B'GAWK!

How's it going?

2006-07-18T10:30:00.000-04:00

How remiss we have been! But I will give you the dl and leave your imagination for other delightful jaunts.

We're sort of on a hiatus ... no real reason. Well, I guess because we're too lazy to book stuff. But who knows, we could get off our collective behinds and pound the pavement! Truly! Who KNOWS? (Actually, G*d knows, you sinners.)

Amy is building her acting resume and will be in another wonderful estrogenius - it's a festival that she's been doing for about 3 years. She's gonna be a big, big star. (Also, her birthday is July 22nd! She's so cute. Kiss her face, please.)

Cindee is writing stuffs that are funny ... soon, she's gonna stand up and you people, you will laugh. SO. F'ING. HARD. And, we'll all be better for it. She's also currently perfecting the art of the panic attack. Stay tuned.

Leigh just had a birthday. It was when we were in Providence. I think she had fun ... but she had to go to Connecticut to be with Snack, the dog, not like hummus, which could also be a dog but in this case is made from chickpeas, which could also be a dog, but is in reality a bean, which could also be a dog, but in this case is a thing I hate. I don't think a thing I hate could be a dog. But oddly, I love hummus ... oops - this is about LEIGH! Who has been writing like crazy and she's so good, people. Someday soon, I have a feeling you'll see some of it. Maybe she'll update her blog (HINT!) or she'll be published (more likely). Also, she's going back to grad school to get my masters in religion so I can argue with her parents AND she's gotten her life long goal of glasses.

Jen Nails actually is pretty closed to being published, if I say it out loud it will happen. And she, me & Sarah are doing a project show called Aunt Kathy. Thank you, Kelly Buttermore for thinking of us. Jen also has a blog (see to the right of this) which will tell you so much more. Pay her homage folks, she's just amazing.

I (Michele) just got asked to be the bride of the amazing, amazing, AMAZING Stan Laikowski. I really have no idea how I got so lucky, but I did and I plan to do right by him ... you know by cutting out meat. I TEASE! Maybe I'll um ... I don't know, I guess thank G*d a lot.

Sarah is doing it up Fancy Dragon-ing. In FACT, now she's not just on a house team but on a other kind of team. Like if this were sports, they've been moved off the Jr Varsity to Varsity. Also, she's coaching up a storm. You need her in your life. She's also doing two person stuff with a nice Matt - they're called Mothra. (Also, she and I are doing New Team Battle @ the Pit on Thursdays @ 11 - if you have a team that you have always wanted to play with come out and pla-hay.)

Wanna see us all together again? Well, here's the plug and party sort of invite! Come to Primo Loco (Adam Nowak's fun show) on August 5th. It's @ Jimmy's No. 43. It's really special because its both Sarah & Adam's birthday show ... Adam's is on the 4th and Sarah's is on the 6th. And all the Chicken's will be there.

We miss you!

4 out of 5 Chickens agree

2006-05-05T12:10:00.000-04:00

... a night of comedy is good for what ails you; and here is the perfect prescription courtesy of Dr. Oddbody.

Adam Nowak' s
¡Primo Loco!

An evening of improv, stand-up, short film, and music hosted by the Huggin' Bears! Adam Nowak and Mike Gold at Jimmy's no 43.

Featuring

Stand up with Dustin D 'Addato and Sandy Marks

The musical twangin' of Karen Gollrad

The improv connectedness of four-fifths of Chicken Ranch and Ikarus

Solo improv and a short film by Dave Thunder

A couple of short "flims" from the Huggin' Bears!

And it's all FREE!

Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 8 pm

Jimmy's no 43
Downstairs at 43 East 7th St .
btw 2nd and 3rd Ave

If this doesn't fix you, we don't know what will.

B'gawk!

Feel like Chicken this Wednesday

2006-04-18T13:23:00.000-04:00

There are two more chances to hang out with the Ranch this month. We'd love to see you; it's been so long!

Chicken Ranch at Ash Wednesday
Every Wednesday in April from 7 - 9 PM

This week, April 19, features Chicken Ranch, Dustin D'Addato (stand up), Chris O'Connor (character monologue), Dominic Dierkes (stand up), Golightly (improv), Coloradoprov (improv with our own mama hen, Jen Nails) and, of course our host Evel Cathedral doin' make-'em-ups.

Magnet Theatre
254 W. 29th St.
(between 8th and 9th)
ONLY $5

Chicken Ranch is Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Michele O. Medlin, Sarah Nowak and Cindee Weiss
Directed by Jen Nails

We heart you!

Holy Month of Chicken!

2006-04-11T12:57:00.000-04:00

We are fresh from NC, bursting with sunshine and dew. Come celebrate Spring, Passover, Easter and all that is good and holy this April with a month of Chicken Ranch at Ash Wednesday!

Chicken Ranch at Ash Wednesday
Every Wednesday in April from 7 - 9 PM
This week, April 12, features not only Chicken Ranch, but also Uncle Dad (improv), Tony Zaret (stand up), Warth and Todd (improv), Rosemary Stevens (stand up), Fancy Dragon (improv with CR's own Sarah Nowak), and of course, our hosts Evel Cathedral!
Magnet Theatre
254 W. 29th St.
(between 8th and 9th)
ONLY $5

Chicken Ranch is Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Michele O. Medlin, Sarah Nowak and Cindee Weiss
Directed by Jen Nails

Spring! Chickens! Schweds!

B'gawk!

I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps

2006-04-04T17:05:00.000-04:00

So, this morning, I go to my coffee place (Pax on 49th & 7th) and get my coffee (hazelnut with half & half) and I'm reminded of how I do not like a) starting new jobs b) starting new jobs in the service industry c) being around money in the service industry d) being trained by people in the service industry who have been in the service industry a long time and e) working in the service industry.

The Cashier is the regular cashier (the one I referred to in an earlier post about my morning coffee) and is really lovely, the Coffee Guy is the normal coffee guy (not the one I referred to in the post to which I just referred - I never saw that guy again ... I saw him that once, he did that weird joke on the guy and then poof goes off to another Pax, I suppose) and then there is this Trainee. OH, this Trainee seriously BREAKS.MY.HEART. She's just so slow. It's been two weeks and she doesn't get it. The Cashier is so quick, she knows how much stuff is and knows that I want a hazelnut with half & half and knows that it's $1.86 (ouch, right? so ridiculous). Trainee has yet to catch on. Now, Trainee yesterday had a line that was so big that cashier had to push her back and do the number punching, money changing that she does so well and Trainee looked like she was going to cry. So, today, Trainee was on just coffee duty and Coffee Guy had to push her aside to do my coffee. I want to say to Cashier & Coffee Guy, it's ok - I'm not in a hurry, but I am a little. I just want to walk through and get my coffee and walk out. I am always polite - it's what I do - but someday, its not going to be nice me. It's going to be banker man who is gruff and angry and a big old hater and he's going to really and truly MAKE Trainee CRY. Because Trainee is just a yell away from the tears. Cashier is getting really tense with Trainee too. Luckily, Coffee Guy seems to be managing his patience very well. I believe in Trainee. But maybe, she shouldn't do the cash part. Perhaps, she could just do coffee? I don't know. I'm worried. What about her babies? Her husband has probably been recently laid off - he's in construction and fell off a platform. He'll be fine, but it won't be for months, so Trainee had to take a job - any job! - and she's stuck here on 49th & 7th with so much tension. She probably goes home and bravely makes dinner and when asked says her day was fine ... BUT, GUYS? ITS NOT FINE.

I'm making myself upset.

Earlier, I made myself cry over the homeless kitties. Their stories are our stories and all but for the grace of G*d, go Boo & Zuzu, you know?

When in Rome...

2006-03-28T23:02:00.000-05:00

Hi COOPsters. How's living? It's Amy! Just back from my Carolina trip(s). WHA? Weeeelllll, since NORTH Carolina was so freaking amazing, I decided to head to SOUTH Carolina to ante-up my fun and visit some kin. I rented a Chevy Malibu from the Budget* rental car at the Raleigh Durham airport (RDU if you're on Cheap Tickets and it's 12:05 AM and you need to get there by Friday and your server keeps crashing everytime you try to look up a GD airport code) and headed down to Charleston, SC. Man, I was tired, hungry and a wee bit TOXIC after trying to match Lewis Black Bud Light for Bud Light.** SO, I stopped in at the MacDonalds on my way. There I spotted evidence that the South is freaking awesome. First of all, they have McBiscuits with McSausageGravy on the breakfast menu. Second, after I was halfway through my egg mcmuffin dessert, I thought that I'd be a real lady and pass the newspaper over to 2 gentlemen who had just copped a sitter next to me, and they were saying Grace. GRACE. At MacDonald's! Third, there are all kinds of cool ass foods involving pecans. Like pralines. And pecans with stuff on 'em. Fourth, there are pinecones everywhere. Fifth, the food again. OH MAN JESUS - Alan and Sons BBQ with Sweet Tea. If you go to the Carolinas, DO NOT LEAVE without eating there. Sixth, that is all.

I hope to have a real ass BBQ here. I'll invite you.

Cluckin' at you with love-
Amy

---------------

*BUDGET? Hello, cost me freaking $128 bones to rent that MaliPOO.

**These claims are completely unsubstantiated. I was in the vicinity of Lewis Black and may have winked at him. That is all. I did not play quarters with him, or sliders, or boogie nights the boardgame. (Leigh has the rock star liver in the coop, not me.) I need a pack of Rolaids and a tube of Anacin after sniffing a glass of red wine. Pansy. I should just give it all up and join the freakin pansy army. Goram pansy.

women in comedy at unc

2006-03-27T15:46:00.000-05:00

amy dickenson, jen nails, michele o. medlin, rachel korowitz, sarah nowak, joan darling, cindee weiss, anne stesney, leigh angel

Thank you unc. Amazing!

(photo by punk rock photographer tony carnevale. thanks, tones.)

update !

2006-03-24T14:45:00.000-05:00

So, here we are. We just heard Nick Hornby speak. It was awesome. He gave me a list of books to read ... OK, he gave it to all of us, but I felt that perhaps it was just to me.

