http://www.instablogs.com/entry/chuckleball/

Chuckleball: Something Different For Sports Fans
by Ibearg on 11/5/07 [link] [pdf]

I went to see an off-Broadway show last night called Chuckleball. Yes that’s right I missed the Armageddon game that was the Pats-Colts, and shockingly the world did not end. Chuckleball is basically a sports parody musical that makes fun of most of the big headlines in sports. From Vick and bonds, to the WWE and Maria Sharapova they write clever songs using pop and broadway tunes about each story. Now I dunno about most sports fans, but I’m not a fan of theatre. I used to be when my parents and grandparents took me to shows as a kid, but that was quite a few years ago. Yet I was able to enjoy this “musical” because instead of being the typical boy meets girl blah blah blah drama that the usual plays are about it was about something I actually find interesting… sports. Sure there are some sports related plays… damn Yankees for instance, but none I know of are truly about sports.

Now, if you’re not in the New York area or don’t plan on being in the area anytime soon you probably won’t care about this show. However if you are I suggest you stop by, especially if you have a wife or a girlfriend. You’ll enjoy the jokes, your girl will enjoy the music and you can pretend you’re cultured for an evening. Now if you’re female and a sports fan or male and enjoy musicals you’ll REALLY enjoy it.

It probably sounds like I’m trying to sell you on the show, but I have no affiliation with it, so go or don’t on your own accord. I just thought I would share something a little different with the users of AGM.

Their website is www.chuckleball.com

Watchdog
Sportswatch columnist Neil Best leaves no stone unturned as he brings you news and commentary on the world of sports media.

'Chuckleball' is amusing [link] [pdf]
by Neil Best on 11/4/07

Friday I attended the opening night performance of "Chuckleball," a show in which a talented, extremely hard-working cast of three men and one woman belts out sports-oriented song parodies for 90 minutes or so at the Snapple Theater Center at Broadway and 50th Street.

I'll do a brief review of the show in the newspaper when my column returns next week, but I wanted at least to let you know about it in the meantime, because it faces challenges attracting an audience given its unusual mix of sports and musical theater.

Somehow it works, thanks to cleverly written lyrics in which, for example, "My Sharona'' becomes an ode to Anna Kournikova, and a song from "Rent'' can turn into a lament about the Yankees' pitching woes.

It helps to have a strong working knowledge of current sports news, but even casual fans will get enough of the jokes to make it worthwhile.

Be advised that the top floor space at the Snapple Center is extremely informal, which mostly is a good thing, other than the metal folding chairs.

The official price per ticket is $45, but producer Jason Goldstein authorized me to share with WatchDog readers the "friends and family'' code that knocks the price down to a reasonable $35. (There also is a student ticket priced at $25.)

Here is the discount code: CBFF35.

Enjoy!