Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar
INCOMING: Weeknight 4/29 at
The Owl in Chicago
Tour Dates Below
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Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Weeknight Premiere "In The Dust" Video On NOISEY Kicks Off Spring Tour April 24th 'In The Dust' Cassette Single Out April 21st On Dead Stare Records
Saturday, April 18, 2015
OPENING: CHICAGO DEBUT OF JOSHUA HARMON'S BAD JEWS, APRIL 24 - JUNE 7, 2015 AT THEATER WIT
THEATER WIT ANNOUNCES
CAST AND CREW FOR CHICAGO DEBUT OF JOSHUA HARMON'S
BAD JEWS,
APRIL 24 - JUNE 7, 2015
Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we're looking forward to Theater Wit's Chicago premiere of Joshua Harmon's Bad Jews, a smart, savage comedy about the holy and holier-than-thou, which closes Wit's 2014-15 season April 24-June 7, 2015.
Hailed by Charles Isherwood of The New York Times in 2013 as "the best comedy of the season," Harmon's critically acclaimed play asks questions about what you choose to believe, when you're chosen.
Bad Jews tells the story of Daphna Feygenbaum, a "Real Jew" with an Israeli boyfriend. When Daphna's cousin Liam brings home his shiksa girlfriend Melody and declares ownership of their grandfather's Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith and legacy ensues. Stir in the identity curation of the Facebook generation and Theater Wit's Chicago premiere of Bad Jews, directed by artistic director Jeremy Wechsler, promises to be one of the funniest, wisest, most excruciating comedies on a Chicago stage this year.
Bad Jews tells the story of Daphna Feygenbaum, a "Real Jew" with an Israeli boyfriend. When Daphna's cousin Liam brings home his shiksa girlfriend Melody and declares ownership of their grandfather's Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith and legacy ensues. Stir in the identity curation of the Facebook generation and Theater Wit's Chicago premiere of Bad Jews, directed by artistic director Jeremy Wechsler, promises to be one of the funniest, wisest, most excruciating comedies on a Chicago stage this year.
Wechsler's cast for Bad Jews features Erica Bittner as Melody (credits include The Madness of Edgar Allen Poe for First Folio, Peer Gynt at DCA Storefront Theatre, and seven productions for Redmoon), Ian Paul Custer as Liam (national tour of Peter Pan; Annie Bosch is Missing at Steppenwolf; High Holidays at the Goodman; To Master the Art and 33 Variations for TimeLine; Fiddler on the Roof at Paramount), Cory Kahane as Josh (The Romans: Episode Quartus for Lincoln Square Theatre; A Midsummer Night's Dream at The James Dowling Theatre) and Laura Lapidus as Daphna (Women Beware Women for Two Pence Theatre at The Den Theatre; Griffin Theatre's Golden Boy and Balm in Gilead; Pavement Group's breaks & bikes; Pains of Youth for Odradeck Theater w/Oracle Theatre).
The Bad Jews design team includes Adam Veness (set), Kristof Janezic (lights), Janice Pytel (costumes), Cassy Schillo (props) and Michael Stanfill (lighting). Sarah Luse is stage manager.
Bad Jews: Dates, Times and Ticket Prices
Tickets to Bad Jews are on sale now. Previews are April 24-May 3: Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Previews are $12-$18. Press opening is Monday, May 4 at 7 p.m. Regular performances run through June 7: Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. No shows Thursday, May 7 or 14. Regular run tickets are $20-$36.
Theater Wit is located at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., in the heart of the new Belmont Theatre District. For tickets and information, visit TheaterWit.org or call 773.975.8150.
Bad Jews: Behind the scenes
Joshua Harmon's play Bad Jews received its world premiere at Roundabout Underground and was the first production there to transfer to the Roundabout's Laura Pels Theatre (Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Award nominations, Best Play). Bad Jews opened in London at the St. James Theatre in January 2015 following an acclaimed run at Theatre Royal Bath. Harmon wrote the book for Radio City Music Hall's upcoming original show, the "New York Spring Spectacular." His work has been produced and developed by Manhattan Theatre Club, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Hangar Theatre, Ars Nova, and Actor's Express, where he was the 2010-2011 National New Play Network Playwright-in-Residence. He has received fellowships from MacDowell, Atlantic Center for the Arts, SPACE at Ryder Farm, and the Eudora Welty Foundation. Harmon is currently in the Playwrights Program at Juilliard and is under commission from Roundabout Theatre Company and Lincoln Center Theater.
