ChiIL Live Shows on our radar Four Performances Only!
The Den Theatre Presents Comedian
JOEL KIM BOOSTER
May 10 – 11, 2019 in The Janet Bookspan Theatre
Joel Kim Booster. Photo courtesy WME
Comedian Joel Kim Booster brings his stand-up tour to The Den Theatre for four performances only May 10 – 11, 2019 in The Janet Bookspan Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Tickets ($25 general admission) are currently available at www.thedentheatre.com, in person at the The Den box office or by calling (773) 697-3830. Ages 18+.
Joel Kim Booster is a Chicago-bred, Los Angeles-based comedian and writer. As a comedian he has appeared on Conan, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Netflix’s The Fix, Comedy Central’s The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, This Is Not Happening and @midnight, Logo’s Comedy Cabaret and truTV’s Comedy Knockout. In 2017, Joel recorded a stand-up special for Comedy Central’s The Half-Hour, a full-length stand-up album called Model Minority and was listed as one of Esquire’s “10 Comedians to Watch.” Joel recently had the honor of making the Wall Street Journal’s “Young Hollywood Portfolio” highlighting rising stars in Hollywood, Forbes’ 2018 “30 Under 30” list in their Hollywood and Entertainment category spotlighting the next generation of talent, Variety’s 2018 “10 Comics to Watch,” Vulture’s “20 Comedians You Should and Will Know,” and Time Out’s “L.A. Comedians to Watch in 2018.” TV and film credits include Shrill (Hulu), Search Party (TBS), The Week Of (Netflix) and Viper Club (You Tube Premium). His writing credits include Billy on the Street (truTV), Big Mouth (Netflix), The Other Two (Comedy Central) and the pilot for Comedy Central’s Problematic with Moshe Kasher. Follow Joel on Twitter @ihatejoelkim.
Performance Schedule
Friday, May 10 at 7 pm & 9 pm Saturday, May 11 at 7 pm & 9 pm
About The Den Theatre Artistic Director Ryan Martin opened The Den in 2010 with a single theatre space. Seven years later, The Den boasts five intimate and unique theaters on two floors ranging from 50 – 200 seats, as well as two additional spaces primarily used for classes and rehearsals. The Den is also equipped with two bars enveloped by a never-ending field of lounge space for audiences and like-minded culture hounds to drink, talk, read, watch, think, listen and live. The Den is home to seven resident theatre companies including First Floor Theater, Haven Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre, The New Colony, Broken Nose Theatre, WildClaw Theatre and Firebrand Theatre. Hundreds of other companies from Chicago and beyond have also called The Den home, utilizing its theaters, studio space and easily convertible cabaret space to accommodate a stream of programming, including plays, musicals, film screenings, classical and jazz performances, dance, improv and stand-up, seminars and speaking engagements. For additional information, visit www.thedentheatre.com.
Comedian Vicki Barbolak, a fan favorite and Top 10 finalist on 2018’s America's Got Talent, brings her Trailer Nasty Tour to The Den Theatre for one night only, hosted by Mike Vinn and featuring Jesse Egan. Barbolak takes the stage Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 7 pm on The Heath Main Stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets ($25 general admission) are currently available at www.thedentheatre.com, in person at the The Den box office or by calling (773) 697-3830. Ages 18+.
Vicki Barbolak was a fan favorite and Top 10 finalist on Season 13 of America's Got Talent on NBC. Howie Mandel told Vicki and America, “I think you just came up with your own sitcom, you’re wonderful I love you.” And Simon said, “I think you’re the best comedian we’ve had on this show.” Since being on AGT, Vicki has embarked on an international tour and launched her own podcast called “Trailer Nasty with Vicki Barbolak.”
When Vicki was 38 years young, she saw an ad for a stand-up comedy class. That class changed her life. Vicki quickly realized that making people laugh gave her more happiness than she ever dreamed possible. After a few years of open mic nights, Vicki was taken under the wing of Mitzi Shore, owner of The Comedy Store where Vicki developed as a Comedian.
In the 20 years since, Vicki 's been named a member of Jay Leno's NBC Laugh Squad, Won Funniest Mom In America on Nick @ Nite, and has been featured by E! Television as the Next Breakout Star to come from The Comedy Store. Vicki's comedy reflects life as Mom, her many marriages, and her love of the Southern California Trailer Park Lifestyle. www.vickibarbolakcomedy.com
About The Den Theatre
Artistic Director Ryan Martin opened The Den in 2010 with a single theatre space. Seven years later, The Den boasts five intimate and unique theaters on two floors ranging from 50 – 200 seats, as well as two additional spaces primarily used for classes and rehearsals. The Den is also equipped with two bars enveloped by a never-ending field of lounge space for audiences and like-minded culture hounds to drink, talk, read, watch, think, listen and live. The Den is home to seven resident theatre companies including First Floor Theater, Haven Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre, The New Colony, Broken Nose Theatre, WildClaw Theatre and Firebrand Theatre. Hundreds of other companies from Chicago and beyond have also called The Den home, utilizing its theaters, studio space and easily convertible cabaret space to accommodate a stream of programming, including plays, musicals, film screenings, classical and jazz performances, dance, improv and stand-up, seminars and speaking engagements. For additional information, visit www.thedentheatre.com.
**CANCELLED!** The Den Theatre Cancels Comedian CHISTOPHER TITUS’ Engagement Scheduled for April 11 – 13, 2019
The Den Theatre today announced the cancellation of comedian Christopher Titus’ Chicago engagement scheduled for April 11 – 13, 2019. For tickets refunds, patrons should contact The Den Theatre box office at (773) 697-3830 or visit the box office in person at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.
ChiIL Live Shows on our radar
Five Performances Only!
The Den Theatre Presents Comedian
CHRISTOPHER TITUS
With Rachel Bradley
April 11 – 13, 2019 on The Heath Mainstage
PHOTO CREDIT: Christopher Titus by Kimo Easterwood.
