ACT OUT SAVE THE DATES: Buzzer at Goodman

LEE STARK, SHANE KENYON AND ERIC LYNCH CAST IN THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF BUZZER BY TRACEY SCOTT WILSON, DIRECTED BY JESSICA THEBUS (FEBRUARY 8 – MARCH 9); TICKETS ON SALE JANUARY 3 Gentrification comes to a head in Tracey Scott Wilson’s Buzzer—a “taut, well-structured work about the difficulty of moving past history” (Minneapolis Star Tribune), making its Chicago premiere at Goodman Theatre, directed by Jessica Thebus. Three people encounter “the complexities of human relationships in a world where race doesn’t mean what it used to, but where it’s still enormously relevant” (Twin Cities Daily Planet): Eric Lynch plays Jackson, a young, successful African American attorney returning to the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of his youth. Lee Stark plays Suzy, his white girlfriend who teaches at a tough inner city high school, and Shane Kenyon plays Don, his white, troubled best friend who finds himself at home among the neighborhood’s rougher edges.  The design team includes John Culbert (lights), Mikhail Fiksel (sound), Birgit Rattenborg Wise (costumes) and Walt Spangler (sets).   Buzzer runs February 8 – March 9 in the Owen Theatre (opening night is Tuesday, February 18). Tickets ($10 - $40; subject to change) go on sale to the general public Friday, January 3 and are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Buzzer, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). Bank of America is the Owen Season Sponsor and the Goodman Scenemakers Board is a Sponsor Partner.  “This is a new play about America,” said playwright Tracey Scott Wilson, whose previous Goodman Theatre credits include a reading of Buzzer in the 2012 New Stages festival, The Good Negro and The Story. “As our cultural and political landscapes change, we’re forced to confront issues of race, class, privilege and belonging—we see complications arise in this play because of who each person is in respect to the neighborhood and their openness to change.” Added director Jessica Thebus: “Tracey is an extremely passionate and articulate playwright, and I’m excited to be working with her for the first time. I’m also thrilled to be back at the Goodman, where I’ve done two of my favorite projects—Stage Kiss and The Clean House—and to be working in the Owen, which is one of my favorite theaters in the country.”

ChiIL November Highlights, Huge Holidaze Giveaways & ChiIL Picks Gift List Details & More

Things have been hoppin' here in Chi, IL.   The weather may be getting chilly, but you can still chiIL out with ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama this fall & winter.   We're all over the local theatre & music scene, events and giveaways.  Our HUGE annual ChiIL Holidaze Giveaways & ChiIL Picks Gift List will go live November 15th-December 15th with LOADS of great goodie to win and our ChiIL Picks List for unique gifts for all ages.   

Spread the word for more entries and enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often!

Disclaimer:   Thanks to all the generous musicians, toy companies, distributors and PR firms that send us products for our giveaways and for review purposes. As always, all opinions are our own.

Highlights:
Here's what we've been up to, what's already posted, what you can look forward to seeing right here in the near future, and so much more. 

Read me at:  ChiIL Mama, ChiIL Live Shows, CNN, 

The Local Tourist,Technorati, Green Parent Chicago, Dug Sound, 

ChiIL Travel Kids, CBS

ChiIL Mama's Channel YouTube

Facebook:  ChiIL Live Shows & ChiIL Mama

Twitter:  ChiIL Live Shows & ChiIL Mama

Pinterest   

Instagram

Keep up with the latest:    

Fam Friendly photo & video features, giveaways, recaps & reviews will be at ChiIL Mama.  

Theatre, music, art,  giveaways, events, & reviews for adults will be at ChiIL Live Shows.

November:
We gave away a sweet 3d Willis Tower Puzzle, Pacific Rim Blu-Ray & loads of local concert tickets & our huge holidaze giveaways begin the 10th.  

We're also back again for the 3rd year as press sponsor for Beat Kitchen's popular weekly Sunday noon Concerts for Kids, which means we give away free tickets EVERY week.  We also have free kindie tickets for shows at Schubas like the award winning Mister G, Baby Loves Disco at Lincoln Hall & more.

**Highlight:  

 

Yes there IS a SANTA CLAUS!!   ChiIL Mama was elated to be invited to The Annual Kenmore Blogger Summit with 24 top bloggers flown in from all over the country.   It was a fun filled, informative weekend and we'll have a full photo recap up soon.   

