ACT OUT OPENING: Lay Me Down Softly by Seanachai Theatre Company

Seanachaí Theatre Company Presents U.S. Premiere of

LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY

By Billy Roche

Directed by Kevin Christopher Fox

April 23 – May 25, 2014

LayMeDown-4 (left to right) Michael Grant, Dan Waller, Jeff Christian and Matthew Isler

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we were quite impressed with Seanachai's production of The Seafarer and we're looking forward to what's next. There have been a plethora of boxing plays in the recent past. We saw Griffin Theatre's Golden Boy at Theater Wit back in February, and The Opponent at A Red Orchid, by local fav, Brett Neveu. The boxing ring size is conducive to shows and there's something about the pacing, blocking and rhythm that rings true for stage and sport alike. This time there's the added bonus of the Irish brogue and the quirky, multiculti back story!

Following its wildly successful production of the The Seafarer, Seanachaí Theatre Company is pleased to continue its 2013-14 season with the U.S. premiere of Billy Roche’s drama LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY directed by Kevin Christopher Fox (Hughie). LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY plays April 23 – May 25, 2014 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.seanachai.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. 

We do dig Seanachaí Theatre Company's name and creative statement.  In case you're curious, Seanachaí is the Gaelic word for Storyteller. It was the duty of the Seanachaí to keep these stories alive. Seanachaí Theatre Company's mission is to create compelling productions and programs that focus energy on exceptional storytelling.  Check it out.

(left to right) Michael Grant, Jamie L. Young, Dan Waller, Matthew Isler and Jeff Christian

LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY features Seanachaí ensemble members Jeff Christian, Michael Grant, Carolyn Klein and Dan Waller with Chicago actors Matthew Isler and Jamie L. Young.

Early 1960s. Delaney’s Traveling Roadshow tours the Irish countryside with bumper cars, bearded ladies, rifle ranges and the main attraction: the boxing ring. The Roadshow invites all comers to fight them to win a prize. Theo, the iron fisted patriarch, struggles to keep his crew in line and when his long abandoned daughter arrives, the patchwork family is thrown against the ropes.

(left to right) Dan Waller and Jamie L. Young in Seanachai Theatre Company’s U.S. Premiere of LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY by Billy Roche, directed by Kevin Christopher Fox.  All production photos by Emily Schwartz.

The production team for LAY ME DOWN SOFTLY includes: Joe Schermoly (scenic design), Beth Laske-Miller (costume design), Julian Pike (lighting design), Stephen Ptacek (sound design), Eva Breneman (dialect design) and John Tovar (fight choreographer).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: LAY ME DOWN SLOWLY

Playwright: Billy Roche

Director: Kevin Christopher Fox

Cast: Seanachaí ensemble members Jeff Christian (Theo), Michael Grant (Peadar), Carolyn Klein (Lily) and Dan Waller (Junior) with Chicago actors Matthew Isler (Dean) and Jamie L. Young (Emer).

Location: The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee, Chicago

Dates: Preview: Wednesday, April 23 at 7:30 pm

Press performance: Thursday April 24 at 7:30 pm

Regular run: Friday, April 25, 2014  – Sunday, May 25, 2014.

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm

Tickets: Previews $12. Regular run $26 Thursdays & Fridays; $30 Saturdays & Sundays. Seniors/students $5 off. Tickets are available at www.seanachai.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. Group discounts (8 or more) are available by calling (773) 878-3727.

