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Thursday, April 9, 2015

2015 CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL MOVIES & MUSIC FESTIVAL CIMMfest No. 7 TO ROLL OUT APRIL 16 – 19, 2015

Here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows, we can't wait for the 7th Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMfest). We've been covering the annual four-day showcase since 2012. CIMMfest is one of our favorites, combining two of our passions, and celebrating the inseparable connection between music and movies. Be there as the 7th annual CIMMfest unspools April 16-19, 2015

This year the multi-venue festival expands beyond its home base along the Milwaukee Avenue corridor – from Wicker Park to Logan Square – to include events in North Central, Lakeview, Hyde Park, the Loop and Pilsen.  Festival passes are still available at CIMMfest.org



Live scoring programs, during which bands, orchestras and soloists perform a film’s music score live in front of the projected movie, have become a signature draw for CIMMfest. This year’s offerings include movies live-scored by acclaimed composer Marc Ribot (Josef von Sternberg’s The Docks of New York), electronic trio Chandeliers (Hungarian animation Fehérlófia) and two more to be announced in coming weeks as part of the City's Lake FX Summit + Expo.

Movie highlights include the world premiere of John Anderson's Sam Lay in Bluesland, the U.S. premiere of Chinese punk rock doc Never Release My Fist, the North American Premiere of Brasil Bam Bam Bam and the Chicago premieres of Nick Hall's Joe Strummer doc I Need a Dodge! and Mark Shuman's Morphine meditation Morphine: Journey of Dreams. And for National Record Store Day – Saturday, April 18 – Metallica's Robert Trujillo will present the Chicago premiere of his film Jaco!, a tribute to the world’s greatest bass player Jaco Pastorius.

Music highlights of CIMMfest No. 7 include powerhouse vocalist Lisa Fischer (Twenty Feet From Stardom) for two shows at Thalia Hall, a DJ Event featuring sonic architect Hank Shocklee (Public Enemy's Bomb Squad) and Luftwerk technical director Liviu Pasare in conjunction with the premiere of synthesizer doc 808, and Sierre Leone's Refugee All-Stars following a showing of their self-titled documentary that launched them into worldwide fame.  The Saturday before the festival, CIMMfest presents a Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame Sendoff Party for Chicago drummer extraordinaire Sam Lay.

The movie Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars anchors an African Sidebar of a half dozen acclaimed films including Chicago premieres from South Africa, Niger and Mali, and a sneak preview of Andy Jones' work in progress film I Shot Bi Kidude about the mysterious disappearance of the world's oldest singer in Tanzania.

Honoree Julien Temple has been selected to receive the third annual BAADASSSS Award for his contributions as a filmmaker, documentarian and music video innovator. Temple chronicled the London punk scene in the ’70s via his relationship with The Sex Pistols and Malcolm McLaren (The Great Rock and Roll Swindle) and made groundbreaking music videos for The Kinks (“Come Dancing”), The Rolling Stones (“Undercover of the Night”) and David Bowie (“Jazzin’ for Blue Jean”) before going on to direct features. As part of the festival, a retrospective of Temple's films will be shown, including Absolute Beginners on 35mm, The Filth and the Fury (The Sex Pistols), Oil City Confidential (Dr Feelgood), Dave Davies: Kinkdom Come, Ray Davies: Imaginary Man and doc Rio 50 Degrees: Carry on CaRIOca! Previous BAADASSSS Award recipients are director-actor-musician Melvin Van Peebles and SXSW co-founder Louis Black.

CIMMfest 2015 occurs in tandem with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events’ nascent Lake FX Summit + Expo, a free conference for artists, creative professionals and entrepreneurs. CIMMfest is programming film aspects for the Lake FX summit at the Chicago Cultural Center, Pilsen and Hyde Park, concurrent with the CIMMfest music and movies programming in Wicker Park/Logan Square/North Center and beyond.

Adam Montgomery, Senior Manager of Programming for the Sundance Film Festival, joins CIMMfest this year as the festival’s Director of Film Programming. Esteemed Britain-based film journalist Andy Markowitz – cofounder of MusicFilmWeb – joins CIMMfest as Associate Film Programmer.