During the Kenmore Blogger Summit, here's an actual Tweet I sent out:

10/26  Dear santa.. I've been really good this year.  Your cookies n milk would look rockin' awesome in a new grab n go @kenmore fridge #testedtales 

Within a half hour I WON a $2,500 Kenmore French Door Fridge/Bottom Freezer in a blind gift grab bag!!  This has been a high point of my fall for sure.   

Even better... the rules were you could pick 1 from under the tree or snag one from someone else & the final 10 seconds were a swapping free for all.   I had a different bag, that had been stolen from others several times before, and at the last second another blogger snagged it from me and swapped in a sweater print box.   What I lost?...A garlic press!



What I won:

SANTA LIVES!!!!   Don't tell me there's no such thing as holiday magic.

The other blogger was a good sport about it.   I hugged her and thanked her profusely. 

**Upcoming Special Features: 

• Kenmore Blogger Summit where I WON a $2500 FRIDGE!!!!   If you follow us on FB/Twitter you're already aware of my rockin' awesome win.   If not, you'll hear the whole story shortly... complete with humorous anecdotes, photos and holiday miracle

• Blueman Group photo recap press event--unveiling of garden art/artist video interviews

• Lyle Cogen-feature/CD review/original interview with NYC's own nationally acclaimed Bullying Prevention Maven.   We wrapped up anti-bullying month with an great phone interview with Lyle which we're presently editing for a full feature.

• Hamming it up with Hemmert--CircEsteem Circ Soiree Benefit Show with MC Terri Hemmert from WXRT--full video footage coming/photo recap up already

• Breakfast with Bayless--THE RETURN OF RICK BAYLESS IN CASCABEL--our original photo & video Frontera breakfast press conference recap.

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE, FRONTERA GRILL AND SILVERGUY ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT
THE RETURN OF RICK BAYLESS IN CASCABEL 

DINNER – DARING – DESIRE

WITH NEW MENU ELEMENTS IN A NEW VENUE

Four week limited run in the Goodman Theatre’s Owen Bruner Theatre

July 30 – August 24, 2014

*November 15-17 Win 6 tickets to Aquatic Experience Chicago traveling shark show/aquarium show-6 ticket giveaway/advance press/ photo recap

*Opening November 21 Illumination at Morton Arboretum-ticket giveaway/photo recap

*last weekend:

Ringling Brothers And Barnum & Bailey Circus Present Built to Amaze--full photo recap coming/advance features & discount ticket code still posted/4 ticket giveaway (ended)

Redmoon-Boneshaker--behind the scenes photo feature up/full photo recap coming

Redmoon Skelebration (fam friendly)--full photo recap coming

Chicago International Children's Film Festival--video footage, recap & reviews coming

Holiday Inn/photo tour/travel feature

FREE Birds Movie Advanced Sneak Peek/Review


ACT OUT:
Fall Theatre Reviews For

• That's Weird Chicago-Barrel of Monkeys
• 7th Love-Harris Theatre
• Lord of the Flies at Steppenwolf
• Once Upon a Dream (Rascals)-Cadillac Palace Broadway in Chicago
• We will Rock You (Queen Musical)-Cadillac Palace Broadway in Chicago
• Midnight Circus
• Smokefall--Goodman
• The Table (puppetry)--Chicago Shakespeare
• Wrecks-Profiles
• Once-Oriental Theatre Broadway in Chicago
• Cyrano--Chicago Shakespeare
• A Year With Frog & Toad at Chicago Children's Theatre
• Old Jews Telling Jokes--Royal George
• North China Lover-Lookingglass

ACT OUT OPENING:
Upcoming Theatre Reviews 

• Port Authority-Writers Theatre (we'll be reviewing at the press opening tonight) 11/6
• Kate & Sam are not Breaking Up-Collaboraction
• Appropriate-Victory Gardens
• Actor's Gym Youth Circus--A'musing Myths
• Hellcab at Profiles
• A Christmas Carol-Goodman
• An Iliad Theatre
• Mikado-Hypocrites (at Steppenwolf)
• Dead Prince-DCASE
• ATC-It's a Wonderful Life
• A Q Brothers’ Christmas Carol
• ONCE UPON A PEOPLE: A DANCESICAL
• The Nutcracker-House Theatre
• Trevor-Red Orchid

and more!   We'll be adding more to this stellar show list as the month progresses.

