Bad news, Chicago: Big Terrific and 2 Dope Queens had to bail on our comedy festival (but they’re sorry)
Hello Chicago and other people. It is with heavy heart that I bring you this news: Big Terrific—the comedy show featuring Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman, and Max Silvestri— and 2 Dope Queens—featuring Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson—have both had to cancel next week’s shows, part of the third annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival. It’s not because you don’t love them (the shows sold out a while back) or that they don’t love you (they do). Below, please find a note from Big Terrific, full of tender love and promises. If you purchased tickets for either of these shows, your money will automatically be refunded. (If 2 Dope Queens send us an apology, we’ll let you know about that, too.) There’s a chance we’ll slot something else in there, so keep your eyes peeled.
Hi friends,
This is the worst email to have to write. Unfortunately, due to scheduling stuff out of our hands, next Friday’s Big Terrific at Thalia Hall is cancelled. I know. We (Max, Gabe, Jenny) are so, so sorry. This is a very terrible thing and we feel horrible about it.
We deeply love Chicago and The A.V. Club—best city and best website, respectively—and were crazy excited to perform at the festival. The last time we all were in Chicago together was nine years ago. Back in 2007 we were supposed to do a comedy show organized by Vice (right, OK) sponsored by a Scotch company (sure) at a nightclub (totally) which then got called off because nobody showed up (perfect). So instead we went and sang karaoke in Wicker Park. Max sang Meatloaf’s “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” and a guy at the bar explained to us how the “I Won’t Do That” part is about the woman asking Meatloaf to murder her father, who is the town rabbi and won’t let them be together. (Guy said it like we were dumb to not know that. Don’t think that’s how towns or rabbis work.) And Jenny sang Fleetwood Mac and asked the ladies in the bar to cheer if they had tampons with them and afterward someone gently took her arm and said, “Be careful.” The point is, we were so psyched to come back together and do comedy at a beautiful venue. We probably still would have talked about Meatloaf and tampons.
We’re working to reschedule with Thalia Hall for later this year. Thank you guys so much for buying tickets and selling it out. It means a ton, you have no idea. There will be refunds issued, but we know people still had to make plans and arrangements and that despite a refund this still sucks a lot. We will make it up to you, we promise.
We love you guys and we are very sorry!
Jenny, Gabe and Max