Long Time No Posty 2018

It has been a couple of years since I wrote here. So I thought I would post somethin for any readers out there in blog land. 2018 has been a very freeing year for me. Left a long time position to pursue my own projects.
 So far so good yay! Wrote a directed my first short film with good friends Pete Biagi (professor of film at DePaul) and actors Tori Titmus and Bobby Bieniek. Just have to edit and bring some music to it.

 

Doing private workshops, and seminars on how to get and agent which I love!

 

Jump back to 2016 shot a commercial for Steak n Shake and if you blink you'll miss me ( I'm sittin in the shoeshine chair)

...but I got paid as a principal and had a great 2017 materially year cuz of it... thanks to Marissa Paonessa, David Murphy and David O'Conner...watch it here if you like click here: "Steak n Shake n Shave n Shoeshine and Suit"

Some sad losses of friends and family... my wonderful sister in law Kathy Guth O'Malley left us after a long struggle with cancer this year...God bless her soul as well as my brother Terry O'Malley and his adult children Ryan O'Malley and Colin O'Malley for the years they spent helping and supporting her.

Lots more stuff I experienced, too much to do in one post ...but am happy to be alive and sober (22 years) yay! Stay Positive Foks...Tim O

Tim O'Malley Tim Kazurinsky Full StoryCorps Interview

The Full Interview with me and Tim Kazurinsky from StoryCorps in Chicago Radio interview with two improv legends about The Second City Theater, SNL, and life as artists and love and the joy of life...just click below ..please and thanks

Click Here:Tim and Tim StoryCorps

Nice Article from Addition Professional Magazine : here's a link

Click here to read Article/Addiction Professional

 

 

 

Tim O'Malley Tim Kazurinsky Share on StoryCorps Wonderful!

Tim Kazurinsky has been a mentor for me and countless others through the years at The Second City. He shared generously his wisdoms on life and show biz and continues to do so.  He emanates openness and honesty. I have never heard an unkind word spoken about Tim, he's one of those people everyone admires, loves and respects. We sat down in a booth and shared stories for an hour last week....and it was edited down to 3 minutes by Billy Healy a great guy ...George Wendt's nephew. The StoryCorps Director is Shirley Alfaro a wonderful woman who has turned into an amazing talent in radio direction. She is a former student, and I am blessed to have so many former students who are doing well and thriving in the arts. Here's a link to our StoryCorps edition...Tim O Tim K StoryCorps WBEZ Chicago  Special Thanks to Francesco De Salvatore for guiding us in the booth!

If your interested in hearing the entire interview please comment and I will send you a copy.

Recognition Project

A couple months back I talked about some people doing something so wonderful for me...

Here is that original post:
Some very good people in this world did something so kind, so generous, so loving for me today! It was an act of pure selfless giving, a gesture of recognition....and I was and am still overwhelmed with gratitude. I wept with joy and pain for the sheer beauty of it.
Sometimes life can be so beautiful that it hurts.
My heart is filled with joy and love, and I won't be able to sleep tonight, but that is ok. Thank you does not cut it in this case....I love you.... kind of does.

It is now up online and it speaks for itself...it made me weep again just watching the video....thank you Matt, Spencer, Tori, Cole and Ed and all the people at Dictionary Films for creating this incredible idea and implementing it...click and watch the video...I think you will cry too. An awesome honor, and I believe something we need very much in this world right now.
Thank you God.


Recognition Project Video Link Click Here

O Great One Site Link Here

More Angels

Brian Posen is an amazing teacher. I am so grateful for his support and love. He encourages me with great compliments privately and publicly when he visits my classes. He picked me up when I was down and with his smile and caring way let me know things were going to be ok. He carries Martin DeMaat's message of love and respect on into the classroom and to his staff. He built Sketchfest Comedy Festival which imports amazing comedy groups from around the world and from home. He grew it from a seed to a wildly sold out event each year in January! I am blessed to have Brian in my life.

Dave Sinker is a wonderful man, dedicated to keeping classic comedy going. He is an SC Alum...we worked at the theater during the same years. He has hired me to teach at his wonderful comedy club... He built The Comedy Shrine in Naperville taking years to build an audience, bringing great stand-up comedians and house comedy troupes to the club. The Comedy Shrine actually has a shrine to comedy in it's hallways, an awe inspiring collection of autographed photos, album covers, posters, statues and well you just have to see it to believe it. Again, David is an angel that came back into my life at the exact right moment.

