Brand New--CLUTCH Unleash Title Track From Earth Rocker #metal

European Tour Starts January 22nd    Here at ChiIL Live Shows, Clutch has been one of our favorites for years.   Usually we put the ipod on shuffle and let it go, but earlier this week we were on an all Clutch bender for a couple of days.   So, I was extra stoked to see the title track off Earth Rocker land in my in box and to be able to share it with our readers!    We have an exclusive video interview with Neil Fallon, live pit photos from their recent tour with Prong and more, coming soon...so check back with ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often. Before heading to Europe to kick of the first leg of the Earth Rocker world tour, CLUTCH is giving fans a chance to hear the title track and first single from their new album. The band has teamed up with Brooklyn Vegan for an exclusive world premiere of "Earth Rocker". Brooklyn Vegan is a tastemaker blog highlighting indie rock and metal that's expanded far outside of its NYC beginnings. Get a first listen of the track and check out an interview with guitarist Tim Sult HERE. With a little bit more than three months left before the release of CLUTCH's highly anticipated new studio effort Earth Rocker, the band has announced the initial dates for the first leg of the North American Earth Rocker world tour. The dates kick off March 8th in Cincinnati, OH and are currently slated to run through March 24th in Anaheim, CA.   Support on these dates will be provided by Orange Goblin, Lionize and Kyng. Tickets are on sale now! Look for more dates to be announced in the coming weeks. CLUTCH recently unveiled the artwork for Earth Rocker. The artwas created by Nick Lakiotes, long time CLUTCH art director, who has worked on previous efforts including:  Robot Hive/Exodus and Strange Cousins From the West. Fans can keep up on the progress of Earth Rocker by visiting the new website www.earthrocker.com. The website is a hub dedicated to all things Earth Rocker. Fans can expect to see frequent updates including photos, videos from the studio, song title announcements and samples of new songs. In addition to the new website CLUTCH has joined the world of twitter. Follow CLUTCH on Twitter @ClutchOfficial. Earth Rocker European Tour 1/21: Press Day in London, UK 1/22: London, UK @ Koko - SOLD OUT! 1/23: Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg - Tickets  1/24: Press Day in Paris, FR 1/25: Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie - SOLD OUT! 1/26: Stuttgart, GER @ Universum - SOLD OUT!  1/27: Munchen, GER @ Backstage Club - SOLD OUT!  1/28: Press Day in Berlin, GER 1/29: Berlin, GER @ Lido - SOLD OUT!  1/30: Press Day in Cologne, GER 1/31: Cologne, GER @ Luxor - Tickets  2/1: Brussels, BE @ VK - Tickets  2/2: Hamburg, GER @ Logo - SOLD OUT! 2/3: Copenhagen, DK @ Amager Bio - Tickets  2/4: Press Day in Oslo, NO 2/5: Oslo, NO @ Parkteateret -  SOLD OUT! 2/6: Press Day in Stockholm, SWE 2/7: Stockholm, SWE @ Tyrol - Tickets  Earth Rocker North American Tour 3/8: Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's - Tickets  3/9: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works - Tickets  3/10: Sauget, IL @ Pop's - Tickets  3/11: Little Rock, AR @ Juanita's Cantina Ballroom - Tickets  3/12: Tulsa, OK @ Cain's Ballroom - Tickets  3/14: Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom - Tickets  3/18: Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep - Tickets  3/19: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot - Tickets  3/21: Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues - Tickets  3/22: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee - Tickets  3/23: Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Café Las Vegas Strip - Tickets  3/24: Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues - Tickets  Follow CLUTCH on Twitter @ClutchOfficial  Like CLUTCH on Facebook  For More Info Visit: http://www.earthrocker.com http://www.pro-rock.com http://weathermakermusic.com/ http://www.clutchmerch.com

