REVIEW: Trent James’ Pure Lies at Chicago Magic Lounge Wednesdays Through March 25, 2020

Chicago Magic Lounge, Chicago’s home for close-up magic, continues its Artist-In-Residence series with 

Trent James in Pure Lies, 

Wednesdays at 7:30pm Through March 25, 2020

Review:

by Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Have you ever wished you could walk through walls and find secret rooms behind bookcases? Sometimes the daily onslaught of politics, work, winter weather, and life in general can be a bit daunting. Chicago Magic Lounge is here to provide a little respite and take you back to an era of childlike wonder and world class illusion. We love the secret, unmarked location and the hidden entry through what looks like the world's smallest laundromat. 

Once inside the Chicago Magic Lounge on a given night, you can enjoy a triple treat of magic, if you're early enough. There's bar magic at the front bar, where you can be wowed with card tricks and more, while you order drinks and appetizers. Once inside, strolling prestidigitators entertain with close up magic as an opening act. Then there's the main show to look forward to. 

We love the high ceilings, vintage show posters of magicians and art deco decor. You're even likely to see the future famous on staff. A familiar storefront actor, rocking an evening gown, directed us into the classy main theatre through a hidden bookcase. Once inside we saw several more recognizable faces from local stages hosting and on waitstaff.

I've been to The Chicago Magic Lounge now numerous times, from their initial groundbreaking and grand opening, to many shows. With 7 nights of magic to choose from there's always something compelling on tap. Most recently, I caught the current resident act, with my son, Dugan, a Northwestern acting student, who had never been before. It's always fun to introduce someone to a great venue for the first time. We had a thoroughly enjoyable night. 




Trent James’ Pure Lies is now playing at Chicago Magic Lounge every Wednesday through March 25, 2020. Don't let that baby face fool you. He's young, but already an accomplished magician and consummate showman. His act is best experienced fresh, so no spoilers. I don't want to give away anything, but I will say he does magic I've never seen before. For a memorable evening, don't miss Pure Lies. That's the truth. 

Bonnie Kenaz-Mara is a Chicago based writer-theater critic-photographer-videographer-actress-artist-general creatrix and Mama to two terrific teens. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly). 

Artist-in-Residence series

Trent James presents Pure Lies

Wednesdays at 7:30pm

Over the course of this 60-minute modern-day magic show, audiences will witness astounding sleight of hand combined with gut-busting humor. Tickets for all Chicago Magic Lounge shows are available at the box office, (312) 366-4500 or online at chicagomagiclounge.com.

Comedy magician Trent James is bringing a fresh feel to the classic magic show! Trent combines mindboggling magic and offbeat comedy for a new generation. He is the winner of over twenty awards, including The Society of American Magicians International Stage Contest (People’s Choice Winner), International Brotherhood of Magicians Stage Contest (Silver Medal), and was named The Most Promising Young Magician by the Milbourne Christopher Foundation (Past winners include David Copperfield and Penn & Teller). Trent’s performances have left audiences raving from Las Vegas to New York. His unique sleight of hand magic and hip vibe come together to form an unforgettable thrill ride.

Pure Lies will be presented on Wednesdays at 7:30pm, January 8 – March 25, 2020.  Tickets are priced $35 (Main Floor) and $45 (Front Row).

Chicago Magic Lounge will also hold special shows for Valentine’s Day and CML’s 2 Year Anniversary (the weekend of February 20-23, 2020). 

Tickets for all Chicago Magic Lounge performances are available at the box office, (312) 366-4500 or online at chicagomagiclounge.com. Chicago Magic Lounge is a 21+ venue. Ages 16+ allowed to ticketed shows with a legal guardian. Ages 5+ allowed for The Family Show only. 

Ongoing Events and Performances are as follows:
Music & Magic 
Mondays at 7:30pm
Tickets: $15 (General Admission) 
Unwind at the beginning of the week with magic, jazz, and a cocktail. Music & Magic is the only performance of its kind in the city. We feature live jazz on stage and close-up magic at your table performed by our resident house magicians. When the band takes a break, a magician takes the stage. 

The Signature Show
Thursdays and Sundays at 7pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm & 10pm
Tickets: $45-$60
The Signature Show was conceived in 2015 as an homage to the historic, Chicago magic bar scene. Experience close-up magic right at your table during the cocktail hour, followed by an hour of stage magic featuring two masters of their craft performing feats of prestidigitation and sleight of hand. Guests who purchase Mezzanine, Front Row and Premium Main Floor tickets are invited to an exclusive performance of close-up magic directly after the show in our 43-seat close-up gallery, The 654 Club. *Please visit chicagomagiclounge.com for a complete schedule of performers.

