Rockin' Farewell to Hypocrite's Idiot and Mark Your Calendars For The Rest of Their Season

It's your last chance to catch The Hypocrites' acclaimed production of American Idiot. If you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for?! If you have seen it, go again. They've managed to create something incredible here. They've made a more legitimately punk performance than Green Day ever was. 

This scrappy store front troupe gives a stripped down, gritty realism to the musical that works far better for the story line than the big budget Broadway versions. The set is a graffiti strewn hole in the wall where the pre show is a band. During the show, characters grab and chug beers from the audience and toss dime bags (of Smarties) to the lucky. 


In this "Hair" for the new millennium, the teens experience love, loss, addiction, military deployment, and teen pregnancy. Although the kids begin the show desperate for freedom and jonesing to leave town for adventures, ultimately they all discover there's no place like home.  The vocals are powerful stuff, and the cast connects with each other and the audience in a compelling way. We loved it and highly recommend it.

Now Playing:

American Idiot

The smash musical by Grammy Award-winning punk rock band Green Day

"A visceral and impassioned theatrical experience"
- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

"Succeeding where Broadway failed"
- Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

"An impressive, immersive underground-style gig"
- Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago

Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
Music by Green Day, Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong
Directed by Steven Wilson
Musical Direction by Andra Velis Simon
Choreography by Katie Spelman

Running August 28 – October 25, 2015

August 28 – October 25, 2015

Directed by Steven Wilson, Musical Direction by Andra Velis Simon

3pm 

The critics agree, "American Idiot feels precisely as raw, real, reckless and angry as it should." - Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times; "A visceral and impassioned theatrical experience... Director, Steven Wilson, integrates the amazing flexibility of his hugely talented young cast with the material in a strikingly rich fashion." - Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune; "A rousing reinvention." - Time Out Chicago; "Utterly entertaining." - Chicago Readers; "Go see it before it's over." - Gapers Block; "This particular version ofAmerican Idiot is a work of endurance, timing, commitment, passion and insuppressible talent... The Hypocrites continue to rise not just to the rank of one of our city’s best storefronts but one of Chicago’s best theaters period." - Newcity Stage

American Idiot at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N Milwaukee Ave. Purchase American Idiot Tickets Today

It's your final chance to catch season opener, American Idiot (and pick up a Hypocrites tee & American Idiot drink ware!), but mark your calendars for 

THE REST OF THE HYPOCRITES' AMAZING 2015/16 SEASON!

They are some of our favorite locals with talent to spare and one of our consistent top picks here at ChiIL Live Shows. They have the dramatic chops to take on everything from French absurdist classics and ancient myths, to modern musicals, and everything in between! 

Congrats to Sean Graney and the cast of All Our Tragic for winning Best New Work and Best Ensemble respectively.

Up Next:

Sean Graney's The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide. Oct 30 - Nov 8. Co-directed by Joel Ewing and Mechelle Moe. Featuring Brian Baren, Justin Burns, Hunter Dunn, Heather Lauritzen, Jauhara Saunders, Cleo Shine and Olivia Shine. Presented in a special artistic collaboration with Senn Arts Magnet High School's The Yard.

More info, cast bios and tickets at www.the-yard.org.

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Hypocrites Tixs:

Get  Tickets for The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide	The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide October 30 – November 8, 2015 By Sean Graney, Co-Directed by Joel Ewing and Mechelle Moe
Get  Tickets for H.M.S. Pinafore at Actors Theatre	H.M.S. Pinafore at Actors Theatre November 17 – December 13, 2015 Co-adapted by Sean Graney, Andra Velis Simon, and Matt Kahler; Directed by Sean Graney
Get  Tickets for Burning Bluebeard	Burning Bluebeard November 19, 2015 – January 10, 2016 By Jay Torrence, Directed by Halena Kays
Get  Tickets for The Glass Menagerie	The Glass Menagerie January 22 – March 6, 2016 By Tennessee Williams, Re-imagined and Directed by Hans Fleischmann
Get  Tickets for H.M.S. Pinafore at A.R.T.	H.M.S. Pinafore at A.R.T. March 8 – 20, 2016 Adapted and Directed by Sean Graney
Get  Tickets for Adding Machine: A Musical	Adding Machine: A Musical March 18 – May 15, 2016 Directed by Geoff Button
Get  Tickets for Johanna Faustus	Johanna Faustus May 20 – 29, 2016 Co-Adapted by Emily Casey and Sean Graney; Directed by Sean Graney
Get  Tickets for Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado at Olney Theatre Center	Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado at Olney Theatre Center July 14 – August 21, 2016 Adapted and Directed by Sean Graney; Pirates co-adapted by Kevin O'Donnell

Heads Up San Fran:

ChiIL Live Shows adored The Hypocrites' Pirates of Penzance and highly recommend it. Now Chi, IL theatre is taking California by storm, bringing The Hypocrites' delightfully immersive, lovingly loopy, and fantastically eccentric 80-minute take on Gilbert and Sullivan’s preposterous, topsy-turvy world to Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

If you are in the Bay Area, come join the party!