ACT OUT SAVE THE DATES: Profiles In The Company of Men On Sale Now

Profiles Theatre announces the World Premiere of Neil LaBute’s revised stage version of In the Company of Men Profiles Theatre Artistic Directors Darrell W. Cox and Joe Jahraus announce the World premiere of Resident Artist Neil LaBute’s revised stage version of In the Company of Men, opening at The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway. In the Company of Men, directed by Profiles Resident Artist and Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder, runs May 10-June 30, 2013.   The previously announced production of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon will be performed at a later date, to be announced. Profiles Theatre presents the professional debut production of Neil LaBute’s revised stage play, In the Company of Men. The script, performed in various incarnations as a play at earlier stages of LaBute’s writing career as both a student and otherwise, was eventually made into the acclaimed film released in 1997 launching the careers of star Aaron Eckhart and Neil LaBute as a filmmaker and playwright. When it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, In the Company of Men created a firestorm of controversy with wildly divergent yet passionate opinions. It received the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay, the Filmmaker's Trophy at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival and The New York Film Critics Award for Best First Feature. Two frustrated young executives vent their pent-up rage via a childish prank and end up paying a price in the psychological dark comedy, In the Company of Men. Former college buddies Chad and Howard, now in their late 20s, work for the same company. When the two begin expressing their mutual frustration regarding their lack of rapid advancement at work and their recent bad luck with women, they hatch a nasty scheme to be enacted over an upcoming six-week-long business trip: Find a vulnerable young woman to court, slather with affection, and then callously dump. They choose a lovely, hearing-impaired typist named Christine, but soon their scheme creates escalating tension and psychological games not only with hapless Christine, but also with each other. Resident Artist and Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder directs the World premiere production of the revised script of In the Company of Men following his acclaimed Profiles productions of A Behanding in Spokane, reasons to be pretty and the Jeff Award-winning Killer Joe (Production, Director, Principal Actor).  Casting to be announced. "I'm so excited to be putting this early work of mine into the hands of my trusted collaborators over at Profiles Theatre,” says playwright Neil LaBute. “The film was a fantastic experience for me personally, but I've always hoped that the script would make its way back to the stage. I’ve truly enjoyed the creative process of adapting the original play for the screen and now turning it back into a play again. I think it's in perfect hands with Joe, Darrell and Rick. I feel that these characters will still resonate with audiences and I know that Profiles will take In the Company of Men for the ride that it deserves--they never pull punches at Profiles and I love the artistic relationship that we have fostered together over the past few seasons. I consider myself a lucky man to still get work done regularly in Chicago and I believe I have a genuine home for that work at Profiles." Profiles Theatre began its relationship with Neil LaBute in 2006 with the Midwest premiere of autobahn, followed by their long-running hit, Fat Pig. In 2007, Profiles devoted an entire season to the works of LaBute that included the Midwest premieres of In a Dark Dark House, Some Girl(s), This is How it Goes, and a collection of short works entitled Things We Said Today followed by the Midwest premiere of The Mercy Seat in 2009 and the Chicago premiere of reasons to be pretty in 2011. Last season, Profiles produced the American premiere of In a Forest, Dark and Deep as the inaugural production of their newest venue, The Main Stage. The playwright twice participated in benefit evenings of readings and conversation to support the theatre’s productions. The stage version of In The Company of Men is produced by special arrangement with LaBute’s longtime collaborator and one of the film’s original producers, Stephen Pevner of Stephen Pevner, Inc and Company One Productions.  Profiles, currently in rehearsal for the Midwest premiere of The Dream of The Burning Boy by David West Read, opens the production at its original home, The Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway, January 21, 2013. The company’s critically acclaimed 20th Anniversary production of Hellcab by Will Kern continues its extended run at The Main Stage through January 27, 2013. Tickets for this limited run of In the Company of Men are $35 for Thursdays, $40 for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. A two show Flex Pass is currently available for two admissions to both The Dream of the Burning Boy and In the Company of Men for $100 when purchased before January 31, 2013. Tickets are available by phone, (773) 549-1815, or online, Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:00 and 8:00 pm, Sundays at 7:00 p.m. FACTS Title:                 In the Company of Men             Playwright:        by Neil LaBute Directed by:      Rick Snyder                         Dates:              Previews:                     May 10 – May 15, 2013                                     Press Opening:            Thursday, May 16, 2013                                     Regular Run:                May 16 – June 30, 2013 Schedule:         Thurs., Fri.:                  8:00 p.m.                          Saturday:                     5:00 p.m. and 8:00p.m. (no 5pm show during previews) Sunday:                       7:00 p.m. Location:          Profiles Theatre, The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway                         Parking is available for $10 - $12 at 4100 N. Clarendon (One block east of the theatre at the corner of Clarendon and Belle Plaine) Ticket prices:    Previews:         $20 Regular Run:    Thursdays are $35, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are $40; Students and Senior Citizens receive a $5 discount on all performances; Group rates are available. Box Office:       Buy online at www.profilestheatre.org or call (773) 549-1815 ABOUT PROFILES THEATRE Profiles Theatre, founded in 1988 by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, joined shortly thereafter by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox, was formed as an actor-driven theatre ensemble dedicated to creating provocative and emotionally truthful productions. Passionate about shaping an original vision for new works, they focused on performing World, American and Midwest premieres as well as rarely performed plays. Critically acclaimed hits, such as BLACKBIRD, FAT PIG, GRACELAND and the multiple Jeff Award-winning KILLER JOE, established Profiles as a destination for challenging and edgy theatre. Their unique collaboration with playwright Neil LaBute led the ensemble to perform an entire season of his plays in 2007-2008. Now a Resident Artist at Profiles, LaBute remains an unequivocal artistic influence on the ensemble. After performing at 4147 North Broadway for more than two decades, Profiles acquired an adjacent theatre at 4139 North Broadway in 2012. Profiles’ new theatre, The Main Stage, with its larger seating capacity, increased performance space and higher ceilings, accommodates more ambitious and technically demanding productions. Their long-time venue, renamed The Alley Stage, continues as the home for plays strengthened by a more intimate staging. Driven by an undiminished appetite for creating honest and resonant theatre, Profiles still seeks to present work that illuminates the determination and resiliency of the human spirit.