The Family Show
Sundays at 3pm
Tickets: $27.50, $17.50 (children 5-16)
We take the bar scene out of Chicago Magic and open our Blackstone Cabaret for a 45-minute magic matinee suitable for younger ages. Our mission is to bring back the era of bar magic, bringing out the child in every adult; however, on Sundays, we feature a family-friendly magician that will fill both the adults and children full of wonder. The Family Show makes a great post-brunch activity with many restaurants nearby. The Family Show is suitable for ages 5 and up.

The Performance Bar
Mondays-Wednesdays, 5:30pm-11pm; Thursdays, 5:30pm-12am; Fridays-Saturdays, 5:30pm-2am; and Sundays, 5:30pm-11pm
Open from 5:30pm to close Mondays thru Saturdays, The Performance Bar features signature cocktails, luxurious seating and magicians behind the bar to challenge your imagination. The Performance Bar is open to the public and does not require a ticket to the show. Please note that The Performance Bar is 21+ only.

Tickets for all Chicago Magic Lounge performances are available at the box office, (312) 366-4500 or online at chicagomagiclounge.com. Chicago Magic Lounge is a 21+ venue. Ages 16+ allowed to ticketed shows with a legal guardian. Ages 5+ allowed for The Family Show only.

For a complete schedule of performances and more information about Chicago Magic Lounge, as well as resident and guest performers, Chicago Magic College classes, the Chicago Magic Round Table, and more, please visit chicagomagiclounge.com.

About Chicago Magic Lounge
Chicago Magic Lounge reinvents the classic "magic bar" that once dotted Chicago's nightlife landscape, bringing cocktails and card tricks back together again. Shows include magic performance at the bar, on the stage and in true Chicago-style Magic form, at the tables of the guests, providing the classic "Close-Up" tradition Chicago-style Magic is known for. Chicago Magic Lounge is also the home of the Chicagoland magic community, showcasing over 30 local professionals, and serving as a networking hub for working magicians from all over the world. 

The newly constructed theater at 5050 N. Clark St., designed by Morris Architects Planners, has ushered in a new wave of entertainment, bringing back “Chicago-style Magic” under the leadership of Donald C Clark, Jr. and Joseph (Joey) Cranford. Converted from a 1930s-era, commercial laundry building, the Chicago Magic Lounge is a 7,200 square-foot, Art Deco, state-of-the-art theater and lounge complete with secret doors, elegant performance areas and a magic bar – all dedicated to the art of sleight of hand, prestidigitation and Chicago's contribution to the magical arts. From magicians to mind readers, Chicago Magic Lounge provides guests the unique, one-of-a-kind experience of seeing wonders up-close and personal in a venue unlike anything else offered throughout the country.

Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America at Theatre at the Center in Munster February 13 Through March 22, 2020

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar:

Theatre at the Center in Munster 

Opens Its 30th Anniversary Season with Chicago-area Premiere of  

Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America

Photos by Guy Rhodes from left to right:  Steven Romero Schaeffer, Tommy Malouf and Sara Geist

ChiIL Live Shows will be out for opening night on February 16, so check back soon for our full review.

Theatre at the Center Artistic Director Linda Fortunato has cast Shannon McEldowney, Steven Romero Schaeffer, Andrew Mueller, Sara Geist and Tommy Malouf in the musical revue Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America to open its 30th Anniversary Season.   The cast will be joined on stage by musicians William Underwood, Malcolm Ruhl and Alison Tatum.   Fortunato will direct and William Underwood is the Music Director.   Previews begin on February 13 with an Opening Night on February 16 and a continued run through March 22.



According to Variety, “The show pays tribute to an artist who remains great at making people feel good.”

Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America, written and adapted by Peter Glazer and directed by Linda Fortunato, is a musical tribute and intimate celebration of John Denver’s life and career.   From growing up in a military family to his emergence on the 1960s folk scene, the climb to ‘70s superstardom and his later career of the 1980s and 1990s, John Denver’s story is brought to life in this Chicago-area premiere through hits such as “Country Roads,” Rocky Mountain High,” Annie’s Song,” and “Sunshine on My Shoulders.”

Shannon McEldowney returns to TATC after her work swinging in The Pajama Game.   Other credits include Elf and Young Frankenstein at Little Theatre on the Square, Mama Mia at Drury Lane Oakbrook and Disaster at Chicago Theatre Workshop.

Steven Romero Shaeffer returns to TATC after performing in Big River in 2017.   His Chicago credits include roles in Always, Patsy Cline at Firebrand Theatre and Into the Woods at Writer’s Theatre.   He has also toured with Troupe America in Pump Boys and Dinettes.

Andrew Mueller is making his TATC debut.   Other Chicagoland credits include Jesus Christ Superstar at Lyric Opera, Rent at Paramount Theatre, Shakespeare In Love and As You Like It at Chicago Shakespeare, Man of La Mancha at Marriott Theatre and Big River at BoHo Theatre.   Off Broadway roles include Peter and The Starcatcher and Alice By Heart.

