Showing posts with label The Broadway. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Chi IL Live Shows On Our Radar: World Premiere of FLIES! THE MUSICAL! Through June 10, 2018

FLIES! THE MUSICAL!

By Cindy O'Connor and Larry Todd Cousineau

Directed by Michael Driscoll

WORLD PREMIERE

All Photos by Paul Goyette

Through June 10, 2018

The Broadway, Pride Arts Center

4139 N. Broadway

A new musical about an ill-fated high school musical adaptation of LORD OF THE FLIES

Missy Wise, Mario Aivazian

FLIES! THE MUSICAL! is an original musical by Chicagoan Larry Todd Cousineau (book and lyrics) and Cindy O’Connor (music). It was developed in 2016-2017 in a series of readings in Chicago at Uptown Underground and Pride Arts Center. This 2018 production is its world premiere. It's directed by Michael Driscoll, who directed the Jeff nominated productions of CARRIE: THE MUSICAL (Bailiwick Chicago) and BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (Step Up Productions), the Jeff recommended DESPERATE DOLLS (Strawdog Theatre), and many others. Sawyer Smith, whose credits include HEATHERS (Kokandy Productions, Jeff Award winner for Best Choreography) and recently, ALTAR BOYZ (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre) will choreograph. J.D. Caudill will be music director.

Left: Joey Fontanetta, Right: Ryan Armstrong

The cast includes Mario Aivazian, Ryan Armstrong, Jayla Williams Craig, Joey Fontanetta, Nicky Mendelsohn, Jeff Meyer, Christea Parent, and Missy Wise. The production team will include John Nichols (Sound Designer), Sarah Watkins (Scenic Designer), Paul Kim (Costume Designer), Shelby Arndt (lighting design), Adam McAleavey (Puppet Designer), Jamie Karas (Properties Designer), Michael Starcher (Stage Manager) and Anna Zerwer (Assistant Director).

Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 students and seniors and are on sale now at www.pridefilmsandplays.com or by phone at 866-811-4111 or 773-857-0222.

Through June 10, 2018
Regular performances Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 5:00 pm.
The Broadway, Pride Arts Center
4139 N. Broadway

Jayla Craig and Jeff Meyer

In a twisted mash-up of WAITING FOR GUFFMAN and GLEE, FLIES! THE MUSICAL! follows the drama kids from Lovely Valley Performing Arts Magnet High School. The students are left behind in an abandoned forest preserve during a “research” retreat for an unauthorized teacher-written musical production of LORD OF THE FLIES. Gradually, things turn savage in a couple of unsupervised hours as the plot points of the novel begin to come true one by one, in song.

BIOS
Cindy O’Connor (composer) and Larry Todd Cousineau (bookwriter/lyricist) have a long history together. Their works include 40 IS THE NEW 15, which had a critically-acclaimed run at the NoHo Arts Center in Los Angeles, receiving Best New Musical award from Stagescene LA and a GLAAD Media Award Nomination for Outstanding Los Angeles Theatre. Their musical drama, ALL THAT HE WAS, earned them the Kennedy Center National Playwright's Award and the ACTF Musical Theater Award and is available for license through Samuel French. Several of their songs have been featured in concerts by the Gay Men’s Choruses of Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. O’Connor's music can be heard in ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC), CRASH (Starz), DOLPHIN TALE, and FORGIVING THE FRANKLINS (Sundance). Cousineau’s writing has been featured in animated series including YIN, YANG, YO! (Disney), THE NEW CARE BEARS, and ANGELA ANACONDA. His SONGS FROM MY CLOSET cabaret series is an annual hit at Uptown Underground.

