Boom Chicago
Boom Chicago is an international creative group, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, that writes and performs sketch and improvisational comedy at the Rozentheater. The group was founded in 1993 by Americans Andrew Moskos, Pep Rosenfeld and Ken Schaefle, who named it after their hometown and the home of improvisation. In 1994, they moved from the Iboya on the Korte Leidsedwarsstraat to the Lijnbaansgracht in the space that later became the Sugar Factory and today Lovelee. In 1998, they took over and restored the Leidseplein Theater in the city's theater and club district. In 2013, the comedy show moved  to their more spacious home on the Rozengracht, while the Chicago Social Club remains at the Leidseplein. Today the group performs their own shows and hosts outside productions at the Rozentheater. The venue with three theaters also houses Boom Chicago for Business and their training arm, the Boom Chicago Academy. Boom Chicago addresses Dutch, American and world social and political issues like privacy, the role of technology, Europe, the extreme right, Pim Fortuyn, 9/11, social media and the gig economy. Their unique mixing of comedy styles combined with technology has been popular with audiences and critics alike. 2019's "The  Future is Here... And it is Slightly Annoying" used AI to program a robot to improvise with the cast on stage. They were the creative forces behind Comedy Central News (CCN), a news show on the Dutch Comedy Central TV for two seasons. The group is currently owned by Moskos, Rosenfeld and Saskia Maas. History. 1993: Andrew Moskos, Pep Rosenfeld and Ken Schaefle open Boom Chicago at the Iboya, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 41, 85 seats. Saskia Maas joins the company. 1994: Moves to Studio 100 (later the Sugar Factory, now Lovlee) on Lijnbaansgracht 238, 180 seats. 1997: Moves into the 270  seat Leidseplein Theater, the theater where Dutch legends Wim Kan, Wim Sonneveld and Toon Hermans began in the 1930s. Boom Chicago renovates the theater, adds a kitchen, bar, and rock show sound and lighting. 2000: Hires first video director, Jamie Wright, and introduces multimedia to the shows. Cameras are fitted in the theater (and the Leidseplein outside). Soon green screen studios and live internet, make Boom Chicago an early pioneer with technology in a comedy show. 2002: Comedy Swap with The Second City in Chicago. The mainstage casts of The Second City and Boom Chicago perform on each other's  stages in each other's cities. This was the first (and only) time a visiting comedy group plays on Second City's mainstage. All shows in both cities sell out. Key meets Peele here. 2004: Boom Chicago Video Productions launches after the worldwide success of the Florida Voting Machine Video, where an American citizen tries to vote for Kerry, but the rigged machine only allows him to vote for George Bush. 2006: "Me, MySpace and iPod" opens to best reviews to date. Merijn Henfling, "Het Parool": "Genius... We are once again grateful that [Boom Chicago] decided to make Amsterdam their  home." Peter de Bie and Francisco van Jole, TROS radio: "People are saying this is the best Boom Chicago show ever, and we would agree." Henk van Gelder, "NRC Handelsblad": "Sharp and interactive. They have created an entirely new form of theater; call it digital comedy." First internet and mobile shows "Full Frontal News" (Greg Shapiro and Becky Nelson) and "Slacker Fantasy Football "(Michael Orton-Toliver, Brian Jack, Matt Chapman). "The Unlikely Fan" (Brendan Hunt, Matt Chapman), a daily World Cup video series was featured on MSN. 2007: "Comedy Central News", begins as a daily show on Comedy Central Netherlands  and runs for 75 episodes. "Highly Dubious News" is nominated for a mobile content award at MIPCOM, the television conference in Cannes. "SpongeBob SquarePants in China" receives more than 22 million views on YouTube in a year, making it the number one most viewed "film and animation" YouTube video worldwide (as of April, 2009). The Chinese ambassador in the Netherlands asks Boom Chicago to remove the video due to its political content. Boom Chicago declines. By 2011, the video has been viewed more than 100 million times and (as of 2021), it is still the number one Dutch comedy video  of all time. 2008: 15 year anniversary, April 24. "CCN" returns as a weekly show in April on Comedy Central (NL). "Bye-Bye Bush" celebrates the end of an era. 2009: "Yankee Come Back" opens the City of Amsterdam's 400 Year celebration of the Dutch settlement of New York. In the autumn, to coincide with New York's celebration the group performs "Holland Globetrotters" at the New Island Festival, a coproduction of "de Parade", "Oerol" and the Netherlands Theater Institute. 