Pages

Thursday, October 3, 2013

AUDITION: Casting call for "The Oregon Tail Burlesque: You Have Died of Sexy"

Gorilla Tango Burlesque is auditioning female performers for the January 2014 premiere of "The Oregon Tail Burlesque: You Have Died of Sexy" directed by Sabrina Harper and choreographed by Zatanna Zor-Elle at Gorilla Tango's Bucktown Theatre (1919 N. Milwaukee Ave.)  We are seeking comic actresses of all different shapes and sizes with strong movement backgrounds. No prior burlesque experience is required; but performers must be comfortable and confident with their bodies, as revealing to pasties and panties is required in performance. Must be 21 or over. We are will also be casting understudies for our open run productions of "Boobs of the Dead: A Walking Dead Burlesque," “A Nude Hope: A Star Wars Burlesque,” and “The Empire Brings Sexy Back: A Star Wars Burlesque Sequel” Send headshot and resume to Juicy Lucy at juicylucy@gorillatango.com for more information or to schedule an audition or any or all of these productions.



Audition Date: Sunday, October 13th, 2013
Audition Time: Auditions will be held in one hour blocks from 7:00pm-10:00pm
Callbacks: Monday, October 14th, 2013 from 7:00pm-9:00pm
Location: Gorilla Tango's Bucktown Theatre (1919 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Pay: $25 per performance + tips 


Time commitment: Oregon Tail opens Friday, January 10th at 9:00pm and will run for 12 weeks performing every Friday at 9:00pm. Understudy performances begin on Fridays or Saturdays in November or December depending on casting. Rehearsals for all shows are scheduled based on actor availability and will work around holiday breaks. Full performance schedule at www.gorillatango.com.


Material to Prepare: Come dressed and prepared to learn a short dance that involves a strip portion down to bra and panties. Cold readings will also be done. Sides will be sent to actors prior to audition date.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

HELP LOCALLY: 2nd Annual Circus Soirée to Benefit CircEsteem Chicago's Youth Circus


Join us for the 2nd Annual Circus Soirée, where guests will be treated to a special circus performance by CircEsteem youth and staff, a live and silent auction, and an opportunity to learn how to walk on a tightrope, juggle or roll around in a gym wheel. Circus Soirée proceeds benefit CircEsteem's HomeWork & CircusWork program, an after school program that provides tutoring, circus arts training, and healthy snacks to more than 30 youth three times a week throughout the school year.









Since 2001, CircEsteem's mission has been to unite youth from diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds by helping them build self-esteem and mutual respect through the practice of circus arts. Our curriculum includes clowning, juggling, stilt-walking, unicycling, and acrobatics all of which is taught by professional circus staff and is designed to allow students to progress at their own pace. By overcoming obstacles and achieving goals, our students demonstrate increased self-esteem, higher grade point averages, and new found circus skills.


My favorite Circus Soirée shots were the cool juxtaposition of the kids doing circus arts and the rockin' antiques in the Architectural Artifacts space.










Check out ChiIL Mama's Full Circus Soiree Photo Recap Below:







Last year my husband & I video taped the whole show & shot close to 500 stills, and our son & daughter both performed.   This year our kids are taking a fall hiatus after 3 solid years of circus arts with CircEsteem. 




  
Du-Jay just started the selective enrollment, gifted program at Lane Tech and needs to settle in to the rigorous academic demands and workload.   Sagezilla is again doing competitive gymnastics with the Chicago Comets team and has practice 4 days a week, so we needed to ease up on circus, just for the moment.   But we'll be back! The kids adore circus arts and we have seen first hand what a wonderful program CircEsteem runs and highly recommend it.   Help out if you can!

We need your help to reach our goal of raising $60,000 to support our free circus programs.  There are many ways you can get involved. Buy a ticket to the event, donate an item to the silent auction, make a donation or volunteer!  It's going to be a night you won't want to miss!






Check out more of our "best of" below:

There was excellent array of food choices from jambalaya to gourmet tacos & crepes.










The "boozie snocones" and non boozie snocones for the under agers were a huge hit!










And there was a plethora of cool silent auction items to choose from.   
We were so stoked to win the collapsible hula hoop, private lessons with Dizzy Lizzy and an outdoor trapeze session on the lakefront!