Comedian Christopher Titus brings his newest show, AMERIGEDDON, to The Den Theatre for five performances only, April 11 – 13, 2019 on The Heath Main Stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Rachel Bradley opens. Tickets ($30 general admission, $45 VIP table seating) are currently available at www.thedentheatre.com, in person at the The Den box office or by calling (773) 697-3830. Ages 21+.
Employing what he's labeled “hard funny,” Christopher Titus has released seven, 90-minute albums in as many years. He has six one-hour comedy specials currently running on Comedy Central, and his seventh special, BORN WITH A DEFECT, premiered in 2017. Known for leaving no stone unturned, especially within his own life and family, Titus takes his audience on a 90-minute ride that will leave them exhausted from laughter. To see one of Christopher Titus' shows is to love him. Titus is currently performing his newest show in sold out theaters across the country. He also formed Combustion Films, a production company which produced his last three specials and most recently a full-length film called SPECIAL UNIT, released in 2017.
Performance Schedule
Thursday, April 11 at 8 pm Friday, April 12 at 7 pm and 9 pm Saturday, April 13 at 7 pm and 9 pm
About The Den Theatre
Artistic Director Ryan Martin opened The Den in 2010 with a single theatre space. Seven years later, The Den boasts five intimate and unique theaters on two floors ranging from 50 – 200 seats, as well as two additional spaces primarily used for classes and rehearsals. The Den is also equipped with two bars enveloped by a never-ending field of lounge space for audiences and like-minded culture hounds to drink, talk, read, watch, think, listen and live. The Den is home to seven resident theatre companies including First Floor Theater, Haven Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre, The New Colony, Broken Nose Theatre, WildClaw Theatre and Firebrand Theatre. Hundreds of other companies from Chicago and beyond have also called The Den home, utilizing its theaters, studio space and easily convertible cabaret space to accommodate a stream of programming, including plays, musicals, film screenings, classical and jazz performances, dance, improv and stand-up, seminars and speaking engagements. For additional information, visit www.thedentheatre.com.
Citadel Theatre Company will close its 2018-19 season with the world premiere of a “musical remembrance” written and performed by one of Chicago’s best-loved actors, Ross Lehman.
SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY– a one-man performance piece - is the story of Lehman’s parents.
It weaves the romantic history of their courtship in college at Penn State University, their continued romance throughout WWII when he was an Air Force bombardier held prisoner by the Germans and she was a sophisticated career woman who waited for his return, and their family life during the postwar era of the 1950s when everyone simply wanted to get back to normal after a great depression and a devastating world war. I'll be out for the press opening April 26th, so check back soon for my full review.
In the piece, Lehman says that his parents would frequently “come to life upon hearing old songs”- so Lehman’s remembrances will be interspersed with his parents’ favorite songs of the early 20th Century, ranging from hymns to soldiers’ ditties to pop standards like “We'll Meet Again,” “Don't Fence Me In,” and the title song “Sentimental Journey.”
The production will open on Friday, April 26 and play through Sunday, May 26. It will be directed by Mark Lococo, Director of Theatre at Loyola University Chicago. Most recently at Citadel, he directed VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. In addition to directing many shows at Loyola, he has also helmed productions at theatres across Chicagoland, including Marriott Theatre (A CHORUS LINE), Porchlight (THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND), Northlight (THE MISER) and Citadel (OTHER DESERT CITIES, EDUCATING RITA). BIOS Ross Lehman (Writer/performer) has Broadway credits including A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, THE TEMPEST, and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST and many credits on Chicago’s professional stages. At Chicago Shakespeare Theater he has been seen most recently as the Fool in KING LEAR and Cerimon in PERICLES. Among his other CST roles have been Jacques/AS YOU LIKE IT, Feste/TWELFTH NIGHT, Dudley Marsh and Dromio of Syracuse/THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. He has performed at Steppenwolf in THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST; At the Goodman Theatre: WAITING FOR GODOT, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Jeff Award), THE ROVER, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and STAGE KISS. At Apple Tree Theatre: A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE (Jeff Award), THE DRESSER (After Dark Award), WHERE'S CHARLEY (Jeff Award) At Writers Theatre: AS YOU LIKE IT, and BACH AT LEIPZIG. His reprise of his role as Koko in THE HOT MIKADO in London’s West End production earned him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
Mark Lococo (Director) Mark is Director of Theatre at Loyola University Chicago. Most recently at Citadel, he directed VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. In addition to directing many shows at Loyola, he has also helmed productions at theatres across Chicagoland, including Marriott Theatre (A CHORUS LINE), Porchlight (THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND), Northlight (THE MISER) and Citadel (OTHER DESERT CITIES, EDUCATING RITA).
Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3 pm. Additional matinees Wednesdays May 1 and 15 at 1 pm. Preview ticket prices - $20.00. Regular run prices Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays $40.00; Saturdays and Sundays $45.00. Discounts available for groups, the military, seniors and students. Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL Tickets available online at www.CitadelTheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
Citadel Theatre is one of Chicagoland’s premier live theatres, producing hundreds of performances annually and inspiring audiences for over 15 years. Founded by Scott and Ellen Phelps in 2002, Citadel Theatre is comprised of its Main Stage performances, its On Tour programs, and its theatre acting classes for children. A proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres and the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff ArtsLink, Citadel Theatre offers a unique intimate theatre experience that transports you to another setting and leaves you feeling exhilarated and wanting more. A recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Citadel can accept tax-deductible donations. For more information, ticketing, and to make a donation, please visit Citadel online at www.CitadelTheatre.org or call 847.735.8554.
SANDRA DELGADO’S LIVE THEATER+MUSIC SENSATION ABOUT AN ACTUAL 1960s CHICAGO NIGHTCLUB AND LATINO MELTING POT,
MAY 11-JUNE 22 AT THE DEN
New Teatro Vista/Collaboraction co-production pairs
much of the original cast with rising new Latinx talent,
in an even more immersive nightclub setting
La Havana Madrid stars (top, from left) playwright Sandra Delgado as La Havana Madrid, Marvin Quijada as Carpacho, Tommy Rivera-Vega as Henry, Ayssette Muñoz as Maria, (bottom) Mike Oquendo as Tony, Ilse Zacharias as Myrna, Alix Rhode as Maruja and
Victor Musoni as Carlos.
