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Showing posts with label original photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label original photos. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Got What It Takes To Join Blue Man Group?!



BLUE MAN GROUP ANNOUNCES OPEN CALL TO BE HELD AT CHICAGO’S BRIAR STREET THEATRE MONDAY, OCTOBER 24th






Auditions are Part of Nationwide Search for Additional Blue Men to Perform in Various Cities


Here at ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows we were invited to cover the open auditions for Blue Man Group a couple years ago and it was an incredible experience. 

2014, Blue Man hopefuls

The audition process is rigorous yet respectful and the talent pool is deep! My teen son came with me and we not only interviewed the hopefuls, but we also sat in on some of the drumming auditions.

 





This long running show is stunning, and the Blue Man Group craze is spreading to more cities and even other countries. If you're a man or woman 5'10" to 6'2" with strong drumming skills and a willingness to learn wacky human tricks and cool choreography, come on out and audition!







Blue Man Group, celebrating 25 years of living in full color in 2016, announces the 2016 Blue Man Group open casting call scheduled for Monday, October 24th from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the Briar Street Theatre (3133 N. Halsted Street). The Blue Man Group casting department is searching for talented individuals with the unique qualities to be a Blue Man, including excellent acting and drumming and/or musical skills. 






Best known for multimedia performances featuring three bald and blue characters, Blue Man Group is comedy, theater, rock concert and dance party all rolled into one. This wildly popular phenomenon delivers an outrageous multi-sensory entertainment experience that audiences will never forget. A dynamic combination of music, comedy and technology, the show appeals to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds. It is continually refreshed with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology.

The Blue Man cast features performers with a diverse mix of disciplines: classically-trained actors, rock musicians and dancers. The cast is given the unique opportunity to utilize their artistic abilities in an exciting and dynamic experience unmatched by any other stage production.

“Aside from the certain base skills and physical requirements we look for at the casting call, I love discovering the wonderful oddities that make each person distinctly who they are,” said Tascha Van Auken, Assistant Director of Casting and Training for Blue Man Productions. “The Blue Man character is a sort of primal investigator of human connection and it’s encouraging to be reminded that we can each be so remarkably unique and yet so wholly a part of the same human mission.”

There are currently more than 75 Blue Men all over the world. Blue Man Group’s open casting calls have been instrumental in finding the next generation of wide-eyed explorers of contemporary civilization.


open casting call 2014


What does it take to be a Blue Man? 

A Blue Man is an egoless, genderless being. Male and female performers are encouraged to audition. All necessary audition equipment will be provided. The basic criteria for Blue Man performers are:

Height between 5’10’’ and 6’2’’ (athletic build)

Drumming skills and/or musicianship are an advantage, but a good sense of rhythm is a necessity

Excellent acting skills. Strong candidates often have backgrounds in theater and improvisation. Candidates are compelling and genuine nonverbal storytellers. They must thrive in a constantly evolving team environment on and off the stage

Willingness to relocate as the casting call helps to identify future Blue Men for existing and upcoming productions in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando.

This open call audition is for Blue Man performers. For more information about ongoing Blue Man Group casting efforts, performers may visit www.blueman.com/casting.



About Blue Man Production
In 2016, global entertainment phenomenon Blue Man Group celebrates 25 years of living in full color with a series of new projects and appearances. The company is best known for the award-winning Blue Man Group show, performed more than 20 countries and seen by more than 35 million people worldwide since 1991. A dynamic combination of music, comedy and technology, the show appeals to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds. It is continually refreshed with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology.

The company developed through a creative collaboration among three close friends, Chris Wink, Phil Stanton and Matt Goldman on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Blue Man Group now has permanent theatrical productions in Las Vegas, Orlando, Boston, Chicago, New York and Berlin, a North American tour and a World Tour.

This creative collective is part of the pop culture zeitgeist. Beyond the stage show, they have toured the globe with the “Megastar World Tour” rock concert parody, released 5 albums, including the Grammy-nominated Audio, and contributed to numerous film and TV scores. They've served as the face of branding campaigns for Intel and TIM/Brasil and appeared countless times on hit shows like “The Tonight Show”, "Arrested Development", “Ellen”, “Schlag den Raab” (Germany), “WOWOW” (Japan), and “Caldeirão do Huck” (Brasil).

