Chicago’s longest-running long-form improv show features one of the city’s most beloved improv stars when T.J. Jagodowski takes the stage as the guest monologist for “The Armando Diaz Experience,” July 27 at iO Chicago.
For “Armando” producer-performer Gretchen Eng, the night is a chance to recreate the magic of another Jagodowski appearance that she regards as “one of my favorite shows I’ve seen in the last ten years of Chicago comedy.”
“Most people know T.J. from his iconic duo with [fellow local improv star] Dave Pasquesi and his long run of Sonic fast-food commercials,” says Eng, who started performing in “Armando” in 2016 before taking the reins as producer the following year. “He’s one of the most inspiring, capable, kindest improvisers in the world and somebody that all of us really look up to. But he’s also just a great storyteller and he’s one of my all-time-favorite monologists for ‘Armando.’”
Such high praise is par for the course for the “Experience,” which was created at the ImprovOlympic’s original Wrigleyville location in 1995 by some of the most highly regarded people in the local improv scene’s last thirty years. The show features a team of ten onstage actors, who build improv scenes from stories told off the cuff by a featured monologist, with several tales and scenes performed over two acts in ninety minutes.
The very first show only had one-and-a-half rehearsals under the watchful eye of iO co-founder Del Close, and drew its name from original cast member Armando Diaz when he stepped up to tell many of the monologues in the show’s earliest years. It was fellow cast member Adam McKay (writer-director of comedy hits including “Anchorman”) who came up with the show’s title, and he was just one of the show’s countless illustrious alums and guest performers.
Past casts have featured breakout successes including Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, as well as longtime film and TV notables Neil Flynn and David Koechner. Guest monologists have included Chris Farley and Andy Dick along with all manner of local celebrities, combining to offer audiences a smorgasbord of talent that has long stood out among Chicago’s buffet of comic delights.
T.J. Jagodowski
“The collaborative effort of a large group of improvisers who don’t normally work together makes ‘Armando’ special,” says Jagodowski, who has also performed and taught for the Second City, Annoyance Theatre and other iO shows over the past twenty-five years. “I don’t come up with anything until I get a suggestion. Then I just try and speak honestly. My only worth as the monologist is to hopefully provide enough groceries for the cast to make a meal.”
Ultimately, Eng promises a show that will be special for longtime fans as well as those who have never seen the “Experience” before.
“I think T.J. has a magnetic quality on stage, so we have a good rapport with him and I think it’s going to be one of those really special performances for people who are looking for an in to the community and maybe seeing a show for the first time because it’s such an audience-friendly format,” says Eng. “But also for all of the improv nerds, both local and visiting from abroad, because he’s such a hero. Without knowing what the show is going to be about, of course, I can guarantee that it’s going to be a great one and I’m really looking forward to it.”
“The Armando Diaz Experience” with T.J. Jagodowski is performed at iO Chicago, 1501 North Kingsbury. Tickets are $10-$15. Call (312)300-3350 or visit ioimprov.com.