ACT OUT OPENING: American Theater Company announces the world premiere of the revised version of columbinus

World premiere of the revised version of columbinus Opens at ATC

WRITTEN BY STEPHEN KARAM AND PJ PAPARELLI

DRAMATURGY BY PATRICIA HERSCH

CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PJ PAPARELLI

American Theater Company announces the world premiere of the revised version of columbinus, written by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli, with dramaturgy by Patricia Hersch, and conceived and directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli.  The 2013 production will premiere material devised from recent interviews with survivors of the Columbine High School Shootings, families of victims and residents of Littleton, Colorado. The new material includes never-before-released information on the shooters and their families and first-hand accounts of both the Columbine and Aurora shootings.  

Columbinus will run February 1  – March 10, 2013, at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago, IL. 

• Co-writer Stephen Karam’s play Sons of the Prophet was a 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist.

Littleton, Colorado. 1999.  Two teenagers devastate a community and shock the country when they walk into their suburban high school and kill twelve students and one teacher.  Based on interviews with teenagers across the country and survivors and community members in Littleton, this haunting drama takes a hard look at modern teenagers through the lens of the most infamous high school shooting in American history. 

• PJ Paparelli returned to Littleton, Colorado earlier this year to conduct additions interviews with the families of victims.    Information was discussed openly for the first time, mainly due to previous restrictions as a result of court cases.  The new script contains new and revised scenes based on the interviews, and including current events.  

“Folks who didn’t want to talk before because of lawsuits or their healing process, have now all opened up,” said Paparelli about the recent interviews.  “I was shocked at what I heard and I am glad that theater will be the vehicle to get this information out to the world.”

Several survivors who are featured in the documentary play will travel to Chicago to work with the cast and attend Opening Night.

• Victims’ families will be attending columbinus throughout the run.  Additional information will be available soon about post-show discussions in conjunction with visitors from Littleton.

Paparelli continues, “The events in Newtown have saddened and, frankly, angered our entire company as well as those survivors from Columbine with whom we have been working with so closely on this project.  While the nation mourns, a passionate dialogue has begun about the larger issues of gun control, mental health treatment, and ultimately, the unanswerable question of, “why?”.  Our interviewees in Colorado and our artistic team hope that columbinus will be forum for Chicagoans to further that dialogue, which is exactly why teenagers from Chicago Public School are at the center of that dialogue, as they work on the play in classrooms around the city.”

