Links-Youth Benefit - Improv Comedy

Annoyance Theatre’s Susan Messing will headline an evening of improv comedy with a Mad Men theme for Links – North Shore Youth Health Service’s spring benefit. Set for Saturday, April 30 at 7:00pm, the evening will also feature 60’s Mad Men attire, dinner with a cash bar, a silent auction, and a raffle for a 2011 Volvo C30, courtesy of Howard Orloff Imports.

Susan grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Northwestern University. She is a founding member of the Annoyance Theatre, where she has created roles in over 30 original productions, and where she performs her critically-acclaimed show, Messing with a Friend, every Thursday night. Her 24 years of involvement with Chicago improv include appearances at many different venues, including the mainstage of Second City.

Chicago Magazine named Susan "The Funniest Woman in Chicago," The Chicago Reader called her "The Best Improviser in Chicago," and the Chicago Improv Festival 2010 awarded her the title of "Improviser of the Year."

Susan will be joined by Amanda Blake Davis, who often appears with her in her critically-acclaimed show, Messing With a Friend, which runs every Thursday night at the Annoyance Theatre. Amanda is a veteran of The Second City, where she wrote and performed in five original revues. She has also performed with the Second City Las Vegas and The Second City Touring Company, and is a member of the all-female improv group Virgin Daquiri.

The benefit will be held at the Lakeview Banquet Rooms at Park Center in the Glen, 2400 Chestnut Avenue, Glenview, IL. Benefit tickets are $125, or $75 for ages 21- 29. Raffle tickets for a chance to win the 2011 Volvo C30 are $100. Tickets for the benefit and the raffle can be purchased by phone at 847.441.6191 ext 1 or online at www.linksyouth.org.

Links – North Shore Youth Health Service empowers young people to make informed, responsible decisions about their health, well-being, and sexuality. The organization provides health education in the schools and community, support services for sexual minority youth, reproductive health care, and counseling.