ChiIL November Highlights, Huge Holidaze Giveaways & ChiIL Picks Gift List Details & More

Things have been hoppin' here in Chi, IL.   The weather may be getting chilly, but you can still chiIL out with ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama this fall & winter.   We're all over the local theatre & music scene, events and giveaways.  Our HUGE annual ChiIL Holidaze Giveaways & ChiIL Picks Gift List will go live November 15th-December 15th with LOADS of great goodie to win and our ChiIL Picks List for unique gifts for all ages.   

Spread the word for more entries and enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often!

Disclaimer:   Thanks to all the generous musicians, toy companies, distributors and PR firms that send us products for our giveaways and for review purposes. As always, all opinions are our own.

Highlights:
Here's what we've been up to, what's already posted, what you can look forward to seeing right here in the near future, and so much more. 

Read me at:  ChiIL Mama, ChiIL Live Shows, CNN, 

The Local Tourist,Technorati, Green Parent Chicago, Dug Sound, 

ChiIL Travel Kids, CBS

ChiIL Mama's Channel YouTube

Facebook:  ChiIL Live Shows & ChiIL Mama

Twitter:  ChiIL Live Shows & ChiIL Mama

Pinterest   

Instagram

Keep up with the latest:    

Fam Friendly photo & video features, giveaways, recaps & reviews will be at ChiIL Mama.  

Theatre, music, art,  giveaways, events, & reviews for adults will be at ChiIL Live Shows.

November:
We gave away a sweet 3d Willis Tower Puzzle, Pacific Rim Blu-Ray & loads of local concert tickets & our huge holidaze giveaways begin the 10th.  

We're also back again for the 3rd year as press sponsor for Beat Kitchen's popular weekly Sunday noon Concerts for Kids, which means we give away free tickets EVERY week.  We also have free kindie tickets for shows at Schubas like the award winning Mister G, Baby Loves Disco at Lincoln Hall & more.

**Highlight:  

 

Yes there IS a SANTA CLAUS!!   ChiIL Mama was elated to be invited to The Annual Kenmore Blogger Summit with 24 top bloggers flown in from all over the country.   It was a fun filled, informative weekend and we'll have a full photo recap up soon.   

During the Kenmore Blogger Summit, here's an actual Tweet I sent out:

10/26  Dear santa.. I've been really good this year.  Your cookies n milk would look rockin' awesome in a new grab n go @kenmore fridge #testedtales 

Within a half hour I WON a $2,500 Kenmore French Door Fridge/Bottom Freezer in a blind gift grab bag!!  This has been a high point of my fall for sure.   

Even better... the rules were you could pick 1 from under the tree or snag one from someone else & the final 10 seconds were a swapping free for all.   I had a different bag, that had been stolen from others several times before, and at the last second another blogger snagged it from me and swapped in a sweater print box.   What I lost?...A garlic press!



What I won:

SANTA LIVES!!!!   Don't tell me there's no such thing as holiday magic.

The other blogger was a good sport about it.   I hugged her and thanked her profusely. 

**Upcoming Special Features: 

• Kenmore Blogger Summit where I WON a $2500 FRIDGE!!!!   If you follow us on FB/Twitter you're already aware of my rockin' awesome win.   If not, you'll hear the whole story shortly... complete with humorous anecdotes, photos and holiday miracle

• Blueman Group photo recap press event--unveiling of garden art/artist video interviews

• Lyle Cogen-feature/CD review/original interview with NYC's own nationally acclaimed Bullying Prevention Maven.   We wrapped up anti-bullying month with an great phone interview with Lyle which we're presently editing for a full feature.

• Hamming it up with Hemmert--CircEsteem Circ Soiree Benefit Show with MC Terri Hemmert from WXRT--full video footage coming/photo recap up already

• Breakfast with Bayless--THE RETURN OF RICK BAYLESS IN CASCABEL--our original photo & video Frontera breakfast press conference recap.