Over 1000 ninth grade students in Chicago Public Schools English classes will have a first-hand experience with columbinus.  Through ATC’s American Mosaic program and in conjunction with the city-wide initiative to address violence in the schools, Now Is The Time, ATC teaching artists will collaborate with classroom teachers to lead students in a performance-based study of the play.  Through American Mosaic, ATC hopes to strengthen reading competency and comprehension, spark interest in reading and lead and inspire meaningful conversation about solutions to violence.

Schedule:         Thursdays & Fridays: 8:00 p.m .

Saturdays: 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.                     

Sundays: 2:00 p.m.      

                                                            

There will be an additional performance on Tuesday, February 5 at 7 p.m.

Location:                                  American Theater Company, 

                                                  1909 W Byron St., Chicago

Tickets:                      Previews: $33

Regular run: 

Thurs, Sat matinees, Sun matinees $38

Fri & Sat evenings $43

Opening night including post-show reception $50

*As part of Chicago Theater Week, a limited number of $15 tickets will be available for all performances February 14 – 17, 2013.

Box Office:                 The Box Office is located at 

                                      1909 W Byron St., Chicago

773.409.4125; www.atcweb.org

• columbinus was a critical success when it premiered in 2005 in a co-production with Round House Theatre in DC and Perseverance Theater and then Off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2006. 

columbinus features Matt Bausone (Freak/Eric Harris), Rob Fenton (Prep), Eric Folks (Loner/Dylan Klebold), Leah Karpel (Faith), Aaron J. Nelson (Jock), Kelly O’Sullivan (Perfect), Tyler Ravelson (AP), andSadieh Rifai (Rebel).

The creative team for columbinus includes William Boles (Scenic Designer), Jesse Klug (Lighting Designer), Mac Vaughey (Associate Lighting Designer), Sally Dolembo (Costume Designer), Andre Pluess(Sound Designer) and Martin Desjardins (Original Sound Designer) and Mike Tutaj (Projection Designer).  Michael Leibenluft is the Assistant Director, Rick Combs is the Technical Director, G. Max Maxin IV is the Properties Master, and Katie Klemme is the Stage Manager. 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

PJ PAPARELLI (Conceiver, Co-Writer, Director) is the author of Any Year is This Year a documentary play in partnership with Maria Irene Fornes (ATC’s Silver Project); Raven Odyssey (Perseverance Theater) a documentary style play on Alaska Native Raven stories; and columbinus (New York Theatre Workshop). columbinus was nominated for 2 Lucille Lortel Awards, 5 Helen Hayes Awards, and has had over 150 productions around the world.  He is in his sixth season as Artistic Director of American Theater Company where his directing credits include The Original Grease (2011 Jeff Award Best Musical), The Catholic Rep, The Amish Project, Escape, Distracted, Yeast Nation by the writers of Urinetown, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, True West (Caucasian & African American versions), and Speech & Debate (2008 Jeff Nomination Best Director). From 2004-2007 he was the Artistic Director of Perseverance Theater in Juneau, Alaska and from 1998-2004 he was the Associate Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC.  Regional directing credits include Romeo and Juliet (The Folger), a collaboration with Terrence McNally on a new version of Corpus Christi at Source Theatre (2003 GLAAD Media Award), Romeo and Juliet(Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis), Twelfth Night at Shakespeare Santa Cruz (2005 Newsweek’s Top Five summer productions), The Merchant of Venice (American Shakespeare Center), Action (Circle Rep) andTrue West in Russian at the Moscow Art Theatre School. PJ has directed and/or taught Shakespeare at The Juilliard School, Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College, North Carolina School of the Arts, University of Alaska-Southeast, UNC at Chapel Hill, Catholic U, U of Pennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins.  He holds a BFA in directing from Carnegie Mellon and graduate studies in acting at the Moscow Art Theatre School.  He was in residency last summer at The Orchard Project in NY, developing a documentary play on Chicago’s Public Housing.

