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Showing posts with label Broadway Playhouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadway Playhouse. Show all posts

Monday, August 18, 2025

REVIEW: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty Sided Tavern Playing Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse Through September 28, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

ALL-NEW PRODUCTION OF

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS THE TWENTY-SIDED TAVERN

D&D: The Twenty-Sided Tavern national tour, 2025. Photo by André Chung.
Pictured: (clockwise from top left) RJ Christian, Alex Stompoly, R. Alex Murray, Madelyn Murphy, William Champion, Diego F. Salinas, Conner Marx, Cassidy Sledge, Jasmin Malave.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS THE TWENTY-SIDED TAVERN RETURNS TO CHICAGO 

FOR SEVEN WEEKS ONLY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28

PLAYING AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE AT WATER TOWER PLACE

Conner Marx, photo credit Bronwen Sharp

GUEST REVIEW

By Dugan Kenaz-Mara

Seeing The Twenty Sided Tavern is any nerd’s dream. I would know, as I found no less than 13 of my friends and acquaintances in the audience on the night I saw the performance. The production was able to bring together performers from the Renaissance Faire, professional Dungeon Masters, convention cosplayers, and actors. But it also welcomed in those who had never played D&D before. At the top of the show, the actors asked how many people had never played the role-playing game, and approximately a third of the patrons raised their hands. As an experienced player, it worried me a little because I know the rules can be very dense, but miraculously, the whole audience was engaged and enthusiastic the entire time!

For those who know nothing about the show, the Twenty Sided Tavern is a live-action, acted-out version of a short single-session game of Dungeons and Dragons. Like a regular game of D&D, the production has a few players, each acting as a character in the game. The story is narrated and led by a dungeon master, and most of the actions the characters take are decided by a roll of the dice. Unlike a normal game, though, the audience gets a say in how the story plays out. Each audience member receives a randomly assigned color that corresponds to a player, who they help decide on actions. Then, when a player comes to a point where they need to make a decision, they will throw out two cleverly-worded options and let the audience vote on them. This way of making decisions brings out the genius of the show – the two options throw a layer of obscurity on the decision, allowing everyone to engage, not just those who know the rules. 

Madelyn Murphy, Photo credit Bronwen Sharp

But it’s not just through voting on your phone that the audience gets to help. The show is also filled with mini games. Some are virtual, like a quick-time tapping game that requires the audience to collectively hit a certain number of taps to succeed. Some others are physical, like a game of “uh oh block fall down” (legally distinct from Jenga) that 3 audience members get to participate in on stage. There were even some riddles thrown in as well. 

Alex Stompoly, Photo credit Bronwen Sharp

Twenty Sided Tavern does a great job of structuring its games to account for those who love and hate audience interaction. I was able to participate in the performance without ever needing to say a word or stand up in front of an audience of people. I especially enjoyed one section where they allowed each person to vote whether or not they would feel comfortable going on stage to read some lines. 

Part of the joy of an improvised show like this one is that every show is completely different from the previous one. On top of the random chance from dice rolls and audience challenges, there are also elements of classical improvisation. The audience gets to vote on which character each player gets to perform as, and they get to throw out suggestions of items that the players might find for loot. 

Alex Stompoly, Conner Marx, Photo credit Bronwen Sharp

They also get to name some of the non-player characters which can lead to interesting choices in and of themselves. For example, the wizard NPC was named “Saint Bernard” and because of that the entire show the DM played him as a dog, rather than a human wizard. On top of that, the cast gathered mad-libs-style suggestions before the show that were used in the final scene, which also has its own rippling consequences. The previous night’s outcome determined how good or bad some situations were for the current performance. The skilled improvisers are also able to flawlessly include jokes and pop-culture references to the things that happen on stage in a way no scripted show could hope to. 

To that point, it was truly spectacular to see the show in Chicago. The cast has various deep ties to the city that let them pursue niche references in their comedy. At one point, thanks to the roll of a 100-sided die, the actors were required to pander to the city, so you may also be lucky enough to get loads of very specific Chicago jokes if you see it before the show heads off on the rest of its tour. 

Thanks to the high-energy, creative cast and clever design, the show is infinitely rewatchable. They seem to be prepared for any occasion. Armed with a video-screen set that can change to different locations at will, and a fun costume and prop pile positioned on-stage, the actors are ready for anything. The show I saw featured giraffe horns, a graduation cap, a horse, and a red Beanie Baby that was a suspiciously close representation of a half-eaten hotdog character that spawned from an audience suggestion. 

The Twenty Sided Tavern is truly a unique experience. I highly recommend seeing it while you have the chance. ★★★★ Four out of four stars.

Dugan Kenaz-Mara is a designer, photographer, educator, and graduate of Northwestern University's theatre program.


PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern are on sale now and range from $50.00 - $70.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Additional fees apply for online purchases. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com

Broadway in Chicago and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern are thrilled to announce the launch of the North American Tour of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern begins performances today with an all-new production playing at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago) for seven weeks only through September 28. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

As previously announced, Anjali Bhimani and Aabria Iyengar will join the North American Tour cast for select performances during the tour’s official opening run at Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse. Award-winning global stage and screen actress, Anjali Bhimani, will join the Tavern from August 12 – 24, and world-renowned Dungeon Master, Aabria Iyengar, will join from August 26 – September 7.

Award-winning voiceover artist Erika Ishii will join the Tavern in the role of “Might” from September 9 – September 14. Actor, writer, and director Damien Haas will appear in a special guest role on September 16 and join in the role of “Might” from September 17 – September 21. Celebrated circus performer and social media personality Jack Lepiarz (“Jacques ze Whipper”) will join the Tavern as “Mischief” from September 23 – September 28.

Anjali Bhimani, Aabria Iyengar, Erika Ishii, Damien Haas, and Jack Lepiarz will join cast members all direct from the recent ground-breaking New York City production, including Will Champion, RJ Christian, Jasmin Malave, Conner Marx, R. Alex Murray, Madelyn Murphy, Diego F. Salinas, Cassidy Sledge and Alex Stompoly.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game®, introduces DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern. This award-winning immersive theater experience takes audiences beyond the tabletop and onto the stage where each performance combines comedy, emotion, and thrilling moments to deliver a unique narrative shaped by the audience.