Michael Driscoll directed the Jeff nominated productions of CARRIE: THE MUSICAL (Bailiwick Chicago) and BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (Step Up Productions), the Jeff recommended Desperate Dolls (Strawdog Theatre), PEN: A MUSICAL (Chicago Musical Theatre Festival), BLITHE SPIRIT (GoodLuck Macbeth Theatre Company), UP FOR IT, FOR ANOTHER (American Theater Company), and A PLANK IN REASON (Prologue Theatre). He assistant directed the Jeff Award winning production of THE ORIGINAL GREASE, RENT (American Theater Company), OH COWARD! (Writers’ Theatre), SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE (Bailiwick Chicago/Steppenwolf Garage Rep), DETECTIVE PARTNER HERO VILLAIN (Strawdog Theatre), SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (Porchlight Music Theatre), and THE COMPLETE WORKS… (ABRIDGED) (Illinois Shakespeare Festival). Michael curates “MAP Reading,” a monthly play reading series that asks participants to consider the power and effectiveness of a playwright’s words through the use of non-traditional casting and cold reading. Michael is also dedicated to arts education, working as a teaching artist and program manager in Chicago for over a decade. He has taught, directed, or managed education programs for American Theater Company, Northlight, Stage School, Bailiwick Chicago, StageCoach Theatre Arts School, Stage School, Changing Worlds, and Project AIM at Columbia College Chicago. Michael is an alumnus of the Teaching Artist Development Studio at Columbia College Chicago and the Teaching Artists Development Lab at the Lincoln Center. He is a graduate of Illinois State University where he studied theatre education and directing.

ABOUT PRIDE FILMS AND PLAYS

Pride Films and Plays creates diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences. We accomplish this mission through fully-staged productions, writing contests and staged readings, and filming one short film each season.

PFP is the primary tenant in the Pride Arts Center (PAC), which connects and promotes other artists who share our values, creating a safe environment for all. PAC books one-night events or limited runs, cabaret, film, dance, comedy, and other events. PAC opened in 2016 and consists of two performance spaces: The Buena at 4147 N. Broadway which has 50 seats and The Broadway at 4139 N. Broadway which has 85 seats.

Pride Films and Plays is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago’s City Arts Fund, the Elliott Fredland Charitable Trust, Proud to Run, the AmazonSmile Foundation, Arts and Business Foundation, Tap Root Foundation and Alphawood Foundation.

PFP is a member of the Smart Growth Program of the Chicago Community Trust. Pride Films and Plays is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois and The League of Chicago Theatres.

For more information, visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com or call 1.800.737.0984 or 1.773.857.0222.

ABOUT PRIDE ARTS CENTER
PRIDE ARTS CENTER has become an important part of the arts environment in the Buena Park neighborhood and beyond. In addition to performances by PFP, (www.pridefilmsandplays.com), PAC hosts monthly events including play readings, film screenings, cabaret nights, and variety shows (PAC the House).

Guest productions are also included in the PAC schedule. Find a full calendar of everything happening at PAC here. http://pridefilmsandplays.com/calendar/

Thursday, September 15, 2016

LAST CALL: Irrational Tales Ends 9/18

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

REVIEW: Get Lit With Irrational Tales

Though simple in scale, this production makes a great date night for lit geeks. Denman has adapted heavy hitters like Nathanial Hawthorne, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Clark Ashton Smith, rounding out the show with an original piece, Reflections. We had the chance to catch opening night of Irrational Tales at The Broadway and it's refreshing to see some classic and original tales of terror that don't involve the disturbing real life tales that recently shuttered Profiles in this very space. We're happy to support the new ownership, Pride Arts Center, and look forward to seeing what they bring to the space.
 
Sure, the show's campy and low budget, but that's part of it's charm. Although I do wish they'd gone with actual liquid, since they're drinking in just about every story, and the mime pouring and drinking was distracting. The story telling is fun, though, and with tickets going for just $15, you'll still have cash to grab drinks and dinner before or after the show.
 
This show is a bit of a homecoming for David Denman, the Artistic Director of Clock Theater, and author of the 4th piece in this production. He was a company member of the National Pastime Theater who had the space for years before Profiles. The past is prologue and Profiles is past. Now it's Clock Theater's time. Come on out and support the arts.
 