Rushing off to the Women in Comedy Panel which we also partook of last year. Partook? You know what I mean. Maybe?

Huh?

Well, anyway ... its a little gray day, but filled with sunshiny people.

Yay!

This.Just.In.

2006-03-23T14:16:00.000-05:00

Amy Dickenson has made it to NC ... Leigh Angel & Cindee Weiss are close on her heals, in fact, I believe they are in the air as I type. Amy says its cold, but according to weather.com it's 52 degrees. So, I guess she's correct.

In other news, Sarah & I are still at work. We are talking on our gtalk. She says, "hi!" If you want to know what we say most of the time, you should check out our blog. It's called Kill, Secretary, Kill!. That was a blatant plug. But, that's my style.

We'll try to keep you up on our goings on this weekend.

No where I'd rather be

2006-03-22T13:08:00.000-05:00

There is a look that NY'ers get when they sense someone is going to engage in a verbal combat. Its a little twinkly & a little fearful. I felt that mask creep over my face this morning when I was getting my morning coffee. I saw it creep over the cashiers face as this exchange happened:
Other cashier dude to patron: YOU had CHEESE with this?
Patron: no
OCD to P: YOU had CHEESE with this?
Patron: NO! Nothing on it. PLAIN.
OCD to P: YOU had CHEESE with this?
Patron: * looks up *
beat
* grin *
OH YOU!
Then, me and other cashier made shakey eye contact like we'd gone through something together.

Getting my morning coffee can be harrowing - mostly because of the tourists. Tourists aren't familiar with the routine, I get it, but to the part of me that's recently awoken and is going to the mine, they are fucking idiots, worse than pigeons and must be punished. The only punishment I wield is an occasionally mutter. They are so lucky that I don't have super powers. So many people are lucky I don't have super powers.

Jug Band!

2006-03-20T13:53:00.000-05:00

Guys,

We rehearsed like CRAZY this weekend! You should have seen us. It was like a montage of gearing up for the Olympics like in the best movie of all time The Cutting Edge. At one point, we were doing a long form we like to call um, I guess, the CR? And this crazy group in the room next door was singing a song on their guitar called City Hall. Sarie said that the group singing was called City Hall and that one of the guys from the group City Hall was also in Suarez which performs sometimes with Sarie's group Fancy Dragon on Wednesday @ 9:30 PM @ the Pit FOR FREE, hello! ANYWAY! They were singing and singing and singing - sounded good! - but oh, my G*D so distracting. We ended up crying in a corner and holding each other. Sometimes, singing is NOT good for the soul. I'm going to start a petition for Champions to maybe put some more noise sound blocking things on the walls. I actually spent the last ten min trying to figure out what that's called because there is a word for that but whatever, you get my drift and you'll SIGN MY PETITION! Jerk heads.

In other news, I'm apparently cool. Read about me in Dustin D'Addato's new blog. It makes me feel shiny and a little shy. Not shy enough to not tell you guys about it, but still a wee bit tender and lovely. Keep checking his blog because its going to be awesomely interesting. Oh and I don't know when the next one is, but definitely check out Poker Night if you enjoy the comedy.

Can I just say that I am way way way excited about our trip this weekend? Well, I am going to say it anyway. I am way way way excited. Here's what's going down @ UNC-Chapel Hill. We're back in Black. OH, no I didn't.

Count Down to NC

2006-03-17T13:46:00.000-05:00

So, cats & bananas,

We are 7 days to NC. Apparently, we're going to be performing on campus beginning @ 9:00 @ the Cabaret. Soon, I hope to be able to tell you exactly where that is. At 11, Jeff Scherer and I are going to run over the DSI to do a little elmo in between the two Harolds. EEP! Good times scary fun.

Oh, speaking of elmo, I'll plug us - we're performing this coming Wednesday @ Ash Wednesday (7 - 9 PM @ Magnet Theater on 29th between 8th & 9th). Please come, its such a great fun show.

I'm like a year behind on the whole my space phenomenon. Chicken Ranch doesn't have one. Jeff said that elmo should set one up so that's why there is an elmo one. Its a weird place. I think its just to show people that we have other people in our life and that's what life is all about, right? I think. And, yes, I know about Friendster. I'm still trying to figure out the difference there. But back to life? Lets just say, I haven't really figured out what its all about yet either. Now I'm thinking - does elmo need a blog? Eh, prolly not. I think that this topic has been done to death. Instead, I'll turn my mind to the girl scout cookies that I have next to me. Haunting me. Taunting me. This woman at my work told me that I should freeze my thin mints and I said, "I've been alive for awhile." She said I was rude. She's right, but COME ON!

Paper Bag

2006-03-14T14:18:00.000-05:00

So, I got my lunch today - a salad, per usual - and the bag said 8 lbs. Oh, people of the internet who I view as being as highly intelligent individuals much like the other girls of Chicken Ranch and nothing like me, wouldn't it be an ideal world if we could have on our outsides how much we can take each day? Because, seriously, today? I can take about one ounce of stupidity and other ounce of bullshit and zero ounces of anger. BECAUSE I'M FULL UP WITH ANGER. And dear internet peoples, nothing is wrong in my life. I have good times love fest with friends and lovely boyfriend, I'm just an ANGER BALL!

When did this blog turn into Michele Medlin's blog? I don't know. I really hope you guys don't mind. I'm too lazy to start my own.

Plus, you know what? Sometimes, I say stuff about what we're doing. Like on Friday, we're rehearsing! And on Sunday, too! We're going to be going to NC in a week and two days. I don't really have any more details then that. Oh, except Evel Cathedral AND X Plus One, are also going! And El Mo is going to be performing at DSI in the middle of Harold Night on Friday 3/24 @ 11.

You know what's an annoying song? Love is Stronger than Witchcraft. It just repeats over and over and over and over.

You know what's not annoying? I don't know either.

Boring post!

2006-03-13T13:38:00.000-05:00

THE HOUSE, by Danielle Steel. A workaholic lawyer's life changes when she buys a crumbling mansion.

This is number one on the NY Times Bestselling list. It just came out this week and its already number one. Oh, America. I understand and really, it is going to be ok. We're such chickens. I mean really, how can we open up ourselves to other things, when they aren't a sure bet. Yes, memoirs, I AM looking at you.

Personally, I have reread the Outlander series 5 times. Now, Outlander and the books after it are not tiny books, but big books. Outlander the first in the series is 896 pages. Then there are 5 after that amassing about the same pages for each book. This last one, A Breath of Snow and Ashes is 978. I could go out and find good books to read, I'm sure of it, but I am so comfortable with Claire and her husband Jamie, I figure why bother? I did the same with the Anne of Green Gables series.

What am I even saying? Well, I started out to say, "Hey, ho! America? Quit reading trash!" and then I took a good hard look at me, Michele, and am now looking to you to tell me a new series to read.

Revelations

2006-03-08T11:16:00.000-05:00

So, this morning as I* was walking to work, I thought I would make all of my friends read the Book of Revelations so that they could fear the end of the world like I constantly do. Any time a hurricane happens, I hear my mothers voice say, "End of Times", in a very spooky voice, actually nothing like her voice but if I were to assign a human to that voice it would be my moms. But, then I realized that you guys won't get as scared as I get because, well, that was my personal boogie man and you alls prolly have your own. **Side note: The other thing that scares me is crossing bridges because of Billy Goats Gruff. I was walking up my stoop on Monday and there were two homeless people there and I got the same feeling as walking over a bridge - they were my goblins. shudder.**

And then today on Threadless, there was a tshirt that had a code bar and that scared me too! Because in the End of Times, we're not going to have money any more, we're just going to have code bars on our FOREHEADS. Personal UPC Codes! And we won't have names any more, we'll just be known by our social security numbers. And, the waters will run all bloody and we'll be zombies.

I hope I'm not making the End of Times sound cool. Because they aren't, fair sinners! There will be a RECKONING, which will be really scary! People that are good and stuff will just float up to heaven while the rest of us have to wander around looking for top roman noodles to eat in the bloody water.

*I = Michele

Rough Show

2006-03-01T14:16:00.000-05:00

Phew! We had quite a time with the old show on Saturday. I don't know why, but it was tough. We said we'd never speak of it again, but it's just sitting there like a scary doll in the dark ... waiting for you to fall asleep so it can suck out your breath. Oh, scary doll, please go away.

Many of us have purchased our tickets to NC for the upcoming event! Hoo Boy are we excited. What makes it even more exciting is that Evel Cathedral (Rachel Korowitz, Stan Laikowski & Chris Schneider) and X+One (Tony Carnavale, Rachel Korowitz, Stan Laikowski, Jeff Scherer & Chris Schneider) are also coming down. Its going to be a party. We will go to Mama Dipps, we will NOT look for Squirt & we MAY make more tree puns.

I'll leaf it to your imagination.

Tonight and Tomorrow Are Ours

2006-02-24T15:32:00.000-05:00

Let's meet Friday or Saturday. Whichever works better for you. Chicken Ranch has reserved the best table, ordered your favorite wine, and asked Francois to serenade us. Don't leave us crying at the bar.

Chicken Ranch
in
The 75 Step Program
with Creep and host group Fickle
February 24 at 9 PM
Access Theater
380 Broadway, 4th Floor
Two blocks south of Canal Street at the corner of White Street
(212) 966-1047
$10 + free beer

A Show of Their Very Own
February 25 at 10 PM
Gotham City Improv
158 W. 23rd Street, 2nd Floor
above Monster Sushi
(917) 558-3549
$8 + free hugs

Chicken Ranch is
Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Michele O Medlin,
Sarah Nowak and Cindee Weiss

Directed by Jen Nails

Anything men can do, women can do, you know, just as well.

Origins: Summer Miracle

2006-02-23T16:44:00.000-05:00

Summer Miracle: an email exchange between chickens

Sarah:
hells yeah dude.no more rehearsal on tuesdays! it's a true summer miracle*!

