Anthony Cusumano
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Articles by Anthony Cusumano
Review: Oh Great, They’re Gonna Sing Delights at the Den Theatre
“There are comedians, there are theater performers, and there's like a smaller section of the Venn diagram, and we are strong at both. So why not embrace both?” That was Hannah Magy’s thought process as she and Rebecca Jaffe prepared their seventh show together, the musical sketch revue Oh Great, They’re Gonna Sing, and the two performers staunchly planted themselves in the center of that Venn diagram beautifully.
Interview: Travel Can Be Murder Delivers High-Stakes Laughs For Halloween
When it comes to merging funny and fright, nobody does it better than High Stakes Productions. The team behind perennial improv favorites Clued In and Hitch*Cocktails has made audiences laugh and gasp for over a decade and, naturally, go all out for Halloween. This year, they bring the Agatha Christie-inspired Travel Can Be Murder to the UP! Comedy Club stage at Second City.
Interview: Manything w/ Zack Baez Offers a Fresh Take on Late Night
Part late-night talk show, part onstage existential crisis, Manything w/ Zack Baez is emerging as one of Chicago’s most chaotic and clever recurring comedy shows. With hints of inspiration from Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney, Going Down with Ella Yurman, and Chicago’s own Not That Late Show, Manything goes a step beyond your typical performance, with elaborate bits, pre-taped segments, costumed characters, and even dancers and a house band.
Interview: Jazz/Hip-Hop Pianist Kiefer’s Journey and the Power of Perseverance
Pianist Kiefer is no stranger to creative adaptation. His latest record, Memory Bomb, is a dreamy and unmistakable blend of jazz and hip-hop, and a strong progression in a recording career that has spanned almost a decade. We talked with Kiefer ahead of his gig tonight at Sleeping Village about his impressive list of collaborators, the importance of perseverance, and the movie that almost made him throw up. What should Chicago audiences expect when they come to see your show tonight?
Interview: Oh Great, Rebecca Jaffe and Hannah Magy Are Gonna Do an Interview
Rebecca Jaffe and Hannah Magy became fast friends while studying musical theater at Milliken University, bonding over their shared musical and comedic sensibilities. Since landing in Chicago, the two have collaborated on a number of stage shows, the latest of which, Oh Great, They’re Gonna Sing, debuts at the Den Theatre on October 16 for a two-weekend run. We talked with the duo about their multi-talented approaches to comedy, ranging from characters to roasts to impressions and beyond.
Interview: Brad Williams Is Large and in Charge at the Chicago Theatre
Despite his small stature, Brad Williams is one of comedy’s most larger-than-life forces. At 4’4”—Williams has achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism—Williams doesn’t let anything stand in his way, with an incisive, fearless sense of humor, poking fun at himself and tackling taboo topics. On October 16, he returns to the Chicago Theatre for his Tall Tales tour.
Review: Atta Boy Impresses at Subterranean
“Why are you so cool?” That was the query an audience member posed when Atta Boy singer Eden Brolin invited questions during an equipment switcheroo. They needn’t have asked; the answer was on full display during the indie rockers’ Friday night show at Subterranean—not least of which is the fact that Brolin is currently pregnant with twins yet still giving her all on tour.
Interview: Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook Talks Cicadas and Songwriting
When Squeeze first emerged in the late 1970s, the British press was all too eager to liken songwriting team Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook to John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The band humbly shrugged off the comparison, but five decades on, Squeeze’s distinct and ridiculously catchy brand of power pop absolutely holds up. Perhaps best remembered for the 1981 hit “Tempted,” Squeeze is still going strong.
Review: Foo Fighters Crush Their Biggest Chicago Show Ever at Soldier Field
How do you celebrate 31 years’ worth of rock hits in just three hours? If you’re the Foo Fighters, it means sacrificing promoting your latest album in favor of pleasing the old-school fans and diehards with a nonstop barrage of pure, unfiltered, stone-cold classics and deep cuts.
Review: Hitch*Cocktails Sizzles in the Summer of Suspense at Annoyance Theatre
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with the crew behind one of Chicago’s best-loved improv shows, Hitch*Cocktails. For the second year in a row, the production has ramped up a “Summer of Suspense,” with additional shows, guest stars, and special cocktails to die for. The ensemble varies week to week, but everyone in the company is professional, poised, and unafraid—all very important criteria for paying homage to one of cinema’s finest horror directors, Alfred Hitchcock.