Conner Marx, Photo credit Bronwen Sharp

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern has captivated audiences worldwide since premiering in New York City in May 2024, before making its international debut at the iconic Sydney Opera House in December 2024. During the recent New York engagement, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern received rave reviews. TimeOut NY hailed “★ ★ ★ ★!  Whether or not you know much about D&D going in, it’s an adventuring party you won't want to miss.”  Variety noted, “a cacophony of huzzahs from the crowd, for the nail-biting and thrilling Twenty-Sided Tavern!” Nerdist stated that DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern is, “RIP-ROARINGLY FUNNY.” Rolling Stone called it, “a show that weaves the UNPREDICTABILITY of improv and the game itself into a feat of controlled chaos.”

NYC Production of D&DTST, Diego F. Salinas, photo credit Bronwen Sharp2

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern was created by David Carpenter and co-produced by David Carpenter and Showpath Entertainment Ltd under license by Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast.

TheTwentySidedTavern.com 

Follow The Twenty-Sided Tavern on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Join the party on Discord!

SPECIAL GUEST BIOS

ANJALI BHIMANI (Special Guest) is an award-winning actor whose career spans across Broadway, feature films, television, video games, animation, and digital content. Anjali is a globally recognized talent in the gaming industry, perhaps best known for her roles as Symmetra in Overwatch and Rampart in Apex Legends, the Grammy-nominated Stray Gods, the Fallout series, Starfield , and many more. Anjali is a familiar face in the world of tabletop roleplaying games, appearing in wildly popular series like Critical Role and their side campaigns Exandria Unlimited and Candela Obscura and Dimension 20’s The Ravening War.

AABRIA IYENGAR (Special Guest) is a storyteller, performer, writer and podcaster, and a trailblazing force in the world of liveplay tabletop role-playing games. In addition to her groundbreaking roles as both player and gamemaster on prominent TTRPG platforms Critical Role and Dimension 20 , she is the author of the comic book THE FADE with artist Mari Costa, and co-founder of the acclaimed podcast Worlds Beyond Number. A sought-after collaborator and guest, Aabria has contributed her talents as a performer to a diverse range of projects, from Apple TV's Mythic Quest to the hit game, Starfield.

ERIKA ISHII (Special Guest, Might) (all pronouns) is a notorious figure in games, animation, and comedy. This October 2025 will play the titular lead in the much-anticipated Ghost of Yōtei and already available, they star as Rook in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Sektor in Mortal Kombat 1, Valkyrie in Apex Legends. Erika is considered an especially chaotic regular cast member on comedy streamer Dropout’s shows including “Dimension 20,” Game Changer,” and “Make Some Noise.” They have appeared with Critical Role, hosted Marvel red carpets, and will soon join a star-studded cast in Muppets Take Scripthatten at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Erika is the proud co-creator of the record-breaking narrative play and storytelling collective Worlds Beyond Number along with Aabria Iyengar, Brennan Lee Mulligan, and Lou Wilson.

DAMIEN HAAS (Special Guest, Might) is a voice actor, sketch comedian, and lifelong fan of all things gaming. He's known for such voice roles as Laios in “Delicious in Dungeon,” Kiyoka Kudou in “My Happy Marriage,” Shez in “Fire Emblem: Three Hopes,” Heller in “Starfield,” Van Arkride in “Trails Through Daybreak 1&2,” Ryoga in “Ranma 1/2,” and many others. When he's not just a disembodied voice, he can be found streaming on Twitch multiple times per week or being an internet clown on the YouTube channel Smosh. @damienhaas

JACK LEPIARZ (Special Guest, Mischief) famously known as “Jacques Ze Whipper,” is a celebrated circus performer and social media personality. Renowned for his whip-cracking stage shows at Renaissance festivals, Jack has captivated over three million fans online. @jacqueszewhipper

CAST BIOS

Will Champion (he/him) is making his National Tour debut! Repped by Buchwald for Animation and VO, Will was recently featured as the voice of Vision and Starfox in Marvel’s WHAT IF…? An Immersive Story. Other notable credits include Edward in Stephen King’s I Know What You Need (SDCC Film Fest.), the voice of Tiberius in Barbarians (Netflix), and the current DM over at the “Bards of New York” D&D podcast. Love to Emily, Calzone, and his family! @willthechamp

RJ Christian rolled really well and is excited to join the D&DTST family on tour. RJ Contributed Music and Lyrics to the Ratatouille TikTok Musical and can be heard as Macgyver on the Macgyver the Musical Cast Album. RJ is the cofounder and resident composer for The Hearty Meal Theatre company. He’s repped by Hells Kitchen Agency.

Jasmin Malave is a lifelong nerd and longtime immersive actor, and is absolutely tickled to be making her National Tour debut with something as on brand as D&DTST!  RomCom lovers can check out her podcast Shenanigans Ensue, and gamers can hear her voice in The Unbeatable Path. Outside interests include re-reading Chekhov, video games with friends, tending her many plants, and eating nice things.

Conner Marx is best known as Ben Meyer on NBC’s “New Amsterdam,” but notable nerd cred includes Resident Evil: Village, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, The Gamers: Hands of Fate, Mana Screwed, and Peter Adkison’s Chaldea. TV: “Z Nation” (SyFy), “NCIS” (CBS), “NCIS: LA” (CBS), “Criminal Minds” (CBS), “The Young and the Restless” (CBS), “Leverage” (TNT). Film: Eephus, If There’s a Hell Below, Lucky Them, Kimi. Regional: Jekyll & Hyde (NCRT), Twelfth Night (Pioneer Theatre Company), Stravinsky’s Firebird (LA Philharmonic). He is a graduate of the Experimental Theatre of Vassar College. @conner_marx

R. Alex Murray is a Brooklyn based actor, musician, comedian, and raconteur.  He's performed with D&DTST productions in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and NYC, and he is thrilled to be telling these tales with audiences nationwide. Off Broadway: Race: The Movie: The Play, D&DTST   Regional: Good Monsters, Go, Dog. Go. TV: "Boardwalk Empire" "Divorce" Socials: @ralexmurray 

Madelyn Murphy is an actor, improviser, and event host with a focus on genre storytelling and immersive theater. She is a founding member of the Chicago-based High Stakes Productions (highstakesproductions.org ), known for its original work blending improv, narrative, and spectacle. Her latest stage credit is the 15-month Off-Broadway run of The Twenty-Sided Tavern, where she made her New York debut as a professional nerd. She is reprising her role for the show’s upcoming national tour. Madelyn’s work has spanned new play development, longform improv, print, and commercials. She recently expanded into voiceover and video game performance, bringing her character-forward instincts to new platforms. Offstage, she’s a well-read chaos gremlin who is always down for a book recommendation, a niche beer menu, and a well-organized Google Drive. For Angela, Nick, and RMG. 

