Baby Wants Candy
1997-present · Chicago, IL; UCB NY; UCB LA; international touring
Also known as BWC
The completely improvised full-band musical — an hour-long musical spun from a single audience-suggested title, with live band.
Known for
- Founded by Peter Gwinn at iO Chicago in the mid-1990s; first cast included Rebecca Sage Allen, Don Bardwell, Ali Davis, Peter Gwinn, Nick Kanel, Bob Kulhan, Mary McCain, Stuart Ranson.
- Format: audience shouts a musical title; the cast improvises a 45-60 minute musical with original songs, choreography, rhyming verse, backed by live band.
- 3,000+ performances worldwide across Chicago (Apollo Theater), UCB NY, UCB LA, and touring. Sold-out years at Edinburgh Fringe.
- Alumni include Aidy Bryant (SNL), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley), Peter Gwinn (Colbert Report writer).
- Template for nearly every improvised-musical format that followed (Off Book, Showstopper!).
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