ANDREA BOCELLI RETURNS TO THE ALLSTATE ARENA FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 on Sale 4/7

Tickets On Sale Monday, April 7 at 10 a.m.

Performing on his United States Tour, world renowned tenor and classical music icon Andrea Bocelli will return to the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, for one night only on Saturday, December 13 at 8 p.m. Bocelli will be joined by conductor Eugene Kohn, soprano Maria Aleida, featured violinist Caroline Campbell, and Tony and Grammy Award winner Heather Headley for an a an evening of soaring arias, famed love songs, and crossover hits. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 7 at 10 a.m.

Thrilling audiences for more than 20 years, Andrea Bocelli exploded onto the world’s stage with his hit, “Con te Partiro” (and, later, the same piece’s arrangement as a duet with Sarah Brightman under the title “Time To Say Goodbye”).  He has since sold 80 million records and performed countless worldwide tours. Today, Bocelli is known for being one of the greatest singing talents in the world.

His commitment to performing and studying music is legendary. In 2013, Bocelli earned his Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from The Conservatory of Music, Giacomo Puccini in La Spezia, Italy. Bocelli also released “Love in Portofino” in 2013, a CD/DVD compilation featuring his breathtaking performance in Portofino, Italy in August 2012. More recently, Bocelli has been nominated for two 2014 Billboard Latin Music Awards, including Latin Pop Album of the Year and Latin Pop Album Artist of the Year (Solo). Bocelli continues to perform deep and powerful emotional interpretations of both classical and pop genres.

“Bocelli's vocal prowess in both sacred repertoire and popular ballads is undeniable. His powerful, heroic timbre, along with his range, profound control and commanding presence, makes for an overwhelming live experience,” raved the Orange County Register.

Other stops on Bocelli’s 2014 tour include concerts in New York, Dallas, Houston, Detroit and Las Vegas.

Allstate Arena, located at 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont, presents Andrea Bocelli on Saturday, December 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets will go on sale to the public on April 7 at 10 a.m. and are $75 - $375. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com via phone at 800-745-3000 or at the Allstate Arena box office located in the arena. For more information about the Allstate Arena, visit http://www.allstatearena.com.

SAVE THE DATE: THODOS DANCE CHICAGO 13 TH NEW DANCES SERIES JULY 19-21 AT THE RUTH PAGE

THODOS DANCE CHICAGO DEVELOPS AND CELEBRATES ITS DANCERS' SKILLS AS CHOREOGRAPHERS AT  
13 TH NEW DANCES SERIES, JULY 19-21 AT THE RUTH PAGE

 
 
 
Thodos Dance Chicago will celebrate 13 years of dance creation with its annual New Dances performance series, July 19-21, 2013 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, Chicago.  Performances are Friday and Saturday, July 19 and 20 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, July 21 at 5 pm. Tickets are $35; $28 for students and seniors; $20 industry (dancers and teachers); $10 for children 12 and under and for groups of 10 or more. Tickets are on sale now at thodosdancechicago.org or by calling 312.266.6255.

Dovetailing this year's lucky 13 theme, 13 Thodos Dance Chicago ensemble members will create 10 world premieres including three collaborations for this year's festival of new work: Cara Carper and Brian Hare, John Cartwright, Caitlin Cucchiara and Diana Robertson, Annie Deutz, Ray Doñes and Jon Sloven, Kyle Hadenfeldt, Joshua Manculich, Jessica Miller Tomlinson, Alissa Tollefson and Carrie Patterson.

In addition to works created from within by TDC ensemble members, each year a guest choreographer is selected from the community to create a new work for the project. This year, Ahmad Simmons, a dancer with River North Dance Chicago, is guest choreographer for New Dances.

Through New Dances, TDC's company members are not only given the freedom to create their own new work, they are also put in a directive position to make all production decisions for their work. This includes casting their dance with dancers from within as well as outside the company in the greater Chicago dance community, scheduling rehearsal time, collaborating with lighting and costume designers, budgeting, marketing and even creating and executing a fundraiser for the project. By being nurtured and promoted within the organization, Thodos ensemble members gain much-needed hands-on experience as choreographers backed up with strong production skills. This experience will serve them well during and following their careers as performers.


