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Friday, December 20, 2013

PRODUCT REVIEW: Funky Colorful Hair Chalk from Ellore Femme!

Disclosure:   We were sent product samples to review in exchange for sharing this information with our readers. All opinions are our own.


REVIEW: We had a blast getting playful, colorful fun without a permanent commitment. Ellore Femme Hair Chalk was easy to apply and with damp hair the colors came out bright and lasted well. My 10 year old daughter was a little disgruntled that it made her hair stiff when applied to wet strands and she needed a full hair washing before bed. Overall it was a success and we would recommend this as a low commitment way to change up your look frequently or easily go from conservative to wild and back again.




If you don't know what Hair Chalk is, then prepare yourself for amazingness! It's a super fun, temporary method to add some serious flair to your hair. These vibrantly colored hair-chalk sticks from Ellore Femme help you to easily paint rainbow hues onto strands. The easy-to-blend dyes are formulated with natural plant pigments, rendering the chalk non-toxic. All 24 colors easily wash out in the shower.

Spontaneous hair color

Set with heat

Blendable colors

Nontoxic, natural plant pigments

Washes out after one shower

Use on wet hair

24 vibrant shades

May transfer onto clothing during application

*just don't inhale! (May cause respiratory irritation)


**ChiIL Mama's  Readers can click here to save $30 Off Ellore Femme 24 piece Hair Chalk set with promo code BL15**

Regular Price: US $44.99
Blog Price: $14.99 (with Promo Code: BL15)
Disclosure:   We'll be sent product samples to review in exchange for sharing this information with our readers.   All opinions are our own.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

ACT OUT: Jeff Recommended Elemeno Pea Now Playing at Redtwist



By Molly Smith Metzler 
Directed by Steve Scott 

The Chicago premiere of Humana Festival's runaway hit play from 2011,
the hilarious scathing satire on money and class in post-modern America

Featuring Redtwist Jeff Award winner, Jacqueline Grandt, and company members, Michael Sherwin, & Johnny Garcia



PLAY 
Elemeno Pea features two sisters whose relationship gets off-kilter when, Devon, a regular Buffalo gal visits her elegant sister, Simone, who works as a personal assistant for a very rich, pampered woman on Martha's Vineyard. Simone gets a hefty six-figure salary for serving the pretty people and feels she has found nirvana, while Devon thinks her brainwashed sister is selling her soul. A riveting drama one minute, a riotous comedy the next, Elemeno Pea is a blistering play about the volatile mixture of people and money and how we deal with it...and without it. Directed by Clybourne Park director, Steve Scott. 

CAST
Elizabeth Argus (Simone), Johnny Garcia (Jos-B), Jacqueline Grandt (Michaela), Carley Moseley (Devon), Michael Sherwin (Ethan), Melonie Collmann (after Jan 1, 2014)
  
STAFF 
Steve Scott (Director), Alicia Hynes (Assistant Director), Allison Queen (Stage Manager), Olivia Leah Baker (Assistant Stage Manager/Costume Designer), Ross G. Hoppe (Set Designer/Tech Director), Christopher Burpee (Lighting Designer), Christopher Kriz (Sound Designer), Jeff Shields (Prop Designer), Jan Ellen Graves (Graphic Designer), Kevin McDonald (Dramaturg), Alan Weusthoff (Set Construction), Eric Vigo (Master Electrician), Charles Bonilla (Box Office Manager), E. Malcolm Martinez (Box Office Associate), Johnny Garcia (Box Office Associate/Associate Producer), Michael Colucci & Jan Ellen Graves (Producers)


SCHEDULE 
Runs: Thu, Fri, Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 3pm
Closes: Sun, Jan 12, 2014 
Running Time: Approximately 90 minutes total, no intermission
Tickets: Thursdays, $25; Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, $30 (seniors & students $5 off) 

RESERVATIONS 
Call: 773-728-7529 
Website/Tickets: www.redtwist.org

Redtwist is located at 1044 W Bryn Mawr, 2 blks W of LSD, 2 blks E of the Red Line El station. Street parking (paybox/meters until 10pm, Free on Sundays) is available on Bryn Mawr, side streets, and Broadway. Please reserve 48 hours in advance. Credit cards accepted by phone and online to guarantee seating. 

Redtwist Theatre announced its complete line-up for 2013-2014 Season, which includes 14 productions, all at its black box, storefront location, in the Bryn Mawr Historic District of Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. The complete season includes 7 Chicago premieres and 4 world premieres

There are five MAIN Season shows, which include at least 18 performances. Each of the MORE RED (off night) and DARK RED (late night) series plays perform in rotating rep with the MAIN Season productions and primarily use the same set as the MAIN Season show. 