Review: Astronomy Club and Claire + Kim Shine at iO Fest
The annual iO Fest is becoming one of the city’s most anticipated comedy events every summer. This year’s festival boasted nearly 150 acts, and I was fortunate enough to see two of the headliners: Astronomy Club, an all-Black team best known for a 2019 Netflix sketch show that boasts a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Chicago comedy vets Claire + Kim.
Review: & Juliet Makes Shakespeare Pop at the Auditorium
There are few bolder ways to begin a musical than by putting William Shakespeare on blast, but Broadway in Chicago’s production of & Juliet, currently playing at the Auditorium Theatre, is nothing if not a bold show. “Are you a strong enough man to write a stronger woman?” That’s the question Shakespeare’s wife Anne Hathaway (Crystal Kellogg) asks her husband (CJ Eldred) at the start of the high-energy, fast-paced show.
Preview: Chicago’s iO Fest Celebrates Comedy with Shows and Workshops July 23-26
iO Theater is one of Chicago’s top comedy institutions, and this weekend’s iO Fest is the perfect time to catch a show. With nearly 150 performances between Thursday and Sunday, attendees are sure to find something to love. This year’s headliners include 3Peat, Claire + Kim, sketch group Astronomy Club, and Chicago favorites Improvised Shakespeare Company and Baby Wants Candy, among others.
Interview: Hitch*Cocktails Prepares Its Second Summer of Suspense at Annoyance Theatre
Those looking for a side of suspense with their comedy should look no further than Hitch*Cocktails, which has run Friday nights at the Annoyance Theatre for 14 years and counting. Brought to you by High Stakes Productions, Hitch*Cocktails is one of the city’s most reliable long-form improv shows, twisting director Alfred Hitchcock’s finest classic tropes into 90 minutes of hilarious, nail-biting humor, all while the actors (and audience) take part in an extended drinking game.
Review: Second City e.t.c.’s Reality Detox Delivers Off-the-Cuff Laughs
Reviewing an improv show is a tricky beast—after all, other audiences won’t experience the same show I saw on Thursday—but the talented cast of Second City’s Reality Detox: The Improv Experience will undoubtedly deliver something special night after night. The iconic theater’s 50th e.t.c. revue is a departure from past performances, tilting the balance towards improv over sketch, though there’s a fair amount of pre-written material included.
Interview: Jack Riedy Preps For a Busy Summer
It’s a busy summer for Jack Riedy. Between DJ sets and a show at Reggie’s on July 1, the Chicago rocker is celebrating the release of his catchy latest single, “My Friends Were Right,” a song that dates back to his high school days. We talked with Riedy about discovering Prince, the rewards of remixes, and why Chicago venues are so awesome. How did you discover your love of music? It's hard to even think of a first moment or anything like that.
Review: Gin Blossoms Are “On It” at Rivers Casino
After nearly four decades of touring, it’s no surprise that the Gin Blossoms are pretty damn good at what they do.
Interview: Gin Blossoms’ Robin Wilson Talks Playing the Hits and Taking a Hit With Phil Hartman
With classic hits like “Hey Jealousy” and “Follow You Down” to their name, the Gin Blossoms remain one of the most enduring acts of the 1990s. Tonight, they’ll perform those tracks and more at Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. We talked with lead singer Robin Wilson about his favorite Gin Blossoms deep cuts, smoking a joint with SNL legend Phil Hartman, and why you should never talk about your bandmates behind their backs. The Gin Blossoms have outlasted so many of their contemporaries.
Review: Soundgarden Guitarist Kim Thayil Delivers a Rocking Memoir
It’s hard to believe 40 years have passed since Soundgarden made their debut as one of six featured artists on the legendary Deep Six compilation, which spotlighted some of the most promising artists in Seattle’s mid-80s rock scene. Part of grunge’s “big four”—alongside Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains—the group exploded in the early 90s with hits like “Rusty Cage” and “Black Hole Sun,” ultimately disbanding in 1997, and re-emerging in 2010 for reunion tours and the album King Animal.
