical ComedyImprovisationSlapstickShow typeOpen runDate of premiereMarch 10 1987Final showJune 13 1987LocationCrosscurrents ChicagoComedy Cabaret Wis Creative teamProducersMcKenzie amp O DonnellDirectorAmy McKenzieBook Music LyricsRichard O DonnellProduction DesignVideographerPeter NevilleGuest StarDel CloseOther informationYears Active1983 87 Contents 1 History 1 1 Glidden Lodge resort 1 2 Chicago CrossCurrents 2 Production 2 1 Principal creative team 2 2 Kogan reviews 3 Cast 3 1 Wisconsin 3 2 Chicago 4 ReferencesHistory EditGlidden Lodge resort Edit The TV Dinner Hour has a book music and lyrics by Richard O Donnell 1 In the summer of 1986 it was originally produced and staged by Amy McKenzie and featured the New Age Vaudeville comedy troupe at the Glidden Lodge resort in Baileys Harbor Wisconsin 2 Chicago CrossCurrents Edit On March 10 1987 It officially premiered at the CrossCurrents cabaret theater 3206 N Wilton St Chicago Illinois 3 1 The TV Dinner Hour was one of the cult hits of the Chicago comedy boom of the 1980s 1 4 3 Production EditPrincipal creative team Edit The TV Dinner Hour was performed by the New Age Vaudeville Theater Co members of Actor s Equity Association AEA The set props and videos were shot by NAV production designer Peter Neville and produced by McKenzie and O Donnell Kogan reviews Edit Del Close as the Rev Thing in The TV Dinner Hour The TV Dinner Hour had a successful run and was praised by Rick Kogan of the Chicago Tribune as a great show uproariously funny and searingly intelligent 3 He went on to write that New Age Vaudeville s talent was in presenting such TV fare as game shows rock videos sitcoms kiddie shows religious programs and horror movies that were transformed into fodder for devilish fun Kogan continued stating Improv guru Del Close had a spectacular running routine as the Rev Thing of the First Generic Church of What s His Name He also hailed the production as Marvelously written by Richard O Donnell and snappily directed by Amy McKenzie and praising the ensemble writing The TV Dinner hour included bravura comic acting by Megan Cavanagh Bobby McGuire Todd Erickson O Donnell and newcomers to New Age Vaudeville Michael Dempsey and Lisa Keefe 3 In conclusion Kogan surmised that both productions An Evening with Elmore amp Gwendolyn Putts and The TV Dinner Hour running concurrently were Among the most polished and clever productions of the season a pair of devilishly inventive and challenging shows that won over critics and audiences 4 Cast EditWisconsin Edit denotes member of A E A Megan Cavanagh Todd Erickson Dennis Kennedy Amy McKenzie Bobby McGuire Richard O Donnell Chicago Edit denotes member of A E A Megan Cavanagh Del Close Michael Dempsey Todd Erickson Lisa Keefe Bobby McGuire Richard O Donnell References Edit a b c Bommer Lawrence March 12 1987 Theatre The TV Dinner Hour Windy City Times Gerds Warren July 25 1986 New Age Vaudeville s TV Take Green Bay Press Gazette TV amp The Arts a b c d Kogan Rick March 20 1987 Comedy Uneven in Del Close s New Show and The TV Dinner Hour double review Chicago Tribune Retrieved June 16 2012 a b Kogan Rick May 3 1987 Vaudeville Troupe Takes Leave of City Chicago Tribune Retrieved 2 July 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The TV Dinner Hour amp oldid 1072130706, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