Irrational Tales

The Broadway 

4139 N. Broadway Chicago IL

Through September 18, 2016  

Part of The Pride Arts Center

Thursdays Fridays Saturdays 8 PM. Sundays 3 PM.  Tickets $15

CHICAGO READER

"Too many fake British accents and huffy turnings on the heel mar David Denman and Clock Theater's macabre revue Irrational Tales. Denman barely revises three works of spooky American short fiction, rounded up to four with something of his own, "Reflections."

Most of the pieces could have used more actual adaptation, but there's one exception: "The Gorgon" by Clark Ashton Smith, which first appeared as a short story in the April 1932 edition of the pulp magazine Weird Tales. That it does beautifully as a one-act, clearly edging out midcareer works by Nathaniel Hawthorne and F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a testament to the unbalanced calculus of theatrical adaptation. The only genuine fear I felt throughout Tales came in "Gorgon" while watching Jennifer Cheung play a witch—her vituperative cackles are excellent. —Max Maller

Clock Theater Live

Clock Theater endeavors to combine compelling storytelling, with strong use of all the productions elements, to create a memoriable theatrical experience.

Clock Painting and Design

In his scenic designs, as well as his personal work, David Denman likes to avoid subjects that are over-approached, using color and contrast a strong sense of drawing and perspective.

History

A Chicago-based theater and film production company, established in 1999, David Denman's Clock Productions has produced The Visit(1998), Einstein's Dreams (2000), Savage Love (2001), The Big Funk (2001), Mommy Abdula's Miraculous Traveling Carnival of Wonders (2002), Ocean Sea (2003), The Pinter Plays (2003), The Three Sisters (2003), The Love of a Good Man (2004), Einstein's Dreams (2005), *The Firebugs and the Good Citizen (2006), *The Magician (2007), The Quiltmaker's Gift (2007), *Alice of the House of Carol (2009), The Tumultuous Tale of the Tragically Transparent Tunic (2010), Six Scary Tales (2010), *Street Scene (2010), Six More Scary Tales (2011) and Counterpoint (2012).

* indicates co-production with The National Pastime Theater

Chicago venues include The National Pastime Theater, Chopin Theater, Athenaeum Theater and City Lit; regional venues includeKalamazoo Civic Center, Thunder Bay Theater, and the Whitehall Theater.

David Denman, founder of Clock Productions, is also a set designer and a painter. In 1994 he became a member of the National Pastime Theater Company in Chicago. In 1998, he formed Clock Productions, becoming its Artistic Director and co-producing with other companies, as well as mounting shows on his own.

David is the writer for the Scary Tales series, adapting old campfire tales, folk tales, and urban legends for the stage.

CLOCK THEATER TO OPEN THE BROADWAY

(FORMERLY PROFILES THEATRE)

PART OF THE PRIDE ARTS CENTER

Clock Theater will be the first theater company to make use of The Broadway, (formerly Profiles Theatre) at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago, part of the Pride Arts Center

Artistic Director of Clock Theater, David Denman, was a company member of the National Pastime Theater which resided in the space for many years prior to Profiles moving in. Says Denman, “ It is very ironic that as a former resident of the space with National Pastime, my theater is returning to the space once again.”

Clock’s production of “Irrational Tales” includes a number of vignettes based on stories of terror. Included in the stories are “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Gorgon” by Aston Clarke Smith, “A Diamond as Big as the Ritz” based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and “Reflections.”

The production runs through September 18 with performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $15.

Appearing in the production, which is produced and adapted by David Denman and directed by Lesley Fisher Chapman, are CJ Chapman, Jennifer Cheung, Amanda Forman, David Meldman, Sarah Mergener, Whitney Pipes and Mark West. Stage Manager is Amber Mandley, Costume Design by Arin Mulvaney, Lighting and Mask Design by Ben Dionysus, Sound Design by Sheri Tatar, Fight Choreography by Danielle Stahl and Scenic Design by David Denman.

Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2556728.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

OPENING: September 1 Clock Theater is Set To Open The Broadway in former Profiles Space

CLOCK THEATER TO OPEN THE BROADWAY

(FORMERLY PROFILES THEATRE)

PART OF THE PRIDE ARTS CENTER