Game & Toy Related:

**Activision Family Games Summit (this Thurs 11/7) open to the public on line**

• PopCap Plants Vs. Zombies 2--press party

• November 21-24 ChiTAG-Chicago Toy and Game Fair (open to the public)

Foodie Fun:

• Chicago food swap at the Chopping Block
• Pinstripes Restaurant Review
• Plum Market photo feature

Music: 

• PigPen band (alt folk-of Old Man and The Old Moon fame) at Schubas-4 show residency/multiple live shows photo features & ticket giveaways to all shows. *Final show November 18th (21+). 

• Monster Magnet at Bottom Lounge 11/16
• Yakuza at Beat Kitchen 11/22
• Misfits at Concord(live show photo feature)
• Dumpstaphunk at Concord (live show photo feature)
• Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg and Andrew W. K. at Double Door  (live show photo feature)
• Revocation (photo feature/original video interview)

November Movies On Our Radar:

The Hunger Games:  Catching Fire

Thor The Dark World

The Book Thief

That Awkward Moment

Frozen

Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom

The Punk Singer

Bettie Page Reveals All

CIMMfest-call for entries/special screenings

Music Box highlights

Facets features

Prizes/Ticket Giveaways:  As always, our free tickets and events listings are Chicago centered but our giveaways & reviews are for Chi, IL and beyond (nationwide & sometimes Canada too).   We'll have all past winnings coming from us shipped out before the 10th, so if you're still eagerly awaiting CDs, books, toys, etc. thanks for your patience and we've got you covered.   

Some of our prizes come directly from the musicians/distributor/PR peeps etc. and in that case, please wait a month and if you still have not gotten your winnings, shoot us an e-mail and we'll do everything possible to expedite things and get an ETA from them.   Unfortunately we can not replace anything lost in the mail.   It has never happened yet, that I'm aware of, but a few things have gone missing in the lovely Chi-town mail enroute TO me.

Disclaimer:   Thanks to all the generous musicians, toy companies, distributors and PR firms that send us products for our giveaways and for review purposes. As always, all opinions are our own.

INCOMING: YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN at Empty Bottle THIS Tuesday 11/5

YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN

After after a busy week in New York for CMJ, YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN are not slowing down.

Their sophomore album UZU which is out on Suicide Squeeze Records in the US and Paper Bag in Canada next week, can be streamed now via Pitchfork Advance. The stream is accompanied by some incredible art work compiled by Alaska B., who tells us that "the art is a sampling of the visual history of YT//ST as culled from the archive. It includes documentation of newer works (eg 33, Hoshi Neko) done since the release of YT//ST in 2011, as well as old documentation from the first 18 months of our collective's history."

Click Here To Stream UZU On Pitchfork Advance

Photo Credit: Derrick Belcham

Paper Magazine cited them as the number one band who will "Cure Your CMJ Fatigue," telling us "Pioneers of their very own "Noh-wave" genre, Canada's Yamantaka // Sonic Titan take psychedelia, Buddhist iconography, seizure-inducing lights and detuned guitars and whip it all into an eye-popping whole." 

Time Out New York were also excited for the band's shows writing "We're particularly psyched on sludgy, proggy Montreal music and performance-art collective Yamantaka // Sonic Titan."

Now back in their hometowns of Montreal and Toronto, YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN are getting ready to hit the road for more North American dates including a very special (and spooky) show at the famous Basilica in Hudson on Halloween. All tour dates are listed below, definitely one of the best live shows you will see all year.