(left to right) Dan Waller, Carolyn Klein, Michael Grant and Jamie L. Young 

About the Playwright

Billy Roche’s first novel, Tumbling Down, was published by Wolfhound Press in 1986 (revised version published by Tassel Publications in 2008).  His first stage play, A Handful Of Stars, was staged at The Bush Theatre in 1988, followed by Poor Beast In the Rain in 1990. Belfry completed this powerful trilogy at the Bush Theatre.  All three plays, directed by Robin LeFevre, became known as The Wexford Trilogy and were performed in their entirety at The Bush, the Peacock and the Theatre Royal, Wexford.  Later, The Wexford Trilogy was filmed for the BBC, directed by the late and great Stuart Burge.  Roche’s fourth play, Amphibians, was commissioned by the R.S.C. and performed at the Barbican, followed by The Cavalcaders at The Peacock and Royal Court, London. He wrote the screenplay for Trojan Eddie, which was directed by Gillies MacKinnon and starred Stephen Rea and Richard Harris.  Trojan Eddie won the Best Film Award at The San Sebastian Film Festival in 1996.  His sixth play, On Such As We, was performed at the Peacock in 2001, directed by Wilson Milam and starring Brendan Gleeson. Tales From Rainwater Pond, his collection of short stories, was published by Pillar Press in 2006.  Lay Me Down Softly, his seventh play, was originally performed at the Peacock Theatre in 2008, directed by Wilson Milam.  Billy has been Writer-In-Residence at the Bush and Writer-In-Association at Druid and the Abbey Theatre.  The Eclipse, a film that was co-written with Conor McPherson, won IFTA awards for Best Screenplay and Best Film.  The film is inspired by Billy’s short story Table Manners (from the Tales From Rainwater Pond collection). In 2013, his short novella The Diary Of Maynard Perdu was published by Lantern.ie. 

About the Director

Kevin Christopher Fox is an actor and director based in Chicago. With Seanachai, he directed Hughie with Brad Armacost and Jeff Duhigg last season – and last century he played Manus in David Cromer's production of Translations. Chicago directing credits include Accidental Rapture and Pull of the Moon (16th Street Theater), Widowers' Houses and Androcles and the Lion (ShawChicago), St. Crispin's Day (Strawdog), Arms and the Man and Betrayal (Oak Park Festival), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Gift Theatre Company), Beggars in the House of Plenty (Mary-Arrchie), Widowers' Houses (TimeLine), Patient No. 1 (WNEP), and his debut Buicks (Precious Mettle). At TheatreSquared (Fayetteville, AK) he directed world premieres of Sundown Town by Kevin Cohea and, this past fall, The Spiritualist by Robert Ford, along with Fall of the House, and a youth production of Macbeth, as well as numerous development projects for Arkansas New Play Festival. Recently he adapted and directed Macbeth (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Shakespeare in the Schools), he served as co-director for the remount of Nick Sandys' Chamber Opera Chicago production of Persuasion, and toured with it to England, Chicago and New York. This last winter, he directed two projects for the William Inge Festival and Center for the Arts in Independence, KS. This coming summer, he will direct the world premiere of The Gun Show by EM Lewis for 16th Street Theater.

About Seanachaí Theatre Company

The mission of Seanachaí Theatre Company is to return theatre to this origin - by creating compelling productions and programs that focus the energy of artists towards the common goal of exceptional storytelling. To achieve this end, Seanachaí Theatre Company strives to provide an atmosphere where all theatre artists – actors, playwrights, directors and designers – have the support and assurance to collaborate openly.

Seanachaí Theatre Company is supported in part by The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Charles River Associates, the Illinois Arts Council and The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs: City Arts Program. 

Chicago's Vintage Blue to Rock Metro for No Going Back EP Release 5/2 (18+) #NGB

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar

Chicago’s Vintage Blue will celebrate the release of their new EP, No Going Back, with a WKQX-sponsored show at Metro on Friday, May 2. Click here for full details. 

Check It Out

Vintage Blue is having a release party for their new EP at the METRO on May 2nd! You can hear them on Queued Up, Sunday nights at 7 p.m.

They'll be joined at the show by The Future Laureates, The Ivorys, and Mike Golden & Friends (Acoustic).

Walt at WKQX is hooking up a lucky Junkie with a pair of tickets to the show. Listen to Queued Up Sunday, April 27th for your chance to win VIP tickets! (Must be 21+).