A sampling of confirmed films, musical acts and live scoring events for CIMMfest No. 7:
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MOVIES

808: The Movie (Alexander Dunn, England, 94 min).   CHICAGO PREMIERE
A comprehensive history of the Roland TR-808, the iconic drum machine that shaped the face of ’80s hip-hop, R&B, rock and pop music and is still in heavy use today. Features Pharrell Williams, David Guetta, Phil Collins, Questlove, Diplo and Goldie, among others, waxing poetic about the influence of a drum machine that changed the world of music as we know it. CIMMfest is excited to program this film alongside live performances featuring local electronic musicians utilizing the famous sound of the 808. A special 808 DJ Event featuring Hank Shocklee and Liviu Pasare follows the movie at 1st Ward.

Basically Johnny Moped (Fred Burns, UK, 77 min).

Formed in 1974 by a group of school friends from Croydon, Johnny Moped was the band fronted by, and named after the enigmatic Paul Halford (aka Johnny Moped). By 1977 “punk rock’s idiot savants” were at the heart of London’s burgeoning punk scene and, for a moment, looked like contenders. Despite having Chrissie Hynde and Captain Sensible as past members, success was not to come their way and Johnny Moped is now largely forgotten… punk rock’s great lost band. Their story is a fascinating one that, along with some of the era’s most innovative music, deserves to be heard.
"Johnny Moped were better than the Clash and the Pistols put together." – Shane MacGowan


Billy Mize and The Bakersfield Sound (William J. Saunders, USA, 100 min)  CHICAGO PREMIERE
Billy Mize's contributions to Country and Western music helped shape the music industry as we know it. His raw-edged style of country music known for its piercing guitar and honest, down-to-earth lyrics became the cornerstone for artists such as Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, and Buck Owens. His charm and golden voice are legendary among country music's elite, as is his passion for music.  In the prime of his career in the 1960's, Billy made it to the brink of superstardom, only to turn it down to focus on family life, but horrific tragedy forced him to seek solace in music once again.  At the age of 59, Mize suffered a stroke and lost his ability to speak and play guitar.  After several unsuccessful stints in speech rehabilitation, he was admitted to an experimental facility in Florida, where he miraculously re-gained the ability to sing. This inspirational documentary culminates with Billy Mize and the Bakersfield Sound (including Merle Haggard) performing for the first time in over 20 years. A swan song for an amazing and inspiring career.

Brasil Bam Bam Bam: The Story of Sonzeira (Charlie William Inman, Brazil/UK/USA, 69min). NORTH AMERICA PREMIERE
The documentary film goes to the heart of what really made Brazil famous. From Bossa to Samba to Batucada to Baile Funk, Rio's sounds have enchanted worldwide audiences since the 1950s. Gilles Peterson – BBC Broadcaster, Record Collector, DJ and supporter of Brazilian music for the last 25 years – traveled to Rio to create the super-group Sonzeira and record the seminal album Brasil Bam Bam Bam. This film tells the story of that journey. Featuring Seu Jorge, Elza Soares, Wilson Das Neves, Ed Motta, Marcos Valle and more.

Danny Says
(Brendan Toller, USA, 104 min).
A documentary on the life and times of Danny Fields. Since 1966, Danny Fields has played a pivotal role in music and “culture” of the late 20th century: working for the Doors, Cream, Lou Reed, Nico, Judy Collins and managing groundbreaking artists like the Stooges, the MC5 and the Ramones. Danny Says follows Fields from Phi Beta Kappa whiz-kid, to Harvard Law dropout, to the Warhol Silver Factory, to Director of Publicity at Elektra Records, to “punk pioneer” and beyond.  Danny’s taste and opinion, once deemed defiant and radical, have turned out to have been prescient.  Danny Says is a story of marginal turning mainstream, avant garde turning prophetic, as Fields looks to the next generation.

The Dicks from Texas (Cindy Marabito, USA, 70min).
Long before Austin made weirdness a civic virtue, The Dicks made it a cause. Three rawboned Marlboro Man types fronted by Gary Floyd, a fat queer with a penchant for fright wigs, this self-described "commie faggot band" helped put the Texas capital on the punk map in the early '80s with anthems like "Dicks Hate the Police" and "Wheelchair Epidemic." Cindy Marabito was there, and her super-DIY documentary is an affectionate oral history of a truly distinctive hardcore scene that, like the band and community it chronicles, makes up in attitude and personality what it lacks in polish.


Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll (John Pirozzi, Cambodia, 105 min)   
CHICAGO PREMIERE
During the ’60s and early ’70s as the war in Vietnam threatened its borders, a new music scene emerged in Cambodia that took Western rock and roll and stood it on its head – creating a sound like no other. Cambodia musicians crafted this sound from the various rock music styles sweeping America, England and France, adding the unique melodies and hypnotic rhythms of their traditional music. The beautiful singing of their renowned female vocalists became the final touch that made this mix so enticing. After taking over the country in 1975, the Khmer Rouge began wiping out all traces of Western influence and eliminated artists and musicians, beginning one of the most brutal genocides in history. Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll tracks the twists and turns of Cambodian music as it morphs into rock and roll, blossoms and is nearly destroyed along with the rest of the country. In English and Cambodian with English subtitles.

East Nashville Tonight (Brad Barnes, Todd Barnes, USA, 85min).
In February of 2013, the Barnes Brothers attempted to shoot a documentary about the lives of Todd Snider, Elizabeth Cook and other touring songwriters residing in the burgeoning East Nashville neighborhood. They failed. Instead, drugs and booze took over. They ended up with East Nashville Tonight, the greatest hypothetical documentary stoner musical of all times. Todd Snider performs live Sunday, April 19 at City Winery Chicago.

The Front Man (Paul Devlin, USA, 72min).  CHICAGO PREMIERE
Disillusioned by the broken promise of Rock ‘n’ Roll, but still plagued by dreams of stardom, a charismatic musician goes on a 27-year journey in search of the meaning of success. Dynamic and abrasively funny, Jim Wood must reconcile his joy creating music and his wife Christie’s desire for a child with a culture in which anything short of celebrity is failure. Jim and Christie’s quest for fame takes a windy path through the homes of acclaimed musicians, a legendary recording studio, the set of a cult horror movie, and onto national television. Filmmaker Paul Devlin will be in attendance.

Hard Working Americans: The First Waltz (Justin Kreutzmann, USA, 90min)
What begins with a creaky rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” and the firing of a freshly rolled number unfolds into a multilayered examination of what it means to be American. This rockumentary about the creation of supergroup Hard Working Americans creates an insightful snapshot of a fertile new collaboration for battered-but-unbroken hippy musical lifers Todd Snider, Dave Schools, Neal Casal, Chad Staehly, Duane Trucks and Jesse Aycock. The film follows Hard Working Americans behind the scenes in the studio as the band collaborates on its self-titled debut album and on the road for their first national tour. “Mixing intimate concert performances, road scenes, personal tales and studio footage, The First Waltz arrives at a crucial moment to remind us that Jerry Garcia is as important as Ben Franklin and that rock ’n’ roll is as much a birthright as the Constitution." – Dennis Cook.  Todd Snider performs live Sunday, April 19 at City Winery Chicago.

Hardcore DEVO Live! (Keirda Bahruth, USA, 85 min).
In the summer of 2014, DEVO embarked on a 10-city “Hardcore DEVO,” tour playing the seminal, experimental songs they created, pre-fame, in basements and garages in Akron, Ohio between 1974 and 1977. The band had not played most of these songs since that time. Filmmaker Keirda Bahruth documented this once-in-a-lifetime tour filmed June 28 at the Fox Theater in Oakland California.
Director Keirda Bahruth (Bob and the Monster) will be in attendance

The Hip-Hop Fellow (Kenneth Price, USA, 79min).
The Hip-Hop Fellow follows Grammy Award-winning producer Patrick Douthit, better known as 9th Wonder, through his tenure at Harvard University as he teaches The Standards of Hip-Hop, conducts research for his thesis and lectures at Duke University. The film centers on the emerging significance of incorporating hip-hop music studies into academia, and highlights the scholars at the forefront of preserving 40 years of hip hop culture. Featured interviews include Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Phonte, Ab-Soul, Young Guru, Dr. Mark Anthony Neal, Rapper Big Pooh, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Dr. Marcyliena Morgan and DJ Premier.

I Need a Dodge! Joe Strummer on the Run (Nick Hall, Spain/UK, 67 min).   CHICAGO PREMIERE
It’s 1997 and Joe Strummer is interviewed live on Spanish Radio 3 from Glastonbury. During the interview he talks about his Dodge, a car he bought in Madrid 12 years earlier and which he later left in one of the city's car parks, unable to remember which one. A call is put out for the people of Madrid to search the local car parks for the missing Dodge. In 1984 Strummer found himself at a professional and creative crossroads. His erstwhile friend and band mate Mick Jones was enjoying new found success with Big Audio Dynamite while Joe was suffering the pressures and infighting of his rapidly disintegrating band, The Clash. It was in this context that he would turn up in Granada in southern Spain. Once in Spain Joe quickly made friends among the local rock bands. His first real creative challenge in the wake of the fallout from The Clash would be as producer of the second 091 LP in post-dictatorship Madrid. It was during the recording of the LP that members of Spain's most famous rock group Radio Futura helped Joe to buy the now legendary Dodge. The documentary looks at the period when, after eight intense years in the media spotlight, Joe was forced to choose a new path. We discover what initially drew Strummer to Spain, the truth behind the 091 recording sessions, and investigate what happened to Joe's beloved Dodge.

