INCOMING: The Chris Greene Quartet at City Winery 3/10

Chris Greene Quartet

City Winery is a sweet place to see a show.  We've shot everything there from the lightning fast gypsy brass of Fanfare Ciocarlia, to PlayCHIC, the Chicago Toy and Game Fair's fashion show!

Long, communal tables and assigned seats pair you up with new friends, the sound is great, and the libations even better.  Check it out.     

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar: 

Chris Greene Quartet

$10

5:30 doors/ 7:30 start

1200 W Randolph St
Chicago , IL 60607
(312)-733-WINE

About:

Chris Greene Quartet

When the Chris Greene Quartet takes the stage, jazz and rock audiences alike notice something different – something besides the fact that they’re seated next to each other. Jazz fans can’t help but sense the charisma and electricity, not always seen in a jazz band, that emanates from the quartet even during the saxophonist’s most committed solos. And fans accustomed to rock’s high energy and loose hi-jinks suddenly find themselves diving deeper into improvised music than they might have thought possible.

At a time when jazz continues to seek new audiences, CGQ sits poised on the future’s cusp. In much the way that classical composers have historically used native folk elements as the basis for their art, the CGQ uses familiar modern materials – the funk and hip-hop a a youth – as a bridge between jazz and other genres. It’s that ability to retain that tradition, expanding it at the same time, that makes the Chris Greene Quartet something different on the modern jazz scene.

Chris Greene on saxophones, Damian Espinosa on piano, Marc Piane on bass, Steve Corley on drums.

Check out the band's main site here for more info.

Other City Winery Shows of Note:

Click links for details

February 27th 

Jayson (JC) Brooks, Andy Rosenstein, Ben Taylor of The Uptown Sound - Steely Dan wine pairing event - includes 5 wines or music only tickets

March 3rd 

Maxwell Street Klezmer Band Quartet - Kids Buffet & Music - 3/3

March 5th & 6th

Johnny Winter - Special guest Dave Herrero & The Hero Blues Band - 3/5

March 11th

Circus Now! A Celebration of Contemporary Circus and The Ordinary Acrobat - 3/11

Click here for Circus Now's Site

About:

Think you know the circus? Think again. Whether it's your first time in a long time, you're a fan, or a successful circus professional, come out to celebrate the diversity & artistry of today's circus.

On Monday, March 11, 7pm with Book Cellar. Circus Now: an evening celebrating contemporary American circus and THE ORDINARY ACROBAT, hosted by Duncan Wall with presentations and performances from the circus community. Local support from Midnight Circus, Aloft Loft, Circesteem, Chicago Boyz Acrobatics Team, Trapeze Chicago, Aerial Dance Chicago, 500 Clown, and Mucca Pazza.

Click here for City Winery's full calendar

ACT OUT OPENING: Skooled A Study in Circus at The Actors Gymnasium



Skooled: A Study in Circus at The Actors Gymnasium - Trailer



Skooled: A Study in Circus at The Actors Gym  

The Actors Gymnasium is one of ChiIL Mama's favs.   They make our ChiILpicks list for excellent circus arts, engaging plots and professional showmanship.   Tickets are on sale now for their winter show and do tend to sell out, so get your act together and reserve yours today.   We can't wait to check it out.   ChiIL Mama will be there...will YOU?!   Their shows are family friendly, all ages fun.

The Actors Gymnasium presents Skooled: A Study in Circus. This year's winter circus spectacular takes audiences on a journey of eccentric clowning, aerial acrobatics, live music, and devilish pranks.

Featuring the work of Chicago clown Dean Evans, Co-Artistic Directors Larry DiStasi, Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi and an amazing team of designers and performers, this circus production explores the school of hard knocks.  Life's lessons come in many forms.  And some people always end up in detention.  
Performances run February 16 - March 23, with shows at 7:30 pm on Fridays, 4:30 and 7:30 pm on Saturdays and 3:00 pm on Sundays (No 4:30 show on 2/16). Ticket prices range from $15-20. Tickets can be purchased online through www.actorsgymnasium.com or by calling the office at 847-328-2795. Please call the office for group ticket pricing and availability. 

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. For additional information on The Actors Gymnasium's innovative programming, please visit www.actorsgymnasium.com or call 847-328-2795.

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, intellectually and creatively.
 

ACT OUT: Gravity Defying LEO Two Days Only

THE GRAVITY DEFYING ONE-MAN SHOW "LEO" MAKES ITS CHICAGO AREA PREMIERE AT THE ECC ARTS CENTER OCT. 26-27

Tickets for This Internationally Acclaimed, Best of the Edinburgh Festival Winner Are Now On Sale to the General Public

Elgin Community College (ECC) Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Dr, Elgin, Ill. presents the Chicago area premiere of the internationally renowned Circle of Eleven's critically-acclaimed one-man gravity defying show "LEO," Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

"LEO," starring the multi-talented performer Tobias Wegner is a surprising, hilarious, and moving show sure to be a hit with audiences age 8 to 80. Based on an original idea by and performed by Wegner and directed by Daniel Brière, "LEO" uses an ingenious combination of stage design and video projections to create an unexpected environment for extraordinary feats of acrobatic theater in which "our hero" literally loses his sense of gravity and departs on a logic-defying adventure. .

