When Dick Chudnow considered starting a competitive improv comedy group in the early ’80s, he was told not to bother. “They said I was a moron, that Milwaukeeans didn’t even like comedy,” he recalls.
But after debuting ComedySportz on Milwaukee’s East Side in 1984, Chudnow, now 64, quickly learned “they” were wrong. His business has grown into an improv comedy franchise, with teams in more than 20 cities and alumni who’ve found fame.
Like Rob Schrab and Dan Harmon. After 10 years with the Milwaukee group, the two created Scud: The Disposable Assassin, a self-published comic book that gained underground popularity in the mid-’90s. Moving to Los Angeles, they pitched a story that would become 2006’s animated film Monster House. The duo received both story and screenplay credits for the Oscar-nominated film, and have since contributed to VH1’s “Acceptable TV” and Comedy Central’s “The Sarah Silverman Program.”
Inspired by such success, fellow CSz alumnus Kurt Scholler moved west in 1998 to pursue an acting career. After appearing in many of Schrab and Harmon’s projects, he landed a national tour with improv star Wayne Brady, as well as a recurring role on “Boston Legal.” Scholler hasn’t forgotten his roots, though: He’s an active member of the Los Angeles branch of CSz.
Then there’s the FOX sketch comedy show “MADtv.” Two of the four new cast members this season got their start at CSz, including Milwaukee’s own Eric Price.
Price, 34, was a full-time CSz performer from 1997 until May 2007, when he and his wife moved to California after he landed bit roles on two Comedy Central shows and a brief appearance in the film Reno 911!: Miami. Now with “MADtv,” Price will be given four episodes to prove himself, with a chance to work on seven more this season. That’s a far cry from the 500 shows he sometimes performed annually at CSz.
“ComedySportz allowed me so much stage time. It’s where I grew as a performer,” Price says.
All of which makes Chudnow proud. Sort of.
“Once a year I give a toast at our annual tournament,” Chudnow explains. “Last year I said, ‘I look out at all of you and feel horrible because you all could have been doctors or lawyers. Instead, you’re doing this crap. You’ve wasted your life.’ ”
Now he tells them.