TONIGHT: World Book Night, Shakespeare is 450, & Rare Lyrid Meteor Showers! #WBN2014 #Shakespeare #LyridMeteorShower

Books, Bards and Stars... Oh MY!





If you thought Easter and 4/20 coinciding this year was big... check out the forecast for 4/23!  Tonight brings thousands of FREE books being given away on the streets, to reluctant readers around the world, Shakespeare's 450th birthday, and an ultra rare Lyrid Meteor Shower peaking. It only orbits the sun every 415 years... so maybe you can celebrate the bard under the same shooting stars that inspired HIM!






Our undying affection for Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's Short Shakespeare Series continues with their awesome production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (see our full set of shots in the slideshow above).  Public shows have ended, but we'll give them another shout out since they're still touring schools and inspiring kids through the end of April. 



We LOVED the David Bowie-esque wigs for the fairies, (by Melissa Veal) reminiscent of the Troll King in Labyrinth. The wigs were custom made on site for the show! It was such a cooler, punk look and made their trickery (and plan to steal the changeling child-sound familiar) all the more sinister. Great edgy costume choices and so much more refreshing than the usual fairy tulle and flowers. 





An enchanted Titania (Lanise Antoine Shelley) desires Bottom (Alex Weisman), surrounded by her fairy attendants (left to right: Max Fabian, Justin Cornwell, Wesley Daniel, Michael Finley). Photo by Michael Brosilow. - See more at: http://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/ssdream#sthash.akMIUOI6.dpuf

We also really dug the use of simple objects in unusual ways, like the umbrellas and the ever changing string that blocked & opened paths through the forest.

Puck (Steven Lee Johnson, far right) concocts magical mischief in the woods while Hermia (Tiffany Yvonne Cox) sleeps cradled in the boughs of a tree created by the fairies. Photo by Michael Brosilow. - See more at: http://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/ssdream#sthash.akMIUOI6.dpuf

Demetrius (Ryan Hallahan) finds himself ensnared in the shadowy vines of the woods. Photo by Michael Brosilow. - See more at: http://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/ssdream#sthash.akMIUOI6.dpuf


The whole show is packed up on tour now, making the rounds and blowing the minds of school kids all over Chicago. ChiIL Mama had a great chat with resident Scenic Designer, Scott Davis, and he gave us the scoop. They pretty much tour with the whole cast and most of the set... except the moon which is just too huge to move. 

You might recognize it from the recent production of Cyrano.  It's not only too big to tour, it's too big for the Chi-Shakes set storage area! So it just may be waxing poetic over more productions before it wanes.  That's cool with us. That orb is pretty impressive and worth mooning over.

Our predictions on this production:

• A new generation is realizing Shakespeare wasn't as snooty as they thought and he wrote about wacky, cross dressing, unfaithful, confused, hilarious, murderous, magical characters.

• A zillion jr high and high school students are crushing on the charismatic cutie, Puck (Steven Lee Johnson)! It was already starting with the tweens as early as opening day-- "No... you go talk to him..." "No, YOU. Giggle giggle."

• More than a few students are inspired to see more theatre and/or try their hand at writing plays and poetry.

• More than a few students are inspired to check out more circus arts, thanks to the best. wall. ever. and his uber creative block juggling work. Kudos to you!