Jaco! The Film (Robert Trujillo, USA)   CHICAGO PREMIERE

On Saturday, April 18, Record Store Day.org presents the Chicago Premiere of Jaco!, the story of world’s greatest bass player Jaco Pastorius, his life, his music, his demise and ultimately the fragility of great artistic genius. There are few musicians who fundamentally change their instrument, and even fewer still who transcend their instrument altogether. Jaco, master of the fretless bass, did both. In 1976, his melodic “singing” bass style redefined the role of the bass in modern music. Almost overnight, critics hailed Pastorius as “the future of modern music,” alongside popular visionaries like David Bowie, Tom Waits, Patti Smith, Bryan Ferry, Lou Reed and Herbie Hancock. Produced by Metallica’s Robert Trujillo in association with Passion Pictures (Searching for Sugarman), Jaco! includes incredible insights from an array of artists including Flea, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Geddy Lee, Bootsy Collins and Carlos Santana as well as Jaco’s family and friends. Producer Robert Trullio will be on hand to present the film and conduct a Q&A. Logan Cinema

Killer B3 (Murv Seymour, USA, 93 min).  CHICAGO PREMIERE
A documentary about the Hammond Organ, the 425-pound keyboard often called the beast. The Hammond B3 is the signature model that spit out one of the most unique sounds used in all styles of music, including, gospel, jazz, blues, rock, country, reggae and commercial soundtracks. Killer B3 captures the spirit and passion of players who have committed a lifetime to master the Hammond sound, choosing to make music with the complex and bulky instrument over the simplistic and portable keyboard, including organist, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jimmy Mcgriff, Tony Monaco, Joey DeFrancesco, Shawn Brown, Pappa John DeFrancesco, Jimmy Smith, Jr. and Chicago’s own Chris Foreman (playing Fridays and Sundays at The Green Mill).

Morphine: Journey of Dreams (Mark Shuman, USA/Italy 91 min).   CHICAGO PREMIERE
The story of the iconic genre-busting 1990s “low rock” band Morphine is told by its surviving members and the coterie around them, sans narration, and made palpable through saxophonist Dana Colley's tour journals. Rare live performances from throughout the group's career woven into the tale display why the trio's unique and mesmeric sound continues to resonate with its fans and music lovers worldwide following the death of its singer, songwriter and two-string bassist Mark Sandman onstage at an Italian music festival in 1999. Vapors of Morphine will perform a special live show afterward at TBD

Never Release My Fist (Shui-Bo Wang, China/Canada).  U.S. PREMIERE

Oscar-nominated Chinese-Canadian director Wang Shuibo (Sunrise Over Tiananmen Square) premieres his latest work, a feature-length documentary on the life and music of punk rockers in Wuhan, the center stage of punk rock in China in the late '90s. The film follows Wu Wei, 39, who grew up in a blue color neighborhood in the Chinese industrial city of 20 million people on the Yangtze River, and has been the lead singer of SMZB, a Chinese punk band famous for its strong voice against the county's political system. He is known as the Godfather of Wuhan’s punk rock movement. NRMF also features Wu Wei's ex-wife Hu Juan, a beautiful drummer loved by everyone from the punk groups, Zhang Hai, the lead singer of Play To Death, who sold marijuana to open his small pizza restaurant after giving up music, and Kang Mao, a diehard punk and lead singer of SUBS who left Wuhan for Beijing when her all-girl punk band broke up. Sixteen years past, SMZB is the last punk band standing in Wuhan.

The Possibilities Are Endless (James Hall, Edward Lovelace, UK, 83min).  CHICAGO PREMIERE
In 2005 Scottish singer-songwriter Edwyn Collins, best known for fronting '80s postpunk band Orange Juice and for his out-of-the-blue 1994 solo hit "A Girl Like You," suffered a catastrophic cerebral hemorrhage that wiped his mind clean. This intimate, elliptical film, named for a phrase that was inexplicably on Collins' lips when he emerged from a coma, chronicles his intensely personal experience of recovery with structural boldness, visual imagination and sublime empathy, steering its course from near abstraction to brilliant clarity as Collins regains language, memory, music, humor and love.