Diego F. Salinas is a Chicago-based actor and professional Dungeon Master making his off-Broadway debut with the talented D&DTST team. National Tours: Tomás and the Library Lady(Tomás), Maddi’s Fridge (Luis). Chicago: Drunk Shakespeare (Macbeth, Banquo), La Pinche India (Fernando). Diego is one half of the Dungeon Busters podcast. Rep: Shirley Hamilton Talent | Join my table: ForeverDM.xyz

Cassidy Sledge (she/they) is thrilled to be performing on tour with the Twenty Sided Tavern! Cassidy joined the company as one of the original cast members in its Off-Broadway run. While she may have gained a reputation for being a rather bloodthirsty Dungeon Master in New York City, it is no secret that she absolutely adores her fellow cast mates and has the time of her life rolling dice across the country with them. Previous favorite credits include Maria/Margaretta on the Broadway Asia international tour of The Sound of Music, Mortimer in The Fantasticks! at the Depot Theatre, and Sasha/Boblin in Here There Be Dragons at the Players Theatre in NYC. Fat shout out to Shelby, Carp, and the team, and big ol’ kisses to the fam and friends. Northwestern Alum. Go ‘cats! www.cassidysledge.com IG: @cassidysledge

Alex Stompoly, You, yes you! Thank you for being here and supporting live theatre! Original Off-Broadway: Dungeons and Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern; Regional: The Play that Goes Wrong (Broadway World Award); The Cottage; The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon; The Violet Hour; All of Us (World Premier); The Comedy of Errors; Curtains; Into the Woods; Uncle Vanya; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Tartuffe. All my love to my family for their unwavering support and to coffee my first and true love for getting me through the day. Want more? @astompoly alexstompoly.com


ABOUT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS THE TWENTY-SIDED TAVERN

At DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern, the audience is not just a viewer but the "fourth player, "influencing key decisions via Gamiotics , a browser-based software that allows you to vote on where the story will go — what characters appear, what experiences they explore, and more. With a cast of five actors and over 30 playable characters, audiences will experience an expansive fantasy world set in the Forgotten Realms, and face riddles, puzzles, combat, and more, to help shape the story. Laughter flows like ale and with the audience in full control and exciting reveals around every corner, no two shows are alike! For those seeking a more daring experience, there are opportunities to join the action onstage and test your strength (or dexterity, or wisdom, or charisma) through a variety of rollicking games, including trivia, charades, and the ever-popular Fantasy Beer Pong. Featuring behind-the-scenes talent from popular theatrical shows such as Dimension 20, Marvel’s Rogers: The Musical, Beavis and Butthead and more, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern is the game you know and the experience you’ll love but bigger and better than ever.

ABOUT DAVID CARPENTER

David is the Executive Producer and Creator of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern and the Founder and CEO of Gamiotics, Inc which is bringing gamification to the live entertainment experience. The platform allows for the next generation of live experience story-telling by putting agency into the audiences hands. A Tony-nominated Broadway producer, he has spent nearly 25 years working on and off-Broadway and is excited to bring a whole new way of interactive stories to the live stage. www.Gamiotics.com

ABOUT SHOWPATH ENTERTAINMENT LTD

As the Live Stage Production arm of The Path Entertainment Group, Showpath pushes the boundaries of exceptional theater in order to reach a global audience. With a sharp focus on an innovative range of largescale live stage productions which span international markets including North America, Australia, Asia and Europe. Showpath works with both existing titles and IP, such as The SpongeBob Musical, to develop, nourish and push the boundaries of world class live stage Productions.

ABOUT HASBRO

Hasbro is a leading games, IP and toy company whose mission is to create joy and community through the magic of play. With over 164 years of expertise, Hasbro delivers groundbreaking play experiences and reaches over 500 million kids, families and fans around the world, through physical and digital games, video games, toys, licensed consumer products, location-based entertainment, film, TV and more. Through its franchise-first approach, Hasbro unlocks value from both new and legacy IP , including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, MONOPOLY, HASBRO GAMES, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands. Powered by its portfolio of thousands of iconic marks and a diversified network of partners and subsidiary studios, Hasbro brings fans together wherever they are, from tabletop to screen. For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, a 2025 JUST Capital Industry Leader, one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50, and a Brand that Matters by Fast Company. For more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com or @Hasbro on LinkedIn.

ABOUT WIZARDS OF THE COAST

Wizards of the Coast develops and publishes legendary games that inspire creativity, forge friendships and build communities of global fans. A division of Hasbro, a leading games, IP and toy company (NASDAQ: HAS), Wizards delivers premium experiences for gamers across tabletop, video games, and digital platforms based on both new and time-honored brands, including its best-known franchises MAGIC: THE GATHERING and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and from Hasbro’s unparalleled portfolio of thousands of iconic marks. Wizards’ diverse studio network includes first-party developers Archetype Entertainment, Invoke Studios, Atomic Arcade and Skeleton Key as well as co-venture and license partners. Headquartered in Renton, Washington, Wizards fosters world-class talent to create unforgettable play experiences on all platforms. To learn more about Wizards, visit https://company.wizards.com or Wizards of the Coast on LinkedIn.


ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 25 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, The Auditorium, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Follow @BroadwayInChicago on

Facebook ● Instagram ● TikTok ● Bluesky ● YouTube

#broadwayinchicago



Friday, March 24, 2023

SASHA VELOUR TO BE JOINED BY TWO VERY SPECIAL GUESTS AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE APRIL 29 & 30, 2023

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

SASHA VELOUR: “THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW!” 

BOOK TOUR

The critically acclaimed drag queen will perform in Chicago on a tour of the United States and Canada in support of her upcoming, debut book, 

The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag


BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S

BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE

APRIL 29 & 30


Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce Sasha Velour will be joined by special guests and Chicago drag artists, Lucy Stoole (April 29) and Tenderoni (April 30) during SASHA VELOUR: THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW, which will play Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse. Individual tickets are on sale now.