Don't miss Circus Soirée 2 on October 17th!!   Book your tickets by the 4th.   Time's ticking....



Sagezilla's first pro-stage makeup session!




These kids & instructors have some serious talents!

























At CircEsteem the older kids are paid to mentor and teach the younger ones and sliding scale classes and free tutoring make circus arts accessible to all.   HELP OUT if you can.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

DANCE OPENING: DANCING HINDU GODS, LIVE SNAKES, LOVE AND VENGEANCE At The Joffrey Ballet

The Joffrey Ballet Presents Chicago Premiere of Exotic, Romantic Ballet set in India,
LA BAYADÈRE: THE TEMPLE DANCER

Auditorium Theatre, October 16 – 27

Less than a month after its special “Russian Masters” program, The Joffrey Ballet transports Chicago audiences to India with the Chicago Premiere of La Bayadère: The Temple Dancer, choreographed by Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton WelchLa Bayadère is presented over 10 performances with orchestral accompaniment by The Chicago Philharmonic conducted by Joffrey Music Director Scott Speck, at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, October 16 – 27.



Set in story-book India, La Bayadère: The Temple Dancer premiered at the Houston Ballet in 2010 and revolves around Nikiya, a temple dancer in the royal courts, her secret lover Solor, and the jealousy and betrayal that rips them apart.  Based on Marius Petipa’s classic choreography – including the famous “Kingdom of the Shades” scene, which Welch has left intact – Welch revitalizes a 19th century classic full of the fantastic mysticism of the Orient, complete with dancing Hindu gods and live snakes. 

La Bayadère is a legendary ballet, with the third act ‘Kingdom of the Shades’ reigning as one of the most memorable dance sequences in the classical tradition,” said Ashley Wheater, Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director.  “136 years after its creation, I sought a fresh way of telling the story.  Stanton Welch’s production breathes new life into La Bayadère, while retaining the best of Marius Petipa’s original choreography.  Stanton has compressed and clarified the story, focusing on physical action rather than traditional pantomime.  The story is told through movement with athleticism that appeals to contemporary audiences.”

A ballet in three acts, La Bayadère features lavish costumes and sets by British designer Peter Farmer and is accompanied by Ludwig Minkus’ score as arranged by John Lanchbery. The costume designs evoke a story-book India through traditional attire such as harem pants and saris.  “Peter's scenic design is not a realistic depiction of India,” commented Welch.  “It's like looking through an old picture book from western culture with a view of romanticized India.  The production has a very painterly look, almost reminiscent of Monet, which gives it dreaminess and romance.”  The lavish production includes 121 costumes comprised of 568 items.  This also includes 26 handmade white tutus for the “Kingdom of the Shades” scene.

The ballet opens in the wild, lush jungle of India as the brave warrior Solor kills a menacing Bengal tiger, consequently saving the life of the temple dancer Nikiya.  The two are love-struck, but Nikiya has devoted her life to dancing only for the gods.  However, the High Priest of the temple, or Brahmin, is also in love with Nikiya.  As a reward for killing the man-eating tiger, Solor is promised the hand in marriage of Gamzatti, the Rajah’s daughter, a further obstacle to Solor and Nikiya’s blossoming secret love.  From there, the drama compounds and the twists unfurl as Nikiya and Solor struggle to fulfill their love while the forces of jealousy, vengeance and fate conspire to keep them apart.

La Bayadère’s third act, the famous “Kingdom of the Shades,” showcases the female ensemble dancers in white tutus, executing 38 synchronized arabesques as they slowly fill the stage, one of the purest forms of ballet-blanc, or white tutu ballet.  “The ‘Kingdom of the Shades’ is a challenging segment because it requires such control and precision from the women,” added Welch.  The “Kingdom of the Shades” is so popular it is often performed on its own.

Although the exact origin of the story of La Bayadère is unknown, it is an example of 19th century Romantic ballets set in an exotic location with a fascination with the Orient, spiritualism, triangular relationships, ethereal beings and dramatic plot lines.  Petipa’s La Bayadère premiered on the Bolshoi Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1877.  

