TONIGHT: Avondale Restaurant Trolley Crawl 5/15 Just $20!

The Northwest Arts Connection, a rockin' non profit, is launching their first major event tonight--a trolley ride restaurant hop around my artsy, happenin' neighborhood, Avondale!!

Northwest Arts Connection is a group dedicated to making Chicago's Northwest Side known as a destination for the arts - visual, performing, horticultural, and culinary.

Check it out.   Tickets are just $20!   Click here to order.

Bard Badges Abound During Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Citywide FREE Tour of The Comedy of Errors

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks Program Expanded

Photo by Michael Litchfield.

The cast of The Taming of the Shrew performed for more than 700 people at South Shore Cultural Center on Sunday, July 29, 2012 at the launch of Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks, which toured July 29– August 19, 2012 throughout the Chicago Park District.

FREE FOR ALL July 25–August 25, 2013 27 Performances in 18 Neighborhood Parks Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today the expanded Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program as part of the City’s “Night Out in the Parks” initiative. Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and leaders of Chicago’s corporate community partner to expand the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program, after its inaugural success in 2012.  Photo by Michael Litchfield. Baptista Minola (Robert Joseph Miller) pronounces a match between his daughter Katherina (Ericka Ratcliff) and Petruchio (Matt Mueller) as Gremio (Mick Weber ) looks on in the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks production of The Taming of the Shrew, adapted and directed by Rachel Rockwell, which toured July 29–August 19, 2012 throughout the Chicago Park District. The citywide tour of The Comedy of Errors travels to neighborhood parks across Chicago, FREE FOR ALL, July 25–August 25, 2013. From Humboldt Park to Garfield and Loyola Park to South Shore, this summer’s Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks will break down barriers to arts participation and give Chicagoans direct access to their City’s cultural resources by bringing 27 free Shakespeare performances into 18 different neighborhood parks. “Chicago Shakespeare Theater brings Shakespeare to life at Chicago’s Navy Pier, in our neighborhoods and in our schools," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "The return of the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program will make Chicago’s neighborhood parks come alive with the thrill and magic of live theater. This is a fitting way to honor Shakespeare, and I thank Chicago Shakespeare Theater.” The expanded citywide tour is made possible by a renewed civic, cultural and corporate partnership between Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and The Boeing Company. Additional support for the program is provided by production sponsor for The Comedy of Errors BMO Harris Bank and the Chicago Shakespeare Trust, as well as Mayor Emanuel’s commitment to support the Chicago Park District’s programs and provide family activities throughout the city’s parks. “The arts are essential to building strong communities,” said Lianne Stein, Vice President for Global Corporate Citizenship at Boeing. “This initiative brings innovative arts programming to Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods and supports local artists and arts organizations." Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks is inspired by the open air setting in which Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed more than 400 years ago, and Joseph Papp’s twentieth century American initiative that brought free Shakespeare to urban communities. Beginning its summer tour on July 25 through each of the Park District regions, a specially equipped truck will roll into each park, a stage will unfold and CST actors will perform a 75-minute production of The Comedy of Errors. Staged and adapted by Jeff Award-winning director and choreographer David H. Bell, The Comedy of Errors is one of the Bard’s most popular plays about mistaken identities. Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks will kick-off at Gateway Park at Navy Pier on Thursday, July 25. Additional parks scheduled to be visited, rain or shine, include Chicago Park District North Region Parks: Frank J. Wilson Park, Loyola Park, Riis Park and Welles Park. Central Region Parks: Eckhart Park, Douglas Park, Dvorak Park, Garfield Park Conservatory, Humboldt Park and Piotrowski Park. South Region Parks: Gage Park, Hamilton Park, Marquette Park, Ridge Park, South Shore Cultural Center, Tuley Park and Washington Park. Touring to neighborhoods across the City, the free performances of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors will contribute to the activation of parks this summer with programming that attracts families, breaking down barriers to arts participation and encouraging young family members to take part in Chicago’s Summer of Learning program. The initiative represents an innovative public-private coordination to infuse learning into summer programs that young people across the city can attend when school is out of session. Summer programs throughout the Chicago Park District are participating—including Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks, which will offer young audience members an opportunity to learn about the art of storytelling in the context of a professional theatrical production. After seeing the play, students will be prompted to reflect on their experience and respond to their favorite elements of the production through take-home questions printed in the program. Completion of the activities will earn each young person a “Bard Badge.”  “Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks furthers the Summer of Learning initiative as it will expose youth in our parks to one of the world’s greatest writers,” said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Michael P. Kelly. “The program also reinforces our commitment to working with our partners to provide citywide cultural programming in our community parks.” Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Barbara Gaines said, “We’re privileged to build on the inaugural success of Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks and announce the expanded tour for this year’s production of The Comedy of Errors. We thank Mayor Emanuel for his support of the arts throughout our city and we are absolutely thrilled to be touring one of Shakespeare’s funniest plays that I know will tickle audiences of all ages and motivate students to earn a ‘Bard Badge.’” For more information on Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks, visit www.chicagoshakes.com/parks. A complete Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks map and schedule may be downloaded here. For more information about “Night Out in the Parks,” visit www.nightoutintheparks.com. For more information about Chicago’s Summer of Learning and earning badges, please visit www.chicagosummeroflearning.org.