Based in New York City, Blue Man Productions has extensive production facilities, recording studios and a 6,000 square foot Research & Development Lab with numerous new creative projects in the pipeline. 


Blue Man Group Ticket Information
Tickets are available from $49-$99. Tickets may be purchased at the Briar Street Theatre by calling the box office at (773) 348-4000; by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787; at all Ticketmaster ticket centers or via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com/bluemanchicago. For a full show schedule and ticket pricing, please visit www.blueman.com/chicago.

Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more, varying from $46- $69 per person. For groups of 10 or more, call the group sales department to book at: 773.348.3300 or email chicagogroups@blueman.com to request information.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Review & Back Stage Photo Feature: Cirque du Soleil's TORUK in Chicago at The United Center

ChiIL Mama's Adventures 
Behind The Scenes at TORUK






It was my great pleasure to visit the United Center on the afternoon of opening night for rehearsal and a behind the scenes photo tour. The kids and I then went back for opening night that evening and loved it! Highly recommended. 


We were also thrilled to catch Australian puppeteer and father of two, Nick Barlow, for an exclusive video interview! Nick sets the bar high for world class puppetry on a massive, arena show scale, while balancing fatherhood. 





Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Nick studied Visual and Performing Arts at the Victorian College of the Arts, in addition to puppetry, dance, physical theatre, circus, voice, Chinese Lion dance, and Japanese 'taiko' drumming.

Prior to joining TORUK – The First Flight, Nick’s first show with Cirque du Soleil, he was working with the giant puppet company Snuff Puppets.  As part of the company he was performing, touring, and building puppets.  Most recently he worked as a physical performer with Polyglot Theatre, and was a puppeteer on the Australian tour of 'War Horse'.

Beyond performing, Nick trains in Chinese Lion Dance, which uses kung-fu, acrobatics, puppetry, dance and music.  

Avatar movie fans will adore this live, stage version of the first TORUK flight with a rider, long before humans discovered the planet Pandora. Even if you haven't seen Avatar, the show stands alone as a visual feast full of world class acro acts, tissue (silks) acts, Spanish web, and stunning costumes, lights, and sets. Don't miss this! The arena shows are in and out of town fast. This one's only here for a short 5 day run, so get your tickets today! 






Check out my full set of photos right here in the slideshow. More favorites are embedded below.

Cirque du Soleil's TORUK 
in Chicago at The United Center


I love to see the process behind productions. So much work goes into making the magic and I find it fascinating to see the costumes and props up close. Cirque du Soleil puts an incredible amount of thought into every detail, from the custom designed fabric choices to the shorts to cover harnesses. 












The yarn weaves on the wigs are detachable for easy cleaning and replacement when necessary. And all the wigs and costumes feature earthy, natural items that could be found in the wild or made from natural fibers and materials like seashells, beads, beetle shells, and wood. 








It's truly a treat to see the actors in action during rehearsals too. Many are learning new acts so they can be understudies in case of injury or illness. The whole cast is in every show so they have to shuffle actors around to cover any gaps since they don't travel with extra performers.


Tickets for TORUK can  be purchased at https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/toruk. 



The show
Inspired by James Cameron’s AVATAR, TORUK – The First Flight transports you to the world of Pandora in a visually stunning live setting. Experience a storytelling odyssey through a new world of imagination, discovery, and possibility.

Through a riveting fusion of cutting-edge visuals, puppetry and stagecraft buoyed by a soaring cinematic score, Cirque du Soleil applies its unique signature style to James Cameron’s imaginary world and “makes the bond” between two kindred artistic visions that capture the imagination.

This live immersive experience also bears the distinct signature of directors and multimedia innovators Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon. It is a living ode to the Na’vi’s symbiotic coexistence with nature and their belief in the basic interconnectedness of all living things.

Narrated by a “Na’vi Storyteller” and populated by unforgettable characters, TORUK – The First Flight is a mythical tale set thousands of years before the events depicted in the film AVATAR, and before any humans ever set foot on Pandora.