Joshua Harmon's play Bad Jews received its world premiere at Roundabout Underground and was the first production there to transfer to the Roundabout's Laura Pels Theatre (Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Award nominations, Best Play). Bad Jews opened in London at the St. James Theatre in January 2015 following an acclaimed run at Theatre Royal Bath. Harmon wrote the book for Radio City Music Hall's upcoming original show, the "New York Spring Spectacular." His work has been produced and developed by Manhattan Theatre Club, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Hangar Theatre, Ars Nova, and Actor's Express, where he was the 2010-2011 National New Play Network Playwright-in-Residence. He has received fellowships from MacDowell, Atlantic Center for the Arts, SPACE at Ryder Farm, and the Eudora Welty Foundation. Harmon is currently in the Playwrights Program at Juilliard and is under commission from Roundabout Theatre Company and Lincoln Center Theater.
Jeremy Wechsler, artistic director of Theater Wit, most recently staged Theater Wit's current smash hit, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play by Anne Washburn, the hit Midwest premiere of Madeline George's Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England, and that show's subsequent summer remount at Art Square Theatre in Las Vegas. Wechsler also staged Wit's acclaimed productions of Completeness and The Four of Us (Itamar Moses), Tigers Be Still (Kim Rosenstock), This (Melissa James Gibson), Spin (Penny Penniston), Feydeau-Si-Deau (Georges Feydeau), Men of Steel (Qui Nguyen), Thom Pain (Based on Nothing) (Will Eno), Two for the Show (James Fitzpatrick and Will Clinger) and The Santaland Diaries. Wechsler's productions have been nominated for and won multiple awards for design, performance, adaptation and best new work. He has taught at several universities, is an artistic associate at Collaboraction and currently serves on the board of the League of Chicago Theatres.
About Theater Wit
"A thrilling addition to Chicago's roster of theaters" (Chicago Tribune) and "a terrific place to see a show" (New City), Theater Wit is in its fourth season in its home at 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.
Gone But Not Forgotten:
Here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows, we adored Theater Wit's smash hit, Chicago debut of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play. We're already chomping at the bit for a remount! It was one of our favorites of the season for sure! The Simpsons is already such a fabulous amalgam of pop culture references, psychology, and the best and worst of humanity, encased in the hilarious that we can't think of a better mythology for a post plague and nuclear meltdown society to follow. Mr. Burns, a post-electric play is wickedly witty and scary insightful. And Theater Wit's casting was stellar!
Anne Washburn's meta-apocalyptic comedy/drama/musical about America rebuilding itself from the ashes of an apocalypse, and the enduring power of Bart Simpson, was rewarded a 3.5 star review from the Chicago Tribune, which called it "an intellectual rush" and "very funny." Time Out Chicago agreed Mr. Burns is "wonderfully weird... brilliant...trippy...4 out of 5 stars."
Founded in 2004, Theater Wit's mission is to explore contemporary issues with wit and wisdom through new works and Chicago premieres. As a production company, Theater Wit is Chicago's premier smart art theater, producing humorous, challenging and intelligent plays that speak with a vibrant and contemporary theatrical voice. As an institution, Wit seeks to be the hub of the Chicago neighborhood theater scene.
In its three spaces, Theater Wit brings together Chicago's best storefront companies. Here audiences find a smorgasbord of excellent productions, see a parade of talented artists and mingle with audiences from all over Chicago.
In 2014, Theater Wit was awarded the National Theatre Award by the American Theatre Wing for strengthening the quality, diversity and dynamism of American theater.
Theater Wit also offers a Flex Pass: 10 admissions for $215 to literally anything presented in the building, a savings of up to 40%.
To purchase tickets to Bad Jews, Mr. Burns, any resident production, a Membership Program, Flex Pass, single tickets or for information about any production at Theater Wit, call 773.975.8150 or visit TheaterWit.org.
SAVE THE DATES: Pride Films and Plays' THE BOY FROM OZ will Sizzle at Stage 773 in August
Pride Films and Plays will conclude its remarkable Summer Season with The Boy From Oz, the Broadway musical which tells the amazing life story of celebrated songwriter and performer Peter Allen. Featuring songs by Peter Allen, book by Martin Sherman and Nick Enright, Direction by David Zak, and Musical Direction by Robert Ollis, The Boy From Oz tells the exuberant yet heart-warming true story of a young Australian boy who loved to perform and ended up in the glamorous orbit of Judy Garland and her soon-to-be famous daughter Liza.
