AMY’S LEAN CHICAGO YEARS
‘ The House’ star had fun while ‘ totally broke’
LOS ANGELES— As Amy Poehler thought back to her time in Chicago in the 1990s when she launched her career in the world of improv comedy, the actress’ face lit up as she remembered some favorite experiences.
“I was totally broke back then, and biking was obviously the cheapest way to get around. Recently, I read an article about how Chicago is so bike- friendly. Glad to hear that! Back then, I had a number of pretty close crashes with cars and cabs.”
For Poehler, the warm months in Chicago were a period she called “my wilding time. I love Chicago in the summer— my favorite time of year there. Everybody came out of hiding from those long winters. There was the best music at all those festivals.”
When she heard a mention of Taste of Chicago, Poehler joked, “Because I was so broke, I would go to Taste of Chicago and steal food. Yeah. I would just go knock down vendors and in all of the confusion I’d steal food.”
Sitting withWill Ferrell to chat about their film “The House” ( now in theaters), Poehler also couldn’t stay serious while comparing the approach the two comedic stars take to acting.
“It was real awkward,” said the actress, slipping into a bit of shtick that Ferrell immediately caught. “We work so differently. Will is all method. People call him the Daniel Day- Lewis of comedy.”
“That’s right!” interjected Ferrell. “I do extreme vocal warm- ups after every take. It takes forever to do a scene.”
Poehler described her approach as “tipping over the apple cart. I like to come in having not read the script, and a little bit drunk.”
Continuing with the bit, Ferrell pointed out— clearly joking— that “when it’s time to shoot a scene, Amy walks in and points at everyone— very scary, actually— and screams, ‘ I trust no one here! Let’s go!’ ”
Just another fun example of how Ferrell and Poehler can so effortlessly slip into the improv comedy they have long since perfected.
Chicagoans help producer whose daughters are ailing
Imagine learning both your beloved daughters will likely not live beyond 12— due to an incurable, rare neurodegenerative genetic disorder. That’s the challenge that faces top Hollywood producer Gordon Gray and his wife, Naperville native Kristen.
The couple shared their seemingly insurmountable struggle a few days ago at the East Lake Shore home of prominent Chicagoans Shelley and Bill Farley. Shelley’s son, actor Hayes MacArthur, metGordon Gray when he co- starred in the Gray- produced 2007 film “The Game Plan.”
ForMacArthur, the cruel irony of the girls’ devastating diagnoses “is that Gordon has produced such incredibly uplifting and inspirational films over the years.” That roster includes such movies as “The Rookie,” “Miracle,” “Invincible” and “Secretariat.”
The Grays addressed about 50 Chicago- area friends to introduce them to the Charlotte & Gwenyth Gray Foundation, established in their daughters’ names to raise funds to combat Batten Disease. Charlotte is now 6 ½ ; her younger sister Gwenyth is 4.
Among those on hand to hear the Grays’ story were MacArthur and his actress wife, Ali Larter; Mary Galvin; BruceMacArthur; ShirleyMichels; Candace Jordan; Lawrie and EdwardWeed; Shauna and BarryMontgomery; Alexi and Jo Giannoulias; David Walsh; Doug Goodwillie; Marty and Jack Higgins; Jane and Findlay Brown; Maria Smithburg; Anne and DannyWirtz, and Todd Buffington.
On a much lighter note, HayesMacArthur, who has been starring on the “Angie Tribeca” TV police comedy and soon will be seen in “Super Troopers 2,” explained he will be filming a movie with Martin Freeman this summer on the East Coast, while his wife will be starring in an Olympic rowing tale, currently titled “All Together,” along with Edward Burns. “It will be nice that we both will be working relatively close to one another,” said Larter. “As you know, in Hollywood, that doesn’t happen very often!”
Seen on the scene
Author and former “Glee” mainstay Chris Colfer will be at theWentz Concert Hall on the campus of North Central College in Naperville talking about “Worlds Collide,” the conclusion to his popular “Land of Stories” series. Get tickets for the July 18 event at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123W. Jefferson.