For six nights only, Will Clinger and Bill Larkin take the stage at the Stars and Garters Theater at 3914 North Clark Street in Chicago to sing the always funny, sometimes ribald, never enlightening songs from their respective repertoires. They’ve accurately named their show Sophomoric Songs and chosen Kevin Theis to direct it. Performing either individually or together, they’ll showcase tunes both old and new, all intended to convulse their audience — hopefully with laughter…
The two songsmiths first met when they were both cast in a 2015 production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Porchlight Music Theatre; they soon discovered a shared aptitude for writing comedic songs, and talked about one day joining forces on a Chicago stage – now eleven years later, they’re finally getting around to it.
Sophomoric Songs will open in the Stars and Garters’ Rouge Room on Thursday, November 5th and run until the 14th, with Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances; showtime is 9 PM. Tickets are $20.00, and can be purchased here: https://www.starsandgarterstheater.com/show/sophomoric-songs/
Will Clinger has worked as an actor, producer, writer and TV show host and appeared on various stages and screens for over 40 years. He is probably best known as the host and segment producer of Wild Chicago, a television program that looked at the offbeat side of the city and aired on WTTW/Channel 11. His work on the show earned him fourteen Midwest Emmy awards. Will also produced and hosted the half-hour TV series Wild Travels, airing nationally on PBS (Midwest Emmy - Outstanding Achievement for On-Camera Talent).
For the stage, Will wrote and performed the one-man play Dr. Harlon’s Keys to Better Living (Royal George Theatre) and co-wrote and performed in the musical Two for the Show (Theater Wit), which received the After Dark Award for Best New Work. For over 30 years he was Willie B. Famous of the comedic bluegrass group The Famous Brothers.
Bill Larkin is an actor, comedian, songwriter and pianist. He just released his 2nd album of comedy songs, Knowing Your Audience, which was recorded live at the Green Mill Jazz Club in Chicago, IL. He co-wrote a musical version of The Ten Commandments for the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, and as an actor received the prestigious Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Porchlight Music Theatre's A Class Act.
Larkin has worked for over 20 years in the piano bar circuit, currently performing at the Redhead Piano Bar in Chicago.