Detienen a un hombre tras presuntamente colarse en un vuelo de United Airlines con una tarjeta de embarque falsa
Jun. 7, 2026, 5:58 PM EDT Mirna Alsharif and Anthony Cusumano — NBC News Un hombre fue detenido tras presuntamente colarse en un vuelo de United Airlines con un tiquete falso en el Aeropuerto Intercontinental George Bush de Houston el mes pasado, según documentos judiciales presentados a principios de esta semana.
Man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto United Airlines flight with fake boarding pass
A man was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto a United Airlines flight with a fake boarding pass at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month, according to court documents filed earlier this week. Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25 of Houston, was arrested Friday in connection with the May 18 incident and charged with felony impairment or interruption of a critical infrastructure facility, court records filed in Harris County Texas show.
Man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto United Airlines flight with fake boarding pass
A man was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto a United Airlines flight with a fake boarding pass at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month, according to court documents filed earlier this week. Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25 of Houston, was arrested Friday in connection with the May 18 incident and charged with felony impairment or interruption of a critical infrastructure facility, court records filed in Harris County Texas show.
Man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto United Airlines flight with fake boarding pass
A man was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto a United Airlines flight with a fake boarding pass at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month, according to court documents filed earlier this week. Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25 of Houston, was arrested Friday in connection with the May 18 incident and charged with felony impairment or interruption of a critical infrastructure facility, court records filed in Harris County Texas show.
Man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto United Airlines flight with fake boarding pass
A man was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto a United Airlines flight with a fake boarding pass at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month, according to court documents filed earlier this week. Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25 of Houston, was arrested Friday in connection with the May 18 incident and charged with felony impairment or interruption of a critical infrastructure facility, court records filed in Harris County Texas show.
Man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto United Airlines flight with fake boarding pass
A man was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto a United Airlines flight with a fake boarding pass at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month, according to court documents filed earlier this week. Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25 of Houston, was arrested Friday in connection with the May 18 incident and charged with felony impairment or interruption of a critical infrastructure facility, court records filed in Harris County Texas show.
Man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto United Airlines flight with fake boarding pass
Kevin Carter / Getty Images file A United Airlines plane. A man was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto a United Airlines flight with a fake boarding pass at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month, according to court documents filed earlier this week.
Man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto United Airlines flight with fake boarding pass
A man was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto a United Airlines flight with a fake boarding pass at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month, according to court documents filed earlier this week. Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25 of Houston, was arrested Friday in connection with the May 18 incident and charged with felony impairment or interruption of a critical infrastructure facility, court records filed in Harris County Texas show.
Man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto United Airlines flight with fake boarding pass
A man was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto a United Airlines flight with a fake boarding pass at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month, according to court documents filed earlier this week. Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25 of Houston, was arrested Friday in connection with the May 18 incident and charged with felony impairment or interruption of a critical infrastructure facility, court records filed in Harris County Texas show.
Man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto United Airlines flight with fake boarding pass
A man was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto a United Airlines flight with a fake boarding pass at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month, according to court documents filed earlier this week. Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25 of Houston, was arrested Friday in connection with the May 18 incident and charged with felony impairment or interruption of a critical infrastructure facility, court records filed in Harris County Texas show.
Man arrested after allegedly sneaking onto United Airlines flight with fake boarding pass
A man was arrested after allegedly sneaking onto a United Airlines flight with a fake boarding pass at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport last month, according to court documents filed earlier this week. Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25 of Houston, was arrested Friday in connection with the May 18 incident and charged with felony impairment or interruption of a critical infrastructure facility, court records filed in Harris County Texas show.
Interview: Reva K Puts a Modern Spin on 90s Rock
The Revalution has begun. Chicago-based singer-songwriter Reva K is celebrating the release of her self-produced debut album, Welcome to 20 Something, a short but sweet, indomitable blend of fresh and vintage sounds. The record features contributions from Grammy-winning drummer Daniel Konopka (OK Go) and Grammy-nominated mix engineer Math Bishop, who has worked with U2 and Taylor Swift among others.