Sara Geist, making her debut at TATC, began her professional career at age 12 in The American Girl Revue.   Since then she has performed with Mason Street Warehouse, Emerald City Theatre, Intrinsic Theatre Co., Windy City Performs, Next Theatre and on TV in Chicago Fire.

Tommy Malouf returns to TATC where he last appeared as Johnny Cash in Million Dollar Quartet.   Other Chicago credits include work with Remy Bumppo, The House Theatre of Chicago, Jackalope and Steep.

The creative team for Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America includes Scenic Designer and Head of Production Ann Davis, Lighting Designer G. “Max” Maxin IV, Sound Designer Joe Palermo, Costume Designer Brenda Winstead and Prop Designer Melissa Geel.   Stage manager is Jessica Banaszak.   Linda Fortunato is teamed with TATC General Manager Richard Friedman.

Founded in 1991, the 410-seat TATC is a year-round professional theater at its home: The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road in Munster, Indiana.   TATC is an accessible venue with plenty of free parking and is located off I-80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Performances are 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 3p.m and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.   Individual tickets prices range from $42 - $46.   To purchase individual tickets, call the Box Office at 219-836-3255.   Group discounts are available for groups of 11 or more.   Student tickets are $20 and gift certificates are also available.   For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

TEN 2020 Now Playing at The Gift Theatre Through January 18, 2020

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar:

The Gift Theatre Presents

TEN 2020

Festival of World Premiere Ten-Minute Plays

January 9 – 18, 2020

The Gift Theatre is pleased to present TEN 2020, the company’s annual season kick-off festival of ten world premiere ten-minute pieces by The Gift and guest artists, curated by Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton and Associate Artistic Directors Paul D'Addario and Emjoy Gavino. TEN will play January 9 – 18, 2020 at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood. Tickets for TEN are free for Gift subscribers and $10 for the general public. Tickets are currently available at thegifttheatre.org or by calling the Gift’s box office at 773-283-7071.



The TEN 2020 line-up includes:

THE GAME OF LIFE
Book and Lyrics by Gift Co-Founder William Nedved, Music by Stephen Coleman
Directed by ensemble member Erica Weiss
Featuring Michael Turrentine

UNMOVED 
By Hansol Jung
Directed by Brian Shaw
Featuring ensemble member James D. Farruggio

THE EDIT
By Brooke Allen
Directed by Erin Murray
Featuring ensemble member Alexandra Main with Chanell Bell

NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT 
By Michael Allen Harris
Directed by Gregory Geffrard
Featuring Raphael Diaz, Jalyn Greene, Watson Swift and Michael Turrentine

BLACK HOLE 
By Stacy Osei-Kuffour
Directed by ensemble member Martel Manning
Featuring ensemble members Gregory Fenner and Jennifer Glasse

BURIED MOTHER
By Mickle Maher
Directed by Michael Cotey
Featuring Deanna Dunagan and Diana Slickman

PLEDGE DRIVE 
By Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton
Directed by Jonathan Berry
Featuring ensemble members Jay Worthington, James D. Farruggio and Alexandra Main with Katie Gonzalez and Ricardo Gutierrez

Plus:

Natural Gas, The Gift’s house-improv team.
Featuring ensemble members Ed Flynn, Michael Patrick Thornton, Hannah Toriumi and Kyle Zornes with Kieran Fitzgerald, Carly Olson, John Pantlind and other scoundrels.

giftLIT, The Gift’s literary extension.
Featuring giftLIT Director Maggie Andersen with Maria Ortiz, Jennifer Rumberger and Shaina Warfield

TOUR MANAGER
A short film by ensemble member Ed Flynn and Amy Speckien
Featuring ensemble members and guest artists

The TEN 2020 production team includes Daniel Friedman (lighting design), Michael McShane (sound design), Sarah Luse (production manager), David Preis (technical director) and Tori Thompson (stage manager).

Performance Schedule:

Thursday, January 9 at 7:30 pm
Friday, January 10 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 11 at 3:30 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, January 12 at 3:30 pm & 7:30 pm
Thursday, January 16 at 7:30 pm
Friday, January 17 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 18 at 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm



About The Gift Theatre
Since 2001 and over 70 productions, The Gift Theatre has pioneered the frontiers of the American theatre via the most intimate professional Equity theatre in the country, leading to national acclaim and a cultural revolution on Chicago’s northwest side.