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE, FRONTERA GRILL AND SILVERGUY ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT
THE RETURN OF RICK BAYLESS IN CASCABEL 

DINNER – DARING – DESIRE

WITH NEW MENU ELEMENTS IN A NEW VENUE

Four week limited run in the Goodman Theatre’s Owen Bruner Theatre

July 30 – August 24, 2014

*November 15-17 Win 6 tickets to Aquatic Experience Chicago traveling shark show/aquarium show-6 ticket giveaway/advance press/ photo recap

*Opening November 21 Illumination at Morton Arboretum-ticket giveaway/photo recap

*last weekend:

Ringling Brothers And Barnum & Bailey Circus Present Built to Amaze--full photo recap coming/advance features & discount ticket code still posted/4 ticket giveaway (ended)

Redmoon-Boneshaker--behind the scenes photo feature up/full photo recap coming

Redmoon Skelebration (fam friendly)--full photo recap coming

Chicago International Children's Film Festival--video footage, recap & reviews coming

Holiday Inn/photo tour/travel feature

FREE Birds Movie Advanced Sneak Peek/Review


ACT OUT:
Fall Theatre Reviews For

• That's Weird Chicago-Barrel of Monkeys
• 7th Love-Harris Theatre
• Lord of the Flies at Steppenwolf
• Once Upon a Dream (Rascals)-Cadillac Palace Broadway in Chicago
• We will Rock You (Queen Musical)-Cadillac Palace Broadway in Chicago
• Midnight Circus
• Smokefall--Goodman
• The Table (puppetry)--Chicago Shakespeare
• Wrecks-Profiles
• Once-Oriental Theatre Broadway in Chicago
• Cyrano--Chicago Shakespeare
• A Year With Frog & Toad at Chicago Children's Theatre
• Old Jews Telling Jokes--Royal George
• North China Lover-Lookingglass

ACT OUT OPENING:
Upcoming Theatre Reviews 

• Port Authority-Writers Theatre (we'll be reviewing at the press opening tonight) 11/6
• Kate & Sam are not Breaking Up-Collaboraction
• Appropriate-Victory Gardens
• Actor's Gym Youth Circus--A'musing Myths
• Hellcab at Profiles
• A Christmas Carol-Goodman
• An Iliad Theatre
• Mikado-Hypocrites (at Steppenwolf)
• Dead Prince-DCASE
• ATC-It's a Wonderful Life
• A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol
• ONCE UPON A PEOPLE: A DANCESICAL
• The Nutcracker-House Theatre
• Trevor-Red Orchid

and more!   We'll be adding more to this stellar show list as the month progresses.

Game & Toy Related:

**Activision Family Games Summit (this Thurs 11/7) open to the public on line**

• PopCap Plants Vs. Zombies 2--press party

• November 21-24 ChiTAG-Chicago Toy and Game Fair (open to the public)

Foodie Fun:

• Chicago food swap at the Chopping Block
• Pinstripes Restaurant Review
• Plum Market photo feature

Music: 

• PigPen band (alt folk-of Old Man and The Old Moon fame) at Schubas-4 show residency/multiple live shows photo features & ticket giveaways to all shows. *Final show November 18th (21+). 

• Monster Magnet at Bottom Lounge 11/16
• Yakuza at Beat Kitchen 11/22
• Misfits at Concord(live show photo feature)
• Dumpstaphunk at Concord (live show photo feature)
• Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg and Andrew W. K. at Double Door  (live show photo feature)
• Revocation (photo feature/original video interview)

November Movies On Our Radar:

The Hunger Games:  Catching Fire

Thor The Dark World

The Book Thief

That Awkward Moment

Frozen

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom

The Punk Singer

Bettie Page Reveals All

CIMMfest-call for entries/special screenings

Music Box highlights

Facets features

Prizes/Ticket Giveaways:  As always, our free tickets and events listings are Chicago centered but our giveaways & reviews are for Chi, IL and beyond (nationwide & sometimes Canada too).   We'll have all past winnings coming from us shipped out before the 10th, so if you're still eagerly awaiting CDs, books, toys, etc. thanks for your patience and we've got you covered.   

Some of our prizes come directly from the musicians/distributor/PR peeps etc. and in that case, please wait a month and if you still have not gotten your winnings, shoot us an e-mail and we'll do everything possible to expedite things and get an ETA from them.   Unfortunately we can not replace anything lost in the mail.   It has never happened yet, that I'm aware of, but a few things have gone missing in the lovely Chi-town mail enroute TO me.

Disclaimer:   Thanks to all the generous musicians, toy companies, distributors and PR firms that send us products for our giveaways and for review purposes. As always, all opinions are our own.