So Many Angels

So many people have been angels leading me towards a great feeling of a period of accomplishment… first is Blair Holmes hired me for a new Forsythe film again in January, which lead to him helping me with new headshots... as well as his moral support to get back into auditioning. A great person, so full of life and enthusiasm, encouraging me and amazing energy, Thank you Blair

Megan Hovde is an amazing person/friend and amazing talented actress, who I have known since she was my student many years ago… she pushed and encouraged me over and over to get in touch with her new agent Marisa, I am so grateful to her for believing in me, and will miss her now that she has moved to New York. So grateful for Megan.

Next is Marisa Paonessa a shiny happy encouraging amazing woman who welcomed me with an email saying “yay, yay, yay” when I applied to her…turns out she was a star in Tony and Tina’s wedding and I had taught her in some workshops and she remembered me and was so happy that I was coming to her… talent agency (Paonessa Talent) and they signed me! I adore her already and they have me auditioning again, such a gift from God bless Marisa and her staff.

Susannah Pappish is next…a dedicated Artist I met through friends, she is kind hearted and a new friend..Susannah hired me to do two workshops at ACM (American Colleges of the Midwest) another amazing great gift Susannah is. TYG Love Susannah!

Next is Barry Hite, Barry is funny and kind and I deeply appreciate him as a good man, he got me booked on an industrial with SC through a his recommendation… along with TJ Shanoff ...the shoot was a blast and am so grateful he was thoughtful enough to suggest me to Mike Foster

Met Mike Foster on the shoot and he is wonderful, open to me improvising and just seems like an all around great and talented and guy.

Scantron you know I already love and spoke about the miracle of working with this amazing group. love all of them like crazy!

Lastly Pamela Staker...my love, my rock, my adventure queen! She is an amazing artist and a determined super hard worker with a huge heart. Pam has always supported and believed in me. For her kindness, for her laugh, for Chukwu the long legged super model, Chi-chi and Monkey our furry family... for letting us use her studio to rehearse in, for putting up with me and all my flaws.... My deepest gratitude for ten years together. I love you Pam

Scantron Comedy Miracle

Last August, Spencer Katherine Tootle came to me and asked me to direct a new improv group she was putting together. Spencer, Cole and Ed had been students in a class of mine and thought of me as they assembled the group. This gesture was a mini-miracle for me....Scantron Comedy was born and we began rehearsals. The journey has been such a blessing for me. The group Spencer put together is so talented and open and loving, wild and funny, (left to right: Matt Roeder, Tori Titmas, Spencer Katherine Tootle, Cole Earnest, Ed Buser) that it is a joy each time we meet for rehearsals or a show.

We started improvising and that special chemistry of a great cast was clearly evident. They accepted my direction so quickly and with enthusiasm...and they are amazing. They are unafraid to break boundaries, look and sound different than any of the hundreds of comedy groups in Chicago
 Scantron improvisational comedy technique is edgy, wild, sexy, twisted, smart and cohesive, I love them!

 We started with free shows at The Playground and have now built up to having a regular show every week at The Crowd Theater 3935 N. Broadway every Thursday at 10pm for $5....with an open run.
 Scantron took on a large challenge of doing 2 shows at The Second City's DeMaat Theater in February and with a little push, they marketed and advertised and hustled their asses off and we sold out both shows!
  They are currently writing new sketches for a scripted show coming soon.
I was at a low point in my life when they were sent to me by the universe and I thank God for them.
 We'll be shooting for some fun projects, on stage and on video ....so come out to see them any week at The Crowd Theater on Thursdays $5 BYOB and see how good they are and why I love them so much. TYG for Scantron Comedy. Like us on Facebook to get updates on all our new shows and projects Scantron Comedy at Facebook

"Godshow" up in full mode!

"Godshow" has been up at youtube in 7 parts for years, now you can watch it all at once!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihmer4uoTdE


Godshow is an autobiographical play written and starred by Tim O'Malley.
Godshow is the story of actor Tim O'Malley's life at Chicago's The Second City Theater in the 90's. The show covers O'Malley's battle with bitterness, alcoholism, and cocaine addiction, back to his life through recovery and his stage, feature film and television success.
Godshow sold out its four runs at The Second City Chicago. It was featured on WTTW's Artbeat Chicago, was the Chicago Reader "Critic's Pick" twice, and was number 2 in The Chicago Suntimes "Top Ten Cool Things to Do" in 2004.

Here's some pics of my fun classes in the past few months

May 2015

Have not made an entry since Willis my kitty passed. Taught some workshops in Phoenix in January for my friend Dave Thurston, did some shows there too with Jay Sukow and Kim Turner, had a blast. Have had some great classes at Second City.

Willis

Willis is my 18 year old kitty. He is my friend, mentor, muse and furry purring little man.
Willis is sick with an unbalanced disease.Watching him be sick is very difficult. Please pray for him.