*the name of my pony, and a series of young adult novels based on my pony

Michele:
True Summer Miracle defeats Negativity! (the sequel)

Cindee:
Our young equine heroine bravely squares off against the evil OTB favored [name redacted]. She's light on her feet as she races against the wind to save her best gal Moe from the jaws of the evil [name redacteds].

Sarah:
Summer miracle, realizing she represents the budding s*xuality of her owner, engages in a short lived and chaste romance at the barn dance with Buddy Bill, the new stud in town. Until the dance is interruptedby a fire at the mill! And summer must race to save the girls at the sleepover next door!

Amy:
Oh NO! Someone stole Buddy Bill's new saddle! Will Summer and Buddy team up to solve "The Case of the Missing Mount"? Or will Rancher Rivera have to sell Buddy to evil Rancher Rogers to pay for the newmill?

Sarah:
The Wheedlesons get a new ranch hand, Hong Tran, and everyone suspects the newcomer of being shy. Summer and Buddy cross the cultural divide with the help of the town baker Jorge, just in time to help Hong solve the mystery of the missing tea set!

The funnest game ever. I highly suggest making up your own adventure blurb for Summer Miracle!

Sourdough

2006-02-23T15:10:00.000-05:00

Michelle Shocked wrote one of my favorite songs. Yep, I think it's in my top 10, along with 9 to 5, Total Eclipse of the Heart and a song from Chess (I haven't decided which), Go by Apples in Stereo and um others, obviously. Anchored Down in Anchorage is just perfect to me in its simplicity. A letter song. I put my fingers to my face and I kiss them and say AH! just like an eyetalian. Maybe its because I lived in Alaska and my name is Michele or maybe its because my favorite letters I've ever received were written from Leigh Angel when I was stranded in Anchorage or maybe the two things I just said were exclusive and I just like writing or and maybe. Who knows?

The first time I lived in Alaska, I lived in Sitka, which was the Russian capital of Alaska when Steward bought it from Russia. It has this amazing mixture of Greek Orthodox, Indian totem poles and tourists. When you are in 3rd grade, I highly recommend you move there. If it's too late, then have a kid and when they are in 3rd grade move there then. I'm sure it would be an awesome place to live if you are an adult as well. We went to church at The Assembly of God. It was about a mile away from us and we walked it mostly. Once, my mother tripped looking at the Northern Lights, fell down and broke her arm. It's the first time I remembering laughing to the point of gasping.

On second thought, maybe you shouldn't move to Alaska.

- Mo

Just because we're chicks doesn't mean we don't bleed

2006-02-22T12:41:00.000-05:00

You know what? I'm not really going to go on and on about how bad my cramps are today because you don't care. BUT, I am going to tell you about this funny lady, Jessica Delfino, who performed last night at Poker Night - Poker Night is Nick Turner, Shayna Ferm and Dustin D'Addato, friends of CR who have their own fun show @ Ace Of Clubs which is below Acme which is on Great Jones which is in NYC . Jessica sings about the once a month thing entitled appropriately once a month for a week we bleed from our vaginas. She also sings about other things and will also be performing tonight @ Ash Wednesday. She was groovy.

Hey! Guess what? I lied. I am going to talk a widdle bit about the bleedings. Mostly, I'm going to talk about the names we call them. My mother used to say in the '40's, when she first started her period, "my red headed cousin is coming to town". (sidenote: my mom is going to be 76 on Monday.) That title for your period seems a little long winded, but it was the '40's and they spoke much faster so it was prolly said so quickly that it just sounded like blurry words and then, see? Which was at the end of all sentences in the '40's. Oh, wait, that's more the '30's? Well, let's pretend, ok? I don't know that I have a nickname for it but that's not because I'm all, "hey, world check me out, I'm bleeding from my vagina", no its mostly because I just don't talk about it except obviously for the purpose of this blog thingy. Someone's ex-boyfriend used to call it "her thing" ... But really, isn't it at that point, their thing? So, the movie That Thing You Do must have cracked his ass up. Another friend calls it Flo, which is fun OR someone could think she was talking sh*t about that really fast lady runner who died. Another of my friends sometimes refers to it as Dot, which is cute because she has a semicolon tat. Um, I don't know why I'm not saying all of these names come from the ladies of the ranch - maybe you know what goes on in my head. Currently, three out of five of us are up the creek with an ob paddle.

In my mind, this post is me being folksy, like Chris from Northern Exposure.

- Mo

Here's a chesnut for you!

2006-02-21T14:15:00.000-05:00

Howdy!

We had a long weekend this weekend, did you? It was kind of magical. We did a show on Saturday, which was fun. Thank you peoples who came. You're sweet. We kiss your faces. And, then we had some boozes. Thank you boozes we drank. You're sweet. We kiss your faces.

But then, we parted ways.

I don't really know what everyone did, but I did a bag of laundry that was as tall as I am. I'm not kidding! IT WAS AS TALL AS ME! I carried it by my ownselves, thank you very much and I just had the best time in the world. There was some kind of altercation between a family and the owner of the laundry. He, the owner man, called the POlice. There was a lot of he said / he said going on. In the end, the family was allowed to finish their laundry but were told not to ever come back again! Thrilling. While I was folding the laundry that was as big as me, I saw that the father was reading a Dan Brown novel, which made him immediately suspect in my mind. Wait for the movie, right? And, the son was doing crossword puzzles from the Post. Hello! Double suspect. The mother came in and yelled a dirty word and left. So, I don't know what she was reading but it certainly wasn't How to Win Friends and Influence People.

This week is crazy busy with opportunities to see us perform. You are so lucky!

Tomorrow night (2/22), Sarah is going to be at Ash Wednesday @ some point between 7:00 pee m's to 9. It's at the Magnet as you may know from previous posts. I'll be there. I'm sure most of the Chickens will. If they can I mean. Then! We're performing BOTH Friday AND Saturday. That's crazy, right? Friday (2/24) is at Access Theater @ 9 Pee m's for $10 bunches of money with I understand some access to beers too! (Access Theater is: 380 Broadway, 4th floor - Two blocks south of Canal Street at the corner of White Street (212) 966-1047Subways: J, M, N, Q, R, W, 6 to Canal Street. Walk south on Broadway to the theater.) And, then Saturday (2/24) back at the old Gotham, 10 pm for $8. Me, Michele Medlin, will be performing @ Ampers&nd with Jeff Scherer in El Mo. I like us. It's an awesome show and I'm pretty sure you'll have a good time. You know what? I'm positive if you go to any of these shows, you'll have a better than good time or I owe you a drink.

- Mo

CAPLOCKS FRIDAY JOY FUN TIMES QUIET RIOT

2006-02-17T10:26:00.000-05:00

SARAH NOWAK FOUND THIS THING ON ANOTHER BLOG SITE THAT IS ALSO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE POST TO EACH OTHER - I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS BECAUSE I'M CREATIVE NOT COMPUTERITIVE AND WHAT YOU DO IS EVERY FRIDAY ALL DAY LONG TYPE WITH THE CAPS

SEE AT FIRST ITS DISCONCERTING BUT WITH THYME AND OPENING YOURSELF UP TO THE UNIVERSE YOULL GET IT

IN THE MEANTIME HERES A PICTURE OF A PUPPY:

AND TWO KITTENS:

OH I FORGOT! CR GOT AN ADDITION OF SNACK THE PUPPY LEIGH IS NOT A MOTHER BUT SHE DOES NOW CARE FOR SNACK IN HER HOUSE I DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT WHEN PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE THE PARENTS OF ANIMALS I GET ALL FREAKED OUT SO NOW YOU KNOW THE KTTENS ARE BOO RADLEY & ZUZU PETALS WHEN THEY WERE BABIES THEYRE MINE MINE = MICHELE IM ON A TEAR OF WRITING ON THE WHOLE BLOG

SPEAKING OF TEAR WHY DONT YOU COME SEE CHICKEN RANCH AT GOTHAM TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10 PEE M

Jes?

2006-02-16T18:02:00.000-05:00

So, we've got some big a*s news! We're going back to NC for the Carolina Comedy Festival! 'Member last year? Oh, the memories I have. We didn't blog about it enough.

And frankly, dear reader(s?) (did we lose you?) we don't blog enough in general.

This blog is not brought to you by guilt, but more the need to reach out. How are you!?! We're so good. We've been rehearsing every Saturday @ 9:30 in the ayems for a couple of hours. I just had a birthday and oddly, didn't have a party. So, no pictures!

Never fear though because we're gonna take some someday. Yep. Some.day.

I now see why we never blog.

You know that amazing picture in the last post? Sarah's friend Jess DREW it for us. And, we're going to make it into postcards and when we see you, you'll say, hey, CR's you gotta post card? And, we'll say YES! It will be a winning moment in both of our lives.

I really like Chipolte. I just tried it, yesterday and yes, it was good. Word to those on the weight watchers, one of those puppies cost me 22 points. That was my whole day o' points plus two. OOOH! I almost had to cut someone when I learned that. Then I remembered how delicious it was and I said, oh, it's ok. Don't worry, I'm not gonna cut you, you person who isn't really around.

There's other stuff. I'm sure. Maybe, I'll dream about it and write it all out tomorrow.

- Mo

Chicken Ranch Limited Engagement

2006-02-14T10:14:00.000-05:00

Mrs. J.M.N. Gold's Saloon and Game Parlour presents

TWO NIGHTS ONLY

CHICKEN RANCH

Live on stage at
Gotham City Improv

February 18 and 25 at 10 PM
JUST $8

Witness
BRAZEN WOMEN
performing
AMAZING FEATS
of improvisational comedy
right before your eyes

Behold the
THRILLS
the
CHILLS
and the
GENERAL AWESOMENESS
of
CHICKEN RANCH

Chicken Ranch is
Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Michele O Medlin,
Sarah Nowak and Cindee Weiss

Directed by Jen Nails

Chicken Ranch
February 18 and 25 at 10 PM
Gotham City Improv
158 W. 23RD Street 2nd Floor
above Monster Sushi

Anything men can do, women can do, you know, just as well.

the 75-step program

2006-02-10T10:10:00.000-05:00

Hello and B'gawk!
Here's some info on an upcoming show! Go to it! We'll be there in our fave outfits and we'll hang out with you after! And don't forget, we have two shows coming up later this month at Gotham City Improv, 2/18, 2/24 at 10. We'll set up a proper plug when we're good'n'ready.