ACT OUT: CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, SOLD-OUT Once Upon a Dream Starring The Rascals TO PLAY CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE This November

THE RASCALS ARE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 40 YEARS

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, SOLD-OUT BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT OF 

Once Upon a Dream Starring The Rascals 

TO PLAY CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE 

FIVE PERFORMANCES ONLY NOVEMBER 5 – 10, 2013

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON-SALE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

**STARRING THE ORIGINAL BAND MEMBERS

FELIX CAVALIERE, EDDIE BRIGATI, DINO DANELLI & GENE CORNISH**

Directed by STEVEN VAN ZANDT & MARC BRICKMAN

Written by STEVEN VAN ZANDT

Music and Lyrics by FELIX CAVALIERE & EDDIE BRIGATI

Stage, Video and Lighting Design by MARC BRICKMAN

Broadway In Chicago and Producers Steven Van Zandt and Maureen Van Zandt, Marc Brickman, and BASE ENTERTAINMENT, are thrilled to announce that following a critically acclaimed, sold-out Broadway engagement, ONCE UPON A DREAM STARRING THE RASCALS will debut in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 West Randolph) from Nov. 5 - 10, 2013 for five performances only.  Individual tickets will go on-sale to the public on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 at 10 a.m.

A hybrid of a rock ‘n’ roll concert and a Broadway show, ONCE UPON A DREAM STARRING THE RASCALS marks the first time The Rascals, America’s classic blue-eyed soul band, have played together since 1970.  Original band members Felix Cavaliere (keyboard & vocals), Eddie Brigati (vocals), Dino Danelli (drums) and Gene Cornish (guitar) will present a complete concert performance including songs that captured the spirit of America in the 1960’s, such as their smash hits “Good Lovin’,” “Lonely Too Long,” “It’s a Beautiful Morning,” “How Can I Be Sure” and “Groovin’.”  The production will also feature the history of the iconic group told through archival footage, narration, and dramatic film segments viewed on the latest LED screen technology.

ONCE UPON A DREAM STARRING THE RASCALS premiered on Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre to critical acclaim last spring selling out 15 performances.  The show is directed by Steven Van Zandt and Marc Brickman, with music by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati. ONCE UPON A DREAM STARRING THE RASCALS has stage, video and lighting design by Brickman and has music production and is written by legendary guitarist Van Zandt. 

For more information go to RascalsDream.com, visit the show’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/RascalsDream, or follow the show on Instagram and Twitter: http://instagram.com/rascalsdream & https://twitter.com/RascalsDream.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The Chicago performance schedule for ONCE UPON A DREAM STARRING THE RASCALS is as follows:

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 9, 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 10, 2:00 p.m.

Please note: Ticket prices and performance schedule are subject to change.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets go on-sale Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 at 10 a.m. Ticket prices range from $45 to $75. A select number of premium seats are also available for many performances, as well as a special package featuring premium seating and a meet and greet. 

The presale for Citi cardmembers starts on Sept. 17, 2013 at 10 a.m.  For more details, visit citiprivatepass.com.

Groups of 10 or more are available by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Kiosk at Water Tower Place (845 N. Michigan Ave.), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

BIOS:

THE RASCALS, formerly known as The Young Rascals, are one of the most influential, and artistically important American bands in Rock and Roll history. In a time dominated by the English rock acts of the British Invasion, The Rascals not only survived but thrived. The post-twist New York, New Jersey, and Long Island club scenes bred the band, an outfit whose sound grew more sophisticated as time went on but stayed rooted in the blue-eyed soul that was its first reason for being. At first a hard-hitting band reminiscent of the early Animals, the Rascals drew from the same well that fed the then-burgeoning garage rock scene.  They would go on to lead the way for Blue Eyed Soul to Folk Rock to Protest to Civil Rights, blending white Pop melodies with black soul and R&B muscle. Though they never brandished their politics like some bands, the Rascals truly lived theirs, fighting discrimination by demanding that a black act appear on the bill at each of its concerts.  