Internationally renowned drag queen, visual artist, and newly minted author Sasha Velour has announced her upcoming book tour, THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! This news follows the announcement of her forthcoming, debut book, The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag, (HarperCollins) premiered exclusively by Entertainment Weekly on November 29, 2022, and set to hit bookstands on April 4, 2023.

Billed as a first-of-its-kind, “spellbinding” book, The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag thoughtfully weaves memoir, history, and theory into a living portrait of an artist and an art. Throughout the book, Velour illuminates drag as a unique form of expression with rich history and a revolutionary spirit as she recalls her own journey and uncovers the history of queer life around the world that made it all possible. The new work by Velour will highlight both intellect and imagination, featuring photos and her own original artwork intertwined with insightful critical theory, riveting LGTBQ+ history, personal memoir, and all-engrossing camp.

In support of the book’s release, Velour will stage exciting new performances across major cities in the United States and Canada. The show will present an immersive evening of drag, storytelling, and live art, bringing Velour’s book to life, featuring iconic new performances from Velour herself, an in-person conversation with a special guest star, an audience Q&A, and book signings. 

Of the upcoming tour, Velour says, “I can’t believe I wrote a book without a ghostwriter! Who do I think I am?! A drag queen with things to say, apparently… That’s why I wanted to translate this book to the stage and open it up for conversation with you! Let’s celebrate the big reveals, the artistry, and the human stories that brings us together!”

THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! will run for 90 minutes with no intermission, and tickets are now available for purchase. VIP tickets are also available, which include exclusive art prints from the book and a meet-and-greet/photo-op with Velour before the show. Books are not included with ticket purchase; however, purchase of the book is not required. Copies of The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag will be available for sale in the lobby at all show venues from local sellers, as well as online. Books are available for preorder in the US (https://bit.ly/3HDau4X) and Canada (http://bit.ly/3GVe49E).


ABOUT SASHA VELOUR

As a modern-day pioneer of innovative, emotive, and provocative drag aesthetics, Sasha Velour continues to raise the bar for the art of drag performance across the globe. Velour is most notably recognized as the winner of season nine of the Emmy-nominated RuPaul’s Drag Race on VH1 in 2017, where her lip-sync performance to Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” made history and was hailed as “the performance of the year” by The A.V. Club and named one of “TV’s Best Musical Moments on Television” by Entertainment Weekly. The act cleverly featured an elaborate reveal full of rose petals hidden in her gloves and wig and is now widely regarded as one of the most iconic performances in the show’s history. Ingenuity is not something new to Velour, as her live performances have been renowned by critics as “an entirely new level of performance art” (Yahoo!) and “heart-wrenching” (Billboard). Her first one-queen drag show Smoke & Mirrors toured from 2019-2022 to over 80 cities around the world including sold-out performances at the prestigious London Palladium and the Folies Bergère in Paris. Velour’s esteemed drag show NightGowns, founded in 2015, has hosted some of the world’s greatest drag performers before being adapted into a docu-series directed by Sophie Muller and The Documentary Group in 2020. In 2021, the cast released two original NightGowns films: NightGowns Forever, an anthology of past shows, and NightGowns the Musical, an original comedy set in 1966, adapted from a live show performed Off-Broadway. 

Velour’s talents also expand beyond the drag universe, as her artist profile continues to transcend boundaries and mediums untouched by many other queens. Her studio and illustration work has been the subject of two acclaimed solo gallery shows in New York in 2014 and 2016 before being tapped by Google to draw their homepage search engine doodle of the late Marlene Dietrich in celebration of her 116th birthday in 2017. Together with her partner Johnny Velour, she also self-published and designed the art magazine Velour, which celebrates the art of drag through visual art, poetry, photography, and essays. Velour frequently uses her platform to discuss politics, queer history, and LGBTQ+ issues in an educational format, having transformed her into a highly sought-after public speaker. She has graced the stages at prestigious venues, including The Smithsonian for The Long Conversation, an event with thought leaders from around the world, the US Embassy in Singapore, and many distinguished universities including Purdue, The University of Illinois, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Columbia. 


For more information about Sasha Velour, please visit www.sashavelour.com.

www.sashavelour.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


SHOW DATES


April 6, 2023 – San Francisco, CA (Palace of Fine Arts)

April 7, 2023 + April 8, 2023 – Portland, OR (Winningstad Theater)

April 10, 2023 – Seattle, WA (Neptune Theater)

April 20, 2023 – Newark, NJ (Victoria Theatre, NJPAC)

April 29, 2023 + April 30, 2023 – Chicago, IL (Broadway Playhouse)

May 4, 2023 – Montreal, Canada (Mtelus)

May 5, 2023 – Ottawa, Canada (Bronson Music Centre)

May 6, 2023 – Toronto, Canada (Bluma Appel Theatre)

May 8, 2023 – Boston, MA (The Wilbur)

May 9, 2023 – New York, NY (Skirball Center)

May 11, 2023 – Edmonton, Canada (The Maclab Theatre)

May 12, 2023 – Calgary, Canada (Bella Concert Hall)

May 13, 2023 – Vancouver, Canada (Vogue Theatre)

May 15, 2023 – Los Angeles, CA (The Wallis Annenberg Theatre  

May 18, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA (Perelman Theater)

June 1, 2023 – Washington D.C. (Sixth & I)  

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Performances are Saturday, April 29 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m.


TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! are on sale now and range from $45.00 - $70.00 with a limited number of VIP tickets available. Tickets are available for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more  information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.






ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 23 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the  Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway  Playhouse at Water Tower Place.


COVID-19  PROTOCOL

We recommend our audiences wear masks throughout the theatre. Visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/covid19 for further details. 

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Thursday, February 16, 2023

REVIEW: MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE! Now Playing Chicago's Broadway Playhouse Through February 19, 2023

 MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE!

RETURNS TO CHICAGO

FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE AT WATER TOWER PLACE

February 14 - 19, 2023

“First-person, funny domestic tales and retro stand-up comedy based on The New York Times best-seller.”

- THE NEW YORK TIMES


REVIEW:

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

T'was the night after Valentine's Day when I headed out to see MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE! for the first time, with my husband of 22 years. When I sprung the surprise on him, that we were going to a show at Broadway Playhouse, he might have rolled his eyes and sighed a bit, but he got dressed up and joined me without too much grumbling. If less than enthused about attending a play, he was happy to discover the fully stocked lobby bar. Live shows pair well with alcohol, and many reluctant attendees of all genders can be more easily persuaded to relax and have fun outside their comfort zone, with drinks in hand. 