STEPHEN KARAM (Co-Writer) is the author of Sons of the Prophet (2012 Pulitzer Prize Finalist and winner of the Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics Circle & Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Play).  Other plays includeSpeech & Debate, the inaugural production of Roundabout Underground and the regional premiere at American Theater Company; columbinus (New York Theatre Workshop); Girl on Girl (Brown/Trinity Playwrights Rep); and Emma (a modern, musical version of Jane Austen’s novel), performed by students of the Professional Performing Arts High School in NYC in association with Waterwell.  He wrote the libretto for Dark Sisters, an original chamber opera with composer Nico Muhly (co-produced by Gotham Chamber Opera, MTG and Opera Company of Philadelphia). Stephen has been a guest teacher at Brown University, NYU, University of Scranton, The New School and is a 2012 writer-in-residence at the Fieldston School in NYC. A MacDowell Colony Fellow, Stephen grew up in Scranton, PA and is a graduate of Brown University.  He is the recipient of the inaugural Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Drama Desk Award and the Dramatists Guild’s Hull-Warriner Award for Sons of the Prophet.

PATRICIA HERSCH (Dramaturg) is the author of the critically acclaimed book A Tribe Apart: Journey into the Heart of American Adolescence. Considered the "first report from the home front" the year it was released, both Amazon.com and The Wall Street Journal named it one of the top 10 books in parenting, families and work. As lecturer, consultant, writer and youth advocate, she tours the country bridging the gap between adolescents and the adult world around them. Immediately following the Columbine shootings, she was called upon to address a special meeting of the COPS (Community Oriented Police in the Schools) program at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and a Speak Out Forum for Youth convened by MTV and the National Association of Attorneys General and to keynote a conference of Educational Writers Association on Violence in the Schools. A former contributing editor to Psychology Today, she has been published in The Washington Post, USA Today, The Baltimore Sun and other newspapers and magazines. Her new book A Passion of Their Own: The Adolescent Quest for Connection will include some of her experiences working on columbinus.

MATT BAUSONE (Freak/Eric Harris) is making his American Theater Company debut in columbinus. He is a recent graduate of Illinois State University.

ROB FENTON (Prep) makes his second appearance with American Theater Company. Rob moved to Chicago to be in Timeline Theatre's production of The History Boys and was last seen with TheMASSIVE in their production of Macbeth. Rob is a founding ensemble member of The Alluvium Group. He has also worked with Dog and Pony, Griffin, Mary Arrchie, The Neo-Futurists, Sinnerman Ensemble, Signal Ensemble, and Steppenwolf Theatre companies.

ERIC FOLKS (Loner/Dylan Klebold) is a New York based actor where he is a company member at the Flea Theater. At the Flea he has appeared in the world premieres of JOB by Thomas Bradshaw, Just Cause by Zack Russel, and The Wundelsteipen and Other Difficult Roles for Young People by Nick Jones. He has also played a slew of roles in #serials@theflea, the Flea's raucous late-night episodic play competition. Other Credits: Almost, Maine (New London Barn Playhouse), Fiddler on the Roof (New London Barn Playhouse), and A Man of No Importance (Gallery Players, Brooklyn). Eric is a graduate of Otterbein University.

LEAH KARPEL (Faith) has appeared in Chicago in The Glass Menagerie, The Hot L Baltimore (Steppenwolf Theatre); We Are Proud to Present... (Victory Gardens Theatre); Punk Rock (Griffin Theatre); Neighborhood 3: Requisition Of Doom (Strawdog Theatre Company); and Feet Of Clay (Last Match Theatre).  Regional credits include Ten Chimneys (Milwaukee Rep); Half And Half (Penguin Rep); The Play About My Dad (CollaborationTown); and Evanston: A Rare Comedy (HERE Arts/PS 122).  She will be seen next in The Whale at Victory Gardens Theatre.  Leah received her BFA from Boston University and is a graduate of The School At Steppenwolf.

AARON J. NELSON (Jock) has worked with Disney, Estee Lauder, The Chicago Bulls, Six Flags, Profiles’ Theatre, and The World Literacy Crusade. He is also a songwriter and producer under his musical alias “Apollo.” Aaron received his Bachelors of Arts in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from Columbia College Chicago in 2012.