 
 
Perhaps one of the most valuable aspects of New Dances for TDC's dancer/choreographers is the opportunity to be mentored during the creation process by some of Chicago's top dance professionals. This year's panel is comprised of Jeff Hancock, founding member of River North Dance Chicago, now a lecturer at Northwestern University's dance program; Kristina Fluty, movement collaborator with Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak; Willy Shives, former dancer with the Joffrey Ballet; and Meghann Wilkinson, collaborating ensemble member with Lucky Plush Productions. This diverse and knowledgeable group will come together for two extensive private showings of all ten dances. During these showings they will share their feedback, advice and expertise to help guide the choreographers as they prepare to debut their work for the public in July.                                                                                                                  
Last year's New Dances was hailed as "sharp, engaging and tightly produced" by the Chicago Tribune, boasting "top flight work...polished to a high shine" according to seechicagodance.com.  Since the series' debut 12 years ago, Thodos' New Dances has provided the framework for nearly 100 Chicago-based choreographers and more than 200 dance artists to develop and showcase their skills and build their reputations.  Many works from past New Dances series have entered the repertory of Thodos Dance and been showcased at festivals ranging from Dance Chicago to the prestigious Jacob's Pillow. Others were embraced and received subsequent productions by noted directors Gerald Arpino of the Joffrey and Jim Vincent of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

New Dances choreographers have gone on to set works on Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, River North Dance Chicago, Dutch National Ballet Project, Dance Kaleidoscope, Atlanta Ballet, Dance Works Chicago, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Idaho Dance Theatre, Grand Rapids Ballet, Giordano Dance Chicago, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble and the second companies of Alvin Ailey and American Ballet Theater.  Likewise, Thodos New Dances choreographers have won many awards and top honors including the Ruth Page Award on two occasions, the Cliff Dwellers Award for Choreography, even a Top Chicagoan in the Arts by the Chicago Tribune. In 2009 and 2010 New Dances choreographers won the top prize in The A.W.A.R.D. Show! presented by The Joyce Theater Foundation in association with The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and On the Boards (Seattle).

About Thodos Dance Chicago   

According to Melissa Thodos, company founder, artistic director and creator of this nationally unique series, "New Dances embodies one of the many things we value so much at Thodos Dance Chicago - dance creation. It is a critical component of our mission - nurturing and supporting talented dance artists from within our own ensemble by creating a platform to express their own choreographic vision."

In 1992, Thodos, a young Evanston-born, Chicago-based dancer and choreographer, was frustrated with the lack of opportunities for local dancers to work in what in her mind was the obvious environment for any well-rounded dance professional:  A place to perform. A place to create. And a place to educate. Fast forward 20 years, and Thodos is the only female choreographer to have helmed her own mid-sized, contemporary dance company in Chicago for two decades with this unique mission, and perhaps the only local artistic director who offers her ensemble the honor and responsibility to pursue dance as a performer, choreographer and educator. 

In addition to dance creation and performance, dance education is the third critical focus of Thodos Dance Chicago's mission. As a teaching company, company members hold BAs and MFAs in dance, teach at the elementary, high school and university levels, and regularly lead workshops and master classes as part of company residencies around the country.  TDC also fulfills the education component of its mission by offering dance instruction for ages 3 to adult at its rehearsal space, Chicago's Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls, where it also trains its own Thodos Youth Ensemble.     

 

Thodos Dance Chicago continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Founder and Artistic Director Melissa Thodos, Executive Director Gail Ford, Grants and Booking Director Rick Johnston, Board President Elaine Rosenfeld Margulis, a dedicated board of directors and administrative staff, and the support of thousands of contemporary dance enthusiasts both in Chicago and nationwide. 