As the lights dimmed, Ryan Drummond opened with, "You've noticed I'm not Amadeo Fusca. He's on a shoot with Robert De Niro and will be back tomorrow." Still, even with an understudy, the audience was in capable hands for this one man show. It's not every night you get to spend the evening with a Baywatch boy and the original voice of  “Sonic The Hedgehog”. Ryan Drummond went on to kill it, and provide a laughter fueled, enjoyable evening for all. 

At one point he called for an audience poll by applause, on how many couples there had been together 0-10 years, 10-20, 20-30, and over 30. I was so impressed at the ever increasing clapping, even in the 30+ years together demographic. Over the years, my husband and I have invented a macabre, tongue in cheek game we call "The Last Couple Standing", a real life reality show/dark comedy where we've seen the vast majority of our friends' relationships and marriages implode and dissolve. Just when I though we were a few divorces away from winning it all, it seems we have more competition for "The Last Couple Standing" than I'd imagined, and they were ALL at the Broadway Playhouse in a post Valentine's Day glow. 

For the past 25 years I've managed to entirely avoid the infamous Mars/Venus book and the stage show, but FOMO (fear of missing out) finally got the better of me and I went to see first hand why the 1992 book has sold in excess of 50 million copies, been translated into 40 different languages, and is one of the most recognizable titles in the world. 

My husband played into the "Martian Man" mythos, checking the score of the hockey game enroute to the show and at intermission, promptly forgetting the specifics of what he found hilarious, being minimalist about clothes, excelling at Tetris skills applied to packing boxes, and embracing a world view aimed at fixing things and problems without complex layers of nuance. Many of the stories and anecdotes were spot on for him. 

I've never been a girlie girl though, and the "Venutian" stereotypes mostly missed their mark for me. The tired tropes about women taking a long time to prep to go out, turning down free street parking for a $55 garage space to avoid wrecking a hairdo, getting overly emotional, etc. just didn't apply. And the neurotrash junk science... Wow. Just wow! 

Several taped cameos by book author, John Gray, about male and female differences in blood flow to the brain and gender based dopamine versus serotonin depletion were just cringeworthy. They almost veered into the realm of parody, but he was so earnest and so many millions are swallowing this swill as gospel truth, that I just can't quite find it credible or even funny.

During the pandemic, Gina Rippon, an actual female neuroscientist, published a book of her own, "The Gendered Brain", debunking Gray's myths on our collective grey matter. Rippon says, "I was trying to dispel the stereotypical myths that men are ‘left-brained’ — logical, rational and good at spatial tasks — and women are ‘right-brained’ — emotional, nurturing and good at verbal tasks. We’re not from Mars or Venus (to quote relationship counsellor John Gray’s 1992 book), we’re all from Earth! I assumed that people would thank me and just move on, but it caused an absolute furor and gave me early exposure to media backlash."

Christina Odone in the The Daily Telegraph in London wrote that Rippon's theory “smacks of feminism with an equality fetish”. She was described as the “poor scientist … who was so wrapped up in her work she hadn’t noticed that men and women are different”. She was even called a “grumpy old harridan”.

Neuroscientist Gina Rippon continues, "The book was well received by those who understood that I was not a sex-difference denier and not arguing for all culture and no biology, and that I wanted to comprehend the entangled relationship between sex and gender. But, unsurprisingly, it was not so well received by those who didn’t understand this." 

While the actual female neuroscientist's 2019 book was panned, Gray followed up his 1992 "MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS" with 17 MORE books and has become a media darling and one of the most trusted relationship authors today, appearing on the national lecture circuit and on such TV shows as “Good Morning America,” “Oprah” and “Larry King Live.”

So... it seems our society has some 'splainin to do, and more than a passing vested interest in perpetuating biology based differences between the sexes! Maybe that would make a fascinating follow up stage show. *Read more about "The Gendered Brain" here (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03782-6).

So, back to my review of MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE! Were there tired tropes, junk science, and outmoded gender stereotypes? Sadly yes. Was it funny as hell? Also a resounding yes. After all, in his play "No Exit", Jean-Paul Sartre did infamously say "Hell is other people." 

Despite the pseudoscience, anyone who can get my theatre averse spouse laughing that hard and often is a winner in my book. Whether you 100% buy into author John Gray’s differences between the sexes from a quarter of a century ago, treat it like a period piece, or go to see how far we've evolved on gender as a construct, check it out. If it leads to more laughter, leeway, and love in audience relations, then who am I to hate on this hit. MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE is a fun way to spend a few hours with friends or significant others, and plays like a casual night out with an extra funny friend. Recommended.

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly). 


Off-Broadway hit comedy MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE! returns to Chicago for the fifth time since 2014 to play eight performances at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse (175 E. Chestnut) from February 14, 2023 through February 19, 2023. Ticket prices range from $59 - $69. Individual tickets are available at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com.

MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE! is a one-man fusion of theatre and stand-up, and is a light- hearted theatrical comedy based on the New York Times #1 best-selling book of the last decade by John Gray. Moving swiftly through a series of vignettes, the show covers everything from dating and marriage to the bedroom.

ABOUT MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE!

After beginning in Paris in 2007, Men are From Mars–Women are From Venus LIVE! has been seen by more than one million people around Europe. It debuted in the United States in February 2013 in Raleigh, North Carolina and will be playing to audiences around the United States and Canada throughout the year.

This hysterical show will have couples elbowing each other all evening as they see themselves on stage. Sexy and fast paced, this show is definitely for adults, but will leave audiences laughing and giggling like little kids!

When Mars and Venus collide, the adventures are earth-shatteringly hysterical. It's a great recipe for a night out: a little storytelling blended with some comedy and a dash of sage wisdom from the book. A delicious evening of entertainment! 

Producer, St. Louis based Emery Entertainment has produced or promoted thousands of events around the globe, including superstar attractions Blue Man Group, David Copperfield and James Taylor.

The talented team assembled for this production continues with the award winning playwright Eric Coble, direction by Broadway veteran Mindy Cooper, and animation & video production by the talented animators at Bazillion Productions.


TICKET INFORMATION

Individual ticket prices range from $59 - $69. Current Broadway In Chicago subscribers can add the show to their packages by calling 312-977-1717. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more details, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, February 14 at 7:30 pm Wednesday, February 15 at 7:30 pm Thursday, February 16 at 7:30 pm Friday, February 17 at 7:30 pm Saturday, February 18 at 2 pm Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 pm Sunday, February 19 at 2 pm Sunday, February 19 at 6:00 pm.


Ryan Drummond 

Born in Ohio, raised in Michigan, and now based in San Francisco, CA, Mr. Drummond is an actor, singer, juggler, mime instructor, and voiceover artist who feels that variety is the spice of a career. He has been performing his whole life, but is most proud of the fact that he has made a living exclusively in “the biz” since 1994. Remember 1994? Cell phones first started, “Pulp Fiction” was in movie theaters, “Friends” was in its first year on television? What a wild ride that lead us all here tonight! 

​A graduate of Eastern Michigan University with emphases on Theatre Arts and Psychology,  Mr. Drummond has been in a world premiere play written by Aaron Sorkin ("The Farnsworth Invention"), made three albums with his acappella quartet ("The A.Y.U. Quartet"), became a certified trainer of Polish and French mime, juggled for orcas and otters at Sea World of San Diego, harmonized mid-ocean on Regency Cruise Lines, tried to audition for  "Pippin" and didn't make the cheer squad in the movie Bring It On, nearly had his nose blown off by a confetti cannon in Kauai, Hawaii (hi ho the glamorous life!), appeared in many commercials (including one where Pat Sajak signed his forehead with a sharpie on the set of Wheel Of Fortune), made his national television debut on BAYWATCH alongside David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, and was the original voice of  “Sonic The Hedgehog” in millions of videogames across the world for Sega Gaming Corp.

Mr. Drummond is a member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and AGVA, and distinctly remembers reading "Men Are From Mars. Women Are From Venus" as he was taking the train from JFK airport to Manhattan to appear on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" back in December of 1998. Almost 2 decades later, here he is to tell you all about it! 


Amadeo Fusca will return to the role from February 16th on.

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Amadeo has now performed Men are From Mars Women are From Venus Live! in over 60 cities, over 30 states and in front of 70,000 people and counting. 

In 2013, he won the legendary Friars Club "So You Think You Can Roast?" competition beating out 55 other comedians roasting 80s child star Ricky Schroeder and NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman in the process. As the winner, Amadeo was among the dais to roast Jack Black along with comic legends such as "Roastmaster" General Jeff Ross, Sarah Silverman, Amy Schumer, Bob Saget, Jerry Lewis and more! Amadeo's success at the roast landed him two quotes in Entertainment Weekly's funniest jokes of the event. 

In addition to his theatrical comedy, Amadeo can also be seen in various television and film productions including: Princess Cut on HBO MAX, NCIS on CBS, That Damn Michael Che on HBO MAX, Marvel's Daredevil on Netflix, Boardwalk Empire on HBO, The Holiday Dating Guide on Lifetime, Almost Family on FOX and As the World Turns on CBS. Upcoming in 2023, you can catch him as Lucky Luciano in the new Robert De Niro film Wise Guys directed by Barry Levinson. He currently jumps back and forth between New York and Los Angeles auditioning, writing and performing his new hit character World Renowned Conductor Salvatore Giovanni. 

For more information, please visit his website at www.amadeofusca.com, follow him on Instagram and to access his credit score his Social Security number is 180-54-3...

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and, over the past 22 years, has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago, lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop, including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.


COVID-19 PROTOCOL

Masks are recommended for all audience members. 


For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Follow Broadway In Chicago: Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago


Wednesday, January 18, 2023

SASHA VELOUR ANNOUNCES “THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW!” BOOK TOUR

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

The critically acclaimed drag queen will perform in Chicago on a tour of the United States and Canada in support of her upcoming, debut book, 

The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag


BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S

BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE

APRIL 29, 2023

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that SASHA VELOUR: THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! will play Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse for one night only on April 29. Individual tickets for SASHA VELOUR: THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! will go on sale Thursday, January 19.

Internationally renowned drag queen, visual artist, and newly minted author Sasha Velour has announced her upcoming book tour, THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! This news follows the announcement of her forthcoming, debut book, The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag, (HarperCollins) premiered exclusively by Entertainment Weekly on November 29, 2022, and set to hit bookstands on April 4, 2023.

Billed as a first-of-its-kind, “spellbinding” book, The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag thoughtfully weaves memoir, history, and theory into a living portrait of an artist and an art. Throughout the book, Velour illuminates drag as a unique form of expression with rich history and a revolutionary spirit as she recalls her own journey and uncovers the history of queer life around the world that made it all possible. The new work by Velour will highlight both intellect and imagination, featuring photos and her own original artwork intertwined with insightful critical theory, riveting LGTBQ+ history, personal memoir, and all-engrossing camp.

In support of the book’s release, Velour will stage exciting new performances across major cities in the United States and Canada. The show will present an immersive evening of drag, storytelling, and live art, bringing Velour’s book to life, featuring iconic new performances from Velour herself, an in-person conversation with a special guest star, an audience Q&A, and book signings.

Of the upcoming tour, Velour says, “I can’t believe I wrote a book without a ghostwriter! Who do I think I am?! A drag queen with things to say, apparently… That’s why I wanted to translate this book to the stage and open it up for conversation with you! Let’s celebrate the big reveals, the artistry, and the human stories that brings us together!”

THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW! will run for 90 minutes with no intermission, and tickets will be available for purchase beginning January 19, 2023. VIP tickets will also be available, which will include exclusive art prints from the book and a meet-and-greet/photo-op with Velour before the show. Books are not included with ticket purchase; however, purchase of the book is not required. Copies of The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag will be available for sale in the lobby at all show venues from local sellers, as well as online. Books are available for preorder in the US (https://bit.ly/3HDau4X) and Canada (http://bit.ly/3GVe49E).