Imminent Sonic Destruction - Breaking Through LIVE at Reggies Rock Club #livevideo

Imminent Sonic Destruction performing Breaking Through at Reggie's in Chicago, May 10, 2013. Opening for Pain of Salvation and Kingcrow via gladcarrot

IMMINENT SONIC DESTRUCTION  Wrap Up First Ever North American Tour!    IMMINENT SONIC DESTRUCTION recently wrapped up their North American tour with Pain of Salvation and Kingcrow It was quite an experience for everyone involved and ISD would like to share their gratitude for those who came out to support them and all the new fans that were made "So, as we say in ISD, "Here, it's over." The tour is done and we're all back home. What an absolutely amazing experience this has been. We were floored every night by the reception of the incredible fans who came to see Pain of Salvation, but were also eager to soak up all the new music we were bringing them. We made so many new friends along this tour, there's nothing like an open-minded prog/metal crowd to make you feel at home! Also, we want to say a huge THANK YOU to the guys in Pain of Salvation and Kingcrow for pushing us to up our game at every show, and for being such outstanding people. We couldn't have asked for a better group of guys to tour with. Not to mention the tour manager, Brian, who ran himself ragged but kept it all rolling, and Milton at Intromental for having the crazy idea to ask us to join this tour in the first place! It means the world to us, and we're only looking to improve and grow from this point forward! The end of the tour, but if feels like the beginning of a new, better chapter in ISD. THANKS!! \m/(><)\m/" And remember if you missed any of the updates, the complete blog from the tour can be viewed at the ISD Facebook Page. IMMINENT SONIC DESTRUCTION released their debut Recurring Themes in 2012.  The album was produced by Roy Z (Halford, Bruce Dickinson), and features nine original tracks that showcase the band's vocal harmonies soaring over original progressive-metal riffing, melodic compositions and the rhythms of ex-Tiles drummer, Pat DeLeon.  Recurring Themes was financed entirely by the band and is available for purchase via the band's website, iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Lasers Edge, Dearborn Music and is now available through Nightmare Records.  IMMINENT SONIC DESTRUCTION is: Tony Piccoli - Lead Vocals, Guitars Pat DeLeon - Drums, Percussion Scott Thompson - Guitars, Vocals Pete Hopersberger - Keyboards, Vocals Bryan Paxton - Bass, Vocals For more information on Imminent Sonic Destruction, please visit: www.imminentsonicdestruction.com www.facebook.com/imminentsonicdestruction  www.reverbnation.com/imminentsonicdestruction

ACT OUT OPENING: The Actors Gymnasium Circus in Progress 5/18 Only #circus

The Actors Gymnasium Announces Circus in Progress Performers

The Actors Gymnasium announces performance acts for its May 18th show, Circus in Progress: An Evening of Daring New Work. We've long been fans of the fantastic circus work and aerial arts at The Actors Gymnasium.   Their two show only spring showcase looks to be stellar.   Check out some of our highly recommended favs in the circus arts world--Dean Evans (solo clown), Jill Heyser (trapeze), Willem McGowan (diabolo juggling).      Chicago theatre and circus lovers of all ages delight in this popular sneak peek at some of Chicago's most exciting new works of circus art.  This cabaret style performance series focuses on the development of new acts, showcasing many Chicagoland area circus and variety arts professionals as well as advanced students from The Actors Gymnasium's classes.    Further performer announcements will continue throughout May through the company's social media, but the following acts are confirmed: Dean Evans (solo clown), Anna Hartje (contortion), Jill Heyser (trapeze), Willem McGowan (diabolo juggling), Rackim Ramsey (lyra),  The Actors Gymnasium Intermediate Aerial Class (rope & harness w/ silks), The Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble (silks w/ straps), Vox 3 (acapella choral song), Andi Wywiorski (lyra), Aerial Dance Chicago (sling), Kevin Brown and Jason Hanggi of Be The Groove (percussion). Tickets can be purchased through event's facebook page or through www.actorsgymnasium.com. There are a limited number of tickets available for each performance and tickets are first come, first served. Check early for the best selection. Tickets are available online only.  Once online sales are closed, 1.5 hours prior to the show start time, the on location box office will be open.  For group reservations and general questions call 847-328-2795.     Two Performances Only!  This one day only event performs on May 18, 2013 with shows at 4:30 & 7:30 pm.    The Actors Gymnasium is located at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, Illinois - just off of the Noyes purple line 'L' stop. For additional information on The Actors Gymnasium's innovative programming, please visit www.actorsgymnasium.com or call (847)328-2795.