Their music would span the entire decade from the early Go-Go dance parties right through the psychedelic era - and beyond.  The band released numerous top ten singles in the mid- and late-1960s, including “How Can I Be Sure”, “Come On Up”, "You Better Run", "I've Been Lonely Too Long", “Beautiful Morning”, and the #1 hits "Good Lovin'", "Groovin'", and "People Got to Be Free".  They went their separate ways in the early 70's, finally reuniting for one night in May of 1997 when Steven Van Zandt inducted them into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  And now the day music historians never thought would happen, The Rascals' original lineup—Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish, Eddie Brigati and Dino Danelli—have reunited for their first public performances in 40 years with "Once Upon A Dream," a combination concert/theatrical event produced and directed by Steven Van Zandt and lighting/projection wizard Marc Brickman. Ladies and Gentleman....THE RASCALS ARE BACK!

STEVEN VAN ZANDT (Producer / Writer / Director / Music Producer) is a Musician, Songwriter, Performer, Arranger, Record Producer, Actor, Writer, Human Rights Activist, and International Radio DJ. He is a founding member of Bruce Springsteen's EStreet Band and an original principal cast member of The Sopranos. Steven's current projects include Starring, Co-Writing, Co-Producing, and Co-Scoring "Lilyhammer", which was chosen as the first original programming for Netflix, America’s first digital

network.  He is Music Supervisor, Music Producer, Music Arranger, and Executive Producer of David Chase's (creator of Sopranos) first film Not Fade Away. He continues to host his internationally syndicated Rock and Roll radio show Little Steven's Underground Garage (now broadcast in over 180 countries with over 1 million listeners in North America alone), and is touring the world with

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Steven has also founded The Rock and Roll Forever Foundation (www.rockandrollforever.org) dedicated to the development, preservation, dissemination, and continuing support of Rock and Roll, past, present, and future - which is currently developing an online curriculum on the history of Rock and Roll and its role in American culture to both provide music education and defeat America’s High School dropout epidemic with a pilot program set to launch in schools in 2013.

MAUREEN VAN ZANDT (Producer) is co-founder of the With Out Papers Theatre Company, where she produced and acted in numerous productions. She appeared as Gabriella Dante in the HBO series The Sopranos for six seasons. She is also the creator and choreographer of the dance group Garage Girls A Go Go, who have worked extensively in video, tv and onstage. Maureen recently served as dance supervisor on the upcoming David Chase film, Not Fade Away. She is currently working on a production of a new play, 40 CPS, with Sopranos and theatre company colleagues Vincent Pastore and Robert Funaro. She would like to thank Stevie Van Zandt because without him there is no dream.

MARC BRICKMAN (Producer / Director / Staging / Video / Light Design)  is a world renowned visual designer/director whose work and profile have been featured in publications and broadcasts including the New York Times, the television program “48 Hours” and others.  Recognized as a cutting edge creative force and innovator in the industry, Brickman's awards and accolades include Emmy Awards and Cable Ace Award nominations for production design and best director.  His work with Pink Floyd is legendary having been viewed by millions worldwide.  Other projects include the worldwide expansion of The Blue Man Group.  Artists Keith Urban, McCartney, Springsteen, Cirque Du Soleil "Viva Elvis," and The Black Eyed Peas all have called on Brickman's talent.

BASE ENTERTAINMENT (Executive Producer) develops, produces and manages intellectual properties generated for live entertainment stages in North America, South America and Asia.  BASE's current production activity in Las Vegas includes the following: Peepshow at Planet Hollywood, Rock of Ages at The Venetian, Jersey Boys at Paris, Absinthe at Caesars Palace, Defending the Caveman and Million Dollar Quartet at Harrah’s.  Previous production activity in Las Vegas includes: Phantom at The Venetian, Wayne Brady - Making It Up at The Venetian, and Stomp Out Loud at Planet Hollywood.  In addition, BASE operates the Showroom and PH Live at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.  At Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, BASE programs both the Grand Theater, previously home to both The Lion King and Wicked, and the Sands Theater, where Jersey Boys recently launched a world tour (in partnership with Dodger Properties and Showtime).  In Brazil, BASE, in partnership with Geo Eventos, recently produced Priscilla Queen of the Desert in Sao Paulo.  Currently presented at Discovery Times Square in New York City, Spy: The Secret World of Espionage represents the premiere museum quality exhibition developed and presented by BASE. Beginning February 2014 in Toronto, BASE will also present the world premiere of the tango rock musical Arrabal.  BASE Entertainment's headquarters are in New York, and its founders include industry veterans Brian Becker and Scott Zeiger.  For more information please visit www.BASEentertainment.com.