 Current TDC ensemble members, who each teach, choreograph and perform with innovative flair, include Cara Carper, John Cartwright, Caitlin Cucchiara, Annie Deutz, Ray Dones, Alissa Tollefson, Kyle Hadenfeldt, Brian Hare, Joshua Manculich, Jessica Miller Tomlinson, Diana Robertson and Jon Sloven. Laura Gates is the company's rehearsal director and ballet mistress.  The company is supported by the Illinois Arts Council - a state agency, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs - City Arts Program II, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Saints and many individual and corporate sponsors.  For more information, visit thodosdancechicago.org.



All Photos by Cheryl Mann--Thodos Dance Chicago's 12th annual New Dances series in 2012: Cara Carper and Carrie Nicastro in Scaled Gray by Brian Hare; Caitlin Cucchiara in Two Too by John Cartwright; Ray Doñes and Cecilia Ferguson-Bell in Phylum by Jon Sloven; Brian Hare and Caitlin Cucchiara in Lullaby by 2012 guest choreographer Brian Enos. 

SAVE THE DATE: Tixs on Sale THIS Friday OH BOY! BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY COMES TO CHICAGO JUNE 18 – 30

STAGE MUSICAL INCLUDES OVER TWENTY OF 

BUDDY HOLLY AND ROCK & ROLL’S 

GREATEST HITS

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that individual tickets for the musical BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY go on-sale to the public Friday, April 26, 2013 at 10 a.m.  Based on the life of rock legend Buddy Holly, BUDDY will play Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 West Randolph) for a limited engagement June 18 – 30, 2013.

In just three short years, Buddy Holly set the music world on fire and forever changed the face and sound of rock and roll. Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story charts his meteoric climb, legendary adventures and tragic fall on the fateful day the music died. Armed with a Fender Stratocaster guitar, his signature specs and a charismatic blend of rockabilly swagger, Buddy explodes onto the stage in this jukebox musical fully loaded with classics “Peggy Sue,” “Oh Boy,” “That’ll Be the Day,” “Well All Right,” “Not Fade Away” and many more with an encore that will have you on your feet and dancing in the aisles.

BUDDY will be directed and choreographed by Norb Joerder with music direction by John “Jockey” Banister and creative consultation by Matt Salisbury.  Casting will be announced at a later date.

About Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story

One of the first jukebox musicals, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story has been seen by millions of fans in fifteen countries around the world, including the United States.  The musical premiered in London’s West End in October, 1989, where it ran for twelve years and over 5,000 performances, A Broadway production followed in 1990.  The score includes over twenty of rock and roll’s greatest hits by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and more.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

The performance schedule for BUDDY is as follows:

Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesdays at 2 & 7:30 p.m. (no matinee performance on June 19)

Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.

Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m.

Sundays at 2 p.m. (additional performance on June 23 at 7:30 p.m.)

Please note: Ticket prices and performance schedule are subject to change.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for BUDDY at the Cadillac Palace Theatre range from $22-$85.  A select number of premium seats are also available for many performances. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.  Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Kiosk at Water Tower Place (845 N. Michigan Ave.), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. 

