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June 11, 2008
Inside With: Hey You Millionaires
Far away in a town called Chicago, Hey You Millionaires rehearses one last time before boarding a mode of transit that will bring them to SketchFest NYC. Time Out Chicago says HYM is famous for their "comedy experiments" and The Bastion informed us via email that we have to check them out. Read on to discover crucial facts about HYM and to learn about the sporting craze that's sweeping vast tiny pockets of Middle America, Whirlyball.
What's your story, Hey You Millionaires?
We (James Asmus, John Bohan, and Jim Fath) met in Cleveland in 2003. In 2004, after each moving to Chicago, we formed a group called The Leading Brand. Our first effort, The Unbearable Lightness of Death, was a sketch show molded into a narrative following the story of a terminally ill man named Charlie Peeler and the seemingly oblivious characters around him. After a brief hiatus, we resurfaced under the new name Hey You Millionaires (HYM). We've performed at the Annoyance, Playground theatre, i.O. Chicago, Chicago Underground Comedy and various other Chicago comedy venues.
How would you describe your group?
We aim to create comedy that entertains and surprises both our audiences and our comedy peers. One of our biggest influences was where our name was taken from--the first sketch of the first episode of The Kids in the Hall. Speaking of, we recently played Whirlyball with The Kids in the Hall when they came through Chicago in April. No, we're not kidding, and if you must know, we fought them to a tie. And yes, we will use any excuse to mention our chance meeting with the Kids in the Hall.
How do your sketches go from an idea to the stage?
There is no "one process" for creating out material. Much of what we've done is a direct result of collaboration on stage and as we write. Some of our best content has come from an idea or a concept where we each added something at various points. Many times it erupts from conversations during pitch sessions or even conversations elsewhere. In some cases whole scenes were written entirely by one person but even those end up being change or polished by the group.
Who are you stoked to see at SketchFest?
Each of us has seen many of the groups separately so we all have groups that we are interested in seeing. James and I are looking forward to seeing Summer of Tears and the Apple Sisters. John wants to see Rue Brutalia. We are incredibly excited to be a part of this year's festival.
Any other news?
James Asmus' Love is Dead: A Necromantic Musical Comedy will play at the New York Fringe Festival in August. The show had a critically acclaimed run at the Annoyance Theatre in Chicago this past year. Also, HYM will be performing at the DC Comedy Festival and the Austin Out of Bounds sketch comedy festival later this summer.
Hey You Millionaires performs at SketchFest NYC at The UCBT this Saturday at 6PM.
Posted by The Apiary at June 11, 2008 6:20 PM
Comments
Hooray! I love these guys. They are so awesome they're almost too cool for Chicago.
Posted by: Elizabeth McQuern at June 12, 2008 1:01 AM
I saw these at Chicago Underground where I think they were working on new stuff and it was awesome.
Posted by: Chris at June 12, 2008 2:41 PM