The 75 Step Program, with our very special guests Creep and Chicken Ranch at the Access Theater

Ticket price is $10.00, includes free beer (while suds-plies lasts)
Show starts at 9:00, doors open at 8:30 at the Access Theatre.

Creep is Anthony Atamanuik, Eric Bernat, Eugene Cordero, Birch Harms, Jeff Hiller, Ryan Karels, Silvija Ozols and Eliza Skinner

Chicken Ranch is Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Michele O Medlin, Sarah Nowak and Cindee Weiss

Fickle is Caroline Ficksman, Susan Gill, Ken Goldstein, Avi Kline, Gerard Onorato, Jason Poole and Steve Weiner

Access Theater is: 380 Broadway, 4th floor - Two blocks south of Canal Street at the corner of White Street (212) 966-1047
Subways: J, M, N, Q, R, W, 6 to Canal Street. Walk south on Broadway to the theater.

Our Friend Chris in a Commercial

2006-02-07T16:05:00.000-05:00

I think.

New year, new digs, old friends

2006-01-03T13:16:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

Chicken Ranch is thrilled to be kickin' off '06 at the first Ash Wednesday show of the new year. Our host, Evel Cathedral, has assembled a rocktastic show guaranteed to make you smile and at least chuckle, if not chortle. I mean, check out this lineup.

Homeroom
The Hamptons
Chicken Ranch
Dave Hill
The Manzano Bros.
Evel Cathedral

You see what we're saying. Get your buns to The Magnet Theater this Wednesday, January 4 at 7 PM. Special new year's bonus: we'll even hug you after the show.*

Ash Wednesday
The Magnet Theater
254 W. 29th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)
This Wednesday, 7-9pm
Admission: $5

B'gawk!

*Okay, Mo may not hug, but she'll smile at you and say hi.

Happy Holidays from the Ranch

2005-12-25T15:52:00.000-05:00

Please enjoy this holiday gift from our coop to yours.

Best wishes for a super duper holiday season and a rockin' new year.

Love and b'gawk!
Leigh, Amy, Michele, Sarah and Cindee

TGIAS

2005-11-28T15:53:00.000-05:00

Thank God It's Almost Schweds

Chicken Ranch survived family gatherings and gluttony to be with you at Ash Wednesday this very Wednesday, November 30 from 7 - 9 pm. Wednesday.

And looky, who else will be there: Dustin D'Addato, Matt Evans and Dave Hill do the stand-up/funny-talky; America, Warth and Todd, and of course, our host, Evel Cathedral do the funny-make-em-ups.

So join us this
Wednesday, November 30
from
7 pm to 9 pm
for
Ash Wednesday
at the
Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston St. between Clinton and Attorney (take the F/V to 2nd Avenue).
Admission is FREE with a LOOSELY ENFORCED two-drink minimum.

We'll save you a spot right up front. Wednesday.

We're back; and we're bringing a covered dish.

2005-11-02T19:58:00.000-05:00

Chicken Ranch is back after a too-lengthy hiatus.

This Friday, November 4 at 8 PM, the Chickens return to Juvie Hall for Pot Luck Cabaret.

The show is only $7, and we'll feed you for reals.

Chicken Ranch is Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Michele O. Medlin, Sarah Nowak and Cindee Weiss. Directed by Jen Nails.

Ikarus is Bram Barouh, Chelsea Clarke, Devlyn Corrigan, Joey Dembner, Scott Hernandez, Sandy Marks, Pam Murphy and Adam Nowak. Directed by someone awesome I'm sure.

To recap:

Pot Luck Cabaret

Friday, November 4

8:00pm

$7 admission

2 kick-ass groups

Free food

Juvie Hall

24 Bond St.

between Bowery and Lafayette

You

All fired up for Cindee's birthday

2005-09-25T17:14:00.000-04:00

The birthday girl was "Walking on Sunshine" all night long.

iBop Karaoke - no jumping!

(Pat Benetar classic and first Chicken Ranch theme song)

Chickens "All Fired Up".

Sarah

Michele

Amy (with back-up dancers)

Happy birthday, Cindee! We love you!

Hurricane benefit

2005-09-05T16:14:00.000-04:00

Come join the chicks!

Hurricane Benefit
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
at The PIT
Join New York's top improvisors and sketch comedians as we raise money to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Featuring
7pm The Prince Albert Players with Special Guest Matt Higgins & Chicken Ranch
8pm Jim Gaffigan
9pm Big Flux & The Royal We,
10pm Pygmy Marmalade & Cubicle
11pm Elephant Larry & MEAT
And surprise guests!!!

There will be a new show every hour.
Suggested donation is $5 for each hour (more if you can swing it!)
All proceeds will go directly to the Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

We wil also be accepting new and slightly worn shoes to give to shelters in Nashville, TN for some dsplaced victims of the hurricane.

The Peoples Improv Theater
154 W 29th St.
NYC 10001
Tel 212 563-7488
www.thepit-nyc.com

hurricane relief

2005-09-02T16:46:00.000-04:00

mercy corps
the american red cross

Check back here for details on a benefit show at our adopted home, The Pit. We may not be performing in it, but we are so going to watch the shit out of it.

Also:

love,
sarah

Gutenberg Decoded

2005-08-22T14:22:00.000-04:00

After years of research and study, Chicken Ranch has at long last decoded the famous Gutenberg Font of Type. In the 1450s, Johann Gutenberg developed the first printing press; it was, until recently, believed that the image above was merely a chart of alphabetical characters used in the printing of the first Bible. Not anymore. In Gutenberg's Font of Type, Chicken Ranch has discovered a prophecy greater than that of Nostradamus, truer than those of Isaiah or Mohammad; Gutenberg forsaw the Events of the Last Weekend in August 2005. What follows is a direct translation:

And the Lord commandeth, this Friday, August 26 at 8 PM, bring thy self, thy beloved, thy brother, and all those for whom thou dost care to Juvie Hall for Pot Luck Cabaret, ministered by the great poet and prophet, Adam Nowak.

Blessings of humor, good tidings and a feast of manna and honey will rain down upon you as Evel Cathedral, Chicken Ranch and Ikarus nourish thy belly and thy spirit with their improvisational psalms and covered dishes.

Pot Luck Cabaret
Friday, August 26 at 8 PM
Juvie Hall
24 Bond Street
Basement Level
An offering of $7 will be collected at the door to benefit Father Erik's Hall for Juvies Whose Deliquencies Must Be Punished by Incarceration.

Then, be it known to all children of righteousness, on Sunday, August 28 at 9:30 PM, there shall be a gathering of thy brethren and sistren at Magnet Theater for XvY, ministered by high priestess, Rosemary Stevens, and scholar of the ancient scrolls, Tony Carnevale. Whosoever, Booby Trap* or Egotestical, bringeth the funny the most shall be the victor and favored by God.

X v Y: Booby Trap vs. Egotestical
Sunday, August 28 at 9:30 PM
Magnet Theater
254 W. 29th St.
An offering of $5 will be collected at the door to benefit the Theater That Which Draws the Devout by Means of Electromagnetics.

Whosoever shall join in these congregations shall find happiness and joy in this life and beyond. Thus sayeth el Dios de la Improvisacíon.

*Booby Trap: the Sisters of the Holy Order of the Sacrificial Chicken Ranch, and Reverend Mothers Rachel Korowitz of Evel Cathedral, Betsy Todd of the Church of Warth and Todd, and Kristy Kershaw of Sacred Heart of Street Meat.

Ash Wednesday Verdict: Funny on All Counts

2005-08-18T13:18:00.000-04:00

Adorakable Chickens Sarah and Cindee schmooze biased jurors Kelly and Libby.

Chickens Michele and Leigh prep the witness with charm and beer.

Judge, jury and executioner(s): Stan and Michele smile, nobody dies.

Thanks, Evel Cathedral and everyone who came out to Ash Wednesday. Chickens heart Schweds.
B'Gawk!

Ash Wednesday Is Back in Session

2005-08-16T10:38:00.000-04:00

Although a priori, Chicken Ranch would like to bring to your attention the following evidence supporting our claim that it would be in your best interest to attend Ash Wednesday tomorrow evening, August 17 from 7 PM to 9 PM.

Chickens' Exhibit A.1 - Chicken Ranch is Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Michele O. Medlin, Sarah Nowak and Cindee Weiss.

Chickens' Exhibit A.2 - Chicken Ranch is directed by Jen Nails.

Chickens' Exhibit B.1 - Also on the docket:
The Hamptons – Improv
Andrew Wright – Stand up
Hot Sauce – Sketch
Nick Turner – Stand up
Lindenburgh Johnson - Improv

Chickens' Exhibit B.2
Our cracker-jack hosts, Evel Cathedral, will perform an improvised form of their own devising called Three-Handed Euchure.

Exhibit C.1 - Ash Wednesday is at the Parkside Lounge conveniently located at 317 East Houston St. (Take the F/V to 2nd Avenue).

Exhibit D - Admission is FREE (with a LOOSELY ENFORCED two-drink minimum)

[to stenographer:] Can you read back the date, time, location and cost please?
[stenographer:]

Ash Wednesday
Tomorrow, August 17 from 7 PM to 9 PM
Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston St.
(Take the F/V to 2nd Avenue)
Admission is FREE (with a LOOSELY ENFORCED two-drink minimum)

Thank you. The Chickens rest.

We are gluttons for Schweds

2005-08-01T10:56:00.000-04:00

After pigging out on delicious homemade goodies and instant improv at POT LUCK CABARET, Chicken Ranch is bellying up to the Ash Wednesday buffet for seconds and thirds in August.