"LEO" is the newest creation of the Berlin-based production company Circle of Eleven. Directed by the Montréal-based actor and director Daniel Brière, it won several major awards at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe festival including the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award, the Three Weeks Editors Award and The Scotsman Fringe First Award. When "LEO" made its U.S. debut in New York City this past January Time Out New York called it “an eye-teasing, grin-inducing, deeply impressive work of sustained absurdist magic”

and The New York Post raved, "Alternately funny and poetic... 'LEO' soars."

The ECC Arts Center engagement is the only Chicago area site currently scheduled for the "LEO" fall 2012 North American Tour.

Tobias Wegner (performer/creator) completed his acrobatic training at the Belgium University of Contemporary Circus Arts (E.S.A.C.) in Brussels. His professional career has taken him to, among other places, Brazil, Spain, and India. He has also performed at the Southbank Centre (London), the Théâtre de la Cité Internationale (Paris), the Schauspiel Frankfurt, and the Staatsoper unter den Linden (Berlin). In 2008, Tobias won the European competition "Jeunes Talents Cirque Europe" with the project AIUAIO and his own company of the same name.

Daniel Brière (director) is co-artistic director of the Nouveau Théâtre Expérimental in Montreal, where he has created new work since 2003. He has directed more than 20 theater productions, including "LÉO," which was created in Berlin, won three awards at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and has since toured to New York, New Zealand, Singapore, Brazil, and elsewhere. As an actor, Brière has appeared in film and played a variety of roles in Quebec and overseas. His television include the popular TV comedy "The Parent Family," for which he was awarded the 2011 Artis Prize for a male lead.

The design team includes Flavia Hevia (set and lighting design), Heiko Kalmbach (video design); Ingo Panke (animation); and Heather McCrimmon (costume design). Creative Producer is Gregg Parks.

Tickets may be purchased online by clicking here or at the ECC box office located in the arts center. Box office hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 5 p.m. Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone, call 847-622-0300. All major credit cards are accepted.

For more information about the ECC Arts Center, visit elgin.edu/arts. Video clips of upcoming artists and events can be found at youtube.com/ECCArtsCenter. Connect and talk to the arts center on Standing Room Only, a blog at eccartscenter.com. The arts center also can be followed on Twitter at twitter.com/ECCArtsCenter. Become a fan of the arts center on Facebook at facebook.com/ECCArtsCenter.

"LEO" makes its Chicago area premiere at the ECC Arts Center 

1700 Spartan Dr,

Elgin, Ill. 

Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. 

"LEO" is appropriate for theatre goers of all ages and recommended for those 8 and up. 

Tickets are $33 for adults / $20 for children 12 and under and on sale now to the general public.

CHI, IL LIVE CIRCUS-SAVE THE DATES-Cirque Shanghai Year of the Dragon

ChiIL Live Shows original Cirque Shanghai shots from 2011
 
"CIRQUE SHANGHAI: YEAR OF THE DRAGON"
COMES TO NAVY PIER PEPSI SKYLINE STAGE
MAY 24 - SEPTEMBER 3

MAYDAY...MAYDAY...Tickets Go On Sale Tuesday, May 1 at 10 a.m.
  
Cirque Shanghai returns to Chicago's Navy Pier this summer with a magnificent new show "Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon" beginning Thursday, May 24, 2012.  The production will run through September 3, 2012 (Labor Day), rain or shine, at the Navy Pier Pepsi Skyline Stage, the 1,500-seat, canopied, open-air theater on Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.

Tickets will go on-sale Tuesday, May 1 at 10 a.m. and will be available via Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com/shanghai.

"Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon" is a spectacle for audiences of all ages, featuring performers direct from China who are leaders in their craft of tumbling, juggling, balancing and more. This year's production features an incredible line up of awe-inspiring acts, including favorites such as Bike Balances and Hoop Diving, as well as an all-new Group Chair Stack, Teeterboard act and the Wheel of Death.

China's finest daredevil motorcycle troupe, "Imperial Thunder," returns with not two, not four, but five motorcyclists riding at break-neck speed within a steel globe - more than ever before in this death-defying feat.

Directed by Miao Miao Chen, "Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon" is presented in this exclusive U.S. engagement by Navy Pier in conjunction with International Special Attractions, Ltd. (ISA) production headquarters in Shanghai, China.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AND TICKET INFORMATION

"Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon" will perform May 24 - Sept. 3, with regular run performances as follows:

Wednesday at 2, 6 and 8 p.m.
Thursday at 2 and 8 p.m.
Friday at 2, 7 and 9 p.m.
Saturday at 2, 6 and 8 p.m.
Sunday at 2 and 4 p.m.

There will be additional performances on Sunday, May 27 at 8 p.m., Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day) at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Tuesday, July 3 at 2 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 3 (Labor Day) at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Tickets are $15.50 - $29.50 and will be available by calling 800-745-3000 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com/shanghai. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are available by calling GroupTix at 773.327.3778 or visiting www.grouptix.net.