Tim O'Malley's Phantasmagorical 3 Ring Comedy Circus

Mr. O'Malley is proud to announce his upcoming spectacularly wild and weird comedy show! This event will be unparalleled in its variety of the odd and hysterical. This show will create such tumultuous laughter in the patron as too cause explosive convulsions and spontaneous eruptions of bodily fluids.

Come see freakish, grotesque acts of comic insanity. Witness the nonsensical, and ludicrous oddities of improvisational theater. Peer at peculiar women in strange clothes, and laugh at the clowns. Listen and wonder to the odd and exotic comedy presented.

Shoelace Academy headlines the evening with their mad mad world of sketch comedy.
Clowning to Infinity makes it's debut on the big stage!
RK47 Ryan Heywood and Karisa Bruin bring their daring two person
improvisational high wire act.

Saturday, September 24, 2011 8:00 pm
The Beverly Arts Center
2407 W 111th St
Chicago, IL 60655
(773) 445-3838 or order online at

http://www.beverlyartcenter.org/_mainstage/index.php

Joyce Sloane Rest in Peace

The last time I saw Joyce she was sitting in the main theater at Second City, on the bench by the side exit...she was knitting or doing some small art project with touring company member Jessica Joy. The two were engaged in small talk, they were kind of quiet, and they were both smiling. I walked up and kissed her cheek..and Joyce said "who's that?" I said "it's me Joyce, Tim O'Malley!" "Oh hi Tim she smiled and continued knitting, both their heads turned down and in toward each other and there handy work. Sweet and quietly supporting a young talent, doing something creative...a great last snapshot in my mind of a woman that change my life and the lives of countless others for the better.

The week before I had seen her at Second City's holiday party and shared about a recent success of mine and she was with her best friend Rosalie...they both lit up like Christmas trees when I told them about my business success, "oh Tim!, you gotta do more of that Tim" Joyce cooed.

I remember the day back stage in 1989 when she told me I was moving up to the big stage as a regular player...she couldn't have been more happy then to tell me I had finally made the last cut and I was going to be on Mainstage Second City. It was she and her daughter Cheryl that were responsible for me being hired and they loved helping their chosen ones to be promoted. I was over-joyed. I loved Joyce like a great boss-mother.

Joyce's funeral was simply beautiful. Her daughter Cheryl was courageous and selfless in her presentation. Alumni from 5 generations were represented in her eulogy. As well as artist nephews who praised Joyce's love service and encouragement. Stories, songs and poetry that rocked the synagogue. I wept like a lost son.

There is allot out there online about her life now that she has passed, so I won't bore you...go research it if you want. I just wanted to post my little tribute as a prayer to her...she is now another guardian angel for my art life, along side of my mom Mary. Pray for me please Joyce and Mary, I love you both.

Dreams vs Goals

I havent posted in quite a while...sorry to any fans. I have been artisitically stagnant, or having a pause. I wrote my second play and submitted it to three theaters in Chicago. When all three rejected it kindly, they encouraged me to continue pursuing getiing it produced. I went into a mild funk for half a year...sometimes it takes longer to get up after a percieved failure...which is all that it was ..."percieved". I cannot explain where and when inspiration comes from other than the Holy Spirit. I have to look at my "pauses" as God given also. Please God, accept this prayer in earnest that I am heartily sorry for my sins...and request that You please intervene through the Holy Spirit to help me share my gifts of laughter and art on stage, with inspiration..please God inspire me to my next steps. Help me to rewrite the new play for stage or for film, or create a new play to perform.
I spoke at a meeting Saturday ...and expressed the blocks I have experienced lately and a woman commented "never give up your dreams". Please God ...strengthen me and guide me to use all my talents to help myself and as many others as I can. Amen

Tolerance in troubled times

Morgan Spurlock is the film maker that created "Super Size Me", he has a show called "30 Days".
On this show he explores living a different lifestyle for thirty days...in this episode the subject was religious freedom, specifically Muslims & America

check it out and come back and read this again

http://www.hulu.com/watch/5276/30-days-muslims-and-america

I think that if Morgan had chosen someone who had more of an understanding of the basic principles of all faiths this episode wouldn't be as frustrating. As a baby boomer Catholic American I was not taught about Islam, or Hinduism, or any other faiths in school. I had to mature and read other texts and watch films an learn.

God is God...He is the Father, we are His children.

Whether He spoke through Christ or Muhammed or The Bhudda, matters little.

The basic text of all faiths is that all men may live in harmony. Clearly the Muslim faith is disciplined beyond most Americans ability to worship, prostrate, and understand Who provides.