I caught the initial opening of La Havana Madrid, and was completely enchanted by Sandra Delgado's delightful, music filled immigrant story. It's a heartfelt ode to a beloved Chicago gathering space, where the displaced found community, support, love, and a melding of song and dance from numerous cultures. I'll be out again for the press opening of La Havana Madrid's enhanced remount May 17th. Check back soon after for my full review.
Anticipation is building for the spring return of
La Havana Madrid,
Chicago Latinx playwright and actor Sandra Delgado’s
smash hit, all-immersive theatrical event
inspired by true stories of a 1960’s Chicago nightclub
and immigrant melting pot, La Havana Madrid.
La Havana Madrid, returning as an an enhanced co-production between Teatro Vista and Collaboraction, will be remounted May 11-June 22 in the Heath Mainstage at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets, $30-$60, are on sale now. Visit thedentheatre.com or call the Den Theatre Box office, (773) 697-3830, for tickets and information. Back by popular demand, La Havana Madrid transports audiences back to a popular 1960s Chicago nightclub of the same name, where Latin0 immigrants new to Chicago found refuge to gather, meet, sing, dance, dine, find love and discover their destinies. Inspired by real stories of Cuban, Puerto Rican and Colombian immigrants, La Havana Madrid recreates a special time and place in Chicago history by immersing audiences in the lively music of that decade. Throughout, La Havana Madrid reveals how and why Latinos originally migrated to the shores of Lake Michigan, only to be pushed further west – away from the lake – by the forces of gentrification and racism. Today, Collaboraction and Teatro Vista announced the cast and design team for the return of La Havana Madrid. Sandra Delgado, both a Teatro Vista ensemble member and a founding company member of Collaboraction, will reprise her role as La Havana Madrid, the evening’s lead singer and mystical mistress of ceremonies who channels audiences through a series of true stories of Latino immigrants in Chicago, how and why they arrived here, the barriers they overcame, and their lasting impact from generation to generation still today. Teatro Vista ensemble members Tommy Rivera-Vega and Marvin Quijada will return as young immigrants new to Chicago who each met, danced, loved and lost at La Havana Madrid. Chicago actor and comedian Mike Oquendo also returns as Tony Quintana, the once owner of La Havana Madrid and host of the 1960s Chicago radio show “Tony’s Latin A-Go-Go.” Also back is legendary Colombian-American musician Roberto "Carpacho" Marin and his band of 30 years, Carpacho y Su Super Combo. Together with Delgado and the cast, Carpacho y Su Super Combo chronicles the history of Caribbean Latino music, live, from mambo, to cumbia, to the birth of salsa. And yes, by the end of the show, audience members need little encouragement to get on their feet and dance right along. New to the cast are Teatro Vista ensemble members Ayssette Muñoz as Maria, one of 14,000 unaccompanied minors who made a mass exodus to the U.S. in the early 1960s as part of Operation Peter Pan, and Ilse Zacharias as Myrna, a force-of-nature Puerto Rican beauty queen with big plans to break through the glass ceiling of Chicago’s Latino community. Victor Musoni is cast as Carlos, a streetwise Puerto Rican teen from Lincoln Park who has a political awakening through his photography. Alix Rhode will play Maruja, Henry’s long-distance Colombian bride who he saves and sends for to join him in Chicago. Teatro Vista ensemble member Cheryl Lynn Bruce, who directed the 2017 world premiere, returns to re-stage Delgado’s theatrical, cinematic and musical history of Latino Caribbeans in Chicago. Planned updates to the physical production include a reimagined, more immersive set and video design that will evoke an actual night out at a real Chicago 1960s Latino nightclub, complete with cabaret seating, a dance floor and a small stage for the live band. Original designers returning to help Bruce, the cast and the band re-realize this enhanced immersive environment are Collaboraction company members Elsa Hiltner (costumes) and Liviu Pasare (projections), along with Heather Skye Sparling (lights) and Teatro Vista ensemble member Jennifer Aparicio (production manager). New to the La Havana Madrid production team are Jose Manuel Diaz (set), Robert Hornbostel (sound) and Collaboraction company member Caitlin Body (stage manager).
Original Production Photos: credit Joel Maisonet
Teatro Vista’s 2017 world premiere of La Havana Madrid resonated deeply with Chicagoans from all different backgrounds and ages. It played to capacity crowds at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre and The Miracle Center in Hermosa and then transferred for an extended summer run in the Goodman’s Owen Theatre that drew record attendance.
Chicago’s leading Latinx newspaper Hoy wrote “La obra tiene la magia de conectar a la comunidad, de revivir recuerdos” (“the work has the magic of connecting to the community, of reliving memories.”) New City and Time Out Chicago hailed La Havana Madrid one of the “Best of 2017.” Time Out’s readers named it “Best New Work.” The Chicago Tribune hailed La Havana Madrid “heartfelt and fascinating…bursting with music and warmth." “I am thrilled that my two artistic homes are coming together to bring La Havana Madrid back to life. Both companies have a long history of collaborating and La Havana Madrid fits perfectly into their complementary missions, that of telling Latinx stories and uniting Chicagoans,” said Delgado.
