Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery Are Making Trouble 

Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery bring The Trouble With Angels to the Elsinore Theatre on August 28

Jane Lynch has known she was funny since she was a little girl. She grew up in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois called Dolton, and was raised in a family that valued humor. From the start, she lived to make other people laugh. Some of her earliest childhood memories are feelings of pride after her parents cracked smiles at her jokes, or when her classroom erupted in laughter after she shared a bit. 

“All of a sudden, it gives you some confidence. You kind of realize who you are and the pecking order of the world,” Jane said. 

It’s been six decades since her days in Dolton, and Jane still lives a life guided by laughter and creativity. On August 28, she and her close friend and fellow performer Kate Flannery will bring their live show The Trouble With Angels to the Elsinore Theater. 

Jane and Kate have been touring this show for nearly 15 years, getting their jokes and songs down to a science. The Trouble With Angels, named after the 1966 movie with the same title, is part cabaret, part stand-up. The show consists of a mix of humorous banter and duets from the 1960s accompanied by the Tony Guerrero Quintet. 

“We just have a toe-tappin’ time. The music is bright and happy. The band is amazing. We harmonize really well together. I think you’re gonna have as many laughs as you’re gonna have tears,” Jane said with her classic dry delivery. “I’m kidding, you won’t be crying.”

Jane and Kate originally connected in the late 1980s in Chicago, where Jane relocated after earning a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Cornell University. Both women were a part of the Chicago comedy scene that Jane describes as “wild and crazy,” with places like Second City setting the standard for comedians nationally. Though both were pursuing professional comedy, Jane and Kate bonded over their shared experience being raised in Irish Catholic households, and their love of music from the past.

“Kate and I realized that we both liked to sing, that we both basically had the same father, World War II vets, Irish Catholic, who loved the music of the day,” said Jane. “The first time we sang together and harmonized, I said to Kate, ‘You’re as good as I am!’” 

They’ve now been performing together for the better part of two decades, and while they were brought together by their similarities, it’s what’s opposing in their personalities that largely contributes to the fun of their on-stage dynamic. 

“Kate is like a hummingbird,” Jane said. “She’s all over the place; she’s a triple Gemini.” 

Jane prefers more structure and organization. She describes liking to put herself in a cage, albeit a cage which she can bounce around in freely, but she has boundaries for herself. 

“Kate is not that way at all,” Jane said. “She’s spontaneous, she’s a will-o’-the-wisp. She’s probably on a plane right now to throw the first pitch somewhere in Tuscaloosa.”

For Jane, navigating the unique comedy scene in Chicago could be nerve-wracking at times, but she eventually learned to appreciate the unplanned nature of the job. In 1989, she landed herself a spot with The Second City Touring Company, a major step in her career. 

“Talk about type-A personality in the midst of these crazy creative people. No method to their madness,” Jane said. “It was absolute insanity, but I loved it too. I learned a lot about being spontaneous and trusting my instincts and going up on stage before you really feel like you’re prepared.” 

Having the confidence to admit she belonged at Second City was hard, though. It was a place that pushed her to get comfortable with improvisation, something she had long struggled to do.

“I don’t know how I was cast, because I did not feel like I did well,” she said. “I always felt like a fraud; I couldn’t get past it. I second-guessed myself a lot.” 

Her stint with Second City allowed her to explore types of comedy that were out of her comfort zone, providing an opportunity for growth, both professionally and personally. For Kate, this type of environment really worked. She dove headfirst into the wacky energy of Second City, with complete faith in her improvised instincts. 

Before every show, Jane and Kate make sure to request a shared green room from the theater staff. Their joint pre-show rituals are sacred, and a key step in their evening routine. Kate hooks up her phone to a speaker and the two play music by the Carpenters, Perry Como, or sometimes Rosemary Clooney, harmonizing while they apply their stage makeup. It’s a way to connect with each other before walking in front of an audience. 

When asked if she had any post-show rituals, Jane gave it straight. 

“No, we’re old. We started doing this when we were old. Every once in a while you might see us at the Holiday Inn bar having drinks.” 

Jane holds many identities in the entertainment industry: actor, comedian, singer, and author. In her decades as a professional entertainer, she has been in more than 50 movies alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names. But her passion is in this live show that she gets to do with one of her oldest friends. Attendees can expect an evening of harmonies, jokes, music by a quintet, and laughter between two good friends. 

“We always say to each other, we can’t think of anything we’d rather be doing with our lives than doing a show with each other,” Jane said. 

The two are clearly here to enjoy each other’s company and share the joy they have found in music with a live audience. 

“Just show up. It’s fun. We wouldn’t be doing it for as long as we’ve been doing it if it wasn’t great,” Jane said. 

The Trouble With Angels

An evening of mischief and music with Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery
7:30 p.m. August 28
Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE
Click here for tickets.

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Author: Lindy Rybloom