FEST ALERT: LIFELINE THEATRE PRESENTS THE 23RD ANNUAL FILLET OF SOLO FESTIVAL, JANUARY 10– 26, 2020

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

Lifeline Partners with 15 Chicago Storytelling Collectives

Former Lifeline Theatre Artistic Director Dorothy Milne and former Live Bait Theater Artistic Director Sharon Evans are pleased to announce the 23rd Annual Fillet of Solo Festival, running January 10–26, 2020. Celebrating the breadth of Chicago’s enduring storytelling and live lit scene, Lifeline brings 15 storytelling collectives and nine solo performers together for a three-week, multi-venue selection of powerful personal stories.

The 2020 Fillet of Solo festival will perform January 10-26, 2020, in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood at Lifeline Theatre (6912 N. Glenwood Ave.) and The Teal Room (6956 N. Glenwood Ave. – new location this year). Free parking and shuttle available. Performance times are Fridays at 7 and 8:30 p.m. at both venues; Saturdays at 4, 5:30, 7, and 8:30 p.m. at both venues; and Sundays at 4 and 5:30 p.m. at both venues. Ticket prices are $10 for regular single tickets, and $60 for a Festival Pass (allows admission to any performance). Tickets may be purchased at the Lifeline Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com.

FREE KICK-OFF NIGHT

The 23rd Annual Fillet of Solo Festival offers easy access to 15 Live Lit groups and numerous solo performers that perform regularly throughout Chicago. On Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 at 7 p.m., at The Teal Room, 6956 N. Glenwood Ave. Dorothy Milne of Lifeline Theatre will lead a conversation with numerous local storytellers and share a taste of things to come in the festival.

Discounted Passes: Fillet of Solo Festival Passes will be offered at a special discounted rate of $30 at the free kick-off event (regularly $60).

The Kick-Off Night is free, no reservations required. Contact the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, for more information.
FEATURED PERFORMERS

The 23rd Annual Fillet of Solo Festival will feature solo performances by:

·         Jamie Black: “It’s My Penis and I’ll Cry If I Want To”
·         Shelby Marie Edwards: “Lost Home, Win Home”
·         Kristina Lebedeva: “It’s Easy to be a Hero: Disability in Exile”
·         Arlene Malinowski: “A Little Bit not Normal”
·         Janki Mody: “Hear Me, See Me”
·         Anne Purky: “The Fixer (Notes from a Helicopter Mom on Steroids)”

·         Victoria Reeves: “Brassy + Intrepid”
·         R.C. Riley: “Take It Easy on the Left Hand, Please”
·         Shannon Wright: “LOVE, SHANNON XO”