The Road to God Knows Where (Uli M Schueppel, Germany, 89min). 
The Road to God Knows Where might just be the coolest student film ever made. Twenty-five years before Nick Cave bared his quasi-fictional soul in 20,000 Days on Earth (CIMMFest 2014), Schueppel – then studying at the German Film Academy; now one of Berlin's most respected indie directors – got a peek behind the veil, accompanying Cave and the Bad Seeds on a five-week US tour. He returned with this riveting vérité document, rarely screened since its 1990 release, that intimately captures the experience of life on the road for a budding icon adjusting uneasily to sobriety and celebrity.

Sam Lay in Bluesland (John Anderson, USA).  WORLD PREMIERE

He was on drums when Bob Dylan went electric at Newport. He was in the studio and on the road with blues greats Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter and James Cotton. He was a founding member of the groundbreaking Paul Butterfield Blues Band. He is, at 79, still an active part of the Chicago blues scene and the man some call “the greatest drummer of all time.”  Blues’ most celebrated drummer finally steps into the spotlight in Sam Lay in Bluesland. Recognized almost as much for his sartorial style as for his signature double-shuffle beat — his capes, crowns, canes and cowbells are the stuff of legend— Sam Lay has played a key role in the evolution of the blues for almost 60 years. Against a backdrop of the troubled, racially turbulent 1960s, Lay’s singular life and career is told through his own words, music and personal films in this new feature-length documentary about his life and career, featuring appearances by James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Iggy Pop, Corky Siegel, Barry Goldberg, Nick Gravenites, Jim Keltner, Marcy Levy, Gary Mallaber and Kenny Wayne Shepard. Sam Lay appears live at a Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Send-Off Celebration, Saturday, April 11 at Rosa's.

Shake the Dust (Adam Sjöberg, USA)
Colombia, Cambodia, Uganda, Yemen. Breakdancing unites people worldwide in the common languages of movement, expression and hip-hop. In this feature documentary, rap superstar and producer Nas presents a broad look at a movement inspiring hope in global urban communities.

Teenage Ghost Punk (Mike Cramer, USA, 99min).
When a family moves from rural Michigan to a Victorian house near Chicago, strange things start happening. Creepy noises. Unexplained messes. Old punk rock albums go missing. Suspecting the house is haunted, they hire a wacky medium and a team of bumbling paranormal investigators to help, but teenage daughter Amanda discovers on her own that the house is haunted by the ghost of a 17-year-old punk guitarist named Brian, and his fun-loving band of dead pals. Amanda and Brian form a friendship that soon veers toward romance. But the past collides with the present. From Oak Park lawyer-turned-filmmaker Mike Cramer.

Theory of Obscurity: A Film About The Residents (Don Hardy, USA).  MIDWEST PREMIERE
After programming a short preview of the film last year, CIMMfest presents the full story of the renegade art, sound and video collective known as The Residents. Throughout a career spanning 40 years, many details surrounding the group are still shrouded in mystery, including the identities of its members. As early adopters of short-form video as a vessel for visual interpretations of music, The Residents were in heavy rotation during the early days of MTV, always performing anonymously behind masks and costumes.  Through candid interviews and fly-on-the-wall observations, this film tells the story of a group that has always played by its own rules and never caved to convention.  Obscured behind eyeball masks and tuxedos, this is the true story of The Residents.

Y/Our Music (Waraluck Hiransrettawat Every, David Reeve, Thailand/UK, 81min).  CHICAGO PREMIERE
Where does the Thai musical identity lie? In the traditional songs of work and faith from the sprawling rural region of Isan? In the experimental art-rock honed in Bangkok basements and galleries? In the bamboo saxophones laboriously handmade by a jazz-loving optician? Yes, yes, yes, and more. Y/Our Music takes a sonic journey through Thailand from rice fields to urban markets, spanning generations and geography to reveal a diverse and, at times, divided musical culture, and reveling in the artistry of singers and players working to preserve and update the old ways.

AFRICAN SIDEBAR

Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai (Christopher Kirkley, USA/Niger)  CHICAGO PREMIERE
Prince goes Sahel in this colorful Saharan homage to Purple Rain featuring the smoking Nigerien guitarist Mdou Moctar as the new axe-slinger in a guitar-mad Tuareg town. Resplendent in a purple robe and matching motorcycle, Mdou woos an enigmatic local beauty, fights with his conservative, music-hating dad and fences with a jealous local star until the night of the big guitar contest.

