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“A work of art does not answer questions, it provokes them; and its essential meaning is in the tension between the contradictory answers”
Leonard Bernstein

1995

I joined Improv Olympic. Developing my skills under the watchful eye of Master Del Close, I performed with Los Vikings, Freeze Pop and the infamous troupe, Baby Fishmouth.

1996

Baby Fishmouth becomes a house team at Improv Olympic. Shortly after, they take their original improv show, “Hat Dance”, to Cafe Voltaire, Sheffields, the Big Stinkin’ Improv Festival in Austin and the Spontaneous Combustion Improv Festival in Kansas City.

After three successful years with Fishmouth, (and a denial to audition for Blue Man Group because I “did not fit the height requirements”) I left to pursue my solo work, becoming a pioneer of “Hip-Hop Theater.”

1999

I wrote and produced my first solo show Don’t Burn My House! It is a mix of comedy and character work, all inspired by hip-hop, that played at the Sweet Corn Playhouse in Chicago.

“Don’t Burn My House is a remarkable first effort. Friedman has obviously learned a thing or two about versatility at Improv-Olympic, and he’s wisely crafted this show as a vehicle for the repertoire of characters he’s developed over the past couple of years…Already relating personal experiences with charm and candor, Friedman will develop into a truly sophisticated performer when he adds consistency and experience to the mix.”
Nick Green, Chicago Reader

2000

In Full Effect opens at The Straw Dog Theater in Chicago.

“When it comes to hip-hop fandom, Friedman is about as hard-core as they get. In both of his one-man performances he’s made it his personal mission to spread the gospel of hip-hop–and if there’s one thing he’s entirely successful at, it’s making his appreciation of the music and culture burn brightly throughout his shows.

Hip-hop needs a few more folks like Friedman, performers who approach the genre with a mix of intelligence, warmth, and critical humor, but he needs to make his material and delivery more pointed.”
Nick Green, Chicago Reader

In the summer of 2000, I was cast in a lead role next to John Hoogenaker in The Q Brothers’ hit show, The Bomb-itty of Errors. There, I worked with DJ Sapien at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre where I played Antipholus of Syracuse, MC Hendelberg and the Abbess, amongst other characters.

add from the Chicago Tribune

2001

I open Cracker at Improv Olympic, doing subsequent runs at Angel Island, Frankie J’s and many comedy festivals including the Hollywood Comedy Festival and the Del Close Improv Festival at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York.

“Cracker, at ImprovOlympic. At its best, Cleetus Friedman’s “hip-hop theater” is innovative, laugh-out-loud funny, and thought provoking. A selection of favorite pieces from two previous one-man shows, Cracker combines comic character sketches with rhyming raps; DJ Savage on the turntable gives the show a stylish acoustic backdrop. In his opening bit, Friedman tells the audience to “forget Vanilla Ice and Eminem”–and this Jewish rapper is not your typical hip-hop artist. He has the bravado, posing, and patter down but comically riffs on such subjects as airline safety and Jewish culture (he’s JewPac, and DJ Savage is an inspired Dr. Dreidel). The ravings of Friedman’s Def Leppard-loving pothead are hilarious, and he and DJ Savage are great playing young suburban white kids enthralled by rap culture.”
Jenn Goddu, Chicago Reader

2005

Cleetus, along with DJ Sapien, releases the autobiographical White Like Me at the Strawdog Theatre for a successful 8 week run.

2006

I was hired to write and host the Live Nation Video Network which led to my work in 2007, where I wrote, co-produced, and hosted the on-camera work for the Live Nation VIP projects.

2018

After too long of a hiatus from the stage, I wrote, produced and hosted the live interview show Authors on the Lake. It was a monthly series of live interviews, Q&A sessions and more, I called on my friends, like chefs Rick Bayless, Bill Kim, Paul Kahan, and Stone Brewing’s Greg Koch with Lars Ulrich of Metallica to appear as my guests.

With Lars Ulrich and Greg Koch at Authors on the Lake

2019

Food Booze and Tunes debuts at Cubby Bear Chicago where I kept the same format of serving a three course food and beverage pairing inspired by my guests. There I hosted personalities like Peter Sagal and Rick Bayless before the pandemic shut everything down.