Check out ChiIL Live Shows HD footage from the press conference. Here are producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig with background on the movie the show was based on and exciting tidbits about the musical adaptation.
Kinky Boots is in pre-Broadway production in Chicago! They've been in previews since October 2nd, and opening night is TONIGHT 10/17. ChiIL Live Shows will be there and we'll have a full review up shortly. We adored the movie and can't wait to check it out the live, stage adaptation!
When people ask me Cubs or Sox, I always say Blackhawks.
So, even though hockey's on ice (or rather off ice) for the season, my heart still belongs to The Blackhawks. I was surprised and happy to hear the old school Hawks theme song and see their iconic indian head represented on the screens between innings, when I went to see The Cubs play on 5/29 and 6/13.
I even saw Hawks fans proudly showing their true colors among all the Cubbies red white & blue. Maybe these hybrid Hawks/Cubs fans are "hubs", eh? Better than the alternate. Hee hee.
That said, when we were invited to a special Cubs day ON Wrigley Field with other members of the press, bloggers and Mastercard Priceless Cubs Pledge winners, we said an emphatic, YES!
We were invited to:
*bat and catch with the coaches
*take a few swings in the batting cage behind the ivy, then keep a ball and get it signed by the coaches
*dine in style at the Stadium Club
*AND catch a free night game--Cubs V. Tigers
My kids tease me for saying WOO HOO and awesomely awesome......but even as a writer, I can't think of anything else that better sums up our day ON Wrigley Field. It was indeed awesomely awesome!Woo Hoo!!
Check out Du-Jay tossing a few balls and getting some great pointers from the pros!!
Then see him passing along his new found wisdom to little sister...priceless!
My Dad was born and raised in Rogers Park and has remained a life long Cubs fan since 1938. Here's my dad, Richard Rosene, as a child in the 40's
Even though he lives two states away now, he still fervently follows The Cubs. He also fondly tells stories of taking the el down to games as a child in the 40's. He remembers sitting in the bleacher seats and his dad buying the kids lemonade, but he never saw a game from anywhere but the cheap seats.
His art work from April 1947--entitled "Ballgame"
So, it was especially thrilling for him to see his grandson and granddaughter have a rockin' opportunity like this!
The kids dug being on the flipside of the infamous ivy....
And walking in the footsteps of the pros...
They also enjoyed getting to keep a ball and get it signed by the coaches!
It was a highlight getting photographs in "the circle" and hanging out with old and new blogger and press friends.
Dinner was a huge hit....especially the carry out cups full of gummy bears and M & M's for the game.
Sagezilla even got a chef's hat from the writer of "Reading Between the Vines".
You too can enter to win a priceless experience by submitting your own Cubs pledge & then proof, by clicking the link right here,but do it now. The contest closes on June 24th!!
It can be silly, embarrassing, humanitarian or hard to do.
Be creative.
I pledged to donate 1 bag of kids clothes and toys to a womens' shelter or soup kitchen for every Cubs win to date as of 6/13 (21). We're filling 'em up and sharing our stuff. I figure that good karma's a win win situation. My husband's just thrilled we're clearing the clutter.
My kids are more likely to juggle a ball than hit one with a bat. They're becoming accomplished circus performers with CircEsteem, Chicago's premier youth circus. They offer sliding scale classes in circus arts to kids from all income levels and neighborhoods across Chicago. The team kids have even done circus exchange programs with kids in Africa and Germany, trading off hosting and traveling abroad!
When I asked Sagezilla (9) and Du-Jay (11) what they would pledge to do in support of The Cubs, they eagerly and excitedly planned a few circus tricks to do ON Wrigley Field. That way their kid energy and enthusiasm will infuse the field and linger there, boosting the Cubs players' stamina, flexibility, and enthusiasm!!
Du-Jay (11) pledged to juggle 3 balls 20 times while Sagezilla (9) did back walkovers ON Wrigley Field. See ChiIL Mama's kids fulfill their pledge right here!