THE PLAYERS

CREATIVE TEAM

David H. Bell Director

Scott Davis Scenic Designer

Melissa Torchia Costume Designer

Lee Fiskness Lighting Designer

Ethan Deppe Composer and Sound Designer

Melissa Veal Wig and Make-up designer

CAST

Nate Burger Lysander

Justin Cornwell Starveling/Fairy

Tiffany Yvonne Cox Hermia

Wesley Daniel Flute/Fairy

Max Fabian Snout/Fairy

Michael Finley Snug/Fairy

Don Forston Egeus/Quince

Ryan Hallahan Demetrius

Steven Lee Johnson Puck/Philostrate

Cristina Panfilio Helena

Eric Parks Oberon/Theseus

Lanise Antoine Shelley Hippolyta/Titania

Alex Weisman  Bottom

Click here to see more:

Bewitched by a fairy’s spell, Bottom (Alex Weisman) is transformed into an ass. Photo by Michael Brosilow. - See more at: http://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/ssdream#sthash.akMIUOI6.dpuf

As queen and king of the fairy kingdom, Titania (Lanise Antoine Shelley) and Oberon (Eric Parks) share passion both in love and in conflict. Photo by Michael Brosilow. - See more at: http://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/ssdream#sthash.akMIUOI6.dpuf

Next Up:  Henry V.  We can't wait!!

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Tips for Chi-Shakes:

• Kids love to get their programs signed by the actors who pose for photo ops and gladly sign in the lobby after each show at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.

• Go to the TOP floor and check out the coolest bathroom view in the city that we know of! Seriously. Go already.

A view from the loo:

 

• Sure Navy Pier is all torn up and inconvenient at present, but snap some photos. We love to see things in the development stages... in the process of becoming.  It'll never look like that again, even in a few days. Catch & keep that moment in time. 

• SUPPORT THE ARTS:  Buy some of their fun Shakes swag. Their water bottles and mugs are remarkably reasonably priced and they have unique gifts like Shakespearian insult bandaids, dolls, tees and Shakespeare quotes playing cards!

Birthday Bashes

First--Happy Birthday to the bard. Shakespeare is 450 today! Here at ChiIL Mama, we dig the bard. I was in Twelfth Night in college and even now I catch every show at Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Shakes and non alike--they have a diverse, world class lineup of shows!)  My kids have see at least 3 different productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, multiple Macbeths and a host of others.

We'll be reviewing Henry V opening night as well as Joffrey's Romeo and Juliet, so check back with ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often!

**Today is talk Like Shakespeare Day: April 23**
Everyone is dared on Shakespeare's Birthday on April 23 to break out your "thee-s" and "thou-s" and stock of Shakespearian insults in observation of the annual Talk Like Shakespeare Day.  Today is an opportunity for citizens across the globe to bring the spoken words of Shakespeare into their daily lives. Penning 154 sonnets and 38 plays, Shakespeare is credited with contributing over 1,700 words and countless phrases to the English language, including "bedazzled," "swagger," and "new-fangled." Shakespearean tips and useful expressions can be found at www.TalkLikeShakespeare.org.

On the Occasion of William Shakespeare's 

450th Birthday April 23

Chicago Shakespeare Theater joins Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Art Institute of Chicago and Joffrey Ballet in celebration of the Bard’s legacy and lasting vitality in Chicago

"Our City, Our Shakespeare" premieres 

on WTTW Channel 11

Additional Shakespeare Birthday Programs and Collaborations 

Also Announced

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) along with Chicago’s civic and cultural leaders celebrate William Shakespeare’s 450th Birthday with the premiere of "Our City, Our Shakespeare," a documentary exploring Shakespeare’s enduring presence in Chicago, featuring Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Art Institute of Chicago, Joffrey Ballet, among others. Produced by Emmy award-winning HMS Media, the program premieres May 1 at 8:00 p.m. on WTTW Channel 11. Shakespeare’s 450th birthday on April 23 begins the internationally recognized Shakespeare Quadricentennial Celebration through 2016, marking 400 years of Shakespeare’s legacy since his death in 1616. On this occasion, Chicago’s cultural community heralds the prolific poet and playwright’s lasting impact on our lives—through our everyday speech and in cultural institutions, schools and neighborhoods across the city. All Chicagoans can join in on the birthday celebrations with activities, events and performances for everyone, everywhere to bring Shakespeare into their lives.