Plus the work of the following storytelling collectives:
·         80 Minutes Around the World: Immigration Stories (http://www.nestorgomezstoryteller.com/immigration-stories.html) – Curated and produced by Nestor Gomez. Celebrated storyteller and 20-time Moth Slam winner Nestor Gomez has assembled a group of local performers to help illuminate the voices of immigrants in our city.
·         Back Room Stories (https://www.facebook.com/Backroomstories/) The Back Room is a curated show that features voices from across the spectrum of storytelling.  Margaret Burk co-produces and co-hosts three monthly storytelling events in Oak Park/River Forest: Back Room Stories at Hamburger Mary’s, Illinois Storytelling’s series at Dominican University, and Do Not Submit Oak Park at the Eastgate Cafe.
·         GeNarrations (www.goodmantheatre.org/Engage-Learn/For-Community/GeNarrations/): A personal narrative performance workshop hosted at the Goodman Theatre and in senior centers around Chicago.
·         Is This a Thing? (https://www.facebook.com/isthisathing/) Produced by Jake Cowan, Damian Raszewski, and Suzy Kahn Weinberg. Is this a thing? is a storytelling show that features new and experienced writers and tellers of true personal tales in a welcoming and nurturing space and place. Since 2014, our theme-inspired monthly show happens in the warm embrace of a Northside neighborhood pub, O’Shaughnessy’s at Ravenswood and Wilson on the second Monday of the month, February-July and September-December.  The stories all benefit from a super helpful and supportive workshop for the performers and producers to listen to each other and share ideas. Is this a thing? Yes. Yes it is.
·         the kates (www.thekates.org): An all-female comedy showcase that provides an intimate night of comedy dedicated to showcasing talented and hilarious female-identified performers by creating inclusive and positive environments. Artists are encouraged to express their comic point of view in unique and non-apologetic ways - proving that women are equal in the eyes of comedy.
·         The Lifeline Storytelling Project (www.lifelinestorytellingproject.com): The Lifeline Storytelling Project produces live music & storytelling events designed to develop and showcase artists affiliated with Lifeline Theatre.
·         Loose Chicks (loosechicks.robertamiles.com): Before #MeToo began empowering women, there was Loose Chicks. Loose Chicks is a collection of courageous women who share experiences that most women keep to themselves. Each show features six exceptional writers and performers who allow themselves to be vulnerable as they share with uncommon honesty.
·         Serving the Sentence (www.facebook.com/servingthesentencechicago): Serving the Sentence is a live lit show in which different storytellers take the same first sentence -- each in their own direction. At the end of the show, a new sentence is drawn that the next show's storytellers will embark from!
·         Stir-Friday Night! (www.stirfridaynight.org): A 23-year-old Asian-American comedy group, based in Chicago and performing at Second City, iO, Annoyance, Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre, and at festivals all over the country. Stir-Friday Night! alumni include Danny Pudi from Community, and Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead. Stir-Friday Night! is a nonprofit theater company, specializing in sketch comedy and improvisation, and offers touring shows and workshops for schools, companies, and organizations        .  
·         The Stoop (www.facebook.com/StoopStyleStories): The Stoop is hosted by Moth GrandSLAM champion Lily Be. Featured storytellers are given a theme and each share a short story related to that theme. The Stoop is a platform to bring Chicagoans to a better understanding of each other and to inspire change. Performing regularly at Rosa's Lounge in Humboldt Park, it is as much about community and survival as it is about entertainment.
·         Story Sessions (http://storysessionschicago.com/) Produced and hosted by Jill Howe. Story Sessions is a monthly show in Edgewater featuring a collection of curated performers and open mics sharing true personal stories that will tug at your heart strings, tickle your funny bone and take your mind on a wild adventure. First Fridays at Sauce and Bread Kitchen also feature delicious fresh pizza and BYO. The show is an hour long without intermission, so there is plenty of time to hang out with fellow story lovers. The show is free and always will be.
·         Sweat Girls (www.sweatgirls.org): With 26 years of shared history, the Sweat Girls represent the greying edge of Chicago's Live Lit community.  Known for their "contagious gusto" the Sweat Girls have been called "the undisputed tribal elders" of the solo performance scene (Chicago Reader, 2014).
·         Tellin’ Tales Theatre, featuring Tekki Lomnicki (tellintales.org): Tellin' Tales Theatre shatters the barriers between the disabled and non-disabled worlds through personal story — adult solo performances as well as "Six Stories Up,” a mentoring program and show featuring kids and adults, with and without disabilities. Tekki Lomnicki is a solo performer, playwright, director and educator. 
·         Universal Sound (https://www.facebook.com/Universal-Sound-a-storytelling-event-226119884926759/) Hosted by Vincent Greco. Universal Sound is a storytelling event that is part curated and part open mic, designed for people to tell their stories their way.  It is sponsored by Voice Power Chicago on the ·         We Met at Nine (https://www.facebook.com/wemetatnine/?modal=admin_todo_tour) Hosted and Produced by Lindsay Eanet and Lindsey Schroeder. We Met at Nine is a quarterly storytelling show at Chicago’s Laugh Out Loud Theater involving true stories told by pairs. Each show features five pairs (partners, parent and child, coworkers, siblings, best friends, exes).  Stories might be about a first date, an ill-fated road trip, a science fair experiment gone awry—whatever memory speaks to both parties. The name of the show comes from the Lerner & Loewe song “I Remember It Well,” where an old married couple go back and forth, each recalling their first date very differently.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

WEEK ONE (January 10-12):

Friday, January 10
Lifeline Theatre                                                     The Teal Room
7:00 p.m.    Lifeline Storytelling Project                     7:00 p.m.    Universal Sound
8:30 p.m.    80 Minutes Around The World                8:30 p.m.    Is This A Thing?


Saturday, January 11
Lifeline Theatre                                                     The Teal Room
4:00 p.m.    GeNarrations                                        4:00 p.m.    Janki Mody
5:30 p.m.    Tellin’ Tales Theatre/Tekki Lomnicki       5:30 p.m.    Serving the Sentence
7:00 p.m.    Story Sessions                                      7:00 p.m.    the kates
8:30 p.m.    Sweat Girls                                           8:30 p.m.    Stir-Friday Night!

Sunday, January 12
Lifeline Theatre                                                     The Teal Room
4:00 p.m.    Arlene Malinowski                                 4:00 p.m.    Back Room Stories
5:30 p.m.    Anne Purky                                           5:30 p.m.    Loose Chicks
WEEK TWO (January 17-19):

Friday, January 17
Lifeline Theatre                                                     The Teal Room
7:00 p.m.    Lifeline Storytelling Project                     7:00 p.m.    the kates
8:30 p.m.    80 Minutes Around The World                8:30 p.m.    Victoria Reeves

Saturday, January 18
Lifeline Theatre                                                     The Teal Room
4:00 p.m.    GeNarrations                                        4:00 p.m.    Kristina Lebedeva
5:30 p.m.    Tellin’ Tales Theatre/Tekki Lomnicki       5:30 p.m.    Serving the Sentence
7:00 p.m.    Sweat Girls                                           7:00 p.m.    Loose Chicks
8:30 p.m.    Shannon Wright                                    8:30 p.m.    Universal Sound

