Political media satire performance at MPAC
Oct 15, 2008 Press Releases
Political media satire performance at MPAC
Whirled News Tonight entertains with real news and improvisation
McKINNEY, TEXAS (Oct. 7, 2008) – On Saturday, Oct. 18, Chicago’s critically acclaimed, long-running, improvised news satire Whirled News Tonight entertains audiences at McKinney Performing Arts Center (MPAC) for performances at 7 and 10 p.m. in MPAC’s Courtroom Theater.
Newspaper headlines and other stories from the media provide the inspiration for an evening of comedy by performers from iO Theater. From audience suggestions, the team creates a fast-paced show.
Before the performance, audiences select stories and headlines from media sources and tack them up on several bulletin boards onstage. The cast randomly chooses articles on which to base their improvisation.
“This show is equal parts political satire, news parody and social commentary. In this election year, it’s sure to ignite debate as well as laughs,” said MPAC director David Taylor.
Early voting begins on Monday, Oct. 20. To help inform voters, information tables with representatives from both the Republican and Democratic parties of Collin County will be on MPAC’s first floor prior to the performances.
Whirled News Tonight is the brainchild of Chicago’s iO Theater and has played to standing room only crowds in Chicago for the past five years. McKinney is one of its first stops as the show hits the road for performances across the country. iO is renowned as a recruiting stop for television shows like Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and MADtv. iO Theater alumni include Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Chris Farley, Vince Vaughn, Amy Poehler and Rachel Dratch.
Reserved seating tickets for Whirled News Tonight range from $20 to $30 and are available through MPAC’s Emerson Ticket Office at 214-544-4630 or on-line at www.mckinneyperformingartscenter.org.
Before the performances, MPAC welcomes guests for its second reception honoring artists of the ArtWorks program designed by North Texas Arts for Business and Culture. ArtWorks promotes partnerships between artists and businesses by providing opportunities for artists to exhibit their work in office lobbies and other public spaces.
The artists on Saturday, Oct. 18, include Greg Piazza, Lynda Rhodes, and Mary Frank. Meet the artists from 5 to 7 p.m. in MPAC’s Gallery, the restored vault of the courthouse on the ground floor. The ArtWorks reception is free and open to the public.
MPAC Fall 2007 – Spring 2008 Season is sponsored by Emerson Process Management. Additional support provided by: McKinney Community Development Corporation, City of McKinney, The Dallas Morning News, WFAA-TV, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Holiday Inn & Suites McKinney-Eldorado, Tucker Hill, North American Title Company, Carlson Wagonlit, Holland America, McKinney Parks, Recreation and Open Space, North Texas History Center, All Star Golf, Synergy Bank, S.S.B., Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra, and McKinneyNews.Net.
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Tags: MPAC, Whirled News Tonight
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