Remaining North American Tour Dates / 11/05 - The Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL 9:00 PM Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Official WebsiteFacebookBandcamp Electric Hawk FacebookAdditionalReverb Nation Cleric Official WebsiteFacebookBandcampWeb of Mimicry $8.00 11/06 - The Garrison - Toronto, ON 11/07 - Babylon - Ottawa, ON Bio / The rock opera generally references the ambitious and occasionally bloated concept albums of seasoned big name artists. Rarely is it used to conjure a Pynchon-worthy fusion of high and low culture or a blurring of the lines between theater and music. But in the case of Toronto/Montreal art partnership YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN, rock opera carries all the latter connotations of the nexus between tradition and irreverence, performance art and unbridled noise. The duality of fusing Old World classicism with New World innovation goes to the very core of the group—their name is a melding of the Buddhist “terminator of death” deity with a song title by seminal stoner doom band Sleep. They describe themselves as “Noh-wave”, a nod to both classical Japanese drama and the nihilistic art-punk scene of a pre-Giuliani New York City. The yin-and-yang philosophy permeates every facet of YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN. The project centers around Alaska B and Ruby Kato Attwood, two art students with a mutual love of opposing forces—heavy metal’s brutish assault with Japanese manga’s cartoonish appeal, Boredom’s experimentalism with Chinese opera, lofty schemes and low budget endeavors. The duo started out by building instruments out of found objects—once again highlighting their paradoxical nature by turning trash into art and rendering structured beauty out of detritus. Their performances veered more towards theater, with Alaska and Ruby constructing elaborate stage settings out of cardboard pasted with industrial-sized Xeroxed designs and donning elaborate Kabuki-style costumes and make-up. Such unorthodox ventures could repel the rock crowd, but YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN’s debut album YT//ST dispelled any concerns that Alaska and Ruby didn’t know how to lay siege with their instruments.  Anchored by Alaska’s unrepentant drumming—a blend of Melvins drummer Dale Crover’s signature stomp and Einsturzende Neubauten’s proto-industrial thud—and Ruby’s soaring soprano, YT//ST took the narrative arc and keyboard foundation of Genesis’ rock opera The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and injected the psychedelic doom of Boris’ Pink. With their sophomore effort UZU, Alaska and Ruby continue their exploration of cultural dualities. While YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN has always provided an outlet for the core duo’s celebration of their Asian heritage, the inclusion of auxiliary musicians and artists into the fold has reinforced one of the most crucial defining dualities of the group: the merging of diasporic and indigenous perspectives. This meeting of East and West is perhaps most visible in UZU’s lead single “One”. As the first YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN song to extend the songwriting credits beyond the core duo, “One” incorporates the indigenous upbringings of the extended group by leading off with a traditional Iroquois song. The introductory chant is a social song calling all people together, and is performed by people of the Mohawk tribe. From there, the band kicks into a driving guitar line and a vocal hook as sweet as any J-pop hit. Metal riffing, free-jazz cacophony, and meditative Eastern percussion patterns accentuate the song. In the hands of lesser visionaries, this kind of cross-pollination would sound like a schizophrenic genre mash-up.  But YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN’s appropriations never sound forced. Rather, it sounds like a celebration of the cultural collision of Alaska and Ruby’s upbringing. The hybridization is evident throughout UZU--you can hear it in the operatic piano-and-vocal opener “Atalanta” segueing into the dynamic prog of “Whalesong”, the Eastern melodies seamlessly melding into the synth arpeggio and guitar dirge of “Windflower”, the musical storytelling tradition of “Seasickness Pt. 1” juxtaposing with the Heart-like classic rock gallop of “Seasickness Pt. 2”, and the closing choir passage of “Saturn’s Return” descending into Merzbow-esque white noise. It is safe to say there is no other band like YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN on the planet. In a world that is increasingly homogenized, a record like UZU is all the more important for demonstrating how disparate cultural perspectives can merge into something entirely new while retaining their individual sovereign character. UZU is available on CD/LP and digital formats in the United States via Suicide Squeeze Records on October 29, 2013. The LP version contains a free download of the album and the first 500 copies are pressed on grey vinyl.

UZU | Tracklisting / 01. Atalanta 02. Whalesong 03. Lamia 04. Windflower 05. Hall of Mirrors  06. Seasickness Pt. 1 07. Seasickness Pt. 2 08. Bring Me The Hand Of Bloody Benzaiten 09. One 10. Saturn's Return  Press Quotes / "The record feels wholly substantial and satisfying in its own right, and even those with no prior knowledge of YT//ST's history and elaborate intentions can just enjoy it for what it is: volcanic prog-rock colored with equal parts post-punk urgency, stoner-metal heft, and psychedelic pop whimsy." Pitchfork "YT//ST creates full-scale events, complete with eerie face-paint, monochromatic paper sets and Boredoms-style drum blasts that blend black metal and kabuki into a jaw-dropping new form. The group's debut album is equally epic, yet it's all just a glimpse into their master plan to freak out the squares with a stage production so large no theatrein the world could contain it." Noisey "We'll sheepishly admit we're relatively new to Yamantaka's unique breed of gloomy, Kabuki-tinged metal-cum-experimental rock opera (or "noh-wave." as they call it), but from what we've heard (and seen) from the collective, we definitely dig." SPIN "The music they create is a compelling blend of psych-rock, metal and thundering atmosphere." Stereogum "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, whose so-called "Noh-wave" is heavy and hallucinogenic, blends influences such as Boredoms, Black Sabbath and Japanese manga." The Guardian "We realized Canada’s Yamantaka//Sonic Titan was basically the most amazing band on the planet when we heard their debut album YT//ST. That gorgeous mountain of rock led us to interview the entire band for about an hour, in which time they basically took turns blowing our minds. Their awesomeness is top of mind." MTV "A reputation for elaborate designed DIY live shows, which, like the group’s music, incorporates influences from across time and space. But most importantly, its music, as strange and dense as it can be, is an oddly accessible and strangely enjoyable listen." AV Club "At times, YT//ST feels like some sort of ritual guide into another world. There, priestess attempt to drone a second sight into followers, standing in a forest of shuddering percussive trees, just at the edge of a sea of jagged guitar waves." Consequence of Sound "The album is as harrowing as the black and white cover, a wasteland, fallen from the sky, drawn ambiguously in the foreground with darker elements looming in the background." The Examiner Links / YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN Website YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN Facebook YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN Twitter YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN Bandcamp Suicide Squeeze Records