Sunday, January 19
Lifeline Theatre                                                     The Teal Room
4:00 p.m.    Shelby Marie Edwards                           4:00 p.m.    The Stoop
5:30 p.m.    R.C. Riley                                             5:30 p.m.    We Met at Nine 
WEEK THREE (January 24-26):

Friday, January 24
Lifeline Theatre                                                     The Teal Room
7:00 p.m.    Shelby Marie Edwards                           7:00 p.m.    Is This a Thing?
8:30 p.m.    80 Minutes Around the World                 8:30 p.m.    Lifeline Storytelling Project                    
Saturday, January 25
Lifeline Theatre                                                     The Teal Room
4:00 p.m.    Jamie Black                                          4:00 p.m.    Janki Mody
5:30 p.m.    Tellin’ Tales Theatre/Tekki Lomnicki       5:30 p.m.    The Stoop
7:00 p.m.    Sweat Girls                                           7:00 p.m.    Back Room Stories
8:30 p.m.    R.C. Riley                                             8:30 p.m.    Stir-Friday Night!


Sunday, January 26
Lifeline Theatre                                                     The Teal Room
4:00 p.m.    GeNarrations                                        4:00 p.m.    Victoria Reeves
5:30 p.m.    Shannon Wright                                    5:30 p.m.    Kristina Lebedeva


Lifeline Theatre presents the 2020 Fillet of Solo festival will perform January 10-26, 2020, in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood at Lifeline Theatre (6912 N. Glenwood Ave.) and The Teal Room (6956 N. Glenwood Ave. – new location this year). Free parking and shuttle available. Performance times are Fridays at 7 and 8:30 p.m. at both venues; Saturdays at 4, 5:30, 7, and 8:30 p.m. at both venues; and Sundays at 4 and 5:30 p.m. at both venues. Ticket prices are $10 for regular single tickets, and $60 for a Festival Pass (allows admission to any performance). Tickets may be purchased at the Lifeline Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com.

Now in its 37th season, Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Our ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and our theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, we are committed to deepening our connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far. Lifeline Theatre – Big Stories, Up Close.

Lifeline Theatre’s programs are partially supported by Alphawood Foundation; A.R.T League Inc.; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; Chicago CityArts, a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; The Common Cup; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; FGMK LLC; Flex Print, Inc.; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency;  MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The Polk Bros. Foundation; Rogers Park Social; S&C Electric Company Fund; The Shubert Foundation; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

Filament Theatre Presents FORTS: Adult Night Every Saturday Night Jan 4, 2020 - Feb 22, 2020

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

Filament Theatre’s hit immersive play experience, 

FORTS: Build Your Own Adventure, 

is back at Filament Theatre, 4041 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago. 
*NOW EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH 1*

Participants in FORTS: Adult Night must be 21 or older. Performances are BYOB.

Photo Credit: Christian Libonati

As part of the performance offerings, Filament is offering FORTS: Adult Night, a version of the family friendly experience that is specifically for adults to reconnect with the imagination of their youth. FORTS: Adult Night welcomes adults into an environment that inspires good old fashioned play. Tickets are now available at www.filamenttheatre.org/adultforts. 



The Adult Night Experience:
Enter a world of play and creation as Filament Theatre transforms into a fort building fantasy. With towers of cardboard boxes, baskets of sheets, buckets of clothespins, adults step back into the imagination of their childhood. With theatrical design elements of sound and lights working together to inspire creativity, friends old and new are swept away in the adventure! 

The production team for FORTS includes Julie Ritchey (conceiver), Eleanor Kahn (space designer), Jeffrey Levin (sound designer), Carley Walker (lighting design), and Andrew Marikis (experience design).

FORTS: Adult Night Research Study
On Friday, January 24th @ 7:30pm Lisa Siciliano, doctoral student in Learning Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago will research how people learn through theatre and play at a performance of FORTS: Adult Night. Learn more about the study and how to participate here: www.filamenttheatre.org/fortsstudy

FORTS: Build Your Own Adventure
FORTS: Build Your Own Adventure is the family focused version of this experience. FORTS: Build Your Own Adventure is now playing Saturdays & Sundays at 1pm & 3pm and has been extended through February 23, 2020. Learn more about FORTS: Build Your Own Adventure here: www.filamenttheatre.org/forts

Chicago Theatre Week
FORTS: Build Your Own Adventure & Adult Night will be participating in Chicago Theatre Week. Chicago Theatre Week is an annual celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago during which visitors and residents can access value-priced tickets. As a program of the League of Chicago Theatres, in partnership with Choose Chicago, CTW is heading into its eighth year and will take place February 13-23, 2020. More than 100 theatre productions are expected to participate in neighborhoods throughout the city and suburbs. Find more information at ChicagoTheatreWeek.com.