The Boy From Oz previews Wednesday, August 5 and Thursday, August 6. Press opening is Friday, August 7 at 7:30. Press tickets are also available for Saturday, August 8 at 7:30. Regular performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 5 through August 30 only. Tickets are $25 Wednesday, $30 Thursdays and $40 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Seniors can save $5 per ticket. For tickets call Stage 773 (773-327-5252) or order online at stage773.com.
The other main attraction during PFP's Summer Season is a 20th Anniversary Production of Guillermo Reyes' comic one-man show Men On The Verge Of A His-Panic Breakdown. This hilarious collection of monologues features PFP Artistic Associate Nelson Rodriguez directed by Sandra Marquez. Performances are at the Apollo Studio Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln from June 23 to July 26. Tickets will be on sale starting April 15 at 773-935-6100 or www.ticketmaster.com. Find complete details at www.pridefilmsandplays.com.
Other events in PFP's Summer Season include:
May 19 -Nominee Night,a celebration of the city's musical theater talent, at Sidetrack. Tickets can be purchased at 1-800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com.
June 1: Queer Bits Film Fest, featuring the Chicago debut of short LGBT films from around the globe. The fest is at The Public House Theater of Chicago, 3914 N Clark. Tickets can be purchased at 1-800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com.
June 22 - Gay Today - A Pride Cabaret, created by PFP Artistic Ensemble Member Robert Ollis and featuring performances by Artistic Ensemble Members of Pride Films and Plays at Mary's Attic, 5400 N Clark. Tickets can be purchased at 1-800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com .
July 27 - LezFest, the kick off event for PFP's season long LezPlay celebration of plays and performances, screenplays and films written by women with lesbian characters and themes. LezFest features music, drama, comedy, spoken word, and performance art with a multi-generational cast at Mary's Attic, 5400 N Clark. Tickets can be purchased for this event starting June 1.
About Pride Films and Plays
Founded in 2010, Pride Films and Plays has received 10 Jeff Nominations, and 3 Jeff Awards for productions in our first two Jeff eligible seasons. All of the performances in our 2014-15 seasons were Jeff Recommended, including the Chicago premiers of Terrence McNally's Some Men, Jeff Talbott's The Submission, Topher Payne's Angry Fags, and the world premiere of Leo Schwartz's musical The Book of Merman. Angry Fags is running in the Steppenwolf Garage Rep through April 26 (312-335-1650); The Book of Merman has been extended through May 17 at Apollo Studio Theater (773-935-6100).
In addition, our script and screenplay development programs continue throughout the year at Center on Halsted, including Gay Play Weekend (May 15 to 17), LezPlay (September 11 to 13) featuring plays and screenplays written by women with lesbian characters or themes, and Gay Film Weekend (November 13 to 15) featuring LGBT screenplays and screenings.
For more information on contests or productions at www.pridefilmsandplays.com
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Friday, April 17, 2015
CIMMfest No. 7's Women Filmmakers' Showcase Features, Documentaries & Shorts #cimmfest #ChiILFlicksPicks
Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar
CIMMfest Style
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Thursday, April 16, 2015
CIMMfest No. 7's Julien Temple Film Retrospective CIMMfest 2015 BAADASSSSS Award for Lifetime Achievement
| From groundbreaking music videos, to highly acclaimed documentaries & feature films, Julien Temple epitomizes the inseparability of movies and music. |
This year CIMMfest honors Julien Temple with our BAADASSSS! Award for Lifetime Achievement, and is proud to present a select retrospective of his work including: Absolute Beginners in 35mm (4/18), Dave Davies: Kinkdom Come (4/17), Ray Davies: Imaginary Man (4/17), Rio 50 Degrees (4/18), The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson (4/18) in addition to his latest documentary, Oil City Confidential (4/18).
Each film screening is followed by a Q&A w/ JULIEN TEMPLE. Our retrospective culminates in a celebration of Julien’s career at the CIMMfest Awards Ceremony (4/18). Get your CIMMfest Pass today and join us in the celebration.
INCOMING: Streetlight Manifesto at The Riviera Sunday May 17th
Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:
VIA Our Friends at Streetlight Manifesto:
All of you non-East Coasters that kicked and screamed when we did October’s micro-tour will be happy that we set up a mini-tour just for you! 18 Show in 18 days, from Cleveland to Spokane! From May 14 to May 31! From La Jolla to Leo Carillo, and up to Pismo (sorry, we had to).
Tickets on sale NOW. As always, we will tell you right now: MOST OF THESE SHOWS WILL SELL OUT, SO PLEASE BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY. Nowadays we tour when the stars align, so get it when it’s there to be gottened.