“I am especially excited to be in the Heath Mainstage at the Den Theatre for the evolution of the La Havana Madrid experience. This malleable space is exactly what I have always envisioned for La Havana Madrid. With the combined strength of two companies, we will be able to fully realize the vision I have always had in mind, complete with immersive staging and evocative projections, that will transport audiences back to 1960's Chicago.” PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AND TICKET INFORMATION Previews of La Havana Madrid are Saturday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday, May 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. Press opening is Friday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. Performances run though June 22: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $30 general admission, $50 table seat and $60 front row table seat. Tickets are on sale now at thedentheatre.comor call the Den at (773) 697-3830. Group discounts available. The Den Theatre is located at 1331 N. Milwaukee Avenue in the heart of Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Metered street parking is available on Milwaukee and surrounding side streets. Street parking can be difficult to find, so arrive early to secure a spot and then come by The Den for a pre-show drink at the bar. The Den is close to the CTA Blue Line Division Street stop, and the 9 Ashland, 70 Division and 56 Milwaukee CTA bus lines. For more information, visit thedentheatre.com. Sandra Delgado | La Havana Madrid "This is ultimately a Chicago story. This is our story, our story as a city." - Sandra Delgado Flash back to Goodman Theatre's video trailer for La Havana Madrid, circa summer 2017:
ABOUT TEATRO VISTA Teatro Vista shares and celebrates the riches of Latinx culture with Chicago audiences. The company provides work and professional advancement opportunities for Latinx theatre artists, with special emphasis on the company’s ensemble members, and seeks to enhance the curricular goals of Chicago students through theater. Teatro Vista was founded in 1990 by Edward Torres and Henry Godinez with a primary focus to produce new works by Latinx theatre artists and classic plays featuring artists of color. The company’s current leadership team is Ricardo Gutiérrez, Executive Artistic Director, and Sylvia Hevia, Managing and Development Director. Teatro Vista is supported by Alphawood Foundation, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events of the City of Chicago, Art Works, Illinois Arts Council, Lester and Hope Abelson, The Shubert Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, the Bayless Family Foundation and Vidal & Associates. Purple Group is Teatro Vista’s Headline Season Sponsor.
For more, visit teatrovista.org, or follow the company on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
ABOUT COLLABORACTION Collaboraction, Chicago’s social contemporary theater, collaborates with a diverse community of Chicagoans, artists and community activists to create original theatrical experiences that push artistic boundaries and explore critical social issues. Since the company’s founding in 1996, Collaboraction has worked with more than 3,000 artists to bring more than 60 productions and events to more than 150,000 audience members. For the past five years, Collaboraction has partnered with the Chicago Park District through their Night Out in the Parks program, returning each year to cultivate relationships and theater in Englewood, Austin and Hermosa through the Crime Scene, PEACEBOOK and Encounter tours. Production highlights also include its series of Crime Scene productions responding to Chicago’s crime epidemic; 15 years of the SKETCHBOOK Festival; and the YO SOLO Festival of Latino Solo Shows, co-produced with Teatro Vista in 2012. Collaboraction is led by Artistic Director Anthony Moseley, Managing Director Dr. Marcus Robinson, a company of 20 talented Chicago theater artists, and a dedicated staff and board of directors. The company’s vision is to utilize theater to cultivate dialogue and action around our most critical social issues throughout Chicago. Collaboraction is supported by The Chicago Community Trust, The Joyce Foundation, The Field Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, DCASE and the Wicker Park & Bucktown SSA #33 Chamber of Commerce. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. For more, visit collaboraction.org, follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or Instagram, or call the Collaboraction box office, (312) 226-9633.
Sandra Delgado by Joe Mazza/brave lux. Photo
Sandra Delgado is a Colombian-American actor, writer, and producer born and raised in Chicago. She wrote and starred in La Havana Madrid, a Teatro Vista production at both the Steppenwolf Theatre and The Goodman Theatre. La Havana Madrid, Teatro Vista’s best-selling show in its 25-year history, played to sold out houses, and deeply resonated with Chicagoans from all different backgrounds. La Havana Madrid received recognition as one of the best plays of 2017 by Time Out Chicago (including the audience award for Best New Work) and New City Chicago. It was nominated by the Alliance of Latinx Theatre Artists (ALTA) for the Maria Irene Fornes New Play Award and received an ALTA Award for Best Production. In addition to her writing, Delgado is also a respected veteran of the stage, with a career spanning almost two decades. She most recently starred in La Ruta at Steppenwolf Theatre. Acting highlights include Jocasta in Oedipus El Rey at The Public Theater, the titular character in La Havana Madrid, the epic five-hour 2666 at The Goodman Theatre, her star turn as Veronica opposite Jimmy Smits in Motherf**ker with the Hat at Steppenwolf Theatre, and Mojada at Victory Gardens Theater, where her portrayal of Medea earned distinction as one of the Top Ten performances of 2013 by the Chicago Tribune. Delgado is also deeply committed to mentoring, advocating, and creating opportunities for her fellow Latinx theatre artists as a producer. Her groundbreaking YO SOLO Festival of Latino Solo Shows, co-produced by Collaboraction and Teatro Vista in 2012, was the first of its kind in the country. She co-curated Steppenwolf’s LookOut series during the run of her show La Havana Madrid, bringing dozens of Latinx artists to perform at Steppenwolf for the first time, and in the process creating community and a cultural hub for Latinx Chicagoans. Saints and Sinners, her new storytelling and music series, is also an extension of her drive to create more opportunities for writers and performers of color and provide a space to cultivate connection and understanding. Her advocacy work also includes serving on the Actors’ Equity Association EEO Committee since 2005 and co-chairing their annual Spirit, A Celebration of Diversity for the last three years as well as serving on the Latinx Theatre Commons advisory committee, a national advocacy organization for Latinx Theatre artists, since 2014. In addition to being an ensemble member of Teatro Vista (Associate Artistic Director from 2006-2008), Delgado is a founding ensemble member of Collaboraction (est. 1997), and is devoted to their mission of creating new works around Chicago’s most critical social issues. She is the recipient of a 2018 3Arts Award, the Joyce Award, The Theater Communications Group (TCG) Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowship in the Extraordinary Potential Category, a two-time Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events grantee, a 3Arts 3AP Project Grantee, and received the 2017 Latina Professional of the Year Award from the Chicago Latino Network. Delgado is a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists, a member of ALTA's Semillero Playwright's Circle, and a 2015/2016 member of the Goodman Theatre’s Playwright’s Unit. She is one of the 20 women of Chicago arts and culture honored in Kerry James Marshall's mural RUSH MORE on the facade of the Chicago Cultural Center. Her new play, Felons and Familias, the inaugural "In the Works" commission for Theatre on the Lake, received a workshop production as part of TOTL's 2018 season and was featured in The Goodman Theatre’s New Stages Festival this past fall under the new title, Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars. sandradelgado.net
Cheryl Lynn Bruce (director) is a Teatro Vista ensemble member, and like Delgado, she is one of the 20 women of Chicago arts and culture honored in Kerry James Marshall's mural RUSH MORE on the facade of the Chicago Cultural Center. She directed the world premiere of La Havana Madrid, and served as assistant director of Teatro Vista’s productions of Tamer of Horses and A View From the Bridge. She recently won the African American Arts Alliance Black Excellence Award and a 2018 Jeff nomination for directing Congo Square’s Jitney. She has performed on stages across the country and internationally, including recently at Steppenwolf Theatre in Familiar. Bruce created the role of Elizabeth Sandry for Steppenwolf’s Tony Award-winning production of The Grapes of Wrath, adapted and directed by Frank Galati for Broadway’s Cort Theatre, Britain’s National Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse. She also workshopped and premiered in RACE, Lookingglass Theatre’s inaugural production directed by David Schwimmer and Joy Gregory.