FORTS: Adult Night Dates:
Performance run: January 4, 2020 to February 22, 2020. 
Curtain Times: Saturdays at 7:30pm
Important info: participants must be 21+
Adult Night Ticket Prices: $15. (Price includes all ticketing fees). 

Tickets are now available at www.filamenttheatre.org/adultforts. For questions call the Filament Theatre office at (773) 270-1660.

To learn more about FORT: Build Your Own Adventure, visit www.filamenttheatre.org/forts

About Filament Theatre:
Filament Theatre creates immersive and site-specific theatre that inspires, empowers, and activates young people and their communities. Filament envisions a future in which the leaders of tomorrow approach others with radical empathy, serving as ambassadors for their communities and stewards of the Earth. 

The company’s staff is comprised of Julie Ritchey (Artistic Director) and Christian Libonati (Managing Director).

Filament Theatre’s programs are supported in part by the Alphawood Foundation, the Chicago Community Trust, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Art Council, the MacArthur Foundation, the Saints, Wintrust Community Banks and more!

For additional information visit www.filamenttheatre.org 

Chicago Theatre Week To Return February 13 – 23, 2020

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar
League of Chicago Theatres, in partnership with Choose Chicago, 

Present Chicago Theatre Week 2020

February 13 – 23

**Tickets on Sale January 14th. Get 'em before you hear the words "sold out".**

Chicago Theatre Week (#CTW20), an annual celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago during which visitors and residents can access value-priced tickets, will take place

February 13-23, 2020. From joy to heartache and every feeling in between, Chicago theatre tells stories that evoke big emotions. Stories that take risks, inspire awe, ask tough questions – and dare audiences to do the same. From musicals to plays to comedy, theatre is for everyone in Chicago. Chicago Theatre Week is a celebration of the stories we share.

Chicago Theatre Week, spanning a week and two full weekends, is heading into its eighth year. As a program of the League of Chicago Theatres, in partnership with Choose Chicago, over 100 theatre productions are expected to participate in neighborhoods throughout the city and suburbs.

The value-priced CTW tickets will be $30, $15, or less. In early January 2020, tickets will go on sale and a list of participating productions will be available at ChicagoTheatreWeek.com.

A small sample of the many productions expected to participate are:

An American in Paris – Drury Lane Theatre
Bug – Steppenwolf Theatre
Chicago Musical Theatre Festival – Underscore Theatre Company
Emma – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Freedom Ride – Chicago Opera Theater at The Studebaker Theater
How a Boy Falls – Northlight Theatre
Ivy + Bean – Emerald City Theatre at the Athenaeum Theatre
Madama Butterfly – Lyric Opera of Chicago
The Mousetrap – Court Theatre
Roe – Goodman Theatre
Sophisticated Ladies – Porchlight Music Theatre
Spoken Word – MPAACT at the Greenhouse Theater Center
Stick Fly – Writers Theatre
SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical – Broadway In Chicago at the James M. Nederlander Theatre

Last year, in February 2019, 139 participating productions offered value-priced tickets to 593 individual performances during Chicago Theatre Week. The initiative continues to see increased sales year over year, with 12,700 Theatre Week tickets sold in 2019. Chicago Theatre Week brings in new audiences to area theatres with an average of 63% of attendees visiting their chosen theatre for the first time. Theatre Week also proved to be a draw for visitors from outside Chicago with 17% of patrons coming from beyond 50 miles of the city, spanning 36 states and several countries.

“Each year, Chicago Theatre Week introduces audiences to incredible shows at great prices. It presents an opportunity for every visitor and every resident to experience new work, fresh talent, musicals, improv, and more,” comments Deb Clapp, Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres. “Theatre is something that sets Chicago apart from other cities and Chicago Theatre Week celebrates that distinction and welcomes everyone in.”

“Chicago, which is home to over 250 dynamic theatres, provides visitors more variety and creative platforms than any destination in the United States,” said David Whitaker, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “Perhaps more importantly, Chicago Theatre Week helps create a greater understanding of the year-round programming, opportunities and the amazing venues that call Chicago home.”

Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago. Subscribe to the Theatre Week email newsletter or follow @ChicagoPlays on Twitter for more. The official hashtag for Chicago Theatre Week 2020 is #CTW20.

About Chicago theatre
Chicago theatre is the leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theatres to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 5 which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago’s theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. Last year alone Chicago theatre companies produced more than 100 world premiere productions and adaptations. Each year Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world.

League of Chicago Theatres’ Mission Statement
Theatre is essential to the life of a great city and to its citizens. The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres which leverages its collective strength to support, promote, and advocate for Chicago’s theatre industry. Through our work, we ensure that theatre continues to thrive in our city.