*Disclosure: Thanks a million to Mastercard for providing this opportunity for us. The memories we made and the photos and video we shot that day are truly priceless!
ChiIL Live Shows original show shots-Black Tusk headlining Ultra Lounge, Chicago March 2012
Savannah, Georgia road warriors BLACK TUSK are kicking off a North American tour tomorrow in Broussard, LA with Down and Haarp. This run of shows goes through May 25th in Memphis, TN at the New Daisy Theater. Following the dates with Down, BLACK TUSK will be joining Municipal Waste's headlining tour, which will also feature special guests 3 Inches of Blood. The dates with Municipal Waste begin May 27th in Wilmington, NC and wrap up June 26th in New York, NY. BLACK TUSK will be taking part in the "Orion Music & More Festival" curated by Metallica. The event is set for Saturday June 23rd and Sunday June 24th at Bader Field in Atlantic City, NJ. BLACK TUSK will be featured on the "Damage Inc" stage on Saturday June 23rd alongside label mates RED FANG and many others. More information can be found HERE.
BLACK TUSK Tour Dates: With Down and Haarp 5/18: Broussard, LA @ The Station 5/19: Huntsville, AL @ Crossroads 5/21: Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel 5/23: Little Rock, AR @ Juanita's Cantina Ballroom 5/25: Memphis, TN @ New Daisy Theater With Municipal Waste 5/27: Wilmington, NC @ The Soapbox Laundrolounge 5/28: Atlanta, GA @ 529 5/29: Orlando, FL @ The Social 5/30: Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall 6/2: Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves 6/3: Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory 6/5: Tempe, AZ @ 910 Live With Municipal Waste and 3 Inches of Blood 6/11: Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction 6/12: Hollywood, CA @ The Key Club 6/13: Oakland, CA @ Oakland Metro Operahouse 6/15: Seattle, WA @ Neumos Crystal Ball Reading Room 6/16: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater *6/21: Chicago, IL @ Reggie's Rock Club 6/22: Columbus, OH @ Screamin' Willies "Orion Music + More Festival" 6/23: Atlantic City, NJ @ Bader Field With Municipal Waste and 3 Inches of Blood 6/24: Albany, NY @ Bogies 6/25: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer 6/26: New York, NY @ Santos Party House
Here's the "best of" our original show stills from the 2nd half of Toys Take Over, CircEsteem's 3rd Annual Team Circus. Look for our HD show clips of the first half all week!
It's a delight to see teens involved in producing, directing, choreographing, publicizing and enacting an entire circus arts show themselves. And these are extraordinary teens.
They've traveled the country, Germany and Switzerland performing hundreds of shows. They're not only excellent performers, they teach and mentor younger kids in CircEsteem's highly recommended classes and summer camps.
ChiIL Mama's own Du-Jay (11) and Sagezilla (8) have been involved with CircEsteem since fall of 2010 and love it! They've both acquired the skills for pre-team now and can be seen in the show, opening for their team mentors.
Sagezilla's contortionist tricks include going through juggling hoops!
We highly recommend CircEsteem for the playfully serious vibe, excellent caliber of instruction, and their commitment to multiculturalism and making circus arts affordable to all Chi-Town kids.
Du-Jay was shy and reluctant to even do a scene with a partner in class when he first began at CircEsteem. Now he has three shows under his belt, with a real audience and little stage fright. He has blossomed into quite the confident kid and uses his circus skills to break the ice in other social situations.
Four of the talented team kids are headed off to college in the fall with the help of scholarships and matching funds from CircEsteem's work/college program. If you'd like to take classes--available for toddlers to adults--or register for summer camp (slots are filling fast!), or make a donation to this rockin' non profit, then check out their main site here. For loads more CircEsteem coverage from ChiIL Mama, try the search bar in the top right and/or type CircEsteem in at ChiIL Mama's YouTube Channel.
*We've bartered a reduced fee for circus classes in exchange for video, photography & writing services. All opinions expressed in features are our own.