  

Chicago Premiere Men Exposed



By Scott Woldman
Directed by Matt Dominguez


Part of Redtwist's late-night series called DARK RED. Performed in rotating rep with Redtwist's MAIN season show, Elemeno Pea, and its MORE RED off-night series show, Shipwrecked.



This is the fourth installment of Redtwist's DARK RED series of late-night plays featuring playwright Scott Woldman's hilarious "Luv Cycle," chronicling the life span of a relationship, from the moment two people meet, to the time they marry...and beyond. 

Men Exposed features the wild and crazy hijinks of guys having one last fling before the big day. 
  
CAST
Zach Finch (Hugh), Beau Forbes (Jim), Christopher Hahn (Bobby), John Mark Jernigan (Mike), Andrew Marikis (Pete), Ken Miller (Danny), Matthew Webb (Stuart), Dan Wenzel, Jr. (Brian)

STAFF
Matt Dominguez (Director), Allison Queen (Stage Manager), Olivia Leah Baker (Costume Designer), Eric Vigo (Lighting Designer), Kate Wecker (Sound Designer), Jan Ellen Graves (Graphic Designer), Charles Bonilla (Box Office Manager), E. Malcolm Martinez (Box Office Associate), Johnny Garcia (Box Office Associate/Associate Producer), Michael Colucci & Jan Ellen Graves (Producers)

SCHEDULE  
Opens: Fri, Dec 20, 10:30pm
Runs: Fridays & Saturdays, 10:30pm
Closes: Sat, Jan 25
Running Time: Approximately 90 minutes, no intermission
Tickets: $15

RESERVATIONS
Call: 773-728-7529
Website/tickets: www.redtwist.org

Redtwist is located at 1044 W Bryn Mawr, 2 blks W of LSD, 2 blks E of the Red Line El station. Street parking (paybox/meters until 10pm, Free on Sundays) is available on Bryn Mawr, side streets, and Broadway. Please reserve 48 hours in advance. Credit cards accepted by phone and online via BuzzOnStage to guarantee seating.

ACT OUT OPENING: A Chicago Premiere Shipwrecked! An Entertainment



The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont 
(as told by himself)
By Donald Margulies
Directed by Ian Frank


Part of Redtwist's off-night series called MORE RED. Performed in rotating rep with Redtwist's MAIN season show, Elemeno Pea, and its DARK RED late-night series show, Men Exposed.



THE MORE RED SERIES 
The MORE RED series at Redtwist features exciting young directors and actors from local college programs. And the cast are some of the finest actors to emerge from The Theatre School at DePaul University in recent years. 
  
THE STORY
A dazzling story like nothing you've ever seen, recounting the endless adventures of one man covering the globe at the close of the 19th century as he shares his ravishing tales. Storytelling for the ages.

DIRECTOR
Ian Frank has directed and assisted at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, The Kennedy Center, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater assistant directed the Jeff Award winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Ian is a graduate of the MFA Directing program at The Theatre School at DePaul University where he directed THE ROYAL HUNT OF THE SUN, PRIVATE LIVES, RICHARD III, MOBY DICK, DOUBT, and BROADSWORD. He will direct REMIX 38 at The Humana Festival of New America Plays this spring at Actors Theatre of Louisville. He holds a BA in Dramatic Arts from Centre College.

CAST
Matt Browning (Louis); Daniela Colucci (Player #1); Michael C. Countryman (Player #2)

STAFF
Ian Frank (Director), Lauren Miller (Stage Manager), Olivia Leah Baker (Costume Designer), Eric Vigo (Lighting Designer), Kate Wecker (Sound Designer), Jan Ellen Graves (Graphic Designer), Charles Bonilla (Box Office Manager), E. Malcolm Martinez (Box Office Associate), Johnny Garcia (Box Office Associate/Associate Producer), Michael Colucci & Jan Ellen Graves (Producers)(Producers)

SCHEDULE 
Opens: Sat, Dec 21, 3pm
Runs: Saturdays at 3pm, Sundays & Mondays at 7:30pm (except Mondays Dec 23 & 30)
Closes: Mon, Jan 13, 2014
Running Time: Approximately 85 minutes total, no intermission
Tickets: $20 (seniors & students $5 off)

RESERVATIONS
Call: 773-728-7529
Website/tickets: www.redtwist.org

Redtwist is located at 1044 W Bryn Mawr, 2 blks W of LSD, 2 blks E of the Red Line El station. Street parking (paybox/meters until 10pm, Free on Sundays) is available on Bryn Mawr, side streets, and Broadway. Please reserve 48 hours in advance. Credit cards accepted by phone and online via BuzzOnStage to guarantee seating.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Chicago’s The Steak House Mints will play their final show of the year at Martyrs’ on Thursday, Dec. 19


Baby it's cold outside, but things are HOT at Martyrs'!