Bruce received a 3Arts Award (2010), a 3Arts fellowship to support a five-week Rauschenberg residency (2015), a Jane Addams Hull House Association’s Woman of Valor Award (2010) and a Yale Research Residency (2011). She was awarded the 2002 African American Arts Alliance Black Excellence Award and Black Theatre Alliance Award for Outstanding Direction of Endesha Ida Mae Holland’s From The Mississippi Delta at Congo Square Theater. Other directing credits include Resurrection by Daniel Beaty and Drip by Gloria Bond Clunie at eta Creative Arts Foundation, Milkweed: A Solo Play by Misty De Berry for Columbia College at Links Hall and Northwestern University, Spunk by Zora Neale Hurston at University of Illinois at Chicago and Congo Square Theater, Cage Rhythm by Kia Korthron for University of Illinois at Chicago and Theatre School at DePaul University, and Permanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons for Indiana University Northwest. In 2006 she was an Inaugural Fellow of the Institute for the Study of Women and Gender in the Arts and Media at Columbia College. In 2007 Bruce traveled to Japan to study Bunraku puppetry for her staging of Rythm Mastr, Kerry James Marshall’s urban comic which premiered at the Wexner Center for the Arts.
Marvin Quijada (Carpacho) is a Chicago based electronic music producer/composer, iOS musician, DJ, theatrical actor, and a clown/mime. He's excited to return to the world of La Havana Madrid. His theatrical credits in Chicago include: Pericles, Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors, Romeo and Juliet, and Othello (Chicago Shakespeare) Season on the Line (The House Theatre), The Dueling Gentlemen (Silent Theatre Company) which he wrote and directed, among others. His New York credits include: Lulu: A Black and White Silent Play (Silent Theatre) which won best play at the NY Fringe Festival in 2005. TV credits include Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. He is an ensemble member with Teatro Vista and Silent Theater. Follow him on soundcloud and instagram at SILENT MARVIN.
Tommy Rivera-Vega, Teatro Vista ensemble member, recently played Ezekiel in Goodman Theatre’s Lottery Day. Chicago credits include La Havana Madrid, Parachute Men, Between You Me and the Lampshade, A View From the Bridge and Momma’s Boyz (Teatro Vista); Support Group for Men, Mother Road (Goodman Theatre); Frederick (Chicago Children's Theatre); West Side Story (Drury Lane); In the Heights (Skylight Music Theatre); In the Heights and My Fair Lady (Paramount Theatre); Three Sisters (Steppenwolf); Kiss of the Spiderwoman (BoHo Theatre); Augusta & Noble (Adventure Stage); Pippin (Music Theatre Company) and CATS (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre). Puerto Rico credits include Spring Awakening and Footloose (Black Box Theatre).
Ayssette Muñoz moved to Chicago in 2013 from a small Texas border town in the Rio Grande Valley. She was featured in the Chicago Tribune's “Top 10 Hot New Faces of Chicago Theatre” in 2015, due to her appearance as Catherine in A View From the Bridge with Teatro Vista. She quickly became an Artistic Associate with the company in 2014, and is now a proud ensemble member. Since then, she originated the role of Miranda in Ike Holter’s Wolf at The End of the Block, Amparo in Raul Castillo’s Between You, Me, and the Lampshade, and Maria Teresa in Caridad Svich's In the Time of the Butterflies. Other Chicago credits include Muriel McComber in Ah Wilderness (Goodman Theatre) and Mary Whitney in Alias Grace (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble). She understudied and performed in Steppenwolf’s critically acclaimed production The Doppelganger, alongside Rainn Wilson and fellow Teatro Vista ensemble member Sandra Marquez. Other understudy credits include Lookingglass Theatre's Plantation!, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet. TV/film credits include Chicago P.D. and the award-winning feature En Algun Lugar (Iconoclast Films).
Mike Oquendo is a Chicago born comedy show host and theater producer who stages over 80 shows a year in Chicago and across the country. His shows have been featured on The View, Telemundo, Univision, People en Español, Broadway World and the Chicago Tribune. He is one a handful of Latinos to have trained in New York’s Commercial Theater Institute. His recent production of the off-Broadway hit Made in Puerto Rico with Comedian Eli Castro sold out seven weeks in New York City. He continues to host his Mikey O Comedy Shows in Chicago.
