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Friday, June 6, 2014

PHOTO RECAP: Cirque Shanghai Warriors at Navy Pier #OriginalPhotos #Review #ChiILPicksList

ChiIL Mama was stoked to be back at Cirque Shanghai for the fifth year, to shoot and review at the press opening last week. It's become one of our favorite annual shows, and we were stoked to see many of their breathtaking signature acts are back again, along with new Warrior themed choreography.








Both of my kids and two of their friends were able to catch the show and the kids and I all dug it. 



We recommend Warriors as a fun, affordable, all ages treat and we've added them to our ChiIL Picks List.


Check Out Our Full Set Of Original Photos In The Slide Show Below:

(Check the bottom of this post for more of our favorite live show shots from that night, if you can't view the slide show on your device, or just want our "best of".)



ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Tips:

1.  Check out the merch table.  Seriously. Compared to most circuses where a sno cone will seriously set you back, Cirque Shanghai's merch is downright affordable! We got a cool half mask for $3 and the full face masks are just $5. Same goes for the big, red fans. They're a steal at $5. Be forewarned, this may be the loudest fan EVER. They snap open with a thwack and are waaaaaay more than $5 worth of fun. 3 of the 4 kids with me that night got them, and before we'd even left Navy Pier, they had choreographed fan routines worked up.  We're all about toys that inspire creativity!






The fans also double as a keepsake and a great place to collect signatures of the performers who are happy to sign after the show.  





If you're opposed to loud noised while driving, DO secure the fans before take off. I don't mind as long as there's no high pitched tween shrieking. That's where I draw the line. My daughter & her 2 friends had a fabulous time all the way home, belting out Eye of the Tiger and Crazy Train accompanied by frequent fan snapping.  





2. Catch the show on a Wed or Sat and stay for the free fireworks. They're short and sweet but they're a colorful, fun way to cap off the evening and happen shortly after the show.  Go for the evening show any Wed-Sat night and Navy Pier and the Chicago skyline look magical after dark!




We embrace the multicultural, here at ChiIL Mama, so we're listing their acts with the Chinese names as well as the English. Pretty cool, huh? (Your kids can practice their calligraphy.)

Speaking of Chinese characters, my kids are wondering what the wonderful fans they got at the show say.  Anyone who can translate, please let us know in the comments section.  I'm picking up a friend coming from O'Hare on Friday afternoon, who has been teaching in China for years, so if nobody has replied by then, I'll run it by her and share our findings!

List of Acts
1, Opening Wushu/ Kinetic poles
场荡竿/武术棍术


2, Masters of the Sword and Shield/ The water Meteor.
术盾剑/流星


3, Hoop diving
术对打/地圈




4, Chinese Mouth Balancing
顶技

                                                 
5, Teeterboard
功夫扇/大跳板






6,Silk
绸吊


7, Wushu: The pageant of Arms
华利器



8, Shoulder Ballet
肩上芭蕾


9, Comedy Bowl Kicker
滑稽翘碗


10, Wheel of Destiny
生死


11, Globe of Death
环球飞车







12, Final

谢幕




Check out the Warriors Promo Video Here:


“CIRQUE SHANGHAI: WARRIORS” RETURNS FOR 9th SUMMER SEASON TO NAVY PIER® PEPSI® SKYLINE STAGE MAY 21 – SEPTEMEBER 1

Tickets now on Sale for “Cirque Shanghai: Warriors” with New Acts Including the Martial Prowess of Chinese Kung Fu and Wu Shu Masters

Cirque Shanghai” is proud to return this summer to Chicago’s Navy Pier with a brand new show, “Cirque Shanghai: Warriors.” Performances begin Wednesday, May 21 and run through Monday, Sept. 1 at the Pepsi® Skyline Stage, a 1,500-seat, canopied, open-air theater on Navy Pier® (600 E. Grand Ave).

Tickets are currently available via Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com/shanghai.


Now in its ninth consecutive summer season at the Pepsi® Skyline Stage, this latest installment of “Cirque Shanghai” combines the impressive acrobatics audiences have enjoyed in the past with the martial prowess of Chinese Kung Fu and Wu Shu masters. The result is powerful display of athleticism and the mastery of disciplines that formed the backbone of military might in ancient China for thousands of years.

This summer’s production of “Cirque Shanghai: Warriors” brings an extraordinary line-up of thrilling acts to the stage, including The Kinetic Poles, the powerful Water Meteor and the heart-pounding Pageant of Arms. Returning to the production from last year is the fate-tempting “Wheel of Destiny,” and China’s premier daredevil steel-globe motorcycle troupe, “Imperial Thunder”.

