Here are pix & press for some pre-2008 shows:

The Brother

(Performer: Ruth Greenglass)

The untold account of the Rosenberg atomic spy drama, seen through the eyes of Ethel Rosenberg’s brother, David Greenglass. Premiered at The Theatre Building in Chicago, August-November 2007.

Directed by Oscar & Golden Globe nominated director, John Hancock (Bang the Drum Slowly).

“In a large cast, Bill Bannon is the persuasive journalist probing an older, unrepentant Greenglass; Justine Serino is a strong yet life-size Ethel; Anthony Tournis is a more enigmatic than galvanic Julius; Alison Weiss is a nicely spikey Ruth Greenglass (David’s far from innocent wife), and Will Shanklin is the ever-odious Roy Cohn.” – Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times (Recommended)

Here’s a New York Times article by Sam Roberts, author of the book The Brother.

The Sam Show

(Director / Co-Writer)

The Sam Show: A Night of Mandolin Happiness and Others chronicles the misadventures of stay-at-home musician Sam, played by Sam Locke.

Peppered with puppets, musical guests, Sam’s mandolin skills and the requisite home-made stuffed manatee, The Sam Show premiered at the The Annoyance in the summer of 2007. It was “hailed” by the Chicago Reader for its “dumb, geek, gross-out humor.”

Written and performed by Sam Locke, Elise Dubois and Dustin Levell, with writing by Alison Weiss, Corey Rittmaster and Monique Madrid. Puppets by Emily Tamblyn. Stage Manager: Dujuan Pritchett.

ShupHle

(Creator / Director)

This interactive improv show uses the audience’s own iPods (and other MP3 players) as the soundtrack for an entirely improvised show. It premiered as a pH Productions Spotlight Series in October 2006 and is back in rotation with pH’s roster of late night shows at Stage Left.

Reverse Psychology Doesn’t Work on Fate

(Director)

Written and performed by Rebecca Anderson and Lindsay Muscato, this play weaves together letters the writers wish they could have sent their younger selves. Premiered at the Around The Coyote Festival at Chicago’s Vittum Theatre, September 2006.

Chick Magnets

(Director)

Written and performed by Angie Carr and Meredith Melville, this original sketch revue “explores life and love through characters ranging from bouncers at the gay bar to pigeons at the El station.”
“Checking Out” premiered at Second City’s Donny’s Skybox Theatre, running October through November of 2005. It was next presented at Chicago Sketch Fest 2007 and then at Chicago’s Rogue Theater.

BoxCo

(Performer, Improv)

Second City: Unhinged and Improv Olympic, Spring and Summer 2006
“The lovely Second City box office ladies (hence the name) are quite multi-tasking. Their show harnesses the sheer improv power of music, music and monologues for some added scene muscle.” – Time Out Chicago

Second City House Ensemble: Der Overfloten.

(Performer)

Improv directed by Joe Canale, Pat O’Brien, Tom Flanigan at Second City’s Black Orchid Theater (November 2005) and Second City: Unhinged (Spring 2006).

Process

(Performer)

Long-form improvised show directed by Michael Gellman at Donny’s Skybox Theatre, November – December 2005. An exploratorium of improvisational performance using techniques developed over a 24-week workshop. The Process workshops are the subject of new book by Michael J. Gellman and Mary Scruggs, published by Northwestern University Press in association with The Second City.

God Is My Palm Pilot

(Co-Writer / Performer)

“From TiVo to Stattera, from Blogs to SUV’s, sketch comedy revue God Is My Palm Pilot looks at technology and how it has helped us devolve.”
God Is My Palm Pilot premiered at Second City’s Donny’s Skybox Studio Theatre in the Spring of 2005. It featured Bonnie, Ali, Randy Craig, Neil Kubath and Kristen Studard and was directed by Marcus Kamie. Written by Bonnie Varner and Alison Weiss.

Anton in Show Business

(Perfomer: Kate / Jackey / Ben)

Jane Martin’s backstage comedy premiered in Chicago with Backstage Theatre Company, Winter 2005.

“Especially impressive are Franette Liebow and Alison Weiss, in cross-casting turns that go so far beyond simple parody of the gender trick that I found myself reconsidering my cynicism about the whole phenomenon.” – Brian Nemtusak, Chicago Reader

“. . . There are several stand-out performances in the show, one of the most notable being the versatile Alison Weiss who manages to portray three different characters, one of them male, and give each of them a voice of her own . . . Highly Recommended” – Ira Madison, Chicagocritic.com.

Bodily Functions: The Musical

(Performer)

Directed by Robert Bouwman for Corn Productions, 2004.

The Statue

(Writer / Performer: Eve)

A satire about the corporatization of America, The Statue premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival, Summer 2003

“What if, in the near future, New York leased all its landmarks to corporate interests? That is the basic premise of East River’s current production of Alison Weiss’ The Statue . . . It’s a good question, and a funny idea . . . I laughed, and thought about the premise and how close to reality it is . . . Helping this clever script along is the direction by Sasha Sagan . . . I enjoyed the show, and hope that East River productions develops it further.” – Kelly McAllister, NYTheatre.com

“. . . smart concept, contemporary relevance . . . The dialogue is cleverly peppered with made-up corporatisms and slang of the future.” – Joshua Tanzen, offoffoff.com