Ilse Zacharias (Myrna) is thrilled to be returning to Teatro Vista. Chicago credits include The Abuelas, The Madres and Wolf at the End of the Block u/s (Teatro Vista), Anna Karenina (Lifeline Theatre), Crime and Punishment (Shattered Globe); Into the Beautiful North (16th Street Theater); and Shrewish u/s (Artemisia Theatre). She has also worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Court Theater, American Blues Theater, Water People, The Bridge Theater and Something Marvelous. TV credits include The Exorcist. Zacharias received her BFA in Acting from Roosevelt University. She can currently be heard as the title role in BRAVA, a podcast produced by the co-author of Hamilton, Jeremy McCarter and the Make-Believe Association.
Alix Rhode, a Chicago native, is making her professional debut in La Havana Madrid. She is currently a junior at the Chicago College of Performing Arts pursuing her BFA in Musical Theatre.
Victor Musoni is a freshman at UIC studying to receive his BFA in theater. He is an ensemble member of The Yard Theatre Company. He was last seen in The Q Brothers Rome Sweet Rome (UIC main stage). He has recently appeared in Back The Night (UIC Studio Theatre), Fun Harmless War Machine (The New Colony), NO CHILD (Definition Theatre Company), Blood at the Root (Jackalope Theatre), Columbinus (Steppenwolf/The Yard),The Toilet (Haven Theatre), Race to the Finish (Kuumba Lynx), Snack Break 1&2 (The Yard), staged reading of Cardboard Piano (Timeline Theatre), How We Got On (Haven Theatre), staged reading of The Stories of us (Visión Latino Theatre Company). Film credits include Run Boy Run Girl, Brujos Web Series and 6x9 (Cinema Libertad). Music videos include Young Lost Love by Appleby and Sinner by Ric Wilson.
Four-show subscription season will include two beloved musicals and two comedies about families lost, found and strengthened.
Citadel Theatre Company, an Equity-affiliated professional company performing in Lake Forest, IL, has announced its 17th season. The four-show subscription season will open in September with the Tony Award-winning adventure-comedy PETER AND THE STARCATCHER a “pre-quel” to the story of Peter Pan – the boy who, separated from his parents, refuses to grow up and forms a family among a group of lost boys. It will be followed for the holidays by the ever-popular family favorite ANNIE – the story of Little Orphan Annie and her new home with the uber-rich Daddy Warbucks. The season will continue in the new year with THE FANTASTICKS. The world’s longest running musical, THE FANTASTICKS tells the story of Matt and Luisa, young next-door neighbors who fall in love precisely because their scheming fathers, knowing the kids will do exactly what they’re told NOT to do, have been keeping them apart. The season will conclude with Neil Simon’s heartfelt BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, a semi-autobiographical comedy inspired by Simon’s life at age 14 and his loving, but quirky family.
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, opening on September 27 and running through October 27 is a pre-quel to PETER PAN, written by Rick Elice (author of the Broadway musicals JERSEY BOYS, THE ADDAMS FAMILY and THE CHER SHOW), based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. On Broadway, It was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning five. PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is an action-packed and humorous take on the Peter Pan characters in which 13 actors will play more than 100 roles. PETER AND THE STARCATCHER will be directed by Jeremy Aluma, who recently directed THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY for Red Theater. The production was remounted at Theater on the Lake, named a Top 10 Show of 2017 by the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, and won a Jeff Award for Best Fight Choreography. Aluma is also the founder of the internationally touring clown troupe, Four Clowns.
ANNIE, which the CHICAGO TRIBUNE once called “one of the best family musicals ever penned,” will be Citadel’s holiday show. This musical comedy based on the long-running comic strip LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE ran for nearly six years in its initial Broadway production and has twice been revived on Broadway. It was also adapted as a popular feature film and network television special. Frequent Citadel director Robert D. Estrin, who helmed last year’s JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and the Jeff Award-winning THE EXPLORERS CLUB, will direct a cast of professional musical theater performers alongside an ensemble of local children as the orphans. ANNIE will open on November 15 and run through December 22, 2019.
THE FANTASTICKS originally opened off -Broadway in New York City’s Greenwich Village in 1960 where it played until 2002. In 2006 it was remounted in a new theater in Times Square where it ran another 11 years, easily making its combined 53-year run the longest of any musical. It includes the song “Try to Remember,” which entreats audiences to remember a sweeter, gentler time. Writers Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt adapted their story from a play by Edmund Rostand (CYRANO DE BERGERAC) in which two neighbors plot to make their children fall in love and marry each other by forbidding them to ever see each other, knowing that children will most want to do what they are told not to do. The boy and girl find a way to meet despite the fence that separates them, but they learn some hard lessons about romance and adventure vs. real life before the musical ends. Longtime Citadel collaborator Pat Murphy, who most recently directed LIGHT UP THE SKY for Citadel, will direct the production, opening on January 31 and running through March 1, 2020.
The season closer will be BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, one of Neil Simon’s best-loved plays among his many hits. The first of an autobiographical trilogy that includes BILOXI BLUES and BROADWAY BOUND, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS is a portrait of the writer as a young teen in 1937 living with his family in a crowded, lower middle-class Brooklyn walk-up. Eugene Jerome, standing in for the author, is the narrator and central character. Dreaming of baseball and girls, Eugene must cope with the mundane existence of his family life in Brooklyn: his formidable mother, overworked father, and worldly older brother Stanley; as well as extended family members that include his widowed Aunt Blanche and her two young (but rapidly aging) daughters. The warm and funny BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS will open on Friday, April 24 and run through Sunday, May 24, 2020. Citadel Founding Artistic Director Scott Phelps will direct. Season subscriptions are available for the full four-show season at $120.00 or as flex passes that can be used for the patron’s choice of three shows for $100.00 or two shows for $70.00. Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale at www.citadeltheatre.org.
Friday, September 20 – Sunday, October 20, 2019 (Previews September 18-19 @ 7:30 pm) Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3 pm. Preview ticket prices - $20.00. Regular run prices Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays $40.00; Saturdays and Sundays $45.00. Discounts available for groups, seniors and student. Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
The Tony Award-winning PETER AND THE STARCATCHER upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). A young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.