"Our City, Our Shakespeare" examines Chicago's special relationship with the world's most translated and performed playwright. By weaving together footage from theater, opera, dance and improv performances on Chicago's stages and interviews with civic and cultural leaders, theater critics and artists alike, it is clear that Shakespeare lives on in Chicago. The 30-minute program features interviews with notable Chicagoans, including: Mayor Rahm Emanuel; Michael P. Kelly, Chicago Park District General Superintendent/CEO; William J. Brodsky, Navy Pier, Inc. Chairman; Barbara Gaines, CST Artistic Director; Criss Henderson, CST Executive Director; Renée Fleming, Lyric Opera of Chicago Creative Consultant; Anthony Freud, Lyric Opera of Chicago General Director; Ashley Wheater, Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director; Douglas Druick, Art Institute of Chicago President; Martha Gilmer, Chicago Symphony Orchestra VP for Artistic Planning and Audience Development; Amina Dickerson, Arts Advisor/Non-Profit and Philanthropic Consultant; Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune Chief Theater Critic; Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times Theater and Dance Critic; Mike Nussbaum, Ora Jones and Kevin Gudahl, actors; Kirsten Kelly, CPS Shakespeare! director; the Q Brothers, GQ and JQ, actors/writers/musicians; Dr. Karen Boran, John Hancock High School Principal; Vincent Pinelli, Benito Juarez Community Academy Theater Director; Blaine Swen, The Improvised Shakespeare Company Creator and Director; and Robert Kameczura and Maureen Warren, visual artists.

"Our City, Our Shakespeare" producer HMS Media has received 17 Emmy Awards, 23 Emmy nominations, four Ruth Page Awards, the Arts & Business Council's ABBY Award and Gold and Silver Plaques from the Chicago International Film Festival for its broadcast specials about theater, dance, music and social issues, which have aired locally on WTTW and nationally on PBS. "Our City, Our Shakespeare" airs on WTTW Channel 11 on May 1 at 8:00 p.m., May 2 at 2 p.m. (WTTW Prime) and 7:30 p.m., and May 4 at 5:30 p.m.

All Chicagoans can join in on the birthday celebration in the coming weeks—whether at the bus stop, around the water cooler, inside the classroom, at home or out and about in the city. The following activities, events and performances offer a way for everyone, everywhere to bring Shakespeare into their lives:

Will's 450 is the New 30 Quiz: April 21–May 11

After all this time, he continues to influence the movies we watch, the books we read, and even the way we speak. To prove it, we created a quiz. When you take it, you’ll get a discount on tickets to our thrilling, upcoming rendition of Henry V and a chance to win awesome Shakespeare prizes.

Proving that Shakespeare's words have passed the test of time, Will's 450 is the New 30 Quiz features multiple-choice questions dealing with Shakespeare in pop culture and everyday speech, such as "Which Shakespearean phrase is the title of a current song?" and “Which of the following Shakespeare quotes inspired the title for a hit TV mini-series?” Not sure of an answer? Quiz-takers are encouraged to Google search answers, so they can see how "with-it" Will still is today. The quiz will be available between April 21 and May 11 at www.chicagoshakes.com/birthday.  

Shakespeare at the Newberry Library: April 21 at 6:00 p.m. & April 22–June 21
Those who want to dig deeper into Shakespeare's vast and varied contributions to literature and theater can join CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines in "Conversations at the Newberry" on April 21 at 6:00 p.m. for a discussion. Gaines will share the stage with Gail Kern Paster, director emerita of the Folger Shakespeare Library. This free event launches the Newberry's The Bard Is Born exhibition of Shakespeare-related artifacts, including the Library's treasured First Folio and Barbara Gaines's personal annotated copy of the play script for Henry V from CST's inaugural production in 1986. The exhibition is free and open to the public, April 22 through June 21.
  