As Old as My Tongue: The Myth and Life of Bi Kidude (Andy Jones, UK/Tanzania, 66 min).
A portrait of singer Bi Kidude, a living legend on her home island of Zanzibar. She has beguiled audiences around the world on her wide and varied travels.

I Shot Bi Kidude  (Andy Jones, UK/Tanzania)                       SNEAK PREVIEW
A special preview of work in progress, I Shot Bi Kidude is a dramatic investigation into the final days of the life of Bi Kidude, one of Africa’s greatest musical heroines and the world’s oldest singer. In 2013, this fast-talking, chain-smoking rebel-rocker was kidnapped. Following up on As Old As My Tongue, his earlier film on the myth and life of Kidude, director Andy Jones and his team return to Zanzibar in order to get to the bottom of the mystery. Just two months later, Bi Kidude was dead. I Shot Bi Kidude is the final chapter in the life of a legend.

Shield and Spear (Petter Ringbom, US/S. Africa, 89 min).  CHICAGO PREMIERE
An artist paints a caricature of South African president Jacob Zuma that provokes a lawsuit, death threats and a massive street protest. Around this incident, Shield and Spear explores a constellation of stories about identity, art, race and freedom of expression in South Africa, 20 years into democracy.

Sierre Leone’s Refugee All Stars (Zach Niles, Banker White, USA/Guinea, 78min).
The story of a group of courageous musicians who form a band in a West African refugee camp to keep their hope alive. Following the movie, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars perform live at Martyrs’

They Will Have to Kill Us First: Malian Music in Exile (Johanna Schwartz, UK, 105min).  CHICAGO PREMIERE
Islamic extremists have banned music in Mali, but its world-famous musicians won’t give up without a fight. A documentary about music in the West African country follows Mali’s musical superstars as they fight for their right to sing.


JULIEN TEMPLE RETROSPECTIVE

Absolute Beginners
A musical adaptation of Colin MacInnes' novel about life in late 1950s London. Nineteen-year-old photographer Colin (Eddie O'Connell) is hopelessly in love with model Crepe Suzette (Patsy Kensit), but her relationships are strictly connected with her progress in the fashion world. So Colin gets involved with a pop promoter and tries to crack the big time. With David Bowie.

The Filth and the Fury
Temple’s first film in his trilogy on British music of the 1970's documents the career of the notorious punk rock band, the Sex Pistols.

Oil City Confidential
Temple's last film in his trilogy on British music of the 1970's focuses on Canvey Island band Dr Feelgood (“Roxette”) featuring guitarist Wilko Johnson. It is a prequel to Temple’s landmark films about punk figureheads the Sex Pistols in The Filth & The Fury and Joe Strummer in The Future Is Unwritten.

Dave Davies: Kinkdom Come
Kinks guitarist Dave Davies relives his tumultuous life and times amidst the serenity of his Exmoor sanctuary in Temple’s doc made for the BBC.

Ray Davies: Imaginary Man
Temple beautifully captures Ray Davies’ wistfulness in his excellent documentary on the former-Kink. Davies is allowed to gently meander around his past life, talking about his childhood, his family of seven sisters and one brother, his early days with The Kinks, the development of his writing skill and his life of fame, parenthood and growing-up, all of which seemed to happen so fast.

Rio 50 Degrees: Carry on CaRIOca!
A look at Rio's cultural, political and technical revolutions since the 1970s to 2011.


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MUSIC

Sam Lay Send-off Show

CIMMfest 2015 kicks off with a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame send-off party for blues’ most celebrated drummer. Sam Lay was on drums when Bob Dylan went electric at Newport. He was in the studio and on the road with blues greats Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter and James Cotton. He was a founding member of the groundbreaking Paul Butterfield Blues Band. He is, at 79, still an active part of the Chicago Blues scene and the man some call “the greatest drummer of all time.” And on April 18, he’ll be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. The CIMMfest 2015 kickoff event hosted by Grammy-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker John Anderson includes tales and live performances with Sam Lay and Corky Siegel, clips from Anderson’s new movie Sam Lay in Bluestown and a full set with Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, Saturday, April 11, 9pm at Rosa’s

THURSDAY, APRIL 16

Fort Knox Studios Showcase @ Martyrs
A variety of bands that practice at Fort Knox Studios, the music rehearsal and recording studio facility located on the north side of Chicago at Wilson & Montrose, showcase their music. Featured bands include:
Phosphene, hard rock/ pop metal
AudioBakery, progressive rock
Halfmoon Mad, alternative rock/pop

CIMMfest Pre: Emanation – A Percussion Event @ 1st ward
Featuring percussionists: Thomas Benko, Chris Hainey, Colin Campbell and Nora Bratton.

