New Variety

In February 1992, producers Thomas Goodman (founder of CrossCurrents Cabaret) and R. O’Donnell (co-founder of New Age Vaudeville) teamed up to present the New Variety, located at 400 N. Clark, downtown Chicago.^[1] Modeled after the vaudeville variety shows of the ‘20s and '30s, the New Variety presented an evening’s worth of acts that included jugglers, fire-eaters, comics, singers, musicians, and sketch comedy troupes.^[2]

The original location of the New Variety was the upstairs of the Italian restaurant Bellagio. Built specifically for the show, the cabaret was an elegant and intimate 100-seat theater, revealing a sophisticated art deco-style decor. The audience sat at round black tables with green and black chairs around a small black-and-white checkered stage, slightly raised.^[3]

Hailed by the June Sawyer of the Chicago Tribune as a cabaret for the 90s,^[3] the bill included artistic director and host Richard O'Donnell (billed as "R."), jazz band the Vince Willis Trio, juggler Andy Head, drummer Donny DeMarco Jr., tap dancer Ayrie King, stand-up comedy by John Tamborino, and saxophonist Sarah Underwood, followed by a crowning performance by the blues chanteuse^[4] Barbara LeShoure.

In August, 1993, the New Variety moved to the Chicago Improv, at 504 N. Wells, a 400-seat theater in which audience members sat at long tables in a room about the size of a high school cafeteria. Scott Seigel re-designed the original look of the stage to accommodate the New Variety's edgier feel.^[5]

The new venue allowed for changing a faltering 3-ring comedy presentation^{[citation needed]} into a successful variety format.^{[citation needed]} The New Variety now offered a more streamlined, commercial show. Acts included artistic director & host R. O’Donnell, stand-up comics such as Paul Gilmartin), Kevin Rogers, and Steve Seagren; and sketch comedy troupes including the all-girl Nude Coffee, the all-gay The Boys in the Bathroom, and the all-improv The Upright Citizens Brigade. Dr. Boom (who literally blew things up on stage) was the highlight of the evening.^[6]

• R. O'Donnell (host)
• Matt Besser
• Boys in the Bathroom
• Dr. Boom
• Ectomorph (Darren Bodeker, Bart Heird and Jim Kopsian)
• Andy Head
• Ayrie "Mr. Taps" King
• Nude Coffee
• Kevin Rogers
• Steve Seagren
• The Sound (a cappella group) (Paul Mabin, Greg Vaden, Kevin Kent and Keevin Peuse)
• John Tamborino
• Obediah Thomas
• Sarah Underwood
• Upright Citizens Brigade (Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Ali Farahnakian, Adam McKay, Rick Roman, and Horatio Sanz)
• Vince Willis Trio