Aux Dog Theatre Nob Hill Presents THE BICYCLE MEN, Now thru 7/20

Aux Dog Theatre Nob Hill presents The Bicycle Men for one weekend only! The show runs tonight, July 18-20, on Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7.30pm, with a special late night show on Saturday at 10pm.

Mark, John, Joe and Dave all met in Chicago in the 1980's, working in that city's thriving comedy and theatre scene. Joe and John worked together onstage at Chicago's Second City. Dave performed in musicals. Mark had his own comedy group, Friends of the Zoo.

Later in 1992, Mark wrote the songs for "Wild Men," a musical spoof of the men's movement that starred George Wendt. Joe and Dave were cast in the show; they performed in an extended run in Chicago. They were also roommates when "Wild Men" was mounted as an Off-Broadway production in New York.

All four B. Men moved to Los Angeles in the early 1990's. Joe and Dave became writing partners, landing on the staff of the TV series, "3rd Rock From The Sun." John pursued voice-over work; he sang and toured with Jim Belushi and his band, the Sacred Hearts. Mark wrote for television and movies; he co-wrote Chris Farley's last film, Almost Heroes.

In early 2002, Mark suggested that Dave, Joe and John unite to write and perform a new sketch show with songs. They chose John's intense passion for cycling as a starting point for the show's concept. They wrote the show intermittently, juggling professional obligations, until the show was ready to be performed in April, 2003. "Le Comedie du Bicyclette," as the show was then called, premiered at Charna Halpern's Los Angeles branch of the ImprovOlympic Theatre.

The show was enthusiastically received from the beginning. Later that year The Bicycle Men performed to sold-out houses in Chicago.

Early in 2004 they recorded the CD of the songs from the show. They appeared at the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival, winning the award for Excellence in Overall Production. The following year saw them at the 2005 Edinburgh International Fringe Festival, performing to critical and popular acclaim.

In 2006 The Bicycle Men were one of only ten shows to be invited to return to the New York International Fringe Festival as distinguished alumni, in celebration of that festival's tenth anniversary.

Joe Liss is a Second City Chicago veteran, having written and performed six original revues. His theatre credits include Room Service, Once In A Lifetime, Totally Looped, Hit It, Don, Buddy Jack, Poseidon Adventure: The Musical, Wild Men!, and his critically acclaimed one-man show, Joe Show. His film credits include God Bless America(directed by Bobcat Goldthwait), Wayne's World II, Curly Sue, Home Alone 2, and Major League. On TV Joe appeared in According to Jim, Less Than Perfect, That 80's Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Strangers With Candy. Joe was story editor on Disney's Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil and has also written on Drawn Together, My Life is a Sitcom, SpongeBob Squarepants, and Third Rock From the Sun.

JOHN RUBANO is a Second City alumnus. He has appeared in numerous television and film roles including the ABC sitcom According to Jim, Seinfeld, and The Sharktank Redemption. John can also be seen in the upcoming film The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. His voice has been heard in many animated and commercial projects including Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Superman, and Rugrats. John currently sings and tours with Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts and The Blues Brothers Band.

Derek Manson is a native Georgian who recently moved to Los Angeles from New York because people sometimes do that. He has appeared onstage and online with Second City This Week at Second City Hollywood. LA stage credits include critically acclaimed productions of The Bewildered Herd at Greenway Court, Making Paradise with Cornerstone Theater, the rock musical The Existents and the LA Weekly Award nominated revival of Room Service with Open Fist Theatre Company. Regional credits include productions with Atlanta's ALLIANCE THEATRE, South Coast Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse, Sacramento Theatre Company, Woodshed Collective, and Imagination Stage. Voiceover credits include SNL's Best of TV Funhouse, The WB, Condé Nast Traveler Podcasts, and national spots for Kraft. Derek is a graduate of Northwestern University, where bicycle thieves plagued him on several occasions.

BRUCE GREEN is a Hollywood character actor and itinerant stage actor. He began his career at Chicago's ImprovOlympic, taking direction from comedy legend Del Close. He then became a member of The Second City's National Touring Company, performing in theaters, nightclubs, and college campuses across the country. Bruce starred in The People Vs. Friar Laurence, the Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet, a wildly successful co-production of The Second City and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. In films, Bruce is best known for being shot by Jeff Bridges in the Coen brothers' True Grit. On television, he's appeared on Parks and Recreation, MADtv, and Eagleheart. This fall he'll play an alien on the new ABC sitcom The Neighbors.

Mark Nutter (Music & Lyrics, Co-Writer) is the winner of both the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and the LA Weekly Theater Award for Re-Animator: The Musical. He wrote the music & lyrics for Wild Men!, a satire of the men's movement that played in Chicago and Off-Broadway in New York. Mark has also written for television (3rd Rock from the Sun, Saturday Night Live) and movies (Almost Heroes, starring the late Chris Farley). Mark and partner Cynthia Carle co-wrote and directed Christmas Smackdown at Chicago's iO Theater, and they frequently perform the show themselves in Los Angeles. Mark is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.www.marknutter.com

DAVE LEWMAN (Co-Writer) has written for Third Rock From the Sun, 3 South, My Life Is A Sitcom, Drawn Together, Pinky Dinky Doo, George of the Jungle, Spaceballs: The Animated Series, Tak & the Power of Juju, Yin Yang Yo, DJ & the Fro, Rekkit Rabbit, and Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil.

Advanced Purchase Tickets $25, ($30 at door). Buy your tickets today at www.auxdog.com.

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