We’re so incredibly pumped for these shows! Support will come in the form of Dan Potthast on all shows except for the first three, where Kevin Seconds will play in his place. Also, Sycamore Smith will be on the entire damn tour! Huzzah!
Lovely poster art provided by the inimitable Zelda Devon (www.zeldadevon.com)!
See you guys at the shows!
5/14 Cleveland, OH
5/15 Pittsburgh, PA
5/16 Detroit, MI
5/17 Chicago, IL
5/18 Lawrence, KS
5/19 Denver, CO
5/20 Salt Lake City, UT
5/21 Las Vegas, NV
5/22 Phoenix, AZ
5/23 Los Angeles, CA
5/24 San Diego, CA
5/25 Anaheim, CA
5/26 San Francisco, CA
5/27 Portland, OR
5/28 Seattle, WA
5/29 Victoria, BC
5/30 Vancouver, BC
5/31 Spokane, WA
5/15 Pittsburgh, PA
5/16 Detroit, MI
5/17 Chicago, IL
5/18 Lawrence, KS
5/19 Denver, CO
5/20 Salt Lake City, UT
5/21 Las Vegas, NV
5/22 Phoenix, AZ
5/23 Los Angeles, CA
5/24 San Diego, CA
5/25 Anaheim, CA
5/26 San Francisco, CA
5/27 Portland, OR
5/28 Seattle, WA
5/29 Victoria, BC
5/30 Vancouver, BC
5/31 Spokane, WA
INCOMING: Ukrainian “ethnic chaos” band DakhaBrakha Rocks Mayne Stage With 2 Shows THIS Sunday 4/
Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar
This Sunday, April 19, at the Mayne Stage do not miss the band Rolling Stone has dubbed the "Best Break Out," DakhaBrakha, will return to Chicago to perform two shows, one at 6:00pm and again at 8:00pm. Click here for full show details and to order tickets. (18+) $25 General Admission | $30 Day Of | $40 Preferred Seating.
Fresh from lauded appearances on Prairie Home Companion and at Bonnaroo, DakhaBrakha is touring the U.S. this spring. Rolling Stone gushes that DakhaBrakha had "one of the most responsive crowds of the weekend" of their Bonnaroo performance.
DakhaBrakha is a world-music quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine. Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, Ukrainian “ethnic chaos” band DakhaBrakha, create a world of unexpected new music.
The name DakhaBrakha is original, outstanding and authentic at the same time. It means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language.
DakhaBrakha ...
Refined yet saucy, eerie yet earthy, Ukrainian music has languished in relative obscurity, though its achievements are diverse and sophisticated: complex polyphonic singing with interlocking lines so tight the ears buzz, long and philosophical epics, humorous ditties, instrumental virtuosity, and raucous dance tunes.
DakhaBrakha knows these sources well: the three female vocalists have spent many summers traveling around Ukraine’s villages collecting songs and learning from elder women in remote areas. Like these village tradition-bearers, they have spent years singing together, a fact that resonates in the beautifully close, effortlessly blended sound of their voices.
Now the group is ready to share this music with the U.S.!
Ethno-Chaos: DakhaBrakha Reinvents Ukraine’s Unsung Roots Music With Global Finesse
A shadowy procession to the pounding of drums, to the murmur of a cello, morphs into an anthem, an invocation, a wild and wacky breakdown. Drones and beats, crimson beads and towering black lambs-wool hats all serve as a striking backdrop for an unexpected, refreshingly novel vision of Eastern European roots music. This is the self-proclaimed “ethno-chaos” of Ukraine’s DakhaBrakha, a group that feels both intimately tied to their homeland, yet instantly compelling for international audience.
“We just want people to know our culture exists,” muses Marko Halanevych of DakhaBrakha, the remarkable Kyiv-based ensemble that has broken down the tired musical framework for Ukrainian traditional music. “We want people to know as much as possible about our corner of the world.”
The quartet does far more than introduce Ukranian music or prove it is alive and well. They craft stunning new sonic worlds for traditional songs, reinventing their heritage with a keen ear for contemporary resonances. With one foot in the urban avant-garde theater scene and one foot in the village life that nurtured and protected Ukraine’s cultural wealth, DakhaBrakha shows the full fury and sensuality of some of Eastern Europe’s most breathtaking folklore.