ANNIE Music by Charles Strouse, Book by Thomas Meehan, Lyrics by Martin Charnin Directed by Robert D. Estrin Friday, November 22 – Sunday, December 22, 2019 (Previews November 20-21 @7:30 pm) Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3 pm. Preview ticket prices - $20.00. Regular run prices Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays $40.00; Saturdays and Sundays $45.00. Discounts available for groups, seniors and student. Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.orgor by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations... and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
THE FANTASTICKS Music by Harvey Schmidt, Book and Lyrics by Tom Jones Directed by Pat Murphy Friday, February 7, 2020 - Sunday, Mar 8, 2020 (Previews February 5 and 6 @ 7:30 pm) Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3 pm. Preview ticket prices - $20.00. Regular run prices Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays $40.00; Saturdays and Sundays $45.00. Discounts available for groups, seniors and student. Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
THE FANTASTICKS is a funny and romantic musical about a boy, a girl, and their two fathers who try to keep them apart. The narrator, El Gallo, asks the audience to use their imagination and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic. The boy and the girl fall in love, grow apart and finally find their way back to each other after realizing the truth in El Gallo's words that, "without a hurt, the heart is hollow."
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS By Neil Simon Directed by Scott Phelps Friday April 24, 2020 - Sunday May 24, 2020 (Previews April 22-23 @ 7:30 pm) Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3 pm. Preview ticket prices - $20.00. Regular run prices Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays $40.00; Saturdays and Sundays $45.00. Discounts available for groups, seniors and student. Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
Part one of Neil Simon’s autobiographical trilogy: a portrait of the writer as a young teen in 1937 living with his family in a crowded, lower middle-class Brooklyn walk-up. Eugene Jerome must cope with the mundane existence of his family life in Brooklyn: formidable mother, overworked father, and his worldly older brother Stanley. Throw into the mix his widowed Aunt Blanche, her two young (but rapidly aging) daughters and you have a recipe for hilarity, served up Simon-style. This bittersweet memoir evocatively captures the life of a struggling Jewish household where, as his father states "if you didn't have a problem, you wouldn't be living here." BIOS Jeremy Aluma (Director, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER) is an award-winning, Jewish-American theatre director of Iraqi descent. He founded the internationally touring clown troupe Four Clowns and served as Artistic Director during their first seven years. Directing credits include: ABRAHAM & ISAAC (MuBe Cultural Theatre, São Paulo, Brazil); PINOCCHIO and ROBIN HOOD (South Coast Repertory, CA); SUBLIMITY (Theatre Row, NYC); THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY (Theater on the Lake, Chicago) AN OAK TREE (Red Theater, Chicago); CRUMBLE, LAY ME DOWN JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE (Sacred Fools, LA); THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT (Urban Theatre Movement, LA); HENRY’S POTATO (REDCAT, LA); IN ARABIA WE’D ALL BE KINGS (Alive Theatre, Long Beach); JONAH (Annenberg, Santa Monica) and HAMLET (American Coast Theater, CA). His original show, FOUR CLOWNS toured nationally to La MaMa (NYC); Chopin Theatre (Chicago); Gremlin Theatre (St. Paul, MN); Exit Theatre (San Francisco); Space 55 (Phoenix, AZ); and Insurgo Theater Movement (Las Vegas). Aluma is a company member at Red Theater, a Board Member for the Alliance for Jewish Theatre, and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Union (SDC). He continues to teach and take classes at The Clown School and will graduate in June 2019 with an MFA in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University. jeremyaluma.com
Robert D. Estrin (Director, ANNIE) Robert’s directing credits include JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, THE EXPLORERS CLUB, A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER, CABARET, OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY, LEND ME A TENOR (Citadel); THE SUM OF US (1027 Productions). Director/Designer: SUCH A PRETTY FACE (Off Broadway Equity Showcase production, New York City). Designer: A CHRISTMAS CAROL, LITTLE WOMEN, THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE, THE BOARDING HOUSE, SOMETHING’S AFOOT (Citadel); CORPUS DELICTI, MR. SHAW GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, SIDE EFFECTS MAY INCLUDE (MadKap Productions). Retired in 2005 from New Trier High School after thirty-four years of teaching theatre. Visit Bob on his Facebook page. Education: Northern Illinois University (B.A.); University of Illinois (M.A.).
Pat Murphy (Director, THE FANTASTICKS) returns to Citadel Theatre as director for the winter production of THE FANTASTICKS. Last year he directed LIGHT UP THE SKY. Previous shows he directed at Citadel are, OLIVER!, A CHRISTMAS CAROL several years ago and DEATHTRAP. He has also acted in LEND ME A TENOR and OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY. Murphy was Director of Theatre for 35 years at Glenbrook North High School. Murphy directed over one hundred productions at Glenbrook North before retiring a number of years ago. He now directs, acts and coaches theatre students and actors.
Scott Phelps (Director, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS) is in his 16th year as the Artistic Director at Citadel. He’s acted in and directed dozens of Citadel productions over the last decade and a half since founding this North Shore theatre in 2002 with his friend and lifelong companion, Ellen. He has acted/directed in NYC, and in his home state of California, trained as an actor at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, CA, received his BFA from the University of Utah, and did an apprenticeship at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in KY. For 18 years Scott worked for a promotional company and raised his three daughters and his son in Lake Forest. Recently he has been taking on the next chapter of his life — the role of “Grandpa”. Although he is unsure if he is old enough to play that part, he’s been enjoying the challenge.
Citadel Theatre is one of Chicagoland’s premier live theatres, producing hundreds of performances annually and inspiring audiences for over 16 years. Founded by Scott and Ellen Phelps in 2002, Citadel Theatre is comprised of its Main Stage performances, its On Tour programs, and its theatre acting classes for children. A proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres and the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff ArtsLink, Citadel Theatre offers a unique intimate theatre experience that transports you to another setting and leaves you feeling exhilarated and wanting more. A recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Citadel can accept tax-deductible donations. For more information, ticketing, and to donate, please visit Citadel online at www.CitadelTheatre.org or call 847.735.8554.