Directed by Miao Miao Chen, “Cirque Shanghai: Warriors” is presented in this exclusive U.S. engagement by Navy Pier in conjunction with International Special Attractions, Ltd. (ISA) production headquarters in Shanghai, China. 


PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AND TICKET INFORMATION
“Cirque Shanghai” will perform May 21 – September 1. Performances will be held at 10:30 a.m. May 21 and 29. Beginning May 23 the regular performance schedule is:
  • Wednesday at 2, 6 and 8 p.m. 
  • Thursday at 2 and 8 p.m.
  • Friday at 2, 7 and 9 p.m.
  • Saturday at 2, 6 and 8 p.m.
  • Sunday at 2 and 4 p.m.

Tickets are on sale beginning May 2 via Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com/shanghai. Tickets are $19.50- $39.50 for adults and $15.50 for children ages 3 to 12. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are also available by calling GroupTix at 773.327.3778 or visiting www.grouptix.net.

Special Packages for summer 2014 include: The Navy Pier Fun Package containing, a Emperor’s Court “Cirque Shanghai: Warriors” ticket, a 40 min Skyline boat cruise, a Ferris Wheel voucher, a Pepsi Skyline Stage $5 concession voucher and a 20% off RIVA coupon for $43, with a children’s version available for $28. In addition, the Navy Pier Nightlife package combines a “Cirque Shanghai: Warriors” Emperor’s Court ticket, a Landshark Beer garden $10 voucher and a Hagen Daas double scoop cone/cup voucher for $36.50.



ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
International Special Attractions (ISA) was established in 1996 and over the past two decades has become a world leader in the production of large scale special attractions, events and theatrical productions. In addition to presenting Cirque Shanghai, ISA was the first company to bring Chinese acrobats to Broadway.  For the past two years, ISA has presented The Ice Kingdom, a 14,000 square foot experience made entirely of ice, at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.  ISA’s other ICE! attractions are mounted annually at four Gaylord Hotel locations throughout the United States, and are enjoyed by over 1 million people each year. ISA also produces Luminasia, the larger-than-life lantern attraction, which was seen last year at the Washington State Fair, and for the past four years at The Galt House Hotel in Louisville, KY.  In 2014, ISA is adding two additional Luminasia locations, one in Blackpool, England, and another in conjunction with the LA County Fair.  ISA clients have included The Walt Disney Company, Gaylord Entertainment, The Queen Mary, The New Victory Theatre in New York, Navy Pier Chicago, The Galt House Hotel, Busch Entertainment Corp and Six Flags, Inc.  Featured Television coverage has aired internationally, on networks including NBC, CBS and ABC to name but a few.

Drawing from his classical music background, Haiping Ge was one of the earliest producers serving in the Shanghai government’s Office of Cultural Exchange Affairs. From that office, he hosted many of the first Western entertainers performing in China.

For the last two decades, Haiping Ge has been producing shows with ISA for the world’s premium venues. His current productions include: Cirque Shanghai for New Victory Theatre on Broadway; ICE! Attractions in Dallas, Nashville, Orlando and Washington D.C. in association with Gaylord Resorts; Luminasia at The Galt House in Louisville, KY, USA. Haiping also produced a Chinese acrobatic show for Disney World, Florida which will run through the end of this year.

Miao Chen is a second-generation performer as well as the show’s director.  She studied with the internationally famous Shenyang Performing Arts Academy beginning at age five, and joined the acclaimed Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe, one of the top ten troupes in all of China, at age 13.  Chen is the recipient of a Gold Lion Award from the International Acrobatics Competition in France, and received the top award for Best Innovative Performance in Uruguay. Chen has performed throughout the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia. In 2006 and 2007, Chen worked as a choreographer for “Le Grand Cirque” which has toured in cities across Australia, the United Kingdom and United States. Chen previously directed hit productions of “Cirque Shanghai” in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

ABOUT NAVY PIER 

Located on Lake Michigan, just east of Chicago’s downtown, Navy Pier is the most-visited tourist and leisure destination in the Midwest, welcoming nearly 9 million annual visitors.  Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, it is now one of the country’s preeminent recreation and exposition facilities, showcasing 50 acres of parks, gardens, restaurants, shops, attractions, sightseeing and dining cruise boats, exhibition facilities and more.