Fresh from lauded appearances on Prairie Home Companion and at Bonnaroo, the group is touring the U.S. this autumn. Rolling Stone dubbed the band Bonnaroo's "Best Break Out," gushing that they had "one of the most responsive crowds of the weekend."
Refined yet saucy, eerie yet earthy, Ukrainian music has languished in relative obscurity, though its achievements are diverse and sophisticated: complex polyphonic singing with interlocking lines so tight the ears buzz, long and philosophical epics, humorous ditties, instrumental virtuosity, and raucous dance tunes. Ritual and ribaldry, urbane composition and rural celebration, Asian influences and Western harmony all combined to give contemporary musicians a true wealth of potential sources.
“We just want people to know our culture exists,” muses Marko Halanevych of DakhaBrakha, the remarkable Kyiv-based ensemble that has broken down the tired musical framework for Ukrainian traditional music. “We want people to know as much as possible about our corner of the world.”
The quartet does far more than introduce Ukranian music or prove it is alive and well. They craft stunning new sonic worlds for traditional songs, reinventing their heritage with a keen ear for contemporary resonances. With one foot in the urban avant-garde theater scene and one foot in the village life that nurtured and protected Ukraine’s cultural wealth, DakhaBrakha shows the full fury and sensuality of some of Eastern Europe’s most breathtaking folklore.
Fresh from lauded appearances on Prairie Home Companion and at Bonnaroo, the group is touring the U.S. this autumn. Rolling Stone dubbed the band Bonnaroo's "Best Break Out," gushing that they had "one of the most responsive crowds of the weekend."
Refined yet saucy, eerie yet earthy, Ukrainian music has languished in relative obscurity, though its achievements are diverse and sophisticated: complex polyphonic singing with interlocking lines so tight the ears buzz, long and philosophical epics, humorous ditties, instrumental virtuosity, and raucous dance tunes. Ritual and ribaldry, urbane composition and rural celebration, Asian influences and Western harmony all combined to give contemporary musicians a true wealth of potential sources.
DakhaBrakha knows these sources well: the three female vocalists have spent many summers traveling around Ukraine’s villages collecting songs and learning from elder women in remote areas. Like these village tradition-bearers, they have spent years singing together, a fact that resonates in the beautifully close, effortlessly blended sound of their voices. Marko grew up steeped in village life, and draws on his rural upbringing when contributing to the group.
Yet the young musicians and actors were determined to break away from purist recreations and from the stale, schmaltzy, post-Soviet remnants of an ideology-driven folk aesthetic. Urged on by Vladyslav Troitsky, an adventuresome theater director at the DAKH Center for Contemporary Art, a cornerstone of the Kyiv arts underground, the group resolved to create something radically different. They wanted to experiment, to discover, to put Ukrainian material in a worldly context, without divorcing it from its profound connection to land and people. That’s why tablas thunk and digeridoos rumble, filling out DakhaBrakha’s sound, and yet never overshadow the deeply rooted voices and spare, yet unforgettable visual aesthetic.
“The beginning was pretty primitive,” recalls Halanevych. “We tried to find rhythms to match the melodies. We tried to shift the emphasis of these songs. We know our own material, our native music well, yet we wanted to get to know other cultures and music well. We started with the Indian tabla, then started to try other percussion instruments. But we didn’t incorporate them directly; we found our own sounds that helped us craft music.”
Through this experimentation and repurposing of instruments from other cultures to serve DakhaBrakha’s own sound, the band was guided by the restraint, the elemental approach that owed a debt to the emotionally charged minimalism of Phillip Glass and Steve Reich.
“At the same time as we explored ethnic music, we got interested in minimalism, though never in a way that was literal or obvious,” Halanevych explains. “The methods of minimalism seemed to us to be very productive in our approach to folk. The atmospheric and dramatic pieces that started our work together were created by following that method.”
This mix of contemporary, cosmopolitan savvy and intimacy with local traditions and meanings cuts to the heart of DakhaBrakha’s bigger mission: To make the world aware of the new country but ancient nation that is Ukraine. “It’s important to show the world Ukraine, and to show Ukrainians that we don’t need to have an inferiority complex. That we’re not backward hicks, but progressive artists. There are a lot of wonderful, creative people here, people who are now striving for freedom, for a more civilized way of life, and are ready to stand up for it.”
Don't miss this! Sunday, April 19, at the Mayne Stage, DakhaBrakha will return to Chicago to perform two shows, one at 6:00pm and again at 8:00pm. Click here for full show details and to order tickets. (18+) $25 General Admission | $30 Day Of | $40 Preferred Seating.
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