PARTY DOWN WITH THE CAST OF "CHICAGO PARTY AUNT"

It’s time to party and who better to do it with than Diane Dunbrowski, the Chicago Party Aunt.

You don’t have to be from Chicago to love, Chicago Party Aunt. The new animated Netflix series based on a wildly popular twitter feed is is a bawdy, hilarious and warm hearted love letter to the Chicago (and the Chicago area) shown through the eyes of the party Queen herself, Diane Dombrowski.

Based on the witty and funny Twitter account created by former Chicago writer-actor Chris Witaske, “Chicago Party Aunt” gives his alter ego a name: Diane Dunbrowski (voiced by Canada’s own Lauren Ash), a middle-aged, part-time hairdresser and full-time party animal who squeezes her “mom bod” into too-tight jeans, and treats every day like a celebration.

Ash, who grew up in Belleville, Ontario (her mom Laurel still lives there) says she had no problems playing this raucous, fun loving woman from Chicago. Ash, who began her comedy career in Toronto moved to Chicago to join Second City. It was there that she learned all about the city and the nuances and characteristics of Chicagoans.

“Chicago Party Aunt” is an animated sitcom with each episode running around 24 minutes and featuring self-contained adventures — but there are also some running storylines, so we get to know all of the key players in Diane’s life.

The cast of supporting players includes Witaske as Diane’s ex-husband Kurt, Rory O’Malley as Diane’s nephew Daniel, Jon Barinholtz as Mikey, Diane and Kurt’s son, ( and who also starred on Superstore opposite Ash), Ike Barinholtz as Mark, Katie Rich and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Diane’s friends and co-workers, and RuPaul as Gideon, who runs the hair salon where Diane works.

I caught up with creator Chris Witaske and cast members Lauren Ash, Rory O’Malley, Ike and Jon Barinholtz, and Katie Rich to talk about the hilarious series.

CHICAGO PARTY AUNT is NOW streaming on Netflix on September 17th.

Check out all of the fun interviews in the playlist below.