Join us on Wednesday, August 3 with
Surf and Turf – Improv!
America – Improv!
Adam Lowitt – Stand up!
Geniuses of Love – Tony Carnevale and Becky Yamamoto answer all of your love-related queries!
Derrick – Improv featuring Dominic Dierkes, Donald Glover, DC Pierson!
And, our hosts, Evel Cathedral, doing an improvised comedy form of their own devising known as Three-Handed Euchre!

Then come back on Wednesday, August 17 for a whole new spread.

Ash Wednesday
The Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston St. (Take the F/V to 2nd Avenue)
This Wednesday, 7-9pm
Admission is FREE (with a LOOSELY ENFORCED two-drink minimum)

CR with Gunshow at Pot Luck Cabaret

2005-07-21T11:23:00.000-04:00

Fill your belly with lipsmackin' good improv AND celebrate the hatching of Amy Lick'n'chicken This Friday, July 22 at POT LUCK CABARET!

Ingredients:
- 1 Chicken Ranch (extra saucy hens only)
- 1 Gunshow (gun not included)
- 1 host (try Adam Nowak or, if available, cumin)
- 1 serving of Mac 'n Cheese with Goldfish
- a selection of dishes of actual home-cooked food, provided by the performers for the audience to enjoy
- a dash of birthday shenanigans for Amy D!!!

Click here for more details.

This Friday, July 22 at 10pm
Juvie Hall
24 Bond St, basement
$6

Booby Trap Snapped on Chaps

2005-07-13T11:31:00.000-04:00

In preparation for July 6's Ash Wednesday Battle of the Sexes, BOOBY TRAP met for intense carbo-loading and mind-melding at Bereket on Houston and Orchard Sts. Kristy Kershaw and Cindee secured a table for our assemblage.

EGOTESTICAL sent Dave Warth to infiltrate our pre-show meal/meld and gain access to our deepest darkest secrets.

Luckily our host and organizer, Rachel Korowitz, possesses unexplanable powers of manipulation and diversion.

And Mo's mnemonic stare renders any who look at her temporarily amnestic.

Upon entering the Coliseum, we

(Sarah,

Amy, Leigh,

Michele, and Betsy Todd) psyched out our opponents with our tested "smiles of submission."

Both teams fought valiantly; but in the end, a dearth of anal sex jokes proved to be the winning stroke for BOOBY TRAP.

Ever good sports, the Chickens refused to gloat, offering concilatory cupcakes to the brave men of EGOTESTICAL.

Oh, wait! It was Stan's birthday! Michele brought the cupcakes for him.

Happy birthday Stan!

And kiss our grits, EGOTESTICAL!

A Friend of Chickens Needs Your Help!

2005-07-10T19:46:00.000-04:00

Today, Wolfie, the cat, decided to jump from Kelly's (Michele's roommate and honorary chicken) window. For those of you that don't know, that's five (5!) flights. The why is unknown, but we're sure that it seemed like a good idea at the time. He was wrong. Wolfie, being not the bubbliest beer in the six-pack, is doing ok.

However, the amount o' money that it's going to cost, ain't that ok.

If you decide not to tithe to your whatever of choice, send a little money Kelly's way. Her email account is: kelly.kingman@gmail.com and paypal it up!

Here's a link to her blog, which is also on the side. There are pictures of the little guy, plus pictures of naked women! Or not.

Thank you!

Booby Trap!

2005-07-05T14:44:00.000-04:00

So, tomorrow night, we've been invited to participate in a boys v. girls improv-off @ our favorite show, Ash Wednesday. We're getting ready to bring it against Egotestical. The boys are being represented by some fierce improvisers (Tony Carnevale, Andrew Dickerson, Mike Hagen, Stan Laikowski, Billy Ryan, Jeff Scherer, Chris Schneider, Dave Thunder and Dave Warth) but COME ON! We're ladies who lunch on the morsels two times their size.

Booby Trap is Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Kristy Kershaw, Rachel Korowitz, Michele Medlin, Sarah Nowak, Betsy Todd and Cindee Weiss.

The details:
Ash Wednesday
The Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston St. (Take the F/V to 2nd Avenue)
This Wednesday, 7-9pm (7/6)
Admission is FREE (with a LOOSELY ENFORCED two-drink minimum)

Happy Birthday, Angel Chicken!

2005-07-02T10:59:00.000-04:00

Check out the Authentic Chicken Ranch T-shirt, G 'n' R style:

Dudes! We have Schweds tomorrow!

2005-06-28T13:40:00.000-04:00

Crap. I almost forgot. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Drop by the Parkside Lounge for a little wine, a little wafer and a lot of wicked good comedy.

This week' s line-up:
Nick Turner – Stand up
Sean and Nick –Sketch
Pygmy Marmalade – Improv
Dustin D’Addato – Stand up
Tony Zaret – Stand up
Chicken Ranch – Improv

And, of course, our heavenly hosts, Evel Cathedral doing an improvised comedy form of their own devising known as Three-Handed Euchre!

Ash Wednesday
The Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston St. (Take the F/V to 2nd Avenue)
This Wednesday, 7-9pm
Admission is FREE (with a LOOSELY ENFORCED two-drink minimum)

And we'll be back at Schweds the following week, Wednesday, July 6, in an All-Star Improv Battle of the Sexes: EGOTESTICAL vs. BOOBY TRAP, featuring members of Evel Cathedral, Street Meat, Pygmy Marmalade, and of course, Chicken Ranch!

B'GAWK!

Field trip

2005-06-17T17:02:00.000-04:00

Amy made gayballs.

Sun, sand, Chickens and beer

This is just wrong.

Thanks Weisses! Chickens heart CT.
B'gawk!

What? Yes.

2005-06-15T13:17:00.000-04:00

Hi. I am posting for the specific purpose of pushing the previous post down the page a little. IE UPDATE FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN FUN. Hello!

This is Michele and me in the car on the way to providence improv fest this past weekend:

That is one crazy patterned shirt! How confusing! Do I have boobs or not?? Nice try!

and here is a pic of me looking spookarific:

Scary! That was in the ladies room of the church where our show was. We did scary tales in a sanctified place!!! Those are choir robes behind me! Oh no! (It was a universalist church, though. They don't care.)

And then Butt-paste:

That's all. I'm exhausted.

love sarah.

(No comma. That is a command.)

Crazy hands at Schweds

2005-06-07T15:49:00.000-04:00

Chicken Ranch made its second appearance at Ash Wednesday on May 25. Things started out well enough, and then our hands (and other parts) went crazy.

Thanks, Evel Cathedral! Chickens heart Schweds.
B'Gawk!

Estro-fest pics, courtesy of J & J

2005-06-06T13:15:00.000-04:00

While Michele was in SC stuffing herself with shellfish (what?! Michele hates fish.) and beer, the rest of the Ranch brought it - you know, IT - to the 'Source, with our darling director, Jen, filling the Mo-void. It was a bittersweet, altruistic good time; Cindee's parents laughed the loudest and took the most pictures.

That's our show...

Chickens heart manhattantheatresource and the Weisses!

B'gawk!

Matriculate at Shweds!

2005-05-23T15:13:00.000-04:00

Chicken Ranch makes its sophomore appearance at Ash Wednesday this week. Oh, God, look. Seniors! I'm so nervous.

Gausas and George – Improv!
Tony Zaret – Stand up!
Giddy – Improv!
Chicken Ranch – Improv!
Margot Leitman – Stand up!
The Lloyd Conspiracy – Improv!

And, of course, Evel Cathedral doing an improvised comedy form of their own devising known as Three-Handed Euchre!

The details:

Ash Wednesday
The Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston St. (Take the F/V to 2nd Avenue)
This Wednesday, 7-9pm
Admission is FREE (with a LOOSELY ENFORCED two-drink minimum)

The Chicks Had a Busy Weekend

2005-05-23T14:44:00.000-04:00

F-N, and add U! or something. Potluck Cabaret was so much fun. Everybody was so nice and great and there was actual food. My favorite lines of the night were "It's a triangle of trouble for your mouth!" and "I ate de whole thing, den I womited." And that wasn't even on stage! Snarf! Just kidding, those lines happened on stage during scenes. Adam's mac and cheese was fantastic.

I can't wait to do it again next Friday. You should come.

Then Sunday we had this:

It was awesome. Cindee's parents came, The Lovely Jennifer Nails joined us while Mo was sunning herself in South Carolina, and it was off the hook.

---------

Angelickin' Chicken here...
Pot Luck Cabaret filled my belly. cf casserole and Street Meat were delicious. I will not stop with the food references. After the feast, the ladies of Street Meat and Chicken Ranch knocked back a couple at Crime Scene on Bowery. It was a mostly-girl cornucopia of love and mutual admiration. Amy, Kristina and Kristy are our new best friends.

The lovely Sarah

Our number one fans, Libby and Nathan

Sunday, we continued the celebration the lady love at manhattantheatresource's Estro Fest.

Cindee's parents took us out to dinner after the show, and the elder and younger lady Weisses drew a Ranch tribute on the table.

Pot Luck Cabaret - Tonight!

2005-05-20T15:07:00.000-04:00

Pot Luck Cabaret
Hold out your plate for a healthy serving of succulent, delectable, high-calorie improv with 3 great teams on 2 big nights.

TONIGHT, Friday, May 20 at 10 pm
Juvie Hall
24 Bond St. (btw Bowery & Lafayette)
$6

Featuring:
cf. casserole – Gotham City Improv's newest improv enclave. Featuring Bill Berg, Kathleen Durkin, Abe Lebovic, Angela Minielli, Antti Pilhaja, Arnold Rodriguez and Clare Saperstein. Coached by Adam Nowak.

Chicken Ranch – All chick improv – give us a hearty "B'gawk" when you see us. Featuring Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Michele O. Medlin, Sarah Nowak and Cindee Weiss. Directed by Jen Nails.

Street Meat – This troupe "brings the flava" and is categorized as "Dangerously Adorable Improv Comedy" – nuff said. Featuring Amy Cermele, Alan Cross, Greg Flick, Kristy Kershaw, Jamie Littlejohn, Mark Pagan, William Ryan, Kristina Sepulveda and Stefan Schick. Directed by Kevin Hines.