Tickets & Performance Schedule
Single tickets range from $31 to $152 and are available now at The Joffrey Ballet’s official Box Office located in the lobby of Joffrey Tower, 10 E. Randolph Street, as well as the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University Box Office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by telephone at (800) 982-2787, or online atwww.ticketmaster.com.  

La Bayadère: The Temple Dancer runs Wednesday, October 16 through Sunday, October 27.  The full performance schedule is as follows:  Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 pm; Friday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, Oct. 19 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm; Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 pm; Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 pm; Friday, October 25 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm; and Sunday, October 27 at 2 pm.

About the Artists
Stanton Welch (Choreographer) was born in Melbourne, Australia and began his training in 1986, quickly winning a scholarship to San Francisco Ballet School.  In 1989, he was engaged as a dancer with The Australian Ballet, where he rose to the rank of leading soloist.  Welch’s choreographic career developed during his time with The Australian Ballet.  In 1990, he received his first choreographic commission from the company, marking the beginning of a series of commissioned works over the next fourteen years and developing his diverse choreographic style.  In 1995, Welch was named resident choreographer of The Australian Ballet.  In 2003, Welch assumed the leadership of Houston Ballet, America's fourth largest ballet company, as Artistic Director.  Since his arrival, Welch has transformed Houston Ballet by raising the level of classical technique, infusing the company with new energy, drive and vision; introducing works by distinguished choreographers to the repertoire; and attracting some of the world's best coaches to Houston to work with the dancers.  He has created works for such prestigious international companies as Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Australian Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Royal Danish Ballet.

Born in Luton, England, Peter Farmer's prolific career in set and costume design includes over 300 productions in dance and theater.  Farmer’s first work in ballet was the design of Jack Carter's Agrionia in 1964 for Ballet Rambert.  Since then he has created designs for many major ballet companies around the world, including Stuttgart Ballet, The Royal Ballet Touring Company, London Festival Ballet, The Australian Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Vienna State Opera, Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.  He made his debut with The National Ballet of Canada in 1973 when he designed Erik Bruhn and Celia Franca's production of Les Sylphides.  In 1990, Farmer returned to the National Ballet to design the company's production of Robert North's Troy Game.  In 1992, he designed the sets and costumes for Houston Ballet’s production of Manon.  In 1995, The Australian Ballet unveiled Farmer’s sets and costumes for their production of Madame Butterfly choreographed by Stanton Welch.  Farmer continues to design for dance, creating sets and costumes for many companies across North America.

The Joffrey Ballet is Chicago’s premier ballet company committed to artistic excellence and innovation, presenting a unique repertory encompassing masterpieces of the past and cutting-edge works of today.  Founded by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey in 1956, guided by celebrated choreographer Gerald Arpino from 1988 until 2007, The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under Artistic Director Ashley Wheater and Executive Director Greg Cameron.  The Joffrey is also committed to providing arts education and accessible dance training through its Joffrey Academy of Dance and Community Engagement programs. 

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2013-2014 Season Sponsors and Partners.  With special thanks to La Bayadère Presenting Sponsors, Margot and Josef Lakonishok; La Bayadère Production Sponsor, Jane Ellen Murray Foundation; Abbott Fund and NIB Foundation, Co-Sponsors of the 2013-2014 Season; United Airlines, Official & Exclusive Airline; Vanguard Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago Center for Orthopedics, Official Healthcare Provider; AthletiCo, Official Provider of Physical Therapy; JW Marriott, Official Hotel; and MAC, Official Cosmetic Sponsor.

Upcoming
Robert Joffrey’s The Nutcracker returns for its seasonal run at the Auditorium Theatre, bringing Tchaikovsky’s classic score to life with dancing snowflakes, battling toys, waltzing flowers and the splendor of the full Joffrey company on stage with over 100 young dancers from the Chicagoland area.  Robert Joffrey’s The Nutcracker is presented in 23 performances, December 6 – 28, 2013.


For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, please visit joffrey.org.

ONE NIGHT ONLY: NATYA DANCE THEATRE presents World Premiere of THE SEVENTH LOVE, An evening-length dance-theater work created in collaboration with Lookingglass Theatre’s David Kersnar

Natya Dance Theatre, Chicago’s longest running contemporary Indian dance company, announces a World Premiere: The Seventh Love, an evening-length work of dance-theater created collaboratively by Hema and Krithika Rajagopalan and Lookingglass Theater’s David Kersnar, at the Harris Theater, Saturday, November 2.