The Right Now @ Double Door
This R&B, soul band shines with raw, gritty performances and elegant arrangements that are the result of countless hours of performing, rehearsing and traveling together.

Yakuza and Rabble Rabble @ Burlington
Yakuza, avant-garde metal band acclaimed for its incorporation of jazz and world music elements, performs with psych punks Rabble Rabble

Miss Alex White showcase @ Township
Miss Alex White presents:
Digital Leather, musical project led by multi-instrumentalist Shawn Foree
Mac Blackout, champion of the local scene who runs the gamut from hardcore punk to synthy glam rock
The Holy Motors, rock 'n 'roll trio

FRIDAY, APRIL 17

808 DJ event @ 1st Ward
With:
Hank Shocklee, sonic architect and founder of Public Enemy’s Bomb Squad
Liviu Pasare, technical director at Luftwerk and owner of Chicago-based practice creating visual experiences using new media and technology

House showcase @ Metro
Featuring:
DJ Sneak, Puerto Rico-born house music DJ
Mark Farina, disc jockey and musician -- Chicago house, acid jazz and downtempo works
Derrick Carter, house producer and DJ

The Shotwell Showcase @ Double Door
Featuring:
Bailiff, blues-rock
Sidewalk Chalk, contemporary hip-hop, soul and jazz
My Gold Mask, indie rock
Jamaican Queens, electronic pop
Smoker, dream-pop, alternative

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars @ Martyrs
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have risen like a phoenix out of the ashes of war and enflamed the passions of fans across the globe with their uplifting songs of hope, faith and joy. The band is a potent example of the redeeming power of music and the ability of the human spirit to persevere through unimaginable hardship and emerge with optimism intact. From their humble beginnings in West African refugee camps Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and matured into one of Africa’s top touring and recording bands.

The Claudettes and The Cell Phones @ Emporium
The White Stripes and Black Keys rock the blues with a guitar attack. Like the Bad Plus, The Claudettes brandish a piano instead. Inspired by the ’60s piano-drums blues recordings of Otis Spann & S.P. Leary, band members Johnny and Michael formed their duo and created their own fanatical fusion of blues and soul-jazz. Following the The Claudettes is local trio, The Cell Phones, with their peculiar style of grind-core and power-pop elements marked by heavy acoustic bass and drums, with explosive vocals of front woman Lindsay Charles.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

Lisa Fischer @ Thalia Hall
Singer and composer Lisa Fischer – The Rolling Stones’ powerhouse backup vocalist since 1989 – headlines her own show with a full band for two shows. Featured in the 2013 movie Twenty Feet from Stardom, Fischer is renowned for her astonishing range. She has toured, recorded and made music with acts as diverse as Luther Vandross, Tina Turner and Nine Inch Nails. In 1992, Fischer won a solo Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Performance for her hit single "How Can I Ease the Pain" in an unlikely tie with Patti LaBelle (on whose song, “Burnin’,” she also sang backup). For this solo tour, Fischer has put together a brand new band to explore some new territory. The YouTube version of her duet with Mick Jagger on “Gimme Shelter” has millions of hits.

Chicagomusic.org showcase @ Martyrs
Featuring:
Elle Casazza, fearless, sultry and powerful vocal soloist
Scotch Hollow, acoustic roots
Fletcher, alt-rock
The Damn Choir, six-piece indie rock
Matthew Santos, rock and folk singer-songwriter

Chicago Mixtape @ Hideout
Featuring:
Santah, indie rock
Pet Lions, infectious indie pop
Weatherman, experimental pop

The Gomers @ Emporium
The Gomers wrap up National Record Story Day with a “Gomeroke" love rock and roll karaoke celebration, where attendees can choose from 3000 songs to rock out to. The Gomers have been rocking since 1985 when they recorded their first album Comin' Atchya at Smart Studio.

Hank Green @ Metro
Pop rock musician Hank Green (and brother of author John Green) performs with Driftless Pony Club, Harry and the Potters, Rob Scallon and Andrew Huang.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19

Todd Snider @ City Winery
On the 20th anniversary of his first album, Songs for the Daily Planet, Alt-Country singer-songwriter Todd Snider plays City Winery in conjunction with CIMMfest’s showing of The First Waltz, the rockumentary about the formation of his rock ’n’ roll supergroup Hard Working Americans (Snider, Neal Casal, Chad Staehly, Duane Trucks and Widespread Panic’s Dave Schools). 