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar--Callers at Sub-T 9/15

CALLERS       Photo Credit: Aaron Stern This September, Callers are hitting the road with Wye Oak for a string of North American tour dates in what is the first series of live performances to celebrate the release of their new album, Reviver. Out October 9th on Partisan, the record bursts with charisma, highlighted by its bold instrumentation and the unmistakable electricity of Sara Lucas' soaring vocals, evident in their current single "Howard 2 Hands." That voice, combined with the addition of two new members, makes for an ambitious live show that will intrigue even the toughest of critics. And in another sonically fitting match, Callers will be playing with Dirty Projectors this Sunday, August 19th, in Boston at the Paradise Rock Club. Check out their full run of dates below and don't miss out on a chance to see some truly exceptional musicians take the stage.  Reviver is a statement on power, rhythm and beauty. The third LP from Callers, made up of long time collaborators Sara Lucas and Ryan Seaton, will be released on October 9th on Partisan Records. While Sara grew up enveloped by R & B, Motown, gospel and jazz in St. Louis, Ryan was 400 miles away in Little Rock, nurtured by a community of eccentric artists and musicians, collaborating on ad hoc punk shows by the riverbank. Both musicians intuitively grasped the commitment to craft in their peers and mentors, shaping their purpose to create a strong, clear statement of their own. New Orleans was the place that brought them together, the place where their first song was recorded over a landline, their first EP from a mic hanging on the ceiling fan. Sara's freedom of expression, her ease of phrasing, the effortlessness and transcendence of her voice drew Ryan to working with her, while Sara was undeniably drawn to his vast arrangements, particular style, and grasp of musical realms. Providence emerged as the hub for support and sustained creative advice, a second EP recorded amongst ghosts in the attic, and the source of collaboration with Keith Souza and Seth Manchester of acclaimed recording studio Machines with Magnets (Battles, Fang Island, Psychic Paramount.) Finally, Brooklyn became the city they now call home, leading to the creation of two LPs, Fortune and Life of Love. With Brooklyn also came transition: after offering a new interpretation on Life of Love and Reviver, Don Godwin amicably moved on from the project at the latter's completion. Meanwhile, Keith and Seth's involvement in the production and development of Reviver thrived, ultimately inspiring them to join the band. Reviver stands as the most fully realized vision Callers has as artists. Influenced by the poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks,  "Heroes" and "Reviver" capitalize on a fierce spirit with driving rhythms and a hardened determination, while "Good Years" and "Your Finest" emphasize grandiose crescendos, idiosyncratic melodies and the complexity of surprise. On the album's title track, one witnesses the satisfaction and strength they feel by attaining clarity: "We are older than ourselves / I'm your Reviver."   Links / Callers Official Website Callers Official Facebook Follow Callers On Twitter Partisan Records Upcoming Tour Dates / 08/19 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA *09/13 - Mr. Small's Theatre - Millvale, PA # 09/14 - The Bishop - Bloomington, IN # 09/15 - Subterranean - Chicago, IL09/17 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON # 09/18 - Bug Jar - Rochester, NY # 09/20 - Music Hall Of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY #09/21 - Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ # 09/22 - Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA # 09/23 - Black Cat - Washington, DC #  * with Dirty Projectors # with Wye Oak  Reviver | Tracklisting / 01. Good Years 02. Heroes 03. Your Finest 04. Crush Times 05. Long Control 06. Reviver 07. Turning 08. Its A Ringer 09. Antenna 10. Howard 2 Hands Release Date: October 9th on Partisan Records   Quotes / "Callers move in mysterious ways. The Brooklyn-by-way-of-New Orleans trio mixes a sort of jazzy folk with snatches of wildly disparate stuff like prog and slowcore, Eastern-flecked drone, gauzy 50s pop, turn-on-a-dime post-punk. It's stark in execution, dazzling in effect." Pitchfork "Brooklyn's Callers make an indescribable, codeine-ready micro-ruckus that straddles some downtown-via-Bedford line between grandiose indie rock gestures, art-jazz slither, dusty folk, and swooning soul." Village Voice "The spare and powerful guitar-and-drums arrangements of Callers provide a dynamic setting for the extraordinary voice of singer Sara Lucas. These former southerners have moved from New Orleans to Brooklyn, bringing with them a bluesy vibe that fits nicely with their sense of daring and experimentation." WNYC "A textural/experimental streak runs through Seaton's guitar playing, showing influences of Ben Monder when in jazz mode, Loren Mazzacane Connors in bluesier settings. Lucas' octave-jumping and sudden shifts from sweetness to sorrow evoke the young Joni Mitchell, although she has her own personality. Folk singers-songwriters aficionados need to pay attention: either Callers will be the next big thing on the scene." All Music Guide "Like a dark horse on a crooked mile, Brooklyn duo Callers kicks up dusty folk & blues on its intensely intimate debut, Fortune." Austin Chronicle