Chi, IL Live Shows on our radar:


The Steak House Mints are Chicago's most refreshing orch-pop ensemble. The Mints are comprised of former and current members of Filter, Back Yard Tire Fire, Cabaret Diosa, Kick the Cat, & Maggie Speaks.

"Their sound is an intricate and beautiful style of orchestral pop influenced by the Zombies, Nick Drake and "Pet Sounds"-era Beach Boys as well as more global avatars such as Os Mutantes and Astrud Gilberto." -Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun Times.

The Mints are proud to have been selected by Chicago Metro Mix as one of Chicago's top ten unsigned bands in The 2009 Rock n Vote!

2013 found the band earning acclaim for their album Love Songs For Prostitutes and they have been featured on Vocalo, WXRT’s Local Anesthetic and in the Chicago Tribune.


8PM
$8
21+




Martyrs' is hopping

Save the dates.   Other favorites of ChiIL Live Show:

  • This Must Be The Band--Talking Heads Tribute Fri/Sat Dec 20 & 21
  • Henhouse Prowlers--Dec 24th


  • Jan 24th-- Hot and Heavy Burlesque brings back their monster tribute to classic industrial music with Termination Tease #2: A Burlesque tribute to Nine Inch Nails.This show will feature an electric mix of live music from NIN cover band 'Now I'm Nothing' with a special headlining performance by Miss Exotic World 2005 - Michelle L'amour!
  • Wednesday, December 11, 2013

    WIN a VIP Ticket to Sassy City Chicks (21+) $42 Value Each (30 available)

    We're giving away 30 free VIP tickets-- women only (21+) with code chill out $42 value each. Come ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama and gift yourself an afternoon of relaxing. (1 free ticket option is at the bottom of the Eventbrite form below the 2 paid options).  


    Shopping, cocktails, beauty, and a giveaway... doesn't it sounds like the PERFECT girls day out? Sassy City Chicks is coming back to Chicago for their holiday show on Sunday, December 15th, from 12-5PM at the Double Tree Magnificent Mile! The event will be featuring top local designers and boutiques with INSANE discounts, so you can get that last minute shopping in, and of course a little something for yourself. 

    There will also be complimentary hair styling, threading, and more in their exclusive spa lounge. And they'll be giving away a Kate Spade leather bag at the event! You can learn more about the girls only, 21+ event, and order your ticket exclusively for ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows' readers here (enter the code chill out).


    For more great holidaze giveaways click here & enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often, through December 18th.


    Women tend to be the ones taking care of most of the gift ordering, and keeping everyone on schedule, putting our own needs last.   This one's for you!   

    Monday, December 9, 2013

    Film on Our Radar: Filmage: The Story of The Descendents/ALL

    Fri, 12/13: 8 & 10:30pm @ Lincoln Hall


    Plus Special Guest Q&A

    Long before Green Day and Blink 182 inflicted punk-rock's puncture wound on the map of mainstream music, The Descendents were in a garage concocting the perfect mix of pop, angst, love, and coffee. FILMAGE: THE STORY OF DESCENDENTS / ALL follows band leader/drummer/square-peg Bill Stevenson and his "caffeinated retardedness" as he pushes his rotating door of bandmates to "achieve ALL," his philosophy of going for greatness at all costs. For more info & tix click here.

    Tuesday, December 3, 2013

    PHOTO RECAP: Redmoon Theatre's Skelebration and 25% Off Winter Pageant & NYE Revolution

    We had an absolute BLAST at Redmoon's Family Friendly Skelebration.   Fingers crossed it becomes an annual event.   Their new space is seriously spacious and they know how to rock a theme.  This Autumn/Day of the Dead/Halloween event was fantastic fun for adults & kids of all ages.   We particularly dug the mini roller rink, skeleton s'mores, motorcycle spin ride and shooting marshmallows at the bear!















    In case you're feeling a bit "Nightmare Before Christmas" with our delightfully macabre recap, Redmoon's Winter Pageant is in the works and it's suitably wintery, festive and multicultural!   Check out the details below our Skelebration slide show.


    **TODAY TILL MIDNIGHT 12/3--25% OFF tickets for Winter Pageant and/or New Years Eve Revolution with the code cyber.**







    Check out ChiIL Mama's Full Photo Recap in the Slideshow here and our favorite pixs below, at the bottom of this post.






    Next up:
    What can you expect from our friends over at the crimson orb... AKA: Redmoon?   So glad you asked.  We will be reviewing for ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows, and we have a photo filled rehearsal sneak peek in the works as well.  In the mean time, get your tickets ASAP for best choice of dates.   Don't wait, just to hear the words SOLD OUT!














    ChiIL Mama's Favorite Original Skelebration Shots: