OPENING: Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter at The Actors Gymnasium With Chicago Theatre Week Discount Tickets

Actors Gymnasium joins the 100s of theatres participating in  Chicago Theatre Week

ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows are long time fans of the phenomenal classes and shows produced at The Actors Gymnasium (AG). In fact, we'll be there on Sunday to shoot stills and review their latest, Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter. We adore the circus arts genre and can't wait to catch this year's winter offering from AG. Check back soon for our full review. 

We've also been on board with promoting Chicago Theatre Week since it's inception 4 years ago and highly recommend checking out as many shows as possible. We're all about celebrating the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago and these ticket specials are hard to beat. Chicago Theatre Week 2016 will be held February 11-21 and will include specially-priced tickets to more than 100 shows. 

Visitors and residents will again have the opportunity to sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings throughout Chicagoland. The CTW ticket offers are listed on a centralized website - www.ChicagoTheatreWeek.com. Book yours ASAP as many of these shows do sell out. Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres with support from Choose Chicago.

As part of the celebration of Chicago's theatre scene, The Actors Gymnasium will offer discounted tickets to the first two weekends of Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter, the latest production in its winter circus series.

Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter trailer - 

Actors Gym 2016 Winter Circus

Through the spectacular circus wizardry of The Actors Gymnasium, Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter tells a time-spanning, multi-generational story that explores how our friendships stay with us over time, recede, and can come back to save us just when we need them to. Marnie and Phil met when they were just young circus students, and became instant friends.

But when the inevitable twists and turns of fate take them separate ways, they make a promise to always write to each other no matter where they are. As they each somersault through adventures of fame and heartache, and age begins to take its toll on their once nimble physiques, they seek each other out to perform one last show-their long-awaited debut! 

A new, original work of circus theatre, Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter is written and directed by Chris Mathews (ensemble member of The House Theatre of Chicago), and features a cast of Actors Gymnasium and Lookingglass Theatre favorites including Lindsey Noel Whiting (Lookingglass Alice, Lost & Found, The Magical Exploding Boy and The Invisible Circus), David Catlin (founding ensemble member of Lookingglass), Samuel Taylor (Lookingglass Alice, Back Room Shakespeare Project), and AG Artistic Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, as well as the premier students of the Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble. 

The show includes original songs by Lindsey Noel Whiting and music by award-winning Chicago composer Kevin O'Donnell (The House Theatre of Chicago, Andrew Bird), as well as lighting design from Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (The Hypocrites, The Ruffians). Jaw-dropping circus choreography will be led by Artistic Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi. 

Beat the rush - Get your tickets today at www.actorsgymnasium.org/shows 

February 13 - March 20, 2016 

Fridays at 7:30pm 

Saturdays 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm 

Sundays at 3:00 pm 

$25 for adult tickets! 

$15 for children, students and seniors! 

$25 At the Door

Location: 

The Actors Gymnasium is located at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, IL - just off of the Noyes purple line 'L' stop. The Noyes Cultural Arts Center is owned by the City of Evanston and home to over 20 artists and arts organizations offering music, theater, and visual arts programs and studios. The galleries exhibit local artists, with exhibitions changing every two months.

About The Actors Gymnasium:

The Actors Gymnasium is dedicated to bringing a new physicality to the American Theatre. Encouraging ground-breaking theatrical exploration, The Actors Gymnasium teaches circus arts, physical theatre and multi-disciplinary performance to children and adults; produces original, daring works of circus-theatre; and serves as a talent resource, providing performance opportunities to our students and innovative professional event entertainment for a wider audience. At The Actors Gymnasium, people Learn To Fly - physically, emotionally, and creatively. For more information, please visit www.actorsgymnasium.org

TOMORROW: Chicago Theatre Week Tickets on Sale Tomorrow 1/6/15 #ChicagoTheatreWeek

Due to overwhelming success, Chicago Theatre Week is expanding in 2015. The upcoming celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago is returning for its third year and will take place February 12 – 22, 2015, spanning a week and two full weekends for the first time. More than 100 productions are expected to participate as part of the 2015 lineup. Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago.

Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, January 6, 2015, at 10:00am at www.ChicagoTheatreWeek.com.

Act Out:  Chicago Theatre openings, closings, reviews, giveaways, ticket sale dates and more via ChiIL Live Shows. 

A few of Chicago Theatre Week’s 2015 participating productions include The Selfish Giant at Chicago Children’s Theatre; Waiting for Godot at Court Theatre; Rapture, Blister, Burn at the Goodman Theatre; Tannhäuser at the Lyric Opera of Chicago; Tommy at Paramount Theatre; Marie Antoinette at Steppenwolf Theatre Company; Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play at Theater Wit; and Samsara at Victory Gardens Theater. The complete list of participating theatres are listed on www.chicagotheatreweek.com. In the past two years, more than 200 shows have offered value-priced tickets to more than 600 performances in one week. Visitors and residents will again have the opportunity to sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings throughout Chicagoland.

“The decision to expand Chicago Theatre Week comes in response to the overwhelming success this celebration has seen over the past two years,” comments Deb Clapp, Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres. “We are so thrilled to be able to share the amazing work this theatre community produces with audiences during this 10-day celebration.”

“Choose Chicago is excited to be a partner for Chicago Theatre Week in 2015,” declares Melissa Cherry, Vice President of Cultural Tourism & Neighborhoods of Choose Chicago. “This is a perfect moment for visitors to experience the city, and shine a light on Chicago's amazing theatre scene.”

Kate Lipuma, Executive Director of Writers Theatre and Chair of the League of Chicago Theatres adds, “The reach of Chicago Theatre Week has expanded so much that one week just wasn’t enough! The 10-day celebration in 2015 will offer Chicagoans and visitors even more opportunities to visit their favorite theatres and explore new companies all across Chicago.”

The hotel partners for Chicago Theatre Week 2015 are ACME Hotel Company and The Dana Hotel & Spa.  For information about Special Theatre Week rates, visit www.chicagotheatreweek.com.

About Chicago theatre

Chicago theatre is a leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theaters to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 5 that have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago’s theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. In 2012-13 alone, Chicago theatre companies produced more than 130 world premiere productions and adaptations. Each year, Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world. 

About the League of Chicago Theatres

The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres which leverages its collective strength to promote, support, and advocate for Chicago's theatre industry locally, nationally, and internationally. The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the art of theatre in the Chicago area through audience development and support services for theatres and theatre professionals.

For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, www.chicagoplays.com.  Half-price tickets are available each week at www.hottix.org.  Additional information about Chicago Theatre Week is available at www.chicagotheatreweek.com.

More than 100 productions expected to participate in Chicago Theatre Week 2/11-16 #ChicagoTheatreWeek

More than 100 productions expected to participate in

Chicago Theatre Week 2014

FEBRUARY 11-16, 2014

We may not be able to escape the polar vortex or rush spring along, but here in Chicago, we can engage in escapism with the best of them.   World class theatre makes winter a lot more fun.   So stop hibernating.   Theatre Week is back and better than ever!

Theatre Week adds partnerships with local hotels

and welcomes the return of the Storefront Playwright Project

Tickets now on sale!

Chicago Theatre Week 2014, which celebrates the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago, is returning for its second year after beating expectations in its inaugural season.  Over 100 productions are expected to participate.  New to this year’s Theatre Week is a partnership with area hotels, which will be offering Chicago Theatre Week packages to include a hotel room and a pair of tickets to one of ten productions.  Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago.

Chicago Theatre Week ticket and hotel offers will be listed on a centralized website, www.chicagotheatreweek.com starting at 9:00am on January 7, 2014.  In its inaugural year, 97 shows offered value-priced tickets to over 330 performances in one week. Visitors and residents will again have the opportunity to sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings throughout Chicagoland.

The hotel packages, on sale January 7 – February 5, include a hotel room for a stay between February 13-15, 2014, and a pair of tickets to one of ten participating productions.  Participating hotels include Essex Inn, Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park, Park Hyatt Chicago, PUBLIC Chicago, Renaissance Blackstone Chicago, Thompson Chicago, and W Chicago City Centre.  

Participating productions include Blue Man Group, Briar Street Theatre; The Golden Dragon, Sideshow Theatre Company; The How and The Why, TimeLine Theatre Company; Luna Gale, Goodman Theatre; Million Dollar Quartet, Apollo Theater; The Phantom of the Opera, Broadway In Chicago; Rose and the Rime, The House Theatre of Chicago; Russian Transport, Steppenwolf Theatre Company; The Second City’s 102^nd Revue, The Second City; and Strangers, Babies, Steep Theatre. Additional information and booking instructions will be available at www.chicagotheatreweek.com.

A new feature of Chicago Theatre Week,  the Storefront Playwright Project, will offer passers-by a look into part of the theatre process February 11-16, 2014. It will take place at Expo 72, located at 72 E. Randolph St.  Emerging and established playwrights will once again take center stage in a window space at Expo 72 to work on a current writing project in view of the public. From a large screen in a window facing the sidewalk, the public will be able to read what the playwright is writing and watch the creation of the next great Chicago play in real time. The Storefront Playwright Project aims to support the playwriting community, increase awareness of emerging and established playwrights, and encourage audiences to engage more deeply with Chicago theatre and the creative process of writing a new play for the theatre.    For more information about the Storefront Playwright Project: http://storefrontplaywright.tumblr.com.

“After a successful inaugural Chicago Theatre Week in 2013, the League of Chicago Theatres is presenting Chicago Theatre Week 2014, celebrating Chicago theatre by offering patrons special incentives and encouraging participation throughout all Chicago neighborhoods.  The remarkable results last year showed a heightened visibility for the theatre industry as people all over Chicago experienced a new theatre or revisited an old favorite.  Theatre Week met its ticket sales expectations, had a digital reach of 1.6 million through email, Facebook and Twitter; over 51,000 unique website visitors; and almost 7,000 Theatre Week email subscribers.  We plan to continue that reach for the upcoming season and we are thrilled with the level of expected participation in this year’s events,” comments Deb Clapp, Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres.

  

 “Theatre Week supports the effort to expand the visibility of theatre as a vital industry in Chicago.  Theatre is an important part of what attracts visitors to this city and Choose Chicago is honored to participate in the development and promotion of the week-long event,” says Melissa Cherry, Choose Chicago's Vice President for Cultural Tourism and Neighborhoods.  “As we continue our work with the League of Chicago Theatres to make this year’s week-long celebration even better, we are pleased that several Chicago hotels will be participating with theatre packages, making Chicago an ideal and affordable destination for theatre lovers.”

Kate Lipuma, Executive Director of Writers Theatre and Chair of the League of Chicago Theatres adds, “We are looking forward to another spectacular Theatre Week, which proved itself last year as being a motivator for people to experience a great afternoon or evening out in theatres across the Chicago area.  We hope that Chicagoans and tourists, alike, will take note of all of the productions happening on Chicago stages—downtown, in neighborhoods and in the suburbs--and will purchase tickets for their favorite theatres, or try something brand new.”

About Chicago theatre

Chicago theatre is a leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theaters to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 5 that have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago’s theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. In 2012-13 alone, Chicago theatre companies produced more than 130 world premiere productions and adaptations. Each year, Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world. 

About the League of Chicago Theatres

The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres which leverages its collective strength to promote, support, and advocate for Chicago's theatre industry locally, nationally, and internationally. The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the art of theatre in the Chicago area through audience development and support services for theatres and theatre professionals.

Additional information about Chicago Theatre Week is available at www.chicagotheatreweek.com. For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, www.chicagoplays.com.  Half-price tickets are available each week at www.hottix.org.