KELLY O’SULLIVAN (Perfect) has appeared in Hesperia (Writers Theatre), The Seagull (Goodman Theatre), Honest, Good Boys and True, The Crucible, and 100 Saints You Should Know (Steppenwolf Theatre),Freshly Fallen Snow (Chicago Dramatists), The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Northlight Theatre), Jon (Collaboraction Theatre), Boom (Next Theatre), The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (American Theater Company), The Glory of Living (Profiles Theatre), and Mr. Marmalade -Jeff Nomination Principal Actress in a Play (Dog & Pony Theatre), My Wonderful Day- Barrymore Nomination Outstanding Supporting Actress (The Wilma Theatre) and the Ojai Playwrights Conference.  Her film and TV credits include In Memoriam, Battleground, and The Mob Doctor.  Kelly is a graduate of Northwestern University and The School at Steppenwolf.

TYLER RAVELSON (AP) has previously appeared at American Theater Company in It’s A Wonderful Life: The Radio Play, The Original Grease (Jeff Award: Best Musical) and Rent, directed by David Cromer. Most recently, he was seen in the Goodman Theatre’s Sweet Bird of Youth, also directed by David Cromer. Other Chicago credits include The Nutcracker and Girls vs. Boys at The House Theatre, Talk Radio at State Theatre Chicago, and The Hundred Dresses at Chicago Children’s Theatre. Regional credits include Frank Galati’s production of Twelve Angry Men at The Maltz Jupiter Theater in Florida. A Massachusetts native, he is a 2009 BFA graduate of Roosevelt University’s Theatre Conservatory.

SADIEH RIFAI (Rebel) is an ensemble member at American Theater Company where she has performed in The Catholic Rep: Doubt and Agnes of God, The Amish Project, The Original Grease, Welcome to Arroyo’s, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Distracted, and Speech and Debate for which she won an After Dark Award for Outstanding Performance. Other credits include The Piano Teacher (Next Theater), Merchant of Venice(Silk Road Theatre), Ski Dubai (Steppenwolf Theatre First Look) and understanding the role of Johanna Monevata in August: Osage County (Steppenwolf Theatre). Sadieh is a graduate of The School at Steppenwolf.  Film credits include: the award winning The Wise Kids (New Fest, Out Fest and NYC LGBT Film Festival) and the feature film Nate and Margaret. She’s also a recurring character in the mockumentary Bad Sides, which was recently a finalist in the Chicago Comedy TV Pilot Competition. Sadieh was most recently awarded the Princess Grace Theater Award.

AMERICAN THEATER COMPANY

American Theater Company is an ensemble of artists committed to producing new and classic American stories that ask the question, “What does it mean to be an American?” 

American Theater Company is supported by a CityArts Program 2 Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; Shubert Foundation; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Polk Bros. Foundation; Pauls Foundation; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, and Prince Charitable Trusts.

Kinky Boots--Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein Creatives & Cast Members #BroadwayinChicago #worldpremier

ChiIL Live Shows shots--Chicago Press Conference 9/28 for World Premier of Musical Kinky Boots (Oriental Theater)

Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, creatives and cast members....and some seriously kinky boots and sweet shoes, too!


ChiIL Live Shows was stoked to be invited to a press conference with the masterminds behind Kinky Boots.  We dug hearing Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, creatives and cast members at a press conference earlier in the day.   They all raved about how much they dig Chicago and we're universally enthusiastic about the show and the original indie film that sparked the idea for the adaptation.   Check back with ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often, as we'll have loads of original video clips from the conference up soon.

I was slated to volunteer at Facets Multimedia last night--home of one of the largest video rental sources for indie and multicultural film in the nation.   I've volunteered there for 22 years, this month.   I was elated that they not only carry the original Kinky Boots movie, but it wasn't rented out!  After my volunteer shift I went home and promptly watched it.  The movie was as endearing and edgy as the production staff said.  The message of acceptance, cooperation and understanding is timely and right on in all the right ways.   

After the kiddos are in bed, we highly recommend checking out the film, with it's unlikely bond between England's drag queen scene and a struggling, old school, mens' dress shoe maker.    The sociology, psychology, human nature, and good old fashioned great story telling make this culture clash and ultimate blending, completely compelling.

We'll be reviewing the pre-Broadway world premier here after the show runs in previews for a few weeks.   We'll be checking it out on October 17th.    Want in on cheaper preview tixs?    The show starts the 2nd.