Circus in Progress Spring 2013 trailer About The Actors Gymnasium The Actors Gymnasium is dedicated to bringing a new physicality to the American Theatre. Encouraging ground-breaking theatrical exploration, The Actors Gymnasium teaches circus arts, physical theatre and multi-disciplinary performance to children and adults; produces original, daring works of circus-theatre; and serves as a talent resource, providing performance opportunities to our students and innovative professional event entertainment for a wider audience.  At The Actors Gymnasium, people Learn To Fly - physically, emotionally, intellectually and creatively.

The Actors Gymnasium  at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center 927 Noyes Street ~ Evanston, Illinois 60201~ (p) 847-328-2795 ~ (f) 847-328-3495

INCOMING: DAVID SEDARIS 11/2 Presale Discount Code Before Friday Only

Click here for tickets

ACT OUT OPENING: SPEECH & DEBATE AT ATC

AMERICAN THEATER COMPANY CONCLUDES 2012-2013 SEASON 

WITH THE REPRISE OF

SPEECH & DEBATE

Written by Stephen Karam

Directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli

Oregon. 2007. In the midst of controversy and scandal three misfit teens form their high school's first debate club. This hilarious and touching comedy walks the fine line between adolescence and adulthood. ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli remounts his 2008 critically-acclaimed production, written by columbinus co-author and 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist Stephen Karam.

American Theater Company concludes 2012-2013 Season with a revised remount of Speech & Debate, written by Stephen Karam, and directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli.  Speech & Debate will run May 10 – June 23, 2013, at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago, IL.  

Speech & Debate is a quick-witted and timely comedy that tells the story of three misfits who team up to expose their teacher's online secrets while forming their high school's first Speech and Debate club.  With a searing script by columbinus co-writer Stephen Karam, Artistic Director PJ Paparelli remounts this hysterical yet touching tale of three teens' quest for fame and free speech.  Under newly-appointed Artistic Director PJ Paparelli’s direction, Speech & Debate made its Chicago Premiere at ATC in 2008 to critical and popular success, garnering 3 Jeff Award nominations for Best Mid-Size Play, Best Director, and Best Actress for Sadieh Rifai’s portrayal of Diwata. 

This production replaces the previously announced restored & revised Hair, which has been moved to Spring 2014.

"Stephen Karam’s Speech & Debate was my first show in Chicago and the first time I worked with Ensemble member Sadieh Rifai – and there are not two funnier artists to collaborate with then Stephen & Sadieh,” Says Paparelli.  “It is a unique theatrical experiment to produce this play right after our work together on columbinus.  Both of Karam’s plays are searches for identity-- one extreme tragedy, one extreme comedy-- but both speak directly to American adolescent experience."

The production will feature original cast member Sadieh Rifai reprising her original role (Diwata), as well as Patrick Riley (Howie), Janet Ulrich Brooks (teacher/reporter), and Will Allan (Solomon) in their ATC debuts.  

The creative team of Speech & Debate includes William Boles (Set Designer), Sally Dolembo (Costume Designer), Jesse Klug (Lighting Designer), Scotty Iseri & Lindsay Jones (Original Sound Design)

Andrew Wheatley (Sound Designer), Rasean Davonte Johnson (Projection Design).  Deborah Chesterman is Stage Manager. 

Sadieh Rifai (Diwata) is an ensemble member at American Theater Company where she has performed in columbinus, 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. 