God is timeless and ageless, He is larger and more powerful than any one man can comprehend. The ignorance and predjudice that flew out of peoples mouths on the street is astoundingly sad. We live in a country that thrives on excess and worships money and celebrity. May God save us especially in these scary times, to teach us to band together with all Americans especially the Muslims...and we must ban hate language, and let the call to prayers come over speakers in every town, as easily as the bells played all my life three times a day, and believe and fight for the freedom to worship before it is stamped out by the fools that fear they may be told that there are rules to living well as humans.

Small Pieces

Whenever I feel low or lost because of life circumstances or events...I have noticed

that some strand of hope always comes through for me. When am afraid about work and my security for whatever reason I almost always recieve a tiny gift from God...small threads of

hope are what connect us to Him. Afew years back I was in trouble at work for something I did wrong,

I was called to the mat and I apologized and hung on to God...I had done a few commercials

for a burdgeoning ad company and they had put my face across the top of their site http://www.thewelladvertising.com/...I felt

instant hope that my employer is God and that He supplies my food and shelter and clothing.

Many more smaller instances have occured when I have felt down...students and strangers

commenting how they found Godshow online and it helps them go on.

Today I got an message at Facebook from Angel

Here's the exchange...another small piece in the veiled mosaic of God's will for me!

(note her name is Angel...hmm)

Hi Angel,

Thanks for adding me as a friend...I vaguely remember you read my blog and commented that is you right?
Tim O

Hi Tim,

Yes, I left a comment on your blog once, but I don't think we ever chatted. I was googling Ben Shearn's name to see what he was up to and I found the film he made on your blog. When I read your posts, it appealed to me because I am both an artist and was heavily into the comedy scene. Also, because I believe in God but over the years have been falling away from my faith. Reading your blog made me feel close to him again; just your humble words. I still don't know how I feel about my faith--maybe I am resistant--but when I read your words I can feel the spirit in them.

So thank you for that,

Angel

Thank you Angel
I use my blog to try and inspire myself... to
remember who and where I get my strength
and power from.... so i don't fall into self pity.
I often forget how much God has done for me,
and that He is still working to keep me on the path
to do His will...it is when things I feel victimized by, pile up,
that I get the most lost.
So thanks and I am grateful you found me...it reminds
me that He works in the small quiet places...and the grand scale dreams
I have... are all broken up in tiny little pieces that I must
look back at to see the true mosiac of my life.
Peace and blessings on you Angel
Tim O

Haven't Posted in a while

Dear Friend,

Am excited about the upcoming channel 11, WTTW special "Irish Chicago".

I am featured as one of the segments in the documentary covering the Irish cutlural influence in Chicago, and the personal stories of first second and third generation Irish.

It airs Tuesday March 3rd at 7:30pm,

will be replayed at 10pm that night and a few more times in the weeks following.

Hopefully my contribution will be mostly covering the myths and truths of Irish alcoholism...funny stuff once again from your favorite neighborhood sober Irish alcoholic Tim O'Malley!

Please be sure to watch or tivo it on WTTW 11 Chicago, or WTTW HD

God is alive and well

I believe God is a power source that flows through time and space....

His power had no beginning and has no end.

That power resides in all things living and past.

He is everlasting light and love and strength, with deep kindness and patience.

He is the source of all wisdoms.

He is God, He is good.

He goes by many names, and when

He reveals Himself in this world,

it is unmistakable and clear that

He has been at work in our lives.

Success as I see it.

Fame is not the goal.

The truth of what success is in the long term is...success is healthy survival against the odds, while living a real life on the ground, with the rest of us, with a partner and friends,and hopefully children...

and not to die alone, that is the goal.

What most young artists see is a glittering lie.

FAME is a fantasy word, a lie.

What is really there... is a long hard road with crazy odds, and we cannot see the pain, & hardships to come.

The fact that a lot of your idols in show business

from just a few years ago are broke financially and

spiritually or probably will be in the next few years.

Hang on to your life RIGHT NOW...and live what is right in front of you.

Stay out of fantasies of what is going on in the lives of well known people...

and pray to God you never become one.

Well known people are not happier than you.

You will not become a better person if you become well known or wealthy,

nor will you find any more peace than you can find right now.

Just work and be good to each other and if someone is in trouble... offer help

and if you are in trouble ....do not be afraid to go and seek professional help.

In this day and age seeking mental health help is completely acceptable and encouraged.

Express and name your true feelings.

Identify your fears attempt to stop the cycle of poor parenting.

If you fall... get back up, ...when you can,... and walk again