Lake View East in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Annoyance Theatre

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 26, 2021

1. The Annoyance Theatre Marker

Inscription.
In 1989, with friends from Indiana University, Mick Napier founded The Annoyance Theatre. A comedy theatre, bar, and training center, Annoyance has produced more than 500 original musicals, plays, improvisation and solo shows. Napier's books are considered seminal works in Improv, and are the foundation for our training. Our first show was a slasher film parody called "Splatter Theatre” where the 'deaths' of 13 people in every show covered the white walls with stage blood, turning them red. "Splatter” is still performed every year at Halloween. Some notable performers who have graced The Annoyance stages since then are Jane Lynch, Steve Carrell, Aidy Bryant, Vanessa Bayer, Andy Richter, and the former CEO of Twitter, Dick Costolo.

We thank all of the artists and audiences who have shared their talents with and supported us throughout the years.

Erected by The Annoyance Theatre and Bar.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is September 10, 1987.

Location. 41° 56.391′ N, 87° 39.087′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Lake View East. Marker is on West Belmont Avenue west of North Clark Street, on the right when

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traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 851 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago IL 60657, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Freddie Mercury (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sylvester (about 800 feet away); The Pink Triangle (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Harlem Renaissance (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bayard Rustin (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dr. Sally K. Ride (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cole Porter (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Also see . . . History of the Annoyance (The Annoyance).

"On September 10, 1987, a group of us were sitting around a table at an Italian restaurant talking about slasher films. As the discourse pursued, we got the crazy idea of producing a blood show for Halloween, which was a few weeks away.... Borrowing from Alfred Hitchcock, our stage blood consisted of chocolate syrup, water, and red food coloring. We created different consistencies for different effects. Some of the stage effects included a nun getting drilled in the back of the head, a bimbo getting her tongue ripped out, and a policeman having his intestines removed.

With a freshly painted white set, Splatter Theatre opened on October 10th, 1987. After a chilling original
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 26, 2021

2. The Annoyance Theatre Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here mounted to the far right of the theatre building.
song performed by a night club singer character, several deaths turning the white set blood red, a real meat puppet intermezzi, and many laughs, Splatter Theater received a standing ovation. Nobody knew at the time that we were launching The Annoyance Theatre. We were just doing a show...."

(Submitted on August 29, 2021.)

The Annoyance Theatre and Bar sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 26, 2021

3. The Annoyance Theatre and Bar sign

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 538 times since then and 55 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week October 31, 2021. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 29, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.