Will Allan (Solomon) is making his American Theater Company debut with Speech & Debate. His recent Chicago credits include The Whale (Victory Gardens); Good People, The March, and A Separate Peace (Steppenwolf); The Seagull and Dartmoor Prison (Goodman); The History Boys (TimeLine Theatre - Jeff Award for Ensemble and Production); The Goat Or, Who Is Sylvia? (Remy Bumppo - Jeff Award for Production); and Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing (First Folio). Will is an Associate Artist with TimeLine Theatre Company, a graduate of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, and this fall, he will begin working toward his M.F.A. in Acting at the Yale School of Drama. 

William Patrick Riley (Howie) is very excited to be making his Chicago theatre debut at American Theater Company. Regional credits: The Tempest (Hartford Stage); Ah, Wilderness! (Arena Stage); Hoover Comes Alive! (La Jolla Playhouse); Measure for Measure (A Noise Within). Other credits include: The Tempest, Twelfth Night, As You Like It (Shakespeare Santa Cruz); The Seagull, Camino Real, The Misanthrope, As You Like It (UCSD). Recent TV credits include appearances on Chicago Fire, Torchwood, 90210 and the HULU series Pretty/Tough. He is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of Lonesome No More! Theatre in Los Angeles, where he most recently directed a highly acclaimed production of Spring Awakening. Education: MFA, University of California, San Diego. 

Janet Ulrich Brooks (reporter/teacher) was recently seen at Victory Gardens in Failure: A Love Story and Jacob & Jack. She is a TimeLine Company Member and has appeared there in more than 10 productions, most recently A Walk in the Woods and All My Sons. Other credits include South of Settling (Steppenwolf Theatre), Ten Chimneys (Northlight Theatre), The Original Grease (American Theater Co.), Pony (About Face Theatre), The Seagull and A True History of the Johnstown Flood (Goodman Theatre). Other Chicago credits include Golda’s Balcony (Pegasus Players, Non-Equity Jeff Award – Outstanding Solo Performance) and work with Strawdog Theatre, Steppenwolf for Young Adults, Writers' Theatre and Collaboraction. Janet's film credits include Fools, Conviction, Polish Bar, I Heart Shakey, and One Small Hitch, and her television credits include Boss, Underemployed, The Chicago Code and The Playboy Club.

Synopsis:

Speech & Debate is a quick-witted and timely comedy that tells the story of three misfits who team up to expose their teacher's online secrets while forming their high school's first Speech and Debate club.  With a searing script by columbinus co-writer Stephen Karam, Artistic Director PJ Paparelli remounts this hysterical yet touching tale of three teens' quest for fame and free speech.  Under newly-appointed Artistic Director PJ Paparelli’s direction, Speech & Debate made its Chicago Premiere at ATC in 2008 to critical and popular success, garnering 3 Jeff Award nominations for Best Mid-Size Play, Best Director, and Best Actress for Sadieh Rifai’s portrayal of Diwata. 

Title: Speech & Debate

Written by: Stephen Karam

Directed by: Artistic Director PJ Paparelli

Featuring: Sadieh Rifai, Will Allan, Patrick Riley, and Janet Ulrich Brooks  

Dates: May 10 – June 23, 2013 

Press Performance: Monday, May 13, 2013 at 7pm

Schedule:      Thursdays & Fridays: 8:00pm  

Saturdays: 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sundays: 2:00pm

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

Box Office: The Box Office is located at 1909 W Byron St., Chicago; 

773.409.4125; www.atcweb.org

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 and a Cultural Outreach Program Grant from the City of Chicago Office of Tourism & Culture, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, Pauls Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and the generous support of Prince Charitable Trusts and Barbara Kipper.

GENESIS THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS TO TAKE UP RESIDENCY AT THE NATIONAL PASTIME THEATER IN THE PRESTON BRADLEY CENTER

GENESIS THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS TO TAKE UP RESIDENCY AT THE NATIONAL PASTIME THEATER IN THE PRESTON BRADLEY CENTER

           Genesis Theatrical Productions, whose mission is to find, develop and produce works that are new to Chicago, has announced that it will take up residency in the National Pastime Theater space in the Preston Bradley Center, 941 W. Lawrence, Chicago.

            Genesis produced their production, of TUNNEL RAT, a the National Pastime space in 2012  and is planning both a staged reading series and a main stage production to go into the space beginning in late summer of 2013.

            Genesis will become part of the efforts of  National Pastime Theater and Alderman James Cappelman to create an arts center at the Preston Bradley Center and assist in the further development of the Uptown community in order to bring the arts to a highly diverse neighborhood.

            For more information about Genesis Theatrical Productions, go to www.genesistheatricals.com or email info@genesistheatricals.com.