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Jimmy Carrane | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Updated: January 9, 2013 8:28AM
“Nerd” goes Feral: You have to be funny if you’re a fat kid in a big family. That’s the philosophy that propelled Kenilworth native Jimmy Carrane into a comedy career. In December, the Evanston resident’s popular podcast, “Improv Nerd,” was picked up by the Los Angeles-based podcast collective, Feral Audio. Carrane’s podcast explores the creative process and what it takes to succeed in comedy. He has taught improvisation for over 25 years at such places as Second City, IO-Chicago, Annoyance Theatre and Victory Gardens Theater.
Spring in her step: Eight-year-old Flynn Monahan of Western Springs took fourth place out of 92 soloists to qualify for a slot in the World Irish Dance Championships in Boston, March 24-31. Flynn is one of 31 qualifying dancers from Chicago’s 30-year-old Trinity Irish Dancers. The St. John of the Cross School third grader also devotes time to gymnastics, jazz and soccer.
Singers sizzle: Eleven suburban residents will perform in the Too Hot Choir for “Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah,” Jan. 19-20 at the Auditorium Theatre. They are Wilmette residents Ronna Baron and Stan Klein; Evanston residents Sandra Davis, Jonathan Dunmore, Janet Sanzo, D’On Voeizke and Howard Voeks; Glencoe residents Robert Hugi and Michael O’Donnell; and Judy Bradeen and Carol King from Oak Park. For tickets, call (800) 982-2787.
Take a bow: Kitsho Hosotani will be playing his violin at the Chicago Youth in Music Festival, Jan. 14-Feb. 4. The Wilmette resident studies with Paul Vanderewerf at the Music Institute of Chicago. The festival is a biennial celebration of the achievements of young classical musicians.
Going for the gold: Highland Park-based Bitter Jester Creative won an Emmy from the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for a video on the 2011 Chicago Restaurant Pastry Competition. They were nominated for two other awards for 30-second commercials for the Ravinia Festival. The multi-award winning video production company is co-owned by Highland Park High School graduates Nicolas DeGrazia and Daniel Kullman.
Why wait?: “Love Right Now” is the title of the second EP from Buffalo Grove native Phil Jacobson. The singer-songwriter worked on the project with Grammy-nominated producer Dan Warner. Jacobson will release the album on Jan. 11 at the Abbey Pub in Chicago.