Woman killed by flying patio umbrella while dining at South Carolina restaurant
May 27, 2026, 11:56 AM EDT A South Carolina woman dining at a restaurant with her husband was killed Friday night after she was struck in the head and neck by a flying patio umbrella. Authorities were called to the Driftwood Grill in Summerton, South Carolina, at around 7:40 p.m. and found the woman, identified as Dana Winger, unresponsive with a laceration wound, the Clarendon County Coroner’s Office said in a statement.
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 13: Jeff Probst’s Spoiler Spices Up a Predictable Finale
After 50 seasons, one would be forgiven for assuming that, outside of convoluted twists, there would never be another Survivor first. Most of the noteworthy records occurred during the show’s earliest years, but the Survivor 50 finale boasted something fresh that nobody could have expected.
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 12: And Now For Something Completely Unsatisfying
What a difference a decade makes. Ten years ago, heading into the finale of her first season, Aubry Bracco was the fan favorite, beginning Survivor: Kaoh Rong as an unstable basket case before morphing into a scrappy underdog, and finally, the game’s strategic kingpin. But her orchestrating of blindsides made her less popular among certain jurors, who awarded the quieter (and underrated) Michele Fitzgerald the title.
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson get married in Florida
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson announced their engagement at a White House holiday party in December 2025. (Alex Wroblewski / Bloomberg via Getty Images file) (Alex Wroblewski) Donald Trump Jr., the president’s oldest son, married socialite Bettina Anderson on Thursday in West Palm Beach, Florida, according to Palm Beach County records. A private wedding celebration is expected to take place Saturday in the Bahamas, Page Six reported.
Review: Ivy’s Traces of You Tour Comes to Park West
After last year’s release of Traces of You, a brand-new record based around abandoned song fragments from their archives, the thought of Ivy playing live in 2026 seemed too fanciful to ever consider. The band had reservations about performing without their late bassist Adam Schlesinger, who died in 2020, but the positive response to Traces of You helped the band reconsider—albeit with one major concession, addressed by lead singer Dominique Durand early in the show.
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 11: An Unfortunate Dream Come True
Follow your dreams. It’s a piece of advice imprinted into us from childhood and usually encourages people to relentlessly pursue their passions. But in the case of five-time contestant Ozzy Lusth, he literally needed to listen to the product of his REM cycle in this spectacular episode of Survivor 50. Joe Hunter is either an unpleasant grump or unaware that he signed up to play Survivor. Or both.
Review: Second City’s Pandemonium, Please Hold Is Hilarious Musical Mayhem
SNL legend Dana Carvey once said, “All comedians want to be rock stars ‘cause they’re incredibly cool.” The cast of Pandemonium, Please Hold, Second City’s 114th mainstage revue, is proof positive of Carvey’s theory. Heavy on musical humor, the show is another impressive outing from Chicago’s most renowned comedic institution.
Interview: Ivy Pays Tribute to Adam Schlesinger at Park West
In 1991, Andy Chase placed an ad in New York’s renowned Village Voice seeking musicians who shared his eclectic tastes. One response stood out from the rest: Adam Schlesinger, a fellow multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who would later emerge as the bassist of power pop favorites Fountains of Wayne (best known for their 2003 hit “Stacy’s Mom”). Teaming up with Chase’s then-girlfriend Dominique Durand on lead vocals, they formed the band Ivy and signed with Seed Records in 1994.
Spirit Airlines apologizes after shock shutdown: ‘Thank you and sorry to the American public'
Spirit Airlines apologized to the American public during a last minute bankruptcy hearing Tuesday morning just days after its shock shutdown. The budget-friendly airline shut down with immediate effect Saturday, impacting thousands of passengers who became stranded and nearly as many employees. Marshall Huebner, an attorney for the former airline, took the stand in front of Judge Sean H.
Spirit Airlines se disculpa tras el cierre inesperado: "Gracias y nuestras disculpas al público estadounidense"
May. 5, 2026, 5:58 PM EDT Por Mirna Alsharif, Kayla Steinberg y Anthony Cusumano – NBC News La compañía Spirit Airlines pidió disculpas al público estadounidense durante una audiencia de última hora sobre su quiebra celebrada este martes por la mañana, apenas unos días después de su sorprendente cierre. La aerolínea de bajo costo cerró con efecto inmediato el sábado, lo que afectó a miles de pasajeros que se quedaron varados y a casi el mismo número de empleados.