Wear your Thanksgiving pants and come on over.

Shows were promised, shows are delivered

2005-05-17T03:42:00.000-04:00

Chickens are back in action (Ranch!)
To run on stage to 'prov for you (Ranch!)
That's what's happenin'!

We can take a word and bend it,
Give us a word - (Bat, ball, tree, meow)
Make it good - we'll really send it! (Sacred cow)
Oh, we don't know our own power. (Ranch!)

That's what's happenin' - and you have 4 chances to catch Chicken Ranch in action - all before Memorial Day.

First up,
Pot Luck Cabaret
Hold out your plate for a healthy serving of succulent, delectable, high-calorie improv with 3 great teams on 2 big nights.

Fridays, May 20 and 27 at 10 pm
Juvie Hall
24 Bond St. (btw Bowery & Lafayette)

Featuring:
cf. casserole – Gotham City Improv's newest improv enclave. Featuring Bill Berg, Kathleen Durkin, Abe Lebovic, Angela Minielli, Antti Pilhaja, Arnold Rodriguez and Clare Saperstein. Coached by Adam Nowak.

Chicken Ranch – All chick improv – give us a hearty "B'gawk" when you see us. Featuring Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Michele O. Medlin, Sarah Nowak and Cindee Weiss. Directed by Jen Nails.

Street Meat – This troupe "brings the flava" and is categorized as "Dangerously Adorable Improv Comedy" – nuff said. Featuring Amy Cermele, Alan Cross, Greg Flick, Kristy Kershaw, Jamie Littlejohn, Mark Pagan, William Ryan, Kristina Sepulveda and Stefan Schick. Directed by Kevin Hines.

Next,
Estrogenius 2005 Festival Fundraiser
Chicken Ranch loves the ladies, and knows you do, too. Show your support for manhattantheatresource's annual women's art festival at our special ONE HOUR show, featuring our own Miss Mona, Jen Nails.

Sunday, May 22 at 5 pm
mahattantheatresource
177 MacDougal Street (btw. 8th St. and Waverly)
$10
Call 212-501-4751 for reservations.

Wait, there's more...
Ash Wednesday
Chicken Ranch takes the pulpit with NYC's top comics and improvisors when Evel Cathedral presents it's weekly variety show that'll save your soul.

Wednesday, May 25 at 7 pm
Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston St. (btw Clinton and Attorney)
Take the F/V to 2nd Avenue
Free (with loosely enforced two drink minimum)

To work, (Ranch!)
To play, (Ranch!)
To live, (Ranch!)
To love... (Ranch!)*

B'GAWK!

*apologies to Bob Dorough

We Like Pop.

2005-05-11T12:38:00.000-04:00

Hello. This is sarah. To understand the Chickens, you have to say "B'gawk", alter words and phrases to include "meow", and you have to enjoy obscure "sodas". (Most of us say pop. Deal.)
You can go here to buy Mo's favorite grapefruit-flavored Squirt or Leigh's Cheerwine and a guy will mail it to you. That is a weird and lovely service.

(we actually do have upcoming shows. honest.)

Littlest druid...

2005-05-10T17:25:00.000-04:00

or freakiest elf? You be the judge.

PS - We do have upcoming shows. I swear.

Chicken Gs

2005-05-09T16:50:00.000-04:00

The Gs got together Friday night at Mo and Kelly's to celebrate Seis de Mujerisma*. Mo, Kelly, Cindee, Sarah, Clara and I (sadly missing were Amy, Flo and Rachel) drank sangria, ate guac, read tarot cards and sang loudly with the radio (read: iPod). By the wee hours, we were merrily quarreling over who was the awesomest ("No, you are!", "No, you are!") and proclaiming the individual genius of Jeff Lynne and Dolly Parton.

The Gs (and Chickens) make life good. Viva!

x,
Angelickin' Chicken

Ever the cutey pair, Sarah and Cindee

Michele and Sarah with Clara

Michele, Cindee and Leigh Chicken croon the hits of Dolly Parton (or ELO - who remembers?)

G kittens Zuzu and Sarah

Zuzu sings with Mo

Cindee and Leigh feelin' it

Mo, Cindee, Leigh and Kelly

Cindee and Clara 'til the bitter end

*Mujerisma, n.: The state of being a strong, saavy righteous babe in this modern world.

More NC photos from the laziest Chicken

2005-05-02T12:27:00.000-04:00

It's been nearly 3 weeks, and we're still giddy from our trip to Chapel Hill. Go Heels. (I can't believe I said that.)
~ Leigh(f) Angelickin' Chicken

Four of five ador(k)able and nervous chickens, pre-show

The whole coop, relieved and elated, post-show

State flower of NC, the dogwood. Treely beautiful.

What happens in Chapel Hill, stays in Chapel Hill.

Chicken Ranch with the rest of the weekend fest participants: Brian Tucker, Lynn Koplitz, Lewis Black, Rory Albanese and Eric Drysdale.

Gayballs Alert:
Chicken Ranch would like to thank our hosts for a treely unbeleafable experience. Big b'gawks to Angela, Jonathon, Zoey, Andrew, Alicia, Alvin, Brian, Sem, TJ, Katie, Andrew, Ashely, Jim, Jesse and all the CUAB helpers and handlers. Chickens heart UNC.
B'GAWK!

Saturday Night Rewritten

2005-05-01T13:36:00.000-04:00

Tonight, Michele Medlin will be the host @ Juvie Hall's Saturday Night Rewritten. It's @ 8:00 PM. Juvie Hall is located @ 24 Bond Street (between Bowery and Lafayette) and the tickets are $7.

Michele is nervous.

http://www.saturdaynightrewritten.com/

Chicken Ranch Meats Street Meat

2005-04-25T15:55:00.000-04:00

See what I did there? Oh, hilar!

Please come out to The (BBQ) Pit for a night of giggles. We're up with Street Meat @ 9:30. The Pit is located @ 154 W. 29th Street and the cost is a wee $5!

We put the wheeeee! in team

2005-04-19T21:15:00.000-04:00

Our first feature has hit the internet newsstand via The Daily Tarheel.

Cracker-jack reporter, Jim Walsh, interviewed us, and was as delightful as he was delicious. I think we were pretty well represented*: I do have a nose ring, Michele does have a high pitched voice and we do just want to spread joy.

Thanks, Jim. We feel almost famous.

Chickens with chicken in the CUAB office.

*For the record, since there is one, we don't make up anything before our shows. We do the crazy make'em'ups on the spot.

B'gawk!
~ Leigh

Holy crow y'all, this is sweet delicious Chicken with bacon and cheese!!!
~Amy (now immortaized as the one who says poop.)

No Squirt in NC

2005-04-19T21:06:00.000-04:00

There is only one blight to an otherwise PERFECT trip ... Squirt isn't sold in North Carolina.

Medlin here ... I actually went to school in NC and completely forgot that this was a truth. When I'd go home for holidays, I would bring Squirt back with me.

The sadness is great.

If you live in an area that sells Squirt, please send me some.

