Whether they were there or not, Chicagoans of all ages are familiar with the Bulls championship run in the mid ‘90s. Writers Anna Weatherwax and Traer Schon capitalized on that and asked—what if there was unrelenting chaos behind the scenes?
‘BULL,’ a comedy about the “untold, untrue story” of two people’s elaborate con to get on the 1996 starting lineup, opened at Lake View’s Annoyance Theatre Aug. 7. Nearly every seat in the house was filled by eager and excited attendees.
And with a script filled with perfectly-timed bits and outlandishly crafted characters, it was a slam dunk with the audience.
The cast consisted of just eight people—five individuals and three ensemble members—who each committed whole-heartedly to their roles, from donning elaborate costumes to putting on unique personalities. BULL’s two-hour run was met with constant hooting and cackling from the crowd.
Although they each knew people who could be cast in BULL, Weatherwax said they decided to do auditions to meet and see people they might’ve never seen before. They ended up with a group of actors from different backgrounds, allowing for a fun and unique experience, she said.
“It was cool to see people come out that were maybe more from the theatre world or just leaving student productions and trying to do something in the city for the first time,” Schon said. “They all bring fun perspectives to the table.”
The idea for the show came to the pair during a Bulls game they attended near the end of 2023, as they joked about how they could possibly make their way onto the team. It led to them wondering about the social dynamics on the team, and the massive production it takes to put on a sporting event.
However, as “a woman and a gay guy,” as Weatherwax put it, they weren’t the duo people may have expected to write a show about the NBA. They wanted it to be something people could watch and enjoy without context beyond Michael Jordan and the 1996 Bulls being great.
“It’s not like, ‘Oh, I need to know [Jordan’s] stats for ‘95 so I can appreciate the ‘96 season,’” Weatherwax said. “Come in, whoever you are, you’re perfect for an audience member of the show.”
Schon likened the idea to movies such as Like Mike or High School Musical—productions that were about sports, but didn’t require the audiences to know them well. He hopes his show can potentially be a “meeting of the worlds” between those who like theatre and those who know basketball.
It took about a year for the production to come together, with the two meeting about three times a week in a coffee shop to work through it bit by bit. After their work was completed, Weatherwax said they pitched it to Annoyance Theatre, which accepted.
This show marks the pair’s second production together—their first, LIGHTS, premiered to a sold-out run at the Annoyance Theatre in 2023.
A favorite part of the BULL for Weatherwax is the ensemble, playing sports reporters and various other roles throughout the show. One of the roles they play is WAG’s—the wives and girlfriends of the players. They “really have some fun” in the production, she said.
Whenever they took the stage, it was clear the crowd agreed.
“That was very fun to write, and it’s been very fun to see them take that,” Schon said. “I feel like it’s Real Housewives-coded.”
To see the WAGs and the grand conning scheme, those interested can purchase tickets on the Annoyance Theatre’s website. The show is scheduled to run every Thursday until Sept. 11.