2010: Longtime fan of Boom Chicago, Maurice de Hond, makes his on stage comedy debut in "Political Party." With  Pep Rosenfeld, Greg Shapiro and director Andrew Moskos they create a show that combines politics, political discussion and A-list politicians who also perform in comedy scenes. 2011: The Leidseplein Theater becomes the Chicago Social Club. Together with club innovator Casper Reinders (Jimmy Woo) and Pieter de Koning and Joris Bakker (Bitterzoet), the venue undergoes a thorough upgrade and increases its club programming. "9/11 Forever" is the only political comedy show in the world to address the ten-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks. 2012: Pep Rosenfeld speaks at TEDx Amsterdam: "Fight, Flight or Be Funny" and hosts TEDx  Binnenhof where he makes fun of Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima while they are just meters away. Saskia Maas speaks at TEDx Education. With prominent roles at TED events, NEXT and Picnic, Boom Chicago has become a major player at technology, ideas and business conferences. 2013: Boom Chicago moves from their longtime home on the Leidseplein to the (nicer) Rozentheater, where they celebrate 20 years in Amsterdam with "The 7 Deadly Dutch Sins." The Chicago Social Club continues at the Leidseplein as one of Amsterdam's best club venues. 2013: Nightmare on the Rozengracht runs during October, a 30 -minute walk-through haunted house and pop up bar for adults. The show "Delete Zwarte Piet Niet" predicts the uproar and race controversy which would peak this year. They are among the first to propose 'roet piet' which later would become the modern compromise. 2014: To promote "What's Up With Those Beards?", Boom Chicago attempts to break the Guinness Book of World Records for most beards in one room. They only break the Dutch record. 2016: For the first ever Dutch Correspondents' Dinner, Boom Chicago's Andrew Moskos and Wilko Terwijn help write the comedy speech for and coach  Prime Minister Rutte. The political year continues with "Angry White Men: Trump Up the Volume" capturing and skewering the US election. 2017: Becoming just "Trump Up the Volume," the show becomes one of the longest running shows at Boom Chicago. Boom Chicago renovates their second theater and launches The Upstairs Theater. "Sunday Night Live" take residency there and marks the return of long form improv to Boom Chicago. Pep Rosenfeld, Greg Shapiro, and director Andrew Moskos present "The Year in Search," a video in partnership with Google. 2018: Andrew Moskos takes over as Artistic Director. The 25th anniversary show "Bango !" opens in May, starring Tamar Broadbent, Karel Ebergen, Simon Lukacs, Rhys Collier, Cene Hale, Emil Struijker-Boudier, Sacha Hoedemaker and directed by Andrew Moskos. The 25th anniversary year peaks on July 14 with two shows at Carre and the release of their book, "The 25 Most Important Years in Dutch History". The Boom Chicago Academy starts teaching the FA's long-form curriculum. "Escape Through the Movies," Boom Chicago's latest escape room adventure, opens at the Rozentheater. Saskia Maas launches InterActing, Boom Chicago's program for teenagers with autism. 2019: "The Future is Here ...And it's Slightly Annoying !" continues Boom Chicago's tradition of making technologically relevant shows including programming a robot to improvise with the cast onstage using AI (well, machine learning actually). Boom Chicago partners with Bud and the Rozentheater is a launch location for AB InBev's massive introduction of the iconic American brand in the Netherlands. 2020: While practically every other theater in the world was shut down, in April Boom Chicago produces six episodes of live comedy shows ("Trump up the Volume" and "Going Steady") with a high quality, three-camera (socially distanced) shoot. It raised more than €10.000 in ticket sales  for the actors and crew. Later in June when outdoor activities were allowed, Boom Chicago played at HEMtuin, the terrace-tival (Festivals not being allowed). Digital corporate shows became a successful new focus. 2021: Boom Chicago creates and launches their new, expanded curriculum for The Boom Academy and launches house teams. 