Here at ChiIL Live Shows/ChiIL Mama, we've long been admirers of David Kersnar's works.   Check out our original video interview with him, during his collaboration on Goodnight Moon for Chicago Children's Theatre.



Now check out his latest collaboration in person:
World Premiere of THE SEVENTH LOVE
Harris Theater
One Night Only: November 2



Real life stories from Chicago women about love and relationships play a key role in the sound score of The Seventh Love, a work that explores the various aspects of love through dialogue, original music and powerful Bharata Natyam dance.

True Stories from Chicago Women about Love and Relationships Play Key Role in Narrative


 Natya Dance Theatre, Chicago’s critically-acclaimed and longest running dance company rooted in the Indian dance-theater technique of Bharata Natyam, returns to the Harris Theater with the World Premiere of The Seventh Love, an exploration of love in eastern teachings based on the life of the god Krishna.  The Seventh Love is conceived by Natya Associate Artistic Director Krithika Rajagopalan in collaboration with David Kersnar, a founding member of Chicago’s Tony Award®-winning Lookingglass Theatre, and is written and directed by Kersnar and choreographed by Natya Founder and Artistic Director Hema Rajagopalan.   Natya presents The Seventh Love in one performance only at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Street, Saturday, November 2 at 7:30 pm.

Following last year’s highly successful Sita Ram, an original world musical at the Harris Theater created by Kersnar, Krithika Rajagopalan, Josephine Lee of the Chicago Children’s Choir and composer Jai Uttal, Kersnar and Rajagopalan team up once again for The Seventh Love, a humorous dance drama revolving around the life of Krishna and understanding the various aspects of love.  Based on the ancient Buddhist discourse known as “The Five Aspects of Love” – which include attention, affection, acceptance, allowance and appreciation – Kersnar and Rajagopalan’s narrative story, brought to life through expressive dance and dialogue between a sage and a king, examines the various stories of Krishna’s life, from childhood through his adult relationships.  Through the lens of Krishna, the sage and the king seek to understand what true love really means and how a person can attain the sixth love, or “perfect love” encompassing all five aspects, before moving on to the seventh love, which is universal, selfless love. 

Bringing a real life element to Kersnar and Rajagopalan’s story, the sound design includes true stories from Chicago women about their real-life relationships, ranging from anecdotes about arranged marriages and surviving domestic abuse to lessons learned from both successful and failed marriages. 

Accompanied by original music from Rajkumar Bharathi, who also composed for Natya’s premiere of The Flowering Tree at the Harris Theater in 2011, and brilliant costumes designed by Ruknini Rajans and Krithika Rajagopalan, Hema Rajagopalan’s Bharata Natyam choreography – full of percussive footwork, symbolic hand gestures, fascinating geometry in movement and engaging facial expressions – uses 15 dancers to bring the story of The Seventh Love to life in a fresh, contemporary way that sheds new light on the ancient mysteries of love, life and human relationships.  

Tickets
Tickets for The Seventh Love range from $24 to $75 and are available by calling the Harris Theater Box Office at 312-334-7777 or online atwww.harristheaterchicago.org.  

About the Artists
Natya Dance Theatre was founded in 1975 by renowned dancer, choreographer and dance educator Hema Rajagopalan to serve as an agent of cultural preservation, presentation and exchange.  Natya seeks to sustain and develop the traditional art forms of India through the teaching and performance of Bharata Natyam for audiences of all backgrounds.  Bharata Natyam is a classical dance form of southern India that combines dynamic body movement with rhythmic footwork and stylized hand gestures and facial expressions.  Natya promotes the values of Indian culture, preserves an ancient art form, and forges links among Indian, American and other cultures.