The Latest From Our Friends at Actors Gymnasium #agyouthcircus

Winter I Session 

Starts Next Week!

Have you registered for class yet?

Our Winter I session of classes in Circus and Performing Arts begins Monday November 11th and runs through January 26th. (No classes on November 28, 29, December 23 - January 5, and January 20).  

Course offerings for kids and adults of all ages and skill levels include Aerial Arts, Circus Arts, Contortion, Gymnastics, and more. Click here to see our class listings. Classes fill quickly! 

Register Now

Classes fill quickly and limited space is available 

A'Musing Myths

Fall Youth Circus

THIS WEEKEND!

#agyouthcircus

Have you bought your tickets yet? 

  

A young girl who sacrifices love for the sake of the world.  A fierce seamstress who dares flaunt her talents before the goddess of Arts & Crafts. That angry one with the snakes for hair.  The gift of fire and the origin of man himself.  Join us as Prometheus, our favorite Titan, recounts the origins of some of his favorite characters from mythic Greece. 

The Members of The Actors Gymnasium's Fall Youth Circus Ensemble combine skills in circus, dance, clowning, and drama to delight us on adventures that span the heights of Mount Olympus, the depths of the Underworld, and every strange and imaginary place in between.  

  

A'Musing Myths: Fall Youth Circus is written and directed by Chris Mathews with circus choreography by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, dance choreography by Topeka Ellis, and assistant directed by David Corlew. Tickets will go quickly - so get yours today!

Tickets are available ONLINE only.  Once online sales are closed, 1.5 hours prior to the show start time, the on-location box office will be open.  For group reservations and general questions call 847-328-2795.  If online sales are sold out, a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

  

Two Weekends Only! 

November 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 2013

Saturdays at 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm

Sundays at 3:00 pm  

$15 for adult tickets!

$12.50 for children, students and seniors!  

  

Take part in our hashtag contest!  Whoever has the most #agyouthcircus comments on Facebook and/or Twitter before November 19 will win a free black AG jacket OR $50 off their next session of classes (Your choice!).  Posts must be relevant and on-topic. 

Winter Break Circus & Performing Arts Camps

Whether you are a veteran of our summer camps or a novice, our three day camp sessions are for you. Make new friends, catch up with old summer camp friends and learn great new skills. Perfect for young performers who want to strengthen, stretch and flex their creative muscles with circus, drama, and movement. A great alternative to childcare for busy parents. 

Session A: Dec 23, 26, 27, 2013

Session B: Dec 30, 2013 & Jan 2, 3, 2014

Ages: 9 - 14

Register Now!

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

ACT OUT HOLIDAY: BURNING BLUEBEARD, returning November 21, 2013 – January 5, 2014 at Theater Wit.

There are a few of our all time favs returning for the 2013 holiday season. Burning Bluebeard tops our must see list along with Hellcab and A Christmas Carol at The Goodman.   Highly recommended!   ChiIL Live Shows ChiIL Picks List for best holiday theatre.


BURNING BLUEBEARD Returning November 21, 2013 – January 5, 2014 at Theater Wit 

BurningBluebeard-1 (left to right) Anthony Courser , Jay Torrence, Dean Evans, Leah Urzendowski Courser, Ryan Walters and Molly Plunk in BURNING BLUEBEARD by Jay Torrence, directed by Halena Kays.  Photo by Evan Hanover.