Preview of "Our City, Our Shakespeare" on Chicago Tonight: April 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Host Phil Ponce welcomes CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director Ashley Wheater to Chicago Tonight on WTTW Channel 11 and presents a sneak preview of "Our City, Our Shakespeare" on April 23 at 7:00 p.m. In honor of the Bard's birthday celebrations, Gaines will discuss CST's upcoming production of Henry V and Wheater will preview Joffrey Ballet's Romeo & Juliet.
 

Shakespeare's Henry V at CST: April 29–June 15
To experience Shakespeare up close and personal, theatergoers can catch a performance of Henry V, beginning on April 29 and running through June 15 in CST's Courtyard Theater. This rousing finale to the 2014 season is directed by distinguished British director Christopher Luscombe in his Chicago debut. Confronted by the ferocity of war on the fields of Agincourt, the charming, freshly crowned King Henry must prove his worth as a man and king in the ultimate test of his leadership.
 

Joffrey Ballet's Romeo & Juliet: April 30–May 11
Joffrey Ballet presents a modern retelling of Shakespeare's tale of star-crossed lovers set to Sergei Prokofiev's formidable score. Choreographed by Krzysztof Pastor and with live music performed by the Chicago Philharmonic, this production of Romeo & Juliet makes its United States debut at The Auditorium Theatre, April 30 through May 11.
 

"Our City, Our Shakespeare": May 1 at 8:00 p.m., May 2 at 7:30 p.m. & May 4 at 5:30 p.m.
Produced by HMS Media, "Our City, Our Shakespeare" explores how Shakespeare comes alive in Chicago through theater, opera, ballet, improv and visual art. "Our City, Our Shakespeare" premieres on WTTW Channel 11 on May 1 at 8:00 p.m., with additional broadcasts on May 2 at 2 p.m. (WTTW Prime) and 7:30 p.m., and May 4 at 5:30 p.m.
 

CST and Chicago Philharmonic in Romantic Rapture: May 11 at 7:30 p.m.
The extended birthday concludes with a collaboration between CST and the Chicago Philharmonic on Sunday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Pick-Staiger Hall in Evanston. Together, the two organizations present Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet as part of the evening's Romantic Rapture event. Directed by Scott Weinstein and conducted by Scott Speck, actors and musicians bring to life one of Shakespeare's most passionate and tragic tales.

For a full line-up of activities and events surrounding Shakespeare’s 450^th birthday, see www.chicagoshakes.com/450.

For more information on Chicago Shakespeare Theater, see www.chicagoshakes.com. 

World Book Night 2014

Tonight ChiIL Mama will again be a book giver for the 3rd year. We're proud to have been a part of World Book Night since it's first year in the US. Check out our past coverage here.  Last year we gave away 20 copies of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho--and even gave a copy to a homeless man, looking for something to pass the time.

This year we're giving away 20 copies of Bridge to Terabithia 

By Katherine Paterson at our neighborhood park district.

 Check back for our photo filled recap later this week.

Bridge to Terabithia 

Jess Aaron's greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new kid, a new girl, boldly crosses over to the boy's side of the playground and outruns everyone.

That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. It doesn't matter to Jess that Leslie dresses funny, or that her family has a lot of money -- but no TV. Leslie has imagination. Together, she and Jess create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits. Then one morning a terrible tragedy occurs. Only when Jess is able to come to grips with this tragedy does he finally understand the strength and courage Leslie has given him. 

Middle Reader. 

Author biography

Katherine Paterson was born in China, where she spent part of her childhood. After her education in China and the American South, she spent four years in Japan, the setting for her first three novels. Ms. Paterson has received numerous awards for her writing, including National Book Awards for The Master Puppeteer and The Great Gilly Hopkins, as well as Newbery Medals for Jacob Have I Loved and Bridge to Terabithia. Ms. Paterson lives with her husband in Vermont. They have four grown children.

For more information:

Visit the author’s site
Visit the publisher’s site
Visit the reading group guide

Click here to see ALL the fabulous 2014 book choices being given out tonight.