ABOUT CHIIL MAMA
ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama for the coolest happenings all summer long in Chi, IL and beyond. 
Check back with ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows  like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often.

We have photo & video filled features, loads of great reviews and interviews, and lots of weekly giveaways--nationwide toys/games/products and Chicago based music and theatre tickets.  

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More Of Our Favorite Original Photos:





















































Thursday, June 5, 2014

OPENING: The Last Ship To Be Featured On The TONY AWARD BROADCAST Opens June 10th

Of course, here at ChiIL Live Shows/ChiIL Mama we've been excited about Sting's new musical, The Last Ship.  We've been promoting it for months, but it's nearly HERE!  Check back with us like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often for loads of news, reviews, photo filled recaps, and more.  
In fact we just shot loads of show stills at TIDES last weekend, featuring percussionist, Bob Garret who is soon to appear in The Last Ship.



We'll have our full photo feature on TIDES up shortly, which also features Chiara Mangiameli, flamenco dancer lead in Rick Bayless's acclaimed Cascabel.  Tides featured more than 40 dancers, of all ages and from various backgrounds, addressing the events that changed their lives through flamenco dance and song forms with live accompaniment by musicians including Carlo Basile (Las Guitarras de Espana) and percussionist Bob Garrett.

Back to The Last Ship:




TUNE IN ALERT

CHICAGO’S PRE-BROADWAY WORLD PREMIERE
TO BE FEATURED ON THE TONY AWARD BROADCAST

Sting, 16-time Grammy Award® winner, will perform a song from his upcoming musical, THE LAST SHIP, at the 68th Annual Tony Awards. The 2014 Tony Awards will broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, on CBS, on Sunday, June 8, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. CST and are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.  For more information on the Tony Awards, please visit www.TonyAwards.com.

THE LAST SHIP will have its Pre-Broadway World Premiere in Chicago at the Bank of America Theatre (18 West Monroe Street). Performances begin on June 10, 2014 for a five-week-only limited engagement through July 13, 2014.

ABOUT THE LAST SHIP
THE LAST SHIP is set in the English seafaring town of Wallsend, a close-knit community where life has always revolved around the local shipyard and the hardworking men construct magnificent vessels with tremendous pride.  But Gideon Fletcher dreams of a different future.  He sets out to travel the world, leaving his life and his love behind.  When Gideon returns home 14 years later, he finds the shipyard's future in grave danger and his childhood sweetheart engaged to someone else.  As the men of Wallsend take their future into their own hands and build a towering representation of the shared dream that defines their existence, Gideon realizes that he left behind more than he could have ever imagined. THE LAST SHIP is a portrait of a community so bound together by passion, faith and tradition, they'll stop at nothing to preserve the only life they've ever known.

TICKET INFORMATION

THE LAST SHIP tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.  A select number of premium seats are also available for many performances.  Tickets are available for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. 

In addition to adoring Sting's work, we're also quite fond of Wicked, Next to Normal and Once, and we've seen and reviewed the Broadway touring productions of all of them. So we're beyond excited to see this creative collaboration come to life on stage!  Got your tickets yet? 


David Bowie Is tickets on sale in July!



David Bowie Is 
September 23, 2014–January 4, 2015
Tickets on sale to the public on July 31. 

Here at ChiIL Live Shows we're lifelong fans of David Bowie (born David Robert Jones in 1947).  So, we are super stoked about the upcoming MCA exhibit--the first international exhibit of it's kind!  Get your tickets early. 



The Archer
Station to Station tour, 1976
Photo Credit: John Rowlands
© John Robert Rowlands

The MCA has just announced tickets to David Bowie Is, one of the hottest, anticipated exhibitions of 2014, begin THIS July. MCA Members will receive special access and are able to purchase tickets in advance, on July 15. 

David Bowie Is presents the first international exhibition of the extraordinary career of David Bowie—one of the most pioneering and influential performers of our time. The exhibition focuses on his creative processes and collaborative work with artists and designers, and demonstrates how his work has both influenced and been influenced by wider movements in art, design, music, and theater.

Tickets to see David Bowie Is are $25 which also includes general admission to the museum.

The MCA has extended hours during the exhibition (closed on Mondays):
Tuesdays: 10 am–8 pm
Wednesdays: 10 am–5 pm
Thursdays: 10 am–8 pm
Fridays: 10 am–10 pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 9 am–6 pm

This exhibition is organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Sound experience by Sennheiser.

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