Burning Bluebeard won't break the bank and is an amazing dark comedy, with thought provoking dialogue and amusing physical play.  We thoroughly enjoyed it last year, and my 12 year old is clamoring to see it again, though my 10 year old daughter said it was a bit too scary for her after seeing it last year.   I took them both, because Anthony (Bluebeard) had been their circus instructor for a while and they love to see their instructors in creative projects.   But there's one intense scene (blackout/audio only recap of the fire) sensitive kids may have a tough time with.

We'd give it a PG13/mature tweens and up rating, because of the macabre subject matter (children trampled, burned & dying in a theatre fire!), though handled tastefully.  Burning Bluebeard is based on a true slice of history that should be seen and remembered, especially if you frequently see shows at The Oriental Theatre.  110 years after this tragedy, Burning Bluebeard depicts this horrific event many are completely unaware even happened, in a poignant and creative way.   It's a moving tribute.   

BurningBluebeard-2 (left to right) Dean Evans, Jay Torrence, Leah Urzendowski Courser, Ryan Walters and Anthony Courser in BURNING BLUEBEARD by Jay Torrence, directed by Halena Kays.  Photo by Evan Hanover.

With Chi-town favs Jay Torrence, as writer, and Halena Kays directing, this is an absolute must see.   The original cast is back again as well, and a true joy to watch in action.   Anthony Courser , Jay Torrence, Dean Evans, Leah Urzendowski Courser, Ryan Walters and Molly Plunk do a stellar job with grim subject matter.   They'll have to rewrite the fire escape rap (one of our fav parts of the last show-though specific to the TMLMTBGB space they were in last year).   Please please put last year's on YouTube for me or let us run it here on the blogs for posterity!   Otherwise, we imagine the remount will be quite similar and every bit as effective this time around at Theater Wit.

Click here for our past coverage.

The Ruffians Present the Return of the Hit Play

BURNING BLUEBEARD

By Jay Torrence

Directed by Halena Kays

November 21, 2013 – January 5, 2014

Featuring Full Original Cast & Creative Team

For an avant-garde alternative to the holidays, The Ruffians are pleased to announce the return of the hit historical romp BURNING BLUEBEARD by Jay Torrence, directed by Halena Kays and featuring the full original cast and creative team. This fantastical tale inspired by Chicago’s 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire will play November 21, 2013 – January 5, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.  Tickets for BURNING BLUEBEARD are currently on sale at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150 ($18 advance tickets will be available a limited time only). 

Originally mounted at The Neo-Futurarium in 2011, the remount coincides with the 110^th anniversary of the Iroquois Theatre fire.  On Monday, December 30, the actual anniversary of the legendary fire, The Ruffians will present special performances at 3 pm matinee (the actual time of the fire) and 7:30 pm.

BURNING BLUEBEARD will feature the full original cast including Anthony Courser, Dean Evans, Molly Plunk, Jay Torrence, Leah Urzendowski Courser and Ryan Walters.

Inspired by the true story of Chicago’s 1903 Iroquois Theatre Fire, BURNING BLUEBEARD is the story of six singed clown performers who emerge from the burnt remains of history attempting to perform their spectacular Christmas Pantomime once and for all. But this time they hope to finally reach the true happy ending of their second act and avoid the fateful fire that killed 600 of its audience members. BURNING BLUEBEARD is a whimsical romp with a sensitive heart, a joyful eulogy with a sharp irreverent wit including slapstick, vignettes, tumbling and dance. Each night is a vaudevillian delight with a story that excavates the poetic and poignant remains of a piece of Chicago’s rich history.

During its original run BURNING BLUEBEARD received critical praise and was named one of the “2011 Best of Fringe” by the Chicago Tribune, one of the “Top Five Funniest Shows of 2011” by WBEZ Radio and one of the “Twelve Outstanding Ensembles of 2011” by Time Out Chicago’s Kris Vire.

 “The whole thing smacks of a wonderful sort of weirdness – abrasive, funny and accessibly avant-garde.”

– Nina Metz, The Chicago Tribune

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

“An altogether haunting, thrillingly imagined production.”

– Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

The production team for BURNING BLUEBEARD includes: Dan Broberg (scenic design), Lizzie Bracken (costume design), Mike Tutaj (sound design), Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (lighting design & production manager), Justine Palmisano (stage manager) and Krista Mickelson (assistant stage manager.)

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title:  BURNING BLUEBEARD

Playwright:  Jay Torrence

Director:  Halena Kays

Featuring: Anthony Courser (Henry Gilfoil), Dean Evans (Fancy Clown), Molly Plunk (Faerie Queen), Jay Torrence (Robert Murray), Leah Urzendowski Courser (Nellie Reed) and Ryan Walters (Eddie Foy).