Get  Tickets for Pirates of Penzance at Berkeley Rep	Pirates of Penzance at Berkeley Rep October 16 – December 20, 2015 Co-adapted by Sean Graney and Kevin O'Donnell, Directed by Sean Graney

OPENING: American Idiot Hypocrites Style Opens at The Den This Sunday

Got your tickets? ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar. American Idiot, featuring the music of Green Day and the genius of Chicago's own Hypocrites opens THIS Sunday.  Here at ChiIL Mama, we've had the great pleasure of reviewing the Broadway touring production of American Idiot twice over the years when they played Chicago. Now we can't wait to see The Hypocrites' unique take on American Idiot. The Hypocrites are favorites of ours and unafraid to push the boundaries. They're equally adept at taking on French absurdist classics, epically long form mythology, or Gilbert and Sullivan musicals. Whether you're a GreenDay fan or not, American Idiot The Musical Hypocrites style is sure to be one to see. We can't wait!  The Hypocrites are thrilled to launch their 2015-16 season with the Chicago premiere of the smash Broadway musical American Idiot, featuring music by Grammy Award-winning punk rock band Green Day. Directed by Steven Wilson; Music Direction by Andra Velis Simon; Choreography by Katie Spelman. Cast/Band includes: Isa Arciniegas, Marcos Barnes, Becca Brown, Elisa Carlson, Jay W. Cullen, Whitney Dottery, Dakota Hughes, Brian Keys, Michael Kurowski, Luke Linsteadt, Alex Madda, Aubrey McGrath, Steven Perkins, David Daniel Smith, Janelle Villas, Malic White, Krystal Worrell, and Alexander Zukoff. The creative team includes: Rebecca Adelsheim, Pat Fries, Heather Gilbert, John Kelly, Alyson Kulin, Spencer Meeks, Mieka van der Ploeg, Joe Schermoly, Linda Sherfick, Rick Sims, Danny Spagnuolo, and Gabby Welsh. Remaining Previews: Wednesday, September 2 at 8 pm, Thursday, September 3 at 8 pm, Friday, September 4 at 8 pm and Saturday, September 5 at 8 pm. Press Performance: Sunday, September 6 at 7 pm Regular Run: Friday, September 11 – Sunday, October 25, 2015 Tickets Prices: $28 – $36. American Idiot plays through October 25 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N Milwaukee Ave., Fri @ 8pm, Sat @ 3pm & 8pm and Sun @ 3pm. Got your tickets yet? What are you waiting for? Click here for The Hypocrites' main site and order your tickets today for best availability.

ACT OUT CLOSING: American Idiot #review

American Idiot is Hair for the next generation.   There's a lovable band of misfits, a tragic enlistment storyline, 

drug use, an inditement of capitalist America, and a celebration of individuality. 



We also dug the side thread about the accidental pregnancy and the social commentary on how much having an infant changes your rock n roll lifestyle.

With a rockin' sound track of Greenday hits, Two Tony Awards, and a 2010 Grammy for Best Musical Show Album, it's certainly worth catching.    Chicago's own Northwestern student, Alex Nee, stars.

There's even some fun, wire work!



Of course there are theatre fanatics out there who will only see the A list celeb Broadway shows, but we've seen some seriously sweet touring shows that just blew through town for a week or two.   The sets and costumes are still top notch and despite the fact that there aren't huge draw, famous names in the cast, there's certainly talent and charm.    The touring shows have heart, youthful energy, and the glitz and drama Broadway musicals are renowned for.

It's always a treat to see a show at the ornate Cadillac Palace.   My kids like to play rorschach test with the marble walls and find hidden creatures.   Their fav is "the elephant" at the top of the stairs to the basement in the front, left side of the lobby.

Tickets start at just $18 and half price day of show tickets, or discounts through Hot Tixs or Goldstar are often available.

So go already.


 

American Idiot Theatre : Cadillac Palace Theatre, Chicago Illinois Dates : April 16, 2013 - April 21, 2013 Winner of two Tony Awards® and a Grammy Award® for Best Musical Show Album, AMERICAN IDIOT features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. The book is by Armstrong and Michael Mayer and direction is by Tony Award®-winner Mayer (Spring Awakening).  AMERICAN IDIOT is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9/11 world. Through incredible spectacle, thrilling performances and with the hope embodied by a new generation, AMERICAN IDIOT has given audiences the time of their lives night after night since its Broadway run at the St. James Theatre and its critically acclaimed national tour, which returns to Chicago this Spring after a critically acclaimed 10-week run in the UK. Ticket prices are $18 to $85. Groups of 10+ on sale now! Call 312-977-1710