Hema Rajagopalan (Artistic Director, Choreographer) is a Bharata Natyam dancer, teacher and choreographer of international repute.  She is the founder and Artistic Director of Natya Dance Theatre, a professional touring company and school that has specialized in Bharata Natyam for the past 38 years.  Her innovative work preserves Bharata Natyam in its full integrity, developing the art form in new directions and bringing it to diverse audiences all over the world.  Her gurus are some of the foremost figures in Bharata Natyam: Padma Shri K. N. Dandayudapani Pillai and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan theAbhinaya exponent.  She has performed as a soloist at prestigious venues throughout the world.  As a choreographer, she has created numerous short works and over thirty evening-length productions.  Noteworthy among her many prestigious awards are an Emmy® Award for the public TV production, World Stage Chicago, seven National Endowment for the Arts choreography awards in the U.S. (the highest number ever) and the Vishwa Kala Bharati award for artistic excellence in India.   She conducts workshops and master classes at colleges and universities throughout the country, and is an adjunct faculty member at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago.

Krithika Rajagopalan (Associate Artistic Director, Story Creator) has trained under Bharata Natyam masters, learning from world-renowned practitioners Hema Rajagopalan and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan.  Krithika also has trained in Kalari Payatu (Indian martial arts) and yoga.  She has given numerous solo performances and has had the honor of appearing for President Bill Clinton and at prestigious venues all over the world, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC; the Ravinia Festival; the Auditorium Theatre; the Kentucky Centre for the Arts; the Music and Dance Festival of Madras, India; and the National Centre for Performing Arts, Bombay, India.  She has choreographed sixteen full-length works.  In 2006, she performed as a soloist at Chicago’s Millennium Park with acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, and also performed with the Silk Road Ensemble at New York’s Rubin Museum.  In 2006, Krithika was the first Indian ever nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award, an award that acknowledges outstanding achievement in Chicago theater.  Recognition of Krithika’s work includes the Chicago Dance Award, the Jerome Foundation Grant, the Master Teacher Award from the Illinois Arts Council, the Illinois Arts Council Fellowship, the Woman Warrior Award from Columbia College Chicago, and the Commitment to the Arts Award from Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago.

David Kersnar (Story Creator, Writer and Director) is a founding ensemble member of the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company and has performed, designed and directed with the company since it was founded in 1988.  Kersnar has also appeared with the Goodman, Steppenwolf and Remains Theatre in Chicago, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Actor’s Gang in Los Angeles, and the Touchstone Theatre of Pennsylvania.   Kersnar served as the Lookingglass Artistic Director from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1997 to 2000.  Kersnar founded and currently serves as one of the Master Teachers of the Lookingglass Education & Community Programs, and served as its Director from 1992 to 1997.  He has over 25 years of experience teaching residencies, camps and classes, including courses for Roosevelt University, DePaul University, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, residencies for children with special needs in Chicago area schools, and workshops for the Lookingglass Studio.  Kersnar recently directed Iphigenia 2.0 for Next Theatre and Pulcinella and Peter and the Wolf for Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Marisol, Old Times, and Some Girls for Northwestern University.  Other directing and writing credits include Popcorn and Pasquale for Chicago Lyric Opera, Goodnight Moon for Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Last Act Of Lilka Kadison, La Luna Muda for Lookingglass Theatre, Flying Griffin Circus for the Actor’s Gymnasium and Brundibar for Lookingglass in collaboration with Lively Arts, Chicago Children’s Choir and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.  Kersnar also co-wrote and directed the Lookingglass namesake production,Through the Looking Glass and several productions for the Lookingglass World Circus.

Rajkumar Bharathi (Composer) graduated as an electronics and telecommunications engineer from the prestigious Guindy College of Engineering, Chennai, but turned to music as a full time career after a short stint as an engineer.  He has given classical Carnatic music concerts all over India and has traveled widely to the U.S., Canada, U.K., Gulf countries, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.  Bharathi has been involved in composing music for CD’s, thematic presentations, dance ballets and also for fusion projects.  He also has composed many Varnams, Thillanas and Padams especially for dance projects.  As the great grandson of the poet Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi, he has tuned many of Bharathi’s lesser known compositions and presented them in the classical Carnatic forums.  Bharanthi was nominated for the prestigious Lester Horton Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Composing Music for Creation Myth, a dance ballet for the UCLA Centre for Performing Arts (University of California) in 1995. 


For more information on Natya Dance Theatre and its programs, please visit www.natya.com.

Google Analytics