When a natural catastrophe threatens to destroy the sacred Tree of Souls, Ralu and Entu, two Omaticaya boys on the brink of adulthood, fearlessly decide to take matters into their own hands. Upon learning that Toruk can help them save the Tree of Souls, they set out, together with their newfound
friend Tsyal, on a quest high up in the Floating Mountains to find the mighty red and orange predator that rules the Pandoran sky. Prophecy is fulfilled when a pure soul rises among the clans to ride Toruk for the first time and save the Na’vi from a terrible fate.





Creative team
TORUK – The First Flight comprises 13 creators under the artistic guidance of Guy Laliberté (Guide) and Jean-François Bouchard (Creative Guide) for Cirque du Soleil, and James Cameron, Jon Landau, Kathy Franklin and Richie Baneham for Lightstorm Entertainment:

Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon                Show Writers and Directors, Multimedia Directors
Neilson Vignola                                                 Director of Creation
Carl Fillion                                                           Set and Props Designer
Kym Barrett                                                        Costume and Makeup Designer
Tuan Le and Tan Loc                                        Choreographers
Bob & Bill                                                             Composers and Musical Directors
Jacques Boucher                                              Sound Designer
Alain Lortie                                                         Lighting Designer
Patrick Martel                                                    Puppet Designer
Germain Guillemot                                          Acrobatic Performance Designer
Pierre Masse                                                      Rigging and Acrobatic Equipment Designer

Sponsors and partners
TORUK – The First Flight in Chicago is proud to be presented by Visa Signature®, in association with United MileagePlus®. DHL is the official sponsor. The show is being created through a licensing arrangement with 20th Century Fox.

In an effort to bring audience members involvement to a whole new level, Cirque du Soleil will be launching a first-of-its-kind app for TORUK – The First Flight.  Working with long-time technology partner SAP, the app will enhance the overall show experience and enable audience members to be a part of the action before, during and after the performance! The app can be downloaded HERE

Here at ChiIL Mama, we did all try the app during the show with mixed results. It was somewhat distracting, and I felt a bit naughty, opening my phone during a show, but it was fun to be part of some key moments, and seeing large numbers of people in the stadium adding to the show's effects was empowering. My son's older android phone wouldn't run the app at all. The girls and I have iPhone 5s & 6s which worked, but were a bit glitchy. It may be that our T-Mobile signal wasn't stellar inside United Center or that too many people were on their phones simultaneously. Once we got in the fireflies part at the beginning, none of us could get out without shutting the app down altogether. Mine froze up at 2 points during the show and just gave me the welcome screen, not the action for the scene. Still, it was an interesting concept and I hope they improve and expand on it.

Follow us at www.facebook.com/torukthefirstflight, Twitter @cirque | Instagram @cirquedusoleil | Snapchat @CirqueSnap | #TORUK #Avatar #CirqueduSoleil



Cirque du Soleil
TORUK – The First Flight is Cirque du Soleil’s 37th production since 1984. The company has brought wonder and delight to more than 155 million spectators in more than 300 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit https://www.cirquedusoleil.com.
To find out more about the ONE DROP Foundation, visit https://www.onedrop.org.


More of ChiIL Mama's TORUK Photo Favs:




 






















Wednesday, July 13, 2016

LIVE Show Shots: Immortal Bird at LiveWire Lounge, Chicago

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

June 14th, I caught Immortal Bird for the first time at Chicago's LiveWire Lounge. Despite being mid tour with a broken down van the day before, they put on an intense show for the hometown crowd. 




We had press comps via THEORIES to shoot the show. 






THEORIES
Immortal Bird
Abhorrent Deformity
Perihelion
Warforged




Here's a full set of my shots in the slide show. 
I've embedded a few favorites below as well.




Immortal Bird Band Members:
Rae. Vocals. Sometimes Drums.Evan. Guitars.
John. Bass.
Nate. Live Guitar.
Matt. Live Drums.
Record Label





Broken Limbs Recordings/Manatee Rampage Recordings
Crusty, blackened, and uncomfortably angry. 


  • 'Empress/Abscess' LP out now.
  • http://immortalbird.bandcamp.com
  • Debut EP 'Akrasia' released December 3, 2013. Mixed by Kurt Ballou and mastered by Brad Boatright.

Chi, IL Picks:




































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