Boo.

~~~~~~~~~

Amy here...

I have three, count 'em THREE bottles of precious precious Squirt* on my baker's rack right now. That's one tasty rack!

*Squirt purchased in Buffalo, NY, capital of grapefruity flavoured** POP.

**Tribute to Canada, close neighbour to sweet, citrus loving Buffalo***

***Buffalo is where I'm from. Where I bought the Squirt.*

Saturday

2005-04-19T11:48:00.000-04:00

This is still Sarah by the way. I took a ton of pictures on Saturday.

With the show out of the way, we could finally relax and enjoy the pollen. I don't know about anybody else, but I slept like an angel and woke up with a hell of a headache.
Saturday, we took Lewis Black's political comedy workshop, then ducked out at the end to participate on a women in comedy panel.

It was neat.
Then Jen went off to give her solo brilliance to the masses in her diy workshop, while the chickens went exploring on Franklin Street.

Leigh and I spent time and money at School Kids Records while the others enjoyed some coffee and scenery.

Amy and I went to the unc teeshirt store and picked up some carolina blue novelties. I got a sweatshirt that looked huge on the hanger, but barely fits me. It's nice though. I just won't put it in the dryer.
Then what?
Dinner at Mama Dips.

After the food coma things get kind of blurry.

Showtime!

2005-04-19T11:37:00.000-04:00

Highlights from the show:
(I only barely remember the scenes I was in)
-the pre-show music
-zombies! "pretend you're a car."
-the appearance of Jed and Teresa ("You promised me second base.")
-the cubic zirconia sale
-"don't give a ham sandwich to a man who's not ready to eat."
-selling insurance to cannibals. (The inclusion of Dave Thunder and Carl Arnheiter.)
-and of course the bizzare red hat lady ending, which rocked my world.

After the show, some of us went to Top O, others went to the Yogurt Pump, Johnathon couldn't get into Top O, so we went back to the hotel and went to sleep.

Friday-show day

2005-04-19T11:25:00.000-04:00

I guess I should bullet point these, but I don't know how.

Johnathon picked us up. We got all girly and happy to see him. We were patently giddy, as only the chicks can get
He took us around the UNC campus, which is frighteningly gorgeous on a gogeous day. One of the dorms has a beach volleyball court in front of it.
We had lunch at the CUAB office, and there were several students coming in and out dressed as animals. Yes.
We went to Lewis Black's workshop. He is a very funny, brilliant guy who's got a real problem with flourescent lighting.
All the chicks participated in Jens' workshop, and it was a blast. There were people there who had never done improv before, and they were lovely. We heart Ashley and Brian and Alvin and Alicia and Katie all of the students who participated.
Then we met with the other acts, Eric Drysdale, Rory Alberfossenden (I have a total block on this guy's last name. help a sister out.), Lynne Koplitz, Lewis Black and Bryan Tucker. Then we ran back to the hotal to nap and shower before running back to campus to be interviewed for the paper by Edible Jim. It was pretty hilarious and occasionally Awkward. The word Gayballs came up about 9 times.
Next: showtime!

Did anyone mention the $1 beers?

2005-04-18T16:27:00.000-04:00

Chicken Leigh, CHAPEL HILL, NC

Just in case the full impact of the $1 beer concept was not fully realized by the posts below, here is photographic representation.

Our bar bill (for 6 people)

The amount of money required to cover our bar bill (for 6 people)

A bunch of IRC/DSI folks came out to greet us Thursday night at Ham's. It was loud and covered with cheese and bacon. Here are some our new friends:

Ethan (with Chickens, Sarah and Cindee),

Corey and Eric (I think it was Eric),

Katy,

and Lisa (with Chicken leader, Jen);

old friends:

Angela and Jesse (with Chicken Leigh-my-best-friend-Leigh); and

well, Chickens:

Sarah and Cindee.

I almost forgot. There was deep-fried cheesecake.

Thursday was just the beginning. We did other stuff, too. I swear.

Thursday- NY to NC

2005-04-18T09:48:00.000-04:00

Hello to you. This is Sarah.
I'll post some stuff about Thursday, while it's slow here at work. (Ha! Get it? Because it's ALWAYS SLOW.)
Thursday I had the day off, so I spent it eating baby carrots, stressing over the pre-show music mix and not packing until the last second.
Meeting up with the girls at the airport was awesome. We were all completely giddy, and then we drank a bunch of coffee, which took giddy to another level entirely. Just as we were boarding we realized there was a Ms. PacMan right next to the Delta gate. We were collectively disappointed, as many of us would have come to the airport early with quarters if we had known.
We took a bus to the plane!
The flight was fun and short. Jen and I sat together and listened to Michele's iPod. I learned to appreciate Dolly Parton.

Then Cindee went to the bathroom, and Michele got upset.

When we landed, a little boy in front of us shouted "We're in North Carolina!" and a pair of triumphant baby-sized fists shot up over the seat. We all applauded and the trip was officially declared adorable.

There is a Chapel in the airport, so Michele and Jen and I got married on the way to the bathroom.

Leigh's lovely friend Angela and her lovely husband Jesse picked us up and took us to our hotel. We were so excited to be out of the city. We saw trees! We saw a pretty sunset! We giggled. We "aawwww"ed. We got a basket filled with UNC goodies.
On the way to the hotel we started talking about arboretums, which is where the tree puns started. I thought we had peaked with "high tree-son", but then during Jen's workshop the next day she refered to "the 'timber' of your voice" which was indescribably hilarious. To us.

We went to Ham's for dinner. Everything at Ham's is covered with bacon and cheese.

On Thursdays you can drink a beer for a dollar, and smoke right at your table. The smokers and the occasional smokers alike were thrilled by this wonderful, restrictionless, affordable wonderland.
We met a bunch of Dirty South people, which was lovely. I don't remember much of it. Maybe Michele can fill this part in.
We drank a bunch, then had a slumber party where we played cat charades.
---------------------------
I wrote about my Thursday experience below ... but it really was the first of 4 gigglily days. We meet Corey Brown, Ethan Kaye, Lisa Palmisano, Katy Jack and Scott Jennings. There was a very good looking guy named, I believe, Eric. I didn't find out his last name. I learned that Katy Jack is the most popular Katy Jack on the internet. I also drank many $1 beers.

have to go to a meeting - will write more in a min.

An Open Apology to Ross White

2005-04-18T09:21:00.000-04:00

Dear Ross,

Here's why you never received the promised call from the 'Ranch' on Saturday night.

1 - We didn't leave the campus until approximately 11:45 PM because of decisions to be made.
2 - We decided to go to Top of the Hill - and there was a huge line. Because we were with Lewis Black we got in.
3 - The place was so packed - it felt like we were in a club in NY.

These are excuses. There is no excuse for us not calling. We are no longer kind people. After your kindness by coming to see us perform, we deserve to be hit around the head and neck with toilet seat covers for not calling when we said we would. When we come back to NC next year - hopefully for both DSI and the Carolina Comedy Festival - we will provide the toilet seat covers and pay for many of the drinks you will imbibe with us, provided of course that you'll want to speak with us after our dismal behavior.

Sincerely,

Chicken Ranch

more later . . . .

2005-04-17T13:43:00.000-04:00

$1 Beers! Smoking in bars! Trees!

2005-04-15T12:27:00.000-04:00

JFK International Airport, Gate 11

on the bus to the plane

On the tarmac at JFK

We're in NC and it's paradise. Each chicken will relive for you their favorite moment so far. Medlin will go first.

------
Michele Medleaf

Gosh, there are so many things that I have already loved. THANK YOU, UNC - CHAPEL HILL! But, I guess, #1 was getting to meet the DSI folks. They were wonderful. Ethan needs to be eaten, so yummy. #2 Cat charades in room #218. #3 $1 beers (which is probably why #2 was so much fun).

Angela Crisp-Sears and Jonathon Benson are the most wonderful organizers that any chicken could hope for - thank you again.

------
Sarah Meow-ak
oh man, I thought jokes about trees "wood" stop being funny, "maple" in the light of day we'd say "oak"-kay, time to "branch out" into other jokes, or I'll "leave". But no. Still relatively hilarious.

We're at unc. As I type this, the college improv troupe is forcing themselves to puke milk in the quad to drum up business for their show. Being called to the window for that is defintely a highlight of the trip. I haven't gotten up to look yet.

I rule cat charades.
------

Hi, It's me, Jenni-PURR Tree-ails. Love being in NC with Chicken Ranch! Best moments: watching Teletubbies with Michele, talking about Tony n Tina's Wedding with Amy, talking about boys with Sarah, talking about bad/sad living situations with Leigh, and loving Cindee's skirt and boots! B-gawk!

------

Hey! It's Cindeeow! I feel like a rock star here! Loved meeting up with our DSI/IRC friends at Ham's. DOLLAR BEER. I repeat: DOLLAR BEER,people! Carolina is most definitely one of the fina places i've been! I love being with my chickens, though. Our pajama party last night was just heaven!

------

Yoda. Lemme just say these people are delicious. Able Alicia, Alvin, the Andrews, Brian, Patrick and Kate blew me away in Improv Fun-01. Am I leaving anyone out? UNC is the BEST college on EARTH. Period. Thank you Angela and Jonathon!!! If ever I had to have a Thon it would be a Jon-a-thon.

------
Leaf Angel
That's what my nephews call me, tree puns notwithstanding. Hilar.

Wow! It's nice to be sort of home and under a Carolina blue sky. Our welcoming committee, Angela and Jesse, sure showed us a good time last night. I only got to meet the DSI kids briefly. Surprisingly, the DOLLAR BEER place was packed and we could not all sit together. Angela, Jesse, Amy and I shared a table full of cheese-smothered food to make up for it.

Today, well, I need more time to process the excitement. My face hurts from smiling all day long.

Possibly the best improv in NYC this Saturday!

2005-04-13T10:59:00.000-04:00

As you know, we're high-tailing it out of here for the great South tomorrow and will not be around to see this amazing show. Please, please don't be like us! Go see Centralia on Saturday. Here are the deets. You WILL love it. Yes, YOU!

---------

Where will Centralia take the audience next? Find out in their first show of Spring. They're back for another night of seemingly limitless "real" moments born from comedic characters, mythological worlds and themes that pulse with primitive energy.

And don't miss special sketch comedy guests - MEAT - rare comedy, well performed.

Chashama Theater
217 E. 42nd just east of 3rd Ave.
Subway: Grand Central
Saturday, April 16 at 8:00pm.
Admission is $15.

Tickets are available at smarttix.com or by calling 212.868.4444.

The show includes a full line-up of entertainment:

8:00 p.m. Sketch comedy performed by special guests MEAT
8:30 p.m. Centralia
9:30 p.m. Afterglow

Centralia is Matt Higgins, Jay Rhoderick, Kevin Scott and the incomparable musical talent of Josh Sitron.

For more on MEAT, please visit Meat's website.

Thanks!

--
For Centralia Classes/Booking/Info:
Centralia
info@centraliaonstage.com

We're Leaving on Thursday for the Carolina Comedy Festival!

2005-04-12T13:28:00.000-04:00