About Sasha Velour

As a modern-day pioneer of innovative, emotive, and provocative drag aesthetics, Sasha Velour continues to raise the bar for the art of drag performance across the globe. Velour is most notably recognized as the winner of season nine of the Emmy-nominated RuPaul’s Drag Race on VH1 in 2017, where her lip-sync performance to Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” made history and was hailed as “the performance of the year” by The A.V. Club and named one of “TV’s Best Musical Moments on Television” by Entertainment Weekly. The act cleverly featured an elaborate reveal full of rose petals hidden in her gloves and wig and is now widely regarded as one of the most iconic performances in the show’s history. Ingenuity is not something new to Velour, as her live performances have been renowned by critics as “an entirely new level of performance art” (Yahoo!) and “heart-wrenching” (Billboard). Her first one-queen drag show Smoke & Mirrors toured from 2019-2022 to over 80 cities around the world including sold-out performances at the prestigious London Palladium and the Folies Bergère in Paris. Velour’s esteemed drag show NightGowns, founded in 2015, has hosted some of the world’s greatest drag performers before being adapted into a docu-series directed by Sophie Muller and The Documentary Group in 2020. In 2021, the cast released two original NightGowns films: NightGowns Forever, an anthology of past shows, and NightGowns the Musical, an original comedy set in 1966, adapted from a live show performed Off-Broadway. 

Velour’s talents also expand beyond the drag universe, as her artist profile continues to transcend boundaries and mediums untouched by many other queens. Her studio and illustration work has been the subject of two acclaimed solo gallery shows in New York in 2014 and 2016 before being tapped by Google to draw their homepage search engine doodle of the late Marlene Dietrich in celebration of her 116th birthday in 2017. Together with her partner Johnny Velour, she also self-published and designed the art magazine Velour, which celebrates the art of drag through visual art, poetry, photography, and essays. Velour frequently uses her platform to discuss politics, queer history, and LGBTQ+ issues in an educational format, having transformed her into a highly sought-after public speaker. She has graced the stages at prestigious venues, including The Smithsonian for The Long Conversation, an event with thought leaders from around the world, the US Embassy in Singapore, and many distinguished universities including Purdue, The University of Illinois, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Columbia. 


For more information about Sasha Velour, please visit www.sashavelour.com.

https://www.sashavelour.com/ | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Show Dates (with additional dates to be announced)


April 6, 2023 – San Francisco, CA (Palace of Fine Arts)

April 7, 2023 + April 8, 2023 – Portland, OR (Winningstad Theater)

April 10, 2023 – Seattle, WA (Neptune Theater)

April 20, 2023 – Newark, NJ (Victoria Theatre, NJPAC)

April 29, 2023 – Chicago, IL (Broadway Playhouse)

May 4, 2023 – Montreal, Canada (Mtelus)

May 5, 2023 – Ottawa, Canada (Bronson Music Centre)

May 6, 2023 – Toronto, Canada (Bluma Appel Theatre)

May 8, 2023 – Boston, MA (The Wilbur)

May 9, 2023 – New York, NY (Skirball Center)

May 11, 2023 – Edmonton, Canada (The Maclab Theatre)

May 12, 2023 – Calgary, Canada (Bella Concert Hall)

May 13, 2023 – Vancouver, Canada (Vogue Theatre)

May 18, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA (Perelman Theater)


PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The one night only performance will be Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.


TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW will go on sale to the public on Thursday, January 19 and range from $45.00 - $70.00 with a limited number of VIP tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.





ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 22 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.


COVID-19  PROTOCOL

We recommend our audiences wear masks throughout the theatre. Visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/covid19 for further details.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago


Saturday, January 14, 2023

MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE! RETURNS TO BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE February 14 - 19, 2023

 MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE!

RETURNS TO CHICAGO

FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE AT WATER TOWER PLACE

February 14 - 19, 2023

“First-person, funny domestic tales and retro stand-up comedy based on The New York Times best-seller.”

- THE NEW YORK TIMES

Just in time for Valentine's fun, the Off-Broadway hit comedy MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE! returns to Chicago for the fifth time since 2014 to play eight performances at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse (175 E. Chestnut) from February 14, 2023 through February 19, 2023. Ticket prices range from $59 - $69. Individual tickets are available at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com.

MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE! is a one-man fusion of theatre and stand-up, and is a light- hearted theatrical comedy based on the New York Times #1 best-selling book of the last decade by John Gray. Moving swiftly through a series of vignettes, the show covers everything from dating and marriage to the bedroom.


ABOUT MEN ARE FROM MARS – WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE!

After beginning in Paris in 2007, Men are From Mars–Women are From Venus LIVE! has been seen by more than one million people around Europe. It debuted in the United States in February 2013 in Raleigh, North Carolina and will be playing to audiences around the United States and Canada throughout the year.

This hysterical show will have couples elbowing each other all evening as they see themselves on stage. Sexy and fast paced, this show is definitely for adults, but will leave audiences laughing and giggling like little kids!

When Mars and Venus collide, the adventures are earth-shatteringly hysterical. It's a great recipe for a night out: a little storytelling blended with some comedy and a dash of sage wisdom from the book. A delicious evening of entertainment! 

Since being published in 1992, John Gray’s “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus,” exploring the differences between the sexes, has sold in excess of 50 million copies, been translated into 40 different languages and is one of the most recognizable titles in the world. Gray has written 17 books and become one of the most trusted relationship authors today, appearing on the national lecture circuit and on such TV shows as “Good Morning America,” “Oprah” and “Larry King Live.”

Producer, St. Louis based Emery Entertainment has produced or promoted thousands of events around the globe, including superstar attractions Blue Man Group, David Copperfield and James Taylor.

The talented team assembled for this production continues with the award winning playwright Eric Coble, direction by Broadway veteran Mindy Cooper, and animation & video production by the talented animators at Bazillion Productions.


TICKET INFORMATION

Individual ticket prices range from $59 - $69. Current Broadway In Chicago subscribers can add the show to their packages by calling 312-977-1717. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more details, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, February 14 at 7:30 pm Wednesday, February 15 at 7:30 pm Thursday, February 16 at 7:30 pm Friday, February 17 at 7:30 pm Saturday, February 18 at 2 pm Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 pm Sunday, February 19 at 2 pm Sunday, February 19 at 6:00 pm


ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and, over the past 22 years, has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago, lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop, including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

COVID-19 PROTOCOL

Masks are recommended for all audience members.

For the latest health and safety procedures and guidelines, click here.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Follow Broadway In Chicago: Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Friday, September 6, 2019

$25 Digital Ticket Lottery for Timeline Theatre's OSLO Now Playing Broadway Playhouse Through October 20, 2019

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO ANNOUNCES DIGITAL LOTTERY FOR TIMELINE THEATRE COMPANY’S CHICAGO PREMIERE OF TONY AWARD®-WINNING 
OSLO


PRESENTED AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S 
BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE AT WATER TOWER PLACE
SEPTEMBER 10 – OCTOBER 20, 2019

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce there will be a digital lottery for OSLO, which will play for a limited six-week engagement at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse (175 E. Chestnut) from September 10 through October 20, 2019. The Tony Award ® Best Play Winner OSLO will make its Chicago Premiere with TimeLine Theatre’s production at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse.

The digital lottery will begin September 9 at 9AM, and 12 tickets will be sold for every performance at $25 each. The lottery will happen online only the day before each performance. Seat locations vary per performance.

HOW TO ENTER THE DIGITAL LOTTERY
Visit https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/show/oslo/  
Follow the link “Click here for details and to enter the lottery”
Click the “Enter Now” button for the performance you want to attend.
Fill out the entry form including the number of tickets you would like (1 or 2). Patrons will receive a confirmation email once they have validated their email (one time only) and successfully entered the lottery.
After the lottery closes, patrons will be notified via email within minutes as to whether they have won or not.
Winners have 60 minutes from the time the lottery closes to pay online with a credit card.
After payment has been received, patrons can pick up tickets at the Broadway Playhouse (175 E. Chestnut) no sooner than 30 minutes before show time with a valid photo ID.

DIGITAL LOTTERY ADDITIONAL RULES
Limit 1 entry per person, per performance. Multiple entries will not be accepted. Patrons must be 18 years old and have a valid, non-expired photo ID that matches the names used to enter. Tickets are non-transferable. All lottery prices include a $3.50 facility fee. Ticket limits and prices displayed are at the sole discretion of the show and are subject to change without notice. Lottery prices are not valid on prior purchases. Lottery ticket offer cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. All sales final - no refunds or exchanges.  Lottery may be revoked or modified at any time without notice. No purchase necessary to enter or win.  A purchase will not improve your chances of winning.
                           
TimeLine Theatre Company’s production of OSLO is the Chicago premiere. It premiered in fall 2016 in a sold-out run at New York’s Lincoln Center and opened on Broadway in April 2017. It then played at London’s Royal National Theatre in September 2017 before transferring to the West End in October 2017.

OSLO received the 2017 Tony Award for Best Play, as well as New York Critics, Outer Critics, Drama Desk, Drama League, Lucille Lortel, and Obie awards—a sweep of the 2016-17 New York awards season—and was nominated for the Olivier and Evening Standard awards.

OSLO is a remarkable story about the unlikely friendships, quiet heroics, and sheer determination that pushed two foes to reach something neither thought truly possible—peace. When the Israeli prime minister and the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization shook hands on the White House lawn in 1993, the world had no idea what it took to orchestrate that momentous occasion. Behind the scenes, a Norwegian diplomat and her social scientist husband hatched an intricate, top secret, and sometimes comical scheme to gather an unexpected assortment of players at an idyllic estate just outside Oslo. Far from any international glare, mortal enemies were able to face each other not as adversaries, but as fellow human beings.  J.T. Rogers’ OSLO is a humorous, surprising, and inspiring true story about the people inside politics, and the incredible progress that is possible when we focus on what makes us human—together.           

The cast will star Scott Parkinson as Terje Larsen and Bri Sudia as Mona Juul, with TimeLine Company Member Anish Jethmalani as Ahmed Qurie and Jed Feder as Uri Savir, and Bernard Balbot, Ron E. Rains, Amro Salama, Stef Tovar, Bassam Abdlefattah, Tom Hickey, Victor Holstein, and TimeLine Company Members Juliet Hart and David Parkes.

The creative team includes J.T. Rogers (Playwright), Nick Bowling (Director), Jeffrey D. Kmiec (Scenic Designer), Jesse Klug (Lighting Designer), Christine Pascual (Costume Designer), Katie Cordts (Wig and Hair Designer), André Pluess (Sound Designer), Mike Tutaj (Projections Designer), Amy Peter (Properties Designer), Eva Breneman (Dialect Designer), Deborah Blumenthal (Co-Dramaturg), Maren Robinson (Co-Dramaturg), Jonathan Nook (Stage Manager) and Mary Zanger (Assistant Stage Manager).

For more information, please visit TimeLineTheatre.com/events/oslo/

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesdays at 7:30PM
Wednesdays at 2PM & 7:30PM (no 2PM performance on September 11, 18 and 25)
Thursdays at 7:30PM                                 
Fridays at 7:30PM
Saturdays at 2PM & 8PM
Sundays at 2PM & 7:30PM (no 7:30PM performance on October 6, 13 and 20)

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for OLSO are currently on-sale to the public and range in price from $35 - $90 with a select number of premium seats available. Individual tickets are available by calling the Broadway In Chicago Ticketline at (800) 775-2000 or by visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets are available now for groups 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com.  For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com or www.timelinetheatre.com.

ABOUT TIMELINE THEATRE COMPANY
TimeLine Theatre Company, recipient of the prestigious 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, was founded in April 1997 with a mission to present stories inspired by history that connect with today's social and political issues. Launching its 23rd season with Oslo, to date TimeLine has presented 79 productions, including 10 world premieres and 35 Chicago premieres, and launched the Living History Education Program, now in its 12th year of bringing the company's mission to life for students in Chicago Public Schools. Recipient of the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award from the Association for Strategic Planning, TimeLine has received 54 Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production 11 times.

TimeLine is led by Artistic Director PJ Powers, Managing Director Elizabeth K. Auman and Board President Eileen LaCario. Company Members are Tyla Abercrumbie, Will Allan, Nick Bowling, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Wardell Julius Clark, Behzad Dabu, Charles Andrew Gardner, Lara Goetsch, Juliet Hart, Anish Jethmalani, Mildred Marie Langford, Mechelle Moe, David Parkes, Ron OJ Parson, PJ Powers, Maren Robinson and Benjamin Thiem.

Major corporate, government and foundation supporters of TimeLine Theatre include Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The Crown Family, Forum Fund, The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, Laughing Acres Family Foundation, A.L. and Jennie L. Luria Foundation, MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Pauls Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, and The Shubert Foundation.

For more information, visit www.timelinetheatre.com or Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (@TimeLineTheatre).

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 19 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country.  A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

Broadway In Chicago proudly celebrates 2019 as the Year of Chicago Theatre.
For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago


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