For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com. Half-price tickets to the current week’s performances as well as future performances are available at HotTix.org and at the two Hot Tix half-price ticket locations: across from the Chicago Cultural Center at Expo72 (72 E. Randolph) and Block Thirty Seven (108 N. State).

OPENING: ROE and Graveyard Shift at Goodman Theatre

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

LISA LOOMER’S ROE (CHICAGO PREMIERE) AND KORDE ARRINGTON TUTTLE’S GRAVEYARD SHIFT (WORLD PREMIERE)

***TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FOR BOTH PRODUCTIONS***

I'll be out for opening night, so check back soon for my full reviews. I adore director, Vanessa Stalling's work, and I'm particularly eager to catch the all too timely, ROE.

Goodman Theatre continues its 2019/2020 Season this winter with two new plays. A Chicago premiere, Roe by Lisa Loomer, directed by former Goodman Maggio Fellow Vanessa Stalling (The Wolves), illuminates the complex young women behind the landmark trial of Roe v. Wade. graveyard shift by korde arrington tuttle, directed by Danya Taymor, is a world premiere that was developed in the Goodman’s New Stages Festival last year. Roe appears January 18 – February 23 in the 856-seat Albert Theatre; tickets are $20 - $70 (subject to change). graveyard shift appears February 7 – March 8 in the 350-seat flexible Owen Theatre; tickets are $15 – $45 (subject to change). Visit GoodmanTheatre.org, call 312.443.3800 or purchase at the Goodman Theatre box office (170 N. Dearborn).

Goodman Theatre is grateful for the support of its sponsors of Roe, including Goodman Theatre Women’s Board and the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation (Major Production Sponsors), Winston and Strawn LLP (Major Corporate Sponsor) and WBEZ 91.5 (Media Sponsor).

Roe
By Lisa Loomer
Directed by Vanessa Stalling

"You didn’t give a damn about Roe the person—all you cared about was Roe the case!”-Norma, Act II, Scene II. Conceived in a pizza parlor and argued in the highest court in the land, 1973’s Roe v. Wade legalized abortion—and is hotly debated still today. The complex young women behind the trial—attorney Sarah Weddington and plaintiff Norma McCorvey (“Jane Roe”)—embark upon separate journeys that mirror the current polarization over the landmark decision. “Full of nuance and complexity" (NPR), Roe illuminates the heart and passion that each side has for their cause.

Kayla Carter………………………………………………Roxy
Jazmín Corona……………………………...……………Ensemble
Julia Dale…………….……………………………………Melissa/Emily
Stephanie Diaz……………………………………………Ofelia/Connie
Kirsten Fitzgerald…………………………………………Molly/Mary/Ensemble
Raymond Fox…………………………..…………………McCluskey/Ensemble
Christina Hall……………………………………...………Sarah Weddington
Carolyn Hoerdemann………………….…………………Ensemble
Maura Kidwell……………….......................……………Helen/Ronda/Ensemble
Ryan Kitley………………………..………………………Flip/Ensemble
John Lister………………..………………………………Justice Blackmun/Ensemble
Kate Middleton……………………...……………………Norma McCorvey
Eliza Stoughton………………………………….……….Ensemble
Jessica Dean Turner…………………............…………Barbara/Aileen/Ensemble
Meg Warner………………………………………………Judy/Linda Coffee/Ensemble

The creative team includes Collette Pollard (Set Design), Jessica Pabst (Costume Design), Keith Parham (Lighting Design) and Mikhail Fiksel (Sound Design). Briana J. Fahey is the Production Stage Manager.



graveyard shift
By korde arrington tuttle
Directed by Danya Taymor

Janelle, poised to reap the fruits of her labor, relocates from Illinois to Texas in order to give love a chance. Meanwhile, a small-town police officer wrestles with the harsh realities of change. When their worlds collide, both are forced to confront the consequences of an imbalance of power. Inspired by the legacy of Sandra Bland, graveyard shift is an unflinching, open-hearted experience rooted in navigating a world full of fear.

Keith D. Gallagher…………………………………………Brian
Rae Gray…………….………………………………………Elise
Aneisa Hicks…………………………………………………Janelle
Lia Mortensen………………………………………………Trish
Kyle Vincent Terry…………………………………………Kane
The creative team includes Kristen Robinson (Set Design), Montana Levi Blanco (Costume Design), Marcus Doshi (Lighting Design) and Richard Woodbury (Sound Design). Rebekah Heusel is the Production Stage Manager.


ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE
Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff Awards, among other accolades. The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fourth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.

As a cultural and community organization invested in quality, diversity and community, Goodman Theatre is committed to using the art of theater for a better Chicago. Using the tools of the theatrical profession, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand the cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered free of charge for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.

Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Kimberly Senior, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. David W. Fox, Jr. is Chairman of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Denise Stefan Ginascol is Women’s Board President and Megan McCarthy Hayes is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.