ACT OUT CLOSING: Cirque Shanghai: Dragon’s Thunder Photo Filled Feature & Discount Tickets #originalshowshots #circus #review

Haven't caught Cirque Shanghai:  Dragon's Thunder yet?   Go already.   The circus is leaving town after Labor Day!

**ChiIL Mama's Readers can ChiIL Out with $10.00 off adult Emperor’s Court tickets to Cirque Shanghai: Dragon’s Thunder at Navy Pier with the code below!**

We caught them opening night and had a blast!   Cirque Shanghai is

an annual circus spectacle we look forward to every summer and a heart pounding, breathtaking display of circus arts that's fun for all ages.   You can't beat Dragon's Thunder for the price.   Cirque Shanghai is light on the wallet and heavy on the thrills.   Bring some multicultural magic to your summer.




Check out ChiIL Mama's original Dragon's Thunder photos above

ChiIL Tips:   Go on a Wednesday or Saturday night and catch a free Navy Pier fireworks show every week!   We also recommend buying the glossy, photo filled program.   The performers will sign it after the show and it'll be a fun keepsake for the kids to reminisce over.

As many times as we've seen the motorcycles and the globe of doom, my kids still love it and my daughter is always jazzed to see the girl among them.   She's an inspiration and a great role model of rockin' grrrrl power, and the spark for my child's enduring obsession with motorcycles. 

  

The high-flying acrobats of Cirque Shanghai are back with the all-new “Dragon’s Thunder,” happening all summer long at the Pepsi® Skyline Stage® at Navy Pier. Featuring the sounds of traditional Chinese “Dragon Drums,” this year’s show is bigger, better and more fun than ever. 

Dragon’s Thunder” at Chicago’s Navy Pier^® Pepsi^® Skyline Stage, 600 E. Grand Ave. Hailed by the Chicago Sun-Times as “….a circus everyone can feel good about,” 

Cirque Shanghai: Dragon’s Thunder must close on September 2, 2013 (Labor Day).

“Cirque Shanghai” has regular 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.

 Final performances will be Monday, September 2 (Labor Day) at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Click here to purchase tickets and use offer code BLOG for $10.00 off adult Emperor’s Court tickets. Offer good through September 2, 2013. Kids tickets just $15.50 all summer long!

Check out The magic of “Cirque Shanghai: Dragon’s Thunder!"

Praising Cirque Shanghai: Dragon’s Thunder, Chicago Parent proclaims “… this year’s show ramps up the entertainment and thrills from previous years.”

Cirque Shanghai: Dragon’s Thunder will run through September 2, 2013 (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 are $15.50 - $29.50 and are available via Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com/shanghai.

“Cirque Shanghai: Dragon’s Thunder” 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. With a total of 36 troupe members, “Dragon’s Thunder” is the largest Cirque Shanghai cast to ever visit the U.S.

This year’s production features an incredible line up of awe-inspiring acts, including “The Chinese Flex Bar,” the heart stopping “Gravity Swings,” and the awesome sounds of the traditional Chinese “Dragon Drums.” For the first time in Cirque Shanghai’s North American engagement, the traditional Chinese drums will be an integral part of the production.

ACT OUT: Circus acts, book, wine and talk at City Winery!

ChiIL Live Shows will be there... will you?   We're presently working out the details, but we hope to review and run a book giveaway for our readers as well!      

Of course, if you follow us much, you know we cover the local and international circus community thoroughly here at ChiIL Live Shows and our family friendly site, ChiIL Mama.   We've done multiple features on CircEsteem, Aloft, 500 Clown and major touring acts like Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloise, Cirque Shanghai, Ringling Brothers, and many more as well.   In fact, my own kids who will soon be 10 & 12, have been studying circus arts for close to 3 years now and perform with CircEsteem.

We plan to shoot stills on Monday and will have a photo filled recap up shortly.  As always, nothing compares to being there.   So what are you waiting for.   Get your tickets today.

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. Join us on March 11 at City Winery for Circus Now: anevening celebrating contemporary American circus and the recently released book The Ordinary Acrobat, hosted by Duncan Wall with presentations and performances from the Chicago circus community.     Join CircEsteem's Executive Director Maribeth Joy as she presents on how CircEsteem uses circus as a tool for social change.  Also performing will be CircEsteem juggling instructor, Brian Dailey and CircEsteem graduate Will McGowan. Featuring presenations by:   Maribeth Joy, Executive Director, CircEsteem      Shayna Swanson, Artistic Director, Aloft Loft Adrian Danzig, Artistic Director, 500 Clown       Joe Yonek, Director, Divine Flight Chicago AcroYoga  Matt Roben, Professional circus performer    7pm Start Time! Tickets: $10 tickets sold online, at box office, and at the door by City Winery.

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.