Oh! We're starting to pack ... we've decided that the most important things to bring are PJs and Rummikub. Do you like to Rummikub?

We will eat bunches of food and Medlin (and Angel and Weiss) will be purchasing cheap smokes & Squirt (Angel prefers Cheerwine) for the return to NYC.

Here's the UNC calendar of events! We're on there somewhere (look under April 15). Lately, if an event doesn't have a website, we tend to feel that it ain't real.

Luckily, Chicken Ranch has an adorablog! We're really, real chicks.

Chicks and The Royal We

2005-04-11T09:34:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, three chickens helped The Royal We with some video and web bits. The shoot mainly consisted of standing around and talking to our friends in a park on a lovely day. We met Josh from the sketch group Outta Work Actors. He's a good guy, apparently he's from Oregon. Check 'em out. Also, there was a really tiny dog.
We'll post the results when they're adorable!

woof!

2005-04-09T18:11:00.000-04:00

Dear girls,

Good meeting today.
i especially liked the part where i got to eat yogurt.

Love,
Auggie.

Variety Underground - One Chicken's Perspective

2005-04-08T10:52:00.000-04:00

So, the girls played VU last night and had a bawking good time (oh, that was lame!). Primal Bias is our new crush. Those boys are so tight. And, Rosie! We adore her. Oh, and there was this guy who slayed: Dave Hill. Watch for this guy; he's our generation's Steven Wright. Don't you just hate people who pigeon hole people into other people that have performed before the people to whom they are referred?

Here's a picture. Medlin has pit stains.

Thank you, Variety Underground for giving these chicks flight.

Leigh, Cindee and Mo with the lovely and talented Rosie.

B'GAWK!

Chickens Go Underground

2005-04-06T12:44:00.000-04:00

Too much for the Man to handle, the ladies of the Ranch are going Underground. If you are brave enough, or already have an FBI file, join the Chicken Ranch tomorrow night at Variety Underground. Password: B'GAWK!

Variety Underground
Thursday, April 7 @ 7 PM
Free with a (loosely enforced) 2 drink minimum
Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston Street
between Attorney and Clinton
By Subway: Take the V or F train to the 2nd Avenue stop. Walk east on Houston St. for several blocks. The Parkside Lounge is on the south side of Houston St. between Clinton St. and Attorney St.
See Map

B'GWAK!

April just gets better

2005-04-01T19:11:00.000-05:00

Fresh from the Carolinas, the Chickens will return to the PIT in late April, just in time for spring.

The P.I.T.
Monday, April 25, 2005
9:30 PM
$5

The People's Improv Theater
154 W. 29th Street
Click here for directions.

B'GAWK!

Chickens spread it around

2005-04-01T16:13:00.000-05:00

Sarah Nowak revs it up on the P.I.T. house team, Jesus Chrysler. Get saved when Sarah, Floy Bossinas, Eric Gill, Mark Grenier, Ivan Lerner, Vipin Sharma, Noah Teitelbaum, and Noah Star appear to you in a vision with Boldfaced LIAR at the 29th St. Social Club.

Jesus Chrysler
Wednesday, April 6 at 9:30 PM
The P.I.T.
154 W. 29th Street
between 6th and 7th Aves.
$5

* * * * * * *

Cindee Weiss refreshes in Gotham City Improv's newest improv incarnation, Quench. Settle in for a tall one with Cindee, Dan Casto, Robert Baumgardner and Roxanne Hale this and every Saturday night.

Quench
Saturday nights at 10:00 PM*
Gotham City Improv
158 W. 23rd Street, 2nd floor
Above Monster Sushi
$7

*Chicken Leigh Angel sits in on Saturday, April 2.

* * * * * * *

Michele O. Medlin and gang of wild ones, Pygmy Marmalade, mix it up once again in April. Get addicted to Michele, Jed Resnik, Adam Scally, Jeff Scherer, Chris Schneider, Rich Sommer and Teresa Tulipano when they appear with host team, Evel Cathedral, and a hand-selected roster of New York's finest comedy pushers.

Pygmy Marmalade
Wednesday, April 27 at 7 PM
Ash Wednesday
Parkside Lounge
317 E. Houston Street
between Clinton and Attorney Streets
Free with 2 drink minimum

2005-03-29T12:40:00.000-05:00

I will totally pay someone to write me a decent bio.

-Sarah

5 Bucks A Dance

2005-03-25T15:29:00.000-05:00

(clockwise from noon: Cindee, Leigh, Amy, Michele, Sarah)

The ladies of the Ranch are taking the town, one seedy dancehall at a time. These five spitfires will bend you and shape you any way they want to in long-form improv style.

Chicken Ranch is Leigh Angel, Amy Dickenson, Michele O. Medlin, Sarah Nowak and Cindee Weiss.

Directed by Jen Nails.

Next chance to catch the Ranch:

Variety Underground
Thursday, April 7, 2005
7 p.m.
Free with 2 drink minimum

Parkside Lounge
317 E. Houston Street
By Subway: Take the V or F train to the 2nd Avenue stop. Walk east on Houston St. for several blocks. The Parkside Lounge is on the south side of Houston St. between Clinton St. and Attorney St.
See Map

* * * * * * * * *

University of North Carolina Comedy Festival
April 11-16, 2005
UNC-Chapel Hill

Chicken Ranch
Friday, April 15
9 PM
UNC's Union Auditorium

Jen has been invited to teach a workshop on Friday afternoon and the Chickens will participate in a panel discussion on women in comdey on Saturday. Other festival participants include Lewis Black, Rory Albanese, Eric Drysdale, Lynne Koplitz and the staff of The Onion.

B'GAWK!

CR at The P.I.T. - 3.17.05

2005-03-18T14:04:00.000-05:00

Chicken Ranch teamed up, once again, with Bernat & Goerlich Doin' the Doc for a very special St. Patrick's Day show. There was no green beer, just smooth, crisp, refreshing improv.

Chickens still heart The PIT.

B'GAWK!

CR at The P.I.T. - 3.10.05

2005-03-11T18:04:00.000-05:00

Chicken Ranch had our second show in two days at The PIT last night, performing for a crowd full of friends: old, new and yet-to-be. We shared the hour slot with Bernat & Goerlich Doin' the Doc*, featuring our good friend, Jeff Scherer, as the Director. They are some funny, funny kids.

Chickens heart The PIT.

B'GAWK!

*Bernat & Goerlich Doin' the Doc is Eric Bernat and Amy Goerlich. They perform all around the town.

CR at Ash Wednesday - 3.9.05

2005-03-10T02:28:00.000-05:00

Chicken Ranch just had our first gig at Ash Wednesday last night. We shared the stage at the Parkside Lounge with some terrific stand-up comics and improv teams, including the host group, Evel Cathedral*. Thanks Chris, Rachel and Stan for having us and the supportive crowd for laughing.

Chickens heart 'Shweds.

B'GAWK!

*Evel Cathedral is Chris Schneider, Rachel Korowitz and Stan Laikowski. EC hosts Ash Wednesday every week at the Parkside Lounge.

CR at Gotham City Improv - 2.25.05

2005-02-26T19:51:00.000-05:00

Sweeter and with fewer seeds, Michele O. Medlin's all-girl Chicken Ranch Jam has been refined into a sugary marmalade we like to call Chicken Ranch.

Last night, Friday, February 25 at 10 p.m., the ladies of the Ranch took the Gotham City Improv stage with Jonly Bonly* for full hour of lip-smacking long-form improv.

Chickens heart Gotham.

B'GAWK!

*Jonly Bonly is Nick Cook, Jessica Bell, Jeremiah Murphy, Nate Starkey, Rachael Mason and Kevin Napier. Directed by force for good, Dan Goldstein.

Meet the Chickens

2005-02-25T16:16:00.000-05:00

LEIGH ANGEL is a writer and improviser from Dallas, NC and Lancaster, OH who came to New York nine years ago to be an actor. Early on she appeared 5 days a week at Popover Café as Waitress and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast as Seller of T-shirts at Intermission. Tired of working for money, Leigh abandoned the glamour of steady income for freelance writing and discovered improv. She graduated from the Gotham City Improv Theater School and was a founding member of The McKellog Report. To keep her BFA in musical theater from going to waste, Leigh sang and danced in music improv shows Behind the Musical, and Pay Day: The Made-up Musical, and lent her chords to The Strange Box of Dr. Oddbody. Chicken Ranch is the new love of her life. Leigh has returned to acting of late, appearing as Estragon in Waiting for Godot, and has recently written a book for someone else.

AMY DICKENSON hails from Lackawanna, New York, gateway to sunny Buffalo, where she was a founding member of two short-form improv theatre companies. An improviser for over 12 years, Amy has lived in NYC for the past 5+ years and has performed in NY at the People’s Improv Theatre, Gotham City Improv, and Juvie Hall in such notable ensembles as Chicken Ranch, Holy Crap!, Lazy Susan, The Strange Box of Dr. Oddbody, and the Hester Prynnz. Amy has also been seen on the scripted stage at the John Houseman Theatre, PULSE Ensemble Theatre, ManhattanTheatreSource, the Mazer Theatre, and in Centralia Presents Midnights. Not only THAT, she has recently performed in the New York International Fringe Festival, the Estrogenius Fesitval and the Funny Women Festival. Amy currently studies with Mary Boyer at the MTB Studio. You can also hear her as the vitriolic voice of Tikimon Island on the Mezco Toys website.

MICHELE O. MEDLIN began her illustrious career as the "Little Girl" in Annie Get Your Gun, which was fortunate as she was 6 years old. From there, she tirelessly worked across the American West singing her heart out to anyone her mother could pay to listen and hosted a radio show called "Young at Heart". She was 10, but sounded 6. Her voice sounds exactly as it did at then, which helps her career as a Japanese Anime voiceover artist. Eventually, Michele made the inevitable move to New York, where she did a crappy children's theatre tour, helped to start a great little theatre company and now performs improv comedy with Pygmy Marmalade and the all-girl Chicken Ranch.

SARAH NOWAK is a member of The People's Improv Theater house ensemble Jesus Chrysler, and is a cast member of improvised horror anthology show, The Strange Box of Dr. Oddbody. She has also performed at Gotham City Improv as a guest performer with The McKellog Report, Wildfire and Malarky. This past December she was part of the Second City New York Training Center revue showcase, Generation F'd. She is developing a sketch show that is currently without a name. She is a graduate of The Second City Toronto Conservatory and has a degree in broadcasting from Buffalo State College, which she doesn't use. Back home in Buffalo, she was in two short-form improv groups and several plays that no one saw. She enjoys writing and performing monlogues, one of which drew her favorite criticism: "Sounds like it was written by a man." She has lived in New York less than a year, but considers it home. She loves her fellow chix. B'GAWK!

CINDEE WEISS hails from tropical Connecticut and has been performing in New York City since 1990. As a stand-up comedienne, she has been seen on the stages of Stand-Up New York, Gotham Comedy Club and The Comedy Cellar. Trained at Gotham City Improv Theater School, she has improvised with Pembo!, Crux, The McKellog Report, Chicken Ranch and the recently debuted, Quench. Like all good theater majors, Cindee has even lent her considerable acting and improv talents to the [New York] Renaissance festival. Wilemina Swampwallow would be proud of the Ranch.

JEN NAILS (2004 ECNY Award "Best Director") Jen loves the Chicken Ranch! She's taught at the Peoples Improv Theater in New York City since they opened in December 2002. Originally from Las Vegas, she's lived in NYC for over eight years. Jen trained at UCB, and with Alfred Molina and Austin Pendleton. She performs solo and improv, and has taught both all over the USA and Canada, and in Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Tokyo and Zimbabwe. She does commercials and voiceovers and has done weird things on Conan and SNL. She's written for the Oxygen Network and currently works for SELF magazine. www.jennails.com