Location:  Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont, in Chicago

Dates:  Previews: Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 pm, Friday, November 22 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 pm

Regular run: Friday, November 29 – Sunday, January 5, 2014

Curtain Times:  Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Friday at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 3 pm & 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. 

Note: there will be no performance on Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving).  There will be added performances on Sunday, December 15, Sunday, December 22 and Sunday, December 29 at 7:30 pm

Iroquois Fire 110^th Anniversary Performances: Monday, December 30 at 3 pm (the time of the actual fire) and 7:30 pm.

Tickets: $18 - $36 ($18 advance tickets will be available a limited time only). Student rush tickets available for every performance (subject to availability). 

Tickets for BURNING BLEARBEARD are now on sale at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150.

About the Playwright:

Jay Torrence has been writing/performing/directing in Chicago since 2002. His playwriting credits include Ivywild, Burning Bluebeard and Roustabout: The Great Circus Train Wreck (Awarded the John W. Schmid After Dark Award for Outstanding New Work and the After Dark Award for Outstanding Production). Torrence has had the privilege to perform with 500 Clown, The Hypocrites, Redmoon, The Actor's Gymnasium, Chi-Town Clown Review and The Neo-Futurists where he was an ensemble member for twelve years and the former Artistic Director. Torrence earned his MFA in Creative Writing from The University of British Columbia and has studied under master clown Philippe Gaulier. He is a published essayist and the proud recipient of the Prairie Fire Award for Creative Non Fiction and The Annie Dillard Award for Creative Non Fiction. 

About the Director:

Halena Kays is the artistic director of The Hypocrites where she both performs and directs – most recently The Fall of the House of Usher (actor), Ivywild and Six Character in Search of an Author (director).  She is the co-founder and former artistic director of Barrel of Monkeys where she created and directed the majority of their public performances, including their critically acclaimed long-running show: That’s Weird, Grandma, called “the best reason to live in Chicago on a Monday night” by Time Out Chicago. Kays is also an Artistic Associate with the Neo-Futurists were she directed 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, Burning Bluebeard, co-created and directed Daredevils and Daredevils Hamlet and the sight specific extravaganza, Fake Lake. 

She has worked with many other Chicago theatre companies over the years including: The Kid Thing (About Face/Chicago Dramatists), Oedipus, Mud and 4.48 Psychosis (The Hypocrites), The Children’s Hour (Timeline), The Golden Truffle (Redmoon) and Fair Use and Theatrical Essays (Steppenwolf).  Kays has been nominated for a Jefferson Citation for Best Supporting Actress and Best Direction, named one of the top 50 “players” in Chicago theater by Newcity.  She is a UT-Austin and Northwestern grad, former member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care unit and the Co-artistic Curator for Theater on the Lake. 

The Ruffians are an artistic collective of theater makers (clowns, daredevils, acrobats, dancers, writers, performers, designers, directors). The Ruffians have all honed their craft working over a decade in Chicago’s various and thriving experimental, clown and storefront theater communities. A Ruffians objective is to make beautiful things with rough edges. A Ruffians motto: Breathe. Dare. Live.

BurningBluebeard-3 (left to right) Jay Torrence, Dean Evans, Leah Urzendowski Courser, Ryan Walters, Anthony Courser and Molly Plunk in BURNING BLUEBEARD by Jay Torrence, directed by Halena Kays.  Photo by Evan Hanover.

ACT OUT: Jedlicka Performing Arts Center Presents ACCOMPLICE

By Rupert Holmes

Directed by Artistic Director Dante J. Orfei

October 25 – November 9, 2013

Accomplice-1 (left to right) Mark Walsh and Sarah Lynn Robinson in Jedlicka Performing Arts Center’s production of ACCOMPLICE by Rupert Holmes, directed by Artistic Director Dante J. Orfei.  Photo by Emily Schwartz.

Jedlicka Performing Arts Center continues its 2013-14 Season with the comedic thriller ACCOMPLICE by Rupert Holmes, the creator of the Tony Award-winning musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood, with direction by Artistic Director Dante J. Orfei, playing October 25 – November 9, 2013 at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, 3801 S. Central Ave. in Cicero. ACCOMPLICE features Keith Cavanaugh, Whitney Morse, Sarah Lynn Robinson and Mark Walsh. Tickets are available at www.jpactheatre.com or by calling (708) 656-1800.  