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 10: Another Celebrity Cameo, Another Insane Twist
It might have been the most high-stakes coin flip of all time. Last week’s supersized episode of Survivor 50 had a 50/50 chance of being a thrilling season highlight or an all-time series low, and the only people luckier than coin-flipping contestant Rick Devens were the producers, who avoided a backlash that would have toppled the negative response to the Zac Brown-centered episode a few weeks back.
Interview: Lachlan Patterson Brings Laughs to Schaumburg’s Chicago Improv
With his long hair and droll delivery, once you see Lachlan Patterson’s standup, it’s unlikely you’ll forget him. His clever observations have made him a draw for over a decade, leading to opening slots for Nate Bargatze. We talked with Patterson ahead of his headlining show at the Chicago Improv in Schaumburg about his breakout appearance on Last Comic Standing, a recent stint on the Nateland at Sea cruise, and why he wishes he’d left certain jokes out of his 2020 special Dark White.
Interview: They Might Be Giants is Definitely Coming to the Vic Theatre
It’s understandably rare for bands to have a career spanning over four decades, and the few that do even more understandably tend to slow down after all that time. But not They Might Be Giants, who are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut album with the Bigger Show Tour as an eight-piece lineup performing 38 shows across 16 cities.
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 9: Jimmy Fallon Introduces Two Unprecedented Twists
The day before the most recent episode of Survivor 50 aired, AV Club posted an article lamenting the season’s “Jeff Probst problem”: namely, the host’s unrelenting need to insert himself into the season. Whether he’s rapping, impersonating contestants, or unwarrantedly bragging about twists (while simultaneously blaming fans for them), it does feel as though he’s making himself more of a focus this time around.
Review: Gelli Haha Brings an Adorable Circus to Schubas Tavern
Dolphin balloons. Boxing matches. Bubble guns. Plastic pig masks. Hula hoops. That’s just a sample of the delightful craziness Gelli Haha brought to Schubas Tavern on Saturday night. It was less of a concert and more of an adorable circus, immaculately choreographed with bright colors and a nonstop party atmosphere. Since releasing her debut album Switcheroo last year, Gelli Haha—stage name of Angel Abaya—has built a following through relentlessly quirky videos and her distinctive style.
Interview: Coming Up at the Den Theatre—Dewayne Perkins Is Better Than You, and That’s OK
Improv, standup, sketch, TV, film—however you like to laugh, Dewayne Perkins does it, and he does it brilliantly. One of comedy’s finest rising voices, the Chicago native and Brooklyn Nine-Nine scribe is bringing his new one-man show, How Being Black And Gay Made Me Better Than You! to the Den Theatre for a one-night engagement on April 30.
Recap: Survivor 50 Episode 7: Double Trouble
Two weeks ago, Survivor 50 introduced the overblown “blood moon” twist, the show’s first-ever triple elimination. While having three vote-outs was new, the format was very familiar. But this week’s episode actually delivered a genuinely new way to handle multiple eliminations. The execution wasn’t perfect, but it did lead to a strong episode…although the credit really goes to Benjamin “Coach” Wade. If push comes to shove, Wade may be the single most entertaining player in all 50 seasons of Survivor.
Interview: Kenny Wayne Shepherd Revisits His Debut Album
Blues rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd wasn’t always a guitar god. After all, he didn’t start playing until the ripe old age of seven. His debut album, Ledbetter Heights, followed at 17 and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. To celebrate, Shepherd is performing the album in its entirety on a tour that will stop at the Hard Rock Casino in Gary, IN on April 24.
Interview: Waxed is Ready to Melt Faces at Reggies
Four years after releasing their debut album Give Up, Nashville’s Waxed is back with The Continental Way, 44 minutes of face-melting, riff-driven rockers. The band, which opened for no less than Jack White last year, is returning to Chicago for a show at Reggies on April 24. Formed by frontman Luc Richards and guitarist Davis Haley, and featuring Will Alley on bass, Noel Richards on guitar, and Ian Sundstrom on drums, Waxed is a perfect fit for metal and punk lovers.
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