Alice has announced Summer tour dates with Young The Giant and Fitz & The Tantrums. Last month, Alice released a new documentary centered around the making of her LP 'Mint'. The LP was released on 1/18 on Mom+Pop Music. Critical acclaim has been coming in for the LP: Jon Pareles of the New York Times praised the LP in his weekly column. Nylon's Allison Stubblebine said,"...if I did have to assert one quality of Merton’s that I think will grow more and more evident over time, it’s the weird, the quirky, the way that she leaves mistakes in her songs, making them what they are, flawed and perfect, all at once." Town + Country also raved saying, "Alice Merton is About to Have the Breakout Album of 2019." Her single “Funny Business” is officially Top 20 on AAA, approaching Top 15 and officially Top 30 at Alternative radio. Alice's video for "Funny Business" was shared on Refinery29. Along with the video, the site she also did an exclusive interview. The track originally premiered on Nylon. Along with the song premiere, Alice also sat down with Nylon and did an interview where she talked about both the song and the new album. Last year, Alice's breakout single "No Roots" was certified gold by the RIAA.
Photo Credit: Paper Plane Records
Amazon Music listeners can simply ask, "Alexa play "Funny Business" (Acoustic) by Alice Merton" in the Amazon Music app for iOS and Android and on Alexa-enabled devices. In addition to the new track, Amazon Music listeners can access hundreds of Amazon Originals featuring both emerging and established artists across numerous genres, available to stream and purchase only on Amazon Music. Alice will be embarking on a U.S. tour in April around her new LP Mint. This tour will include dates at Coachella. She then will return to the U.S. this summer playing dates with Young The Giant and Fitz & The Tantrums. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
Tour Dates: 4/14/2019 - Indio CA - Coachella 4/16/2019 - Vancouver BC - Biltmore Cabaret 4/17/2019 - Seattle WA - The Crocodile 4/21/2019 - Indio CA - Coachella 4/23/2019 - Denver CO - Bluebird Theater 4/24/2019 - Kansas City MO - The Record Bar 4/26/2019 - Chicago IL - Bottom Lounge 4/27/2019 - Panama City Beach FL - SandJam 2019 Festival 8/4/2019 - Seattle, WA - Marymoor Park* 8/6/2019 - Troutdale, OR - Edgefield Ampitheater* 8/8/2019 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl* 8/9/2019 - San Diego, CA - Open Air Theatre* 8/10/2019 - Los Angeles, CA - The Forum* 8/11/2019 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre* 8/14/2019 - Reno, NV - Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort & Casino* 8/15/2019 - San Francisco, CA - Greek Theatre at Berkeley* 8/16/2019 - Las Vegas, NV - Downtown Las Vegas Event Center* *(Supporting Fitz and the Tantrums / Young the Giant)
ALICE MERTON BIOGRAPHY: Alice Merton wants to know why you're being so damn serious. The chart-topping singer-songwriter wrote her most euphoric, pop-friendly track to date at a time when critics and hot-takers seemed intent on sucking the joy out of everything. “I kept getting asked in interviews, ‘Do you think you’re gonna be a one-hit wonder?’” Alice Merton laughs. “I went into the studio and said, ‘Music is supposed to be fun! We don’t write songs to be hits, we write songs so we feel good.’” Out came "Why So Serious," with Alice Merton shimmying circles around the noise and the nonsense with parade of jubilant hooks. It's the closing salvo on MINT, an 11-track cavalcade of such powerhouses, and a long-awaited, hard-fought triumph of a debut album (out Jan. 18 on Mom + Pop Music). There are anthems for self-reliance, growing up, lashing out, and finding home in a whirlwind of FaceTime conversations and passport stamps. “Some talk about growing up and moving around a lot,” the English-German artist (who once moved 12 times over 24 years) observes, “But a lot of others discuss the struggles we’ve had with starting a label, the feeling of trying to prove yourself to everyone.” While studying at University of Popular Music and Music Business, Alice Merton founded Paper Plane Records Int. with her best friend and manager Paul Grauwinkel, while crafting songs alongside co-writer and producer Nicolas Rebscher. Label and radio reps scoffed at “No Roots” - It’s a minute too long! Take the guitars out! - but by the time it topped Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart in the U.S. and amassed over 142 million YouTube streams, naysayers turned to supporters. Long safe from those one-hit wonder jabs (the fiery “Lash Out” followed “No Roots” as an alt radio staple) MINT finds Alice Merton progressing from the owner of a handful of hits to an accomplished album artist. On “Funny Business,” she ventures outside her usual circle of collaborators and enlists Grammy-nominated producer John Hill (co-producer and co-writer of Portugal. The Man’s “Feel It Still”) for a swaggering, bass-groovy joyride that's ready to duke it out with "Why So Serious" for the title of Alice Merton's next big hit. It also doubles as her own personal dos and don'ts checklist: "I don't break hearts / I don't do funny business / I just ride in cars / And watch them get hung up in it." Seriously, why so serious? For fans who have been there from the start, MINT is the full-length affirmation; for newcomers, it's a virtual greatest hits of two globetrotting years spent living, adapting, and creating. With extensive touring and one of 2019’s standout debuts on the way, Alice Merton’s metamorphosis from Hype Machine and Shazam sensation to bona fide stardom is starting to… take root. She has gone platinum in six countries, amassed over 261 million global streams, sold out headlining dates in New York and Washington, D.C., and has been championed by the likes of Billboard magazine, Rolling Stone magazine, Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show, James Corden's Late Late Show, and Live With Kelly and Ryan. "It feels really relieving,” she affirms. “I’m excited we can finally put these songs out and even start working on the next chapter.” Mint - Tracklisting 1. Learn To Live 2. 2 Kids 3. No Roots 4. Funny Business 5. Homesick 6. Lash Out 7. Speak your Mind 8. Don't Hold A Grudge 9. Honeymoon Heartbreak 10. Trouble In Paradise 11. Why So Serious