ACCOMPLICE begins as a conventional English thriller set in a country home: a sex-starved wife and her lover plot the murder her stuffy husband.  But nothing is quite what it seems in this outrageous whodunit. Four characters, bent on revenge, take the audience on a theatrical thrill ride of plot twists and turns guaranteed to keep everyone guessing until the very end.

The production team for ACCOMPLICE includes: Michael Nedza (scenic design), Lindsay Prerost (costume design), Dante J. Orfei (lighting design), Micheal A. Kott (sound/multimedia design) Samantha Nieves (stage manager) and Melanie Lamoureux (managing director).

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Title:  ACCOMPLICE

Playwright: Rupert Holmes

Director:  Dante J. Orfei

Cast: Keith Cavanaugh, Whitney Morse, Sarah Lynn Robinson and Mark Walsh.

Location: Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, 3801 S. Central Ave., Cicero

Regular Run: Friday, October 25 – Saturday, November 9, 2103

Curtain Times:  Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm

Tickets:  $17. $15 senior discount. Group rates are available. Tickets are available at www.jpactheatre.com or by calling (708) 656-1800.

Parking:  Free parking is available.

About the Playwright:

Rupert Holmes’ first work for theater was The Mystery of Edwin Drood, for which he created the book, music, lyrics and orchestrations. When Drood won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Holmes simultaneously became the first sole recipient of Tony awards for both Best Book and Best Score. Drood and Holmes received the same honors from the New York Drama Desk, with a fourth award going to Holmes in the additional category of Best Orchestration. Holmes also received the coveted Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America, the first Broadway author-composer to be so honored. Accomplice is his second work for theater and his first non-musical.

About the Director:

Dante J. Orfei has been the Artistic Director at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center for over 25 years. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has produced and directed a travel documentary titled European Sojourn, which aired on PBS. Dante also directed the U.S. Premiere of the musical Metropolis and worked closely with the show’s creator, Academy and Grammy Award-winner Joseph Brooks on the development of the show. Dante directed the national regional theatre premiere of Brooks’ most recent Broadway show, In My Life. He has studied with Tony Award-winners Harold Prince and Jules Fisher. He directed the Midwest Regional Premiere of the Queen rock musical, We Will Rock You, and has also directed the World Premiere of Nefertiti – The Musical, as well as Premiere Chicago Productions of Little Women, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love, Blood Brothers, Jekyll and Hyde, The Baker’s Wife, and numerous plays by Olivier Award-winning playwright Ray Cooney, including the U.S. Premiere of Cooney’s It Runs in the Family. Dante has directed well over 175 stage productions on the professional, dinner theatre and academic levels.

Jedlicka Performing Arts Center strives to bring audiences a variety of theatrical pieces, from the classics to premiere works, providing an environment of excitement and discovery for its patrons while maintaining a unique performance venue for its artists.  For additional information, visit www.jpactheatre.com.

REVIEW: CHICAGO’S WEIRD, GRANDMA October 28 – December 2, 2013

BOM is truly the bomb!   Barrel of Monkeys killed it last Monday.   Chicago's Weird Grandma... and proud of it!  If you haven't seen this show, or haven't gone in a while what are you waiting for?!

Last Monday night the kids and I were stoked to see the first in a series of annual collaborations between some of Chi-town's Best and Brightest Performing Arts Companies & Artists and our long time favs, Barrel of Monkeys!   

Come on out and see just how weird and wonderful it is when the unbridled creativity of kids' stories is given a voice, costumes, and a platform!   These guys are some of our favs and Monday night was a hoot.   The tweens (10 & 12) both dug it, but I think I laughed even harder than they did!

Every week the audience votes on their top 2 keepers and 2 to let go.   The kids and I had different opinions but we all adored The Elephants Come To My House sketch.   Catch it before the pachyderms pack it up!

Click here to check out the show details in our prior coverage.

Still hesitating?   

Have you SEEN the complete schedule of guest artists and companies for CHICAGO’S WEIRD, GRANDMA:

Monday, October 28 – Manual Cinema (tooo much fun with shadow puppets, a wig & 3 overhead projectors)

Monday, November 4 – Jessica Hudson

Monday, November 11 – The Neo-Futurists and Bailiwick Chicago Theater

Monday, November 18 – Jyldo

Monday, November 25 – The Hypocrites

Monday, December 2 – About Face Theatre and Noah Ginex Puppet Company

Check 'em out LIVE the next 6 weeks, for their annual Chicagocentric version.  Then check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often.  We have an original video interview with Barrel of Monkeys coming soon.