Then check out the WBN2014 site here & see how you can get involved next year. 

ChiIL out with a FREE e-book from ChiIL Mama & WBN2014--it's a special compilation of shorts.  Enjoy!

About World Book Night

World Book Night is an annual celebration dedicated to spreading the love of reading, person to person.  Each year on April 23, tens of thousands of people go out into their communities and give half a million free World Book Night paperbacks to light and non-readers. 

World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don’t regularly do so. But it is also about more than that: It’s about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways—through the sharing of stories. 

World Book Night is a nonprofit organization. We exist because of the support of thousands of book givers, booksellers, librarians, and financial supporters who believe in our mission. Successfully launched in the U.K. in 2011, World Book Night was first celebrated in the U.S. in 2012. Thank you to our U.K. friends for such a wonderful idea!

Thank you for visiting us! We hope you explore our site to learn more about World Book Night, keep updated on new developments, support our organization, and apply to be a World Book Night U.S. book giver!

What We Do

Who We Are

Partners & Supporters

Meteor Showers 

As if all that isn't enough... April showers are upon us.  The Lyrid Meteor Showers that is!

Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight: 

How To Watch Live

"The annual Lyrid meteor shower occurs every year when Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet Thatcher, which makes a full orbit of the sun once every 415 years. At its peak this year — which is expected to happen in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday (April 22) — the Lyrid shower should produce about 20 meteors per hour. You can watch the Lyrid meteor shower webcasts on Space.com via the online Slooh community telescope and NASA."

Article: http://www.space.com/25568-lyrid-meteor-shower-2014-webcasts.html

FOODIE TUESDAY: WIN a $50 Fresh Thyme Giftcard to Celebrate Grand Opening 4/23 #Freshthyme #Ad

It's Thyme to Celebrate a new, healthy market! 

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama and Fresh Thyme

Fresh Thyme is coming to Mount Prospect, with many other stores popping up in the area throughout the year.  Here at ChiIL Mama we're all about green living, eco-friendly choices, and eating healthy food, so we're more than happy to welcome Fresh Thyme to the area!  We're also super stoked to see Super Stolie and Miss Jamie from the Farm, Kindie Musician friends of ours, will be there to rock your socks off, with family friendly kids' tunes.  They frequently play Beat Kitchen's Concerts for Kids, a rockin' weekly kids' series where ChiIL Mama's the press sponsor.

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is elated to partner up with Fresh Thyme and thank them for providing a gift card for our giveaway. We have been paid to share the grand opening info with our readers.  As always, all opinions are our own.

**Click Here for your chance to WIN a $50 Fresh Thyme gift card giveaway!  Then check out Fresh Thyme's GRAND OPENING festivities TOMORROW, April 23rd!**

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market Announces First Grand Opening in Mount Prospect, IL 

on April 23, 2014

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, a new specialty grocer featuring healthy and organic value-priced offerings, is excited to announce the grand opening for the first location in Mount Prospect on Wed. April 23, 2014 at 7 a.m. CST. The Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Arlene Juracek and other village officials will be present for the ribbon cutting at the 211 W. Rand Road store location.

 “The entire Fresh Thyme team welcomes community residents to come out and experience what the market has to offer,” CEO Chris Sherrell stated. “We are eager to meet our new neighbors and hope to see them on this exciting day.”

The grand opening event will feature food samplings and giveaways including a grocery bag giveaway to the first 200 customers on grand opening day. The celebration will continue throughout the week with events for kids including face painting, balloon animals, and performances by Miss Jamie from the Farm.

 “Grocery shopping has become as much a sensory experience as a necessity of life,” said Mount Prospect Mayor, Arlene Juracek. “We are excited that Fresh Thyme Farmers Market has chosen Mount Prospect as the first site for this new locally-focused grocer.”  

It’s time to raise some RUCKUS that Fresh Thyme has finally arrived in Mount Prospect, IL! We think people are going to love this new store and what it has to offer. 

