Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBY CHRISTENSEN (AUDIENCE); LORENZ PHOTOGRAPHY (UNRUH) Boston through their participation in the event." Players are sent a script in advance (the 2013 ver- sion was written by John Kuntz), but the ultimate goal of the event is not perfection, and par- ticipants bring their scripts and lightning-fast, off-the-cuff wit onstage with them. The first year of Banned in Boston featured Aerosmith bass player Tom Hamilton (who has been in the show ever since) as Unabomber Ted Kaczynski going to a Boston College interview with "recruiter" Mike Barnicle. Barnicle rejected him and quipped, "Why don't you apply to that other college across the river?" Another year, the organization parodied the hit movie The King's Speech with the skit "Masterpiece Theater: The President's Speech," featuring Mayor "Mumbles" Menino as speaking coach Lionel Logue and Congressman Barney Frank acting as President George Washington. The show's producers often look no further than their own backyard for inspiration, including the year that then-Senator Scott Brown took on the role of "Mikey" (a riff on the boxer Mickey Ward from the The Fighter) in a parody mash-up of the shot-in-Boston movies The Fighter, The Town, Shutter Island, Good Will Hunting, and Gone Baby Gone. For WGBH's Emily Rooney, the event gives her a chance to have fun for a good cause with past and prospective guests for her talk show. "I've had a role in Banned in Boston for about 15 years, and I look forward to it every year," says Rooney. "I've played a wide range of characters, from a deranged talk show host to Cindy McCain to Martha Washington. This year I hope to be one of the chorus girls. One funny anecdote from 2013: My personal shopper at Bloomingdale's called to tell me he hated what I was wearing in some mag- azine photo after the event. It was the Martha Washington costume, complete with mutton sleeves, cinched waist, and balloon skirt. Urban Improv is a fantastic organization with a mission and approach that really works." Expect powerhouse participants again this year, including Governor and Mrs. Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Senator Sonia Chang- Díaz, Ron Druker, and Anita Walker—even Hillary Clinton in a video piece. While some things change (there are more video skits now), one stays exactly the same—the commitment given by some of Boston's busiest people. "It is 21 years later, and our show is still going strong," says Alvord. "I can't believe how lucky we are to have such an incredible group of luminaries coming together, having a great time onstage, laughing at them- selves, maybe singing off-key, and doing it all for a great cause." BC FROM LEFT: The show is known for its lively, interactive atmosphere; WCVB-TV's Heather Unruh plays the Pope. continued from page 60 INSIGHT What: Bring your appetite and sense of humor. Guests will enjoy small bites at Lansdown Pub from local chefs (who will later perform in skits) before the real fun begins next door at House of Blues. When: April 11, 6 PM Where: Lansdowne Pub, 9 Lansdowne St., 617-247-1222; urbanimprov.org " I've played a range of characters, from a deranged talk show host to Martha Washington." EMILY ROONEY 62 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM HOTTEST TICKET 060-062_BC_SC_HottestTicket_Spring14.indd 62 2/6/14 5:15 PM