CircEsteem-HD Video--Pre Team's Pre Show Opener for Toys Take Over

Check out the next gen of up and coming CircEsteem performers with Pre-team's juggling pre-show!   ChiIL Mama's own Du-Jay and Sagezilla love learning from their mentors on team and were excited to be asked to open the Team Circus show yesterday.    For upcoming show dates, class info and more, check out CircEsteem's main site right here.

El Circo Cheapo-3-3-2012 (photo filled feature)

Check out our original show shots from The El Circo Cheapo-7pm Family Friendly Show on 3/3/2012.    We highly recommend this monthly celebration of circus arts at Aloft Loft.   They perform the first Saturday of every month and sell out, so plan ahead.   Tickets are a reasonable $10 for floor seating or $15 to splurge on a chair.   7pm is family friendly and 10pm is 18+.   Both are BYOB.    After the show, our kids gave a little impromptu circus skills demo, just for the pure joy of it.   (The kids take classes at CircEsteem, and were so jazzed to see some of their instructors perform, who are regulars in El Circo Cheapo!)  For tickets and more info, including adult classes, check out Aloft's main site right here.

Act Out: Top Theatre Picks-Lost & Found at Actors Gymnasium

Gala Fundraiser at Actor's Gymnasium-opening night of Lost & Found 2012

Lost & Found: A Recycled Circus

Back by popular demand!

February 11 – March 11, 2012

"This production will charm, warm and wow you…sly and nuanced clowning…wordless,  impressive poetry" - Chicago Theatre Blog. 

"Director Lawrence DiStasi showcases a wry sense of humor and some superb acrobatics in this quirky Actors Gymnasium show" "Recommended"  - Chicago Reader.

We had the great pleasure of checking out opening night of Lost & Found at The Actors Gymnasium last Saturday.   The caliber of their circus arts is truly top notch.  This colorful extravaganza combines all of our favorite elements--aerial acts, steampunkery, a funky, rag tag band of urchins playing instruments and making mischief, a love triangle, technology as art, low tech fun, recycled and upcycled outfits, drums and toys.  We'll be returning to catch the show again with the kids as soon as possible.  Lost and Found is highly recommended, family friendly fun for all ages.   We were quite impressed with the cast, and the cast off set dressings.  We're also enamored with Co-Artistic Director, Lawrence E. DiStasi's statement about the show.   He says:

I didn't used to like old things.  They kind of depressed me.  But now, when someone takes an old chair or something, a thing that has managed, against all odds, to survive the world for many years, and they give it a little careful attention-I think it's incredibly moving.  And these things have so much personality.  It's almost like they're alive.  Like people.   They have souls in a way.  Unfortunately most of the stuff we all bring into our lives is disposable.  And things that are made to be thrown away, are sad company.  It's so hard to stay away from them, but who needs that kind of sadness?   Anyway, I think there is treasure in our garbage-in what we throw away, and overlook.   And those people we throw away and overlook too.  There is magic in our trash.  And probably our future there too.

ChiIL Mama has potential video interviews in the works with the Artistic Directory and also actor/Chicago Dad, David Catlin, who plays alongside both of his daughters in the show.   Saylor, who is 9 and in 4th grade, went to preschool with ChiIL Mama's Sage.   Saylor's younger sister, Emerson, is a 6 year old first grader and Lost & Found 2012 is her first circus show!   So check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   We have lots of exciting things in store.

The Opening Night Gala was lots of fun, too.   We saw a zillion familiar faces including our past video interview subject, Director-David Kersnar, who can be seen HERE. (in his fabulous "Ernie & Bert style bed interview" with Mark Messing) on the set of Goodnight Moon.

We also sat next to an accomplished aerialist, whom we photographed and chatted with in the past, when she played Alice in Lookingglass' last remount of their namesake story.  We also saw familiar faces from CircEsteem, including Will, a talented high school senior, who plays the lead juggler in Lost & Found.   We highly recommend checking it out.

Lost & Found gets ChiIL Mama's GRRREAT GREEN SEAL OF APPROVAL:   99% Recycled! - Costumes, props and set pieces used in this show are re-purposed, recycled, found-object art.

Last year's runaway hit, Lost and Found: A Recycled Circus returns to The Actors Gymnasium! A collaborative original work by Co-Artistic Directors Larry DiStasi and Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, together with an amazing team of designers and performers, this circus production explores the world of second-hand treasure. Cast-off junk and cast-off characters are saved in this show and given thrilling, new life. Lost and Found: A Recycled Circus features aerial acrobatics, live music, and magical, found-object invention. 

Click here for The Actor's Gym's main site for ticket ordering info and more.

Order Tickets HERE before it's sold out!!

Shows run every Friday through Sunday till March 11th.

The Actors Gymnasium
927 Noyes St
Evanston, IL 60201

Recommended for ages 5 and up.   

Adults $15

Students with ID and kids under 13 are $10

 Check out ChiILMama's past coverage here.