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is thrilled to announce the first store grand opening in Mount Prospect, Ill., at 211 W. Rand Road. Doors open on Wednesday, April 23, at 7 a.m. CST. Fresh Thyme CEO, Chris Sherrell, will join the Mayor of Mount Prospect, Arlene Juracek, and the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce who will assist in the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony and officially welcome the new market to the community. 

Super Stolie helps celebrate Grand Opening!

Wednesday April 23, 11:00am
Saturday April 26, 11:00am 

Grand Opening Scheduled Events:

The first 250 guests on Grand Opening Day will receive a limited edition, custom-designed Fresh Thyme reusable bag, created specifically for the Mount Prospect opening. The limited edition bag will be filled with over $50 worth of healthy, delicious groceries! Guests are encouraged to arrive early to reserve their spot in line; limit one bag per household.

Additionally, Fresh Thyme will celebrate Earth Day by giving free reusable grocery bags to the first 5,000 guests. In paying tribute to the ongoing community-wide celebration of 100 years of baseball history for the city, guests who wear their favorite team memorabilia on grand opening day will also be given a free color-designed reusable bag.

6:45 a.m. – Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Community Partners Check Presentation

7 a.m. – Doors Open ~ Thyme to Shop!
*The first 250 guests in line receive grocery giveaway bag valued at over $50 of food items! 

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Kids Activities including Boar’s Head Hot Dog Cart
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Complimentary Face Painting and Balloon Animals
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Super Stolie Kids Performance 
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Outdoor Grilling Demonstrations and Samplings
2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Boar’s Head Live Demo Show In-Store

HELP LOCALLY: As part of their commitment to the community, Fresh Thyme will make a financial donation to three different local charities. These charities have shown continual support to the Mount Prospect community, and Fresh Thyme would like to recognize and applaud their efforts and plan to be part of their continued good works in Mt. Prospect and the surrounding area. The local charities include: CEDA Northwest, Mount Prospect Lions Club and the Mount Prospect Parks Foundation. For more information, please visit freshthyme.com.

ABOUT FRESH THYME:

At Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets we believe you shouldn’t have to give away the farm to feed your body nutritious food. We’re on a mission to improve the way our communities eat by offering fresh and healthy food at amazing values -all in a vibrant and fun shopping environment, with smiling friendly faces.

The foundation of healthy eating is often based on incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables in our diets. Therefore, at the core of our offerings is an abundant produce department, overflowing with fruits and vegetables, fresh from the farm, often locally grown and much of it organic. We’re so passionate about produce that we’ve made it the nucleus of the store, ensuring the bounty of fruits and vegetables is visible from all other departments.

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is a new full-service specialty retailer focusing on fresh, healthy, natural and organic offerings, all at amazing values. The stores’ signature offering is an extensive produce department with organic and local fruits and vegetables. In addition, Fresh Thyme’s full-service offerings include a natural meat department, healthy deli foods to go, bakery goods, 400 bulk food bins, natural and organic groceries, dairy and frozen, as well as vitamins and body care products. Fresh Thyme will offer a NEW shopping experience to the Midwest, starting with the first store in Mount Prospect, Ill., opening April 23, 2014, followed by 59 additional stores by 2019. You can learn more by visiting freshthyme.com, and be sure to keep in touch by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

Fresh Thyme is currently hiring a total of 100 local employees for this location. There are numerous full and part-time employment opportunities available in the Meat and Produce Departments such as meat cutter and produce clerk. Anyone interested may apply onsite at 211 W. Rand Road or by sending their resumes to MountProspectJobs@FreshThyme.com.

Disclosure: Once again, ChiIL Mama is elated to partner up with Fresh Thyme and thank them for providing a gift card for our giveaway. We have been paid to share the grand opening info with our readers.  As always, all opinions are our own.

Comments left on our blog about Fresh Thyme can be used on Fresh Thyme promotional materials.