2021: The first Boom Chicago Comedy Festival launches with tens of sold out shows and workshops. Alumni Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele, Kay Cannon, Colton Dunn, Josh Meyers, Ike Barinholtz and Brendan Hunt give live Q&A interviews. Arjen Lubach reunites with his old improv group Op Sterk Water. They and  Shantira Jackson & Stacey Smith win the first two Bud Kings of Comedy Prizes for best festival shows. Notable alumni. Seth Meyers ("Late Night with Seth Meyers", "Saturday Night Live") was a member of Boom Chicago in the late 1990s. He wrote, directed and starred in Boom productions in Amsterdam, Chicago, London and Edinburgh. Oscar winner Jordan Peele ("Get Out", "Key and Peele"). Three Boom Chicago alumni, Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt and Joe Kelly, created, wrote, starred in, and directed the Emmy award winning "Ted Lasso". Amber Ruffin, ("The Amber Ruffin Show", writer for "Late Night with Seth Meyers"). Ike Barinholtz  stars in, writes and produces movies and TV shows including ("Mindy Project", "Suicide Squad", "Bad Neighbors", and "The Hunt." Kay Cannon wrote for many films, including the "Pitch Perfect" films. She recently directed a Boom filled cast in "Blockers" and wrote and directed a re-imagining of "Cinderella" for theaters in 2021. Tami Sagher writes and stars in TV shows like "Inside Amy Schumer", "30 Rock", "Broad City", and the film "Don't Think Twice". Colton Dunn starred in the NBC sitcom "Superstore" during its very successful, six-year run. Other successful writer-performers include Dan Oster ("MADtv"), Liz Cackowski  ("SNL") and Heather Anne Campbell ("Rick and Morty"), Allison Silverman ("Daily Show", "Colbert Report"), Pete Grosz, Joe Kelly ("How I Met Your Mother"), Matt Jones ("Breaking Bad"), Suzi Barrett ("Drunk History"), Jessica Lowe ("Wrecked"), E.R. Fightmaster ("Grey's Anatomy"), and Carl Tart ("MadTV", "Party Over Here", and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"). The British mockumentary "Borderline" was created by Mike Orton-Toliver, and directed by Matt Jones. Greg Shapiro was Boom Chicago's anchorman on "CCN," Comedy Central News (Netherlands) and Donald Trump in the world-wide Arjen Lubach viral hit "America First, The Netherlands Second". On Broadway, Nicole Parker starred with  Martin Short in "Fame Becomes Me" in 2009 and in "Wicked" in 2010. Tarik Davis performed in Freestyle Love Supreme from 2019-2022 (As well as on The Amber Ruffin Show on TV). Josh Meyers ("Red Oaks", "The Awesomes") starred with Paul Rubens in "Pee Wees Playhouse" in 2010-11 and in the accompanying HBO special. Spencer Kayden co-created and starred in "Urinetown" in the 1990s and was nominated for a 2012 Tony award in "Don't Dress for Dinner." In 2006–7, Lisa Jolley appeared in "Hairspray". Productions. 1993 Andrew Moskos, Pep Rosenfeld, Neil McNamara, Lindley Curry, Miriam Tolan , Pam Gutteridge, Doreen Calderon + Ken Schaefle 1994 Boom / Chicago Andrew Moskos, Pep Rosenfeld, Pam Gutteridge, Emilie Beck, Josie O'Reilly, Greg Shore (Shapiro) + Ken Schaefle 1995 Great Moments in Creation/Culture Shock Therapy Andrew Moskos, Pep Rosenfeld, Pam Gutteridge, Greg Shore (Shapiro), Lillian Frances (née Hubscher), Tami Sagher, Scott Jones, Lesley Bevan, Sue Gillan (née Gillan) + Ken Schaefle 1996 Boom Chicago's Laatste Nieuws / Best of Boom Andrew Moskos, Pep Rosenfeld, Greg Shore (Shapiro), Rob AndristPlourde, Jason Meyer, Karin McKie, Lesley Bevan, Sue Gillan, Jeremy Hornik, Spencer Kayden, + Ken Schaefle + Shane Oman, + Gary Shepard, +  Michael Diederich 1997 boomchicago.nl: the internet and other modern frustrations Andrew Moskos, Pep Rosenfeld, Greg Shore (Shapiro), Rob AndristPlourde, Pete Grosz, Seth Meyers, Phill Arensberg, Allison Silverman, Gwendolyn Druyor, Lisa Jolley, Josie O'Reilly + Ken Schaefle 1998 Think Quick Andrew Moskos, Pep Rosenfeld, Greg Shapiro-Shore, Rob AndristPlourde, Seth Meyers, Jill Benjamin, Holly Walker, John Stoops, Jethro Nolen, Sue Peale, Josh Meyers, Kristy Entwistle Nolen, Josie O'Reilly, + Jon Schickedanz + Steven Svymbersky 1999 Pick-ups & Hiccups Seth Meyers, Jill Benjamin 1999 Everything's Going to Be All Right—and Other Lies Andrew Moskos, Greg Shore-Shapiro, Rob AndristPlourde, Holly  Walker, Josh Meyers, Brendan Hunt, Ike Barinholtz, Joe Canale, Juliet Curry, Jethro Nolen, Kristy Entwistle Nolen, Dave Asher, Liz Cackowski, + Ron West, + Josie O'Reilly, + Gerbrand van Kolck + Steven Svymbersky 1999 Two Thousand Years Down the Drain: From Jesus Christ to Jerry Springer Andrew Moskos, Greg Shore-Shapiro, Rob AndristPlourde, Holly Walker, Josh Meyers, Brendan Hunt, Ike Barinholtz, Joe Canale, Juliet Curry, Jethro Nolen, Kristy Entwistle Nolen, Dave Asher, Liz Cackowski, + Ron West, + Josie O'Reilly, + Jon Schickedanz + Steven Svymbersky 2000 Live at the Leidseplein: Your Privacy Is Our Business ("Boom Chicago is Watching