Local H @ Metro
The pioneering, two-man band – frontman Scott Lucas on guitar and bass and drummer Ryan Harding – has released seven studio albums, a live album and a bunch of EPs. Local H debuts its brand new CD Hey, Killer, their first album in three years.


Where Movies and Music Meet
CIMMfest, the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival, is a four-day showcase of outstanding films, energetic concerts, visually stunning VJ/DJ sets, lively Q&A’s, daring live score performances, industry panels and presentations…anything to show just what movies and music mean to each other.

Each spring filmmakers, musicians and their passionate fans alike, descend upon Wicker Park and Logan Square, two of Chicago’s most eclectic, vibrant neighborhoods. That’s where CIMMfest takes place—the films by day, the live music by night—at theaters, galleries, bars, concert spaces and some of the city’s most storied venues.

The films come from all countries and cultures, and range from documentaries to fiction to concert films to shorts to music videos. They just have to be about music and/or use music in a creative, integral way. The live performances are inspired by film or feature visual accompaniment.

In 2014, CIMMfest expanded its music section to include more than 90 bands, 27 venues and a footprint along Milwaukee Avenue that stretches nearly two miles. CIMMcon made its debut in 2013, and in 2014 brought together more than 100 innovators, tastemakers, industry leaders and more in a series of 30+ free panels exploring everything from State of the Recording Industry to how to Kickstart your Film.

CIMMfest was imagined and brought to life by musician Josh Chicoine (Sabers, The M’s) and filmmaker Ilko Davidov (BulletProof Film). Neither knew what he was getting into at the start, but hundreds of films, thousands of attendees and countless incredible experiences later, CIMMfest is a publicized, respected Chicago fixture.

ABOUT CIMMFEST
The mission of the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMfest) is to highlight the inseparability of film and music through the production of an annual four-day, multi-venue festival.  CIMMfest is a convergence event that highlights the interconnectedness of all people shown through the lens of music and movies, on stage and on screen.  All participating films have music at their center: short and long form documentaries and narrative fiction; concert films; animation; music videos; performances; live concert events; art exhibits; and panel discussions, presented at both new and historic venues around Chicago.  CIMMfest is a platform for filmmakers and musicians, artists and producers, to present their vision and offer a connection point for people to come together for a celebration of movies, music, and good times in the greatest city on earth – Chicago!  For more information, visit www.CIMMfest.org.  

Corporate sponsors of CIMMfest No. 7 include Lagunitas Brewing Co, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Mailchimp and Softlayer- An IBM Company.

ABOUT LAKE FX SUMMIT + EXPO

The region’s largest free conference for artists, creative professionals and entrepreneurs is presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). Building on the success of three popular past events – the Creative Chicago Expo, the Chicago Music Summit and the Chicago Film and Media Summit – the four-day Summit + Expo will welcome thousands of artists and professionals engaged in creative industry businesses and organizations for keynotes by industry leaders, professional development panels and workshops, networking opportunities, music and film showcases, the Expo resource fair and a marketplace open to local artisans.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

HELP OUT: The Luck of Eden Hall Kickstarter



CIMMfest Bands: ChiIL Live Shows on Our Radar #ChiILPicksList

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar

So you've got your CIMMFest 2015 4 day pass squared away and you've picked up or downloaded the mindblowingly huge Chicago International Movies & Music Festival Program (pdf) which features over 100+ FILM & LIVE MUSIC events, & over 4 rocking days & nights (April 16-19). Now what?! 

Follow your bliss, and when in doubt check back with ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama for some sweet leads on some must sees. Here's a few of our LIVE band favs to get you started. Mark your calendars. 




The Luck of Eden Hall headlines Moe’s Tavern, 2937 N Milwaukee, on Saturday, April 18: http://cimmfest.org/the-luck-of-eden-waxworks-chicago-semisweet/.  Check out our original TLoEH live show shots here.






And our blast from the past original video interview with TLoEH's Curvey on How Creatives Parent and How Parents Create. Our interview also includes his daughter Seda, 7 at the time, in 2012.



HELP OUT: 
They have a great Kick Starter campaign going on right now. Kick in some cash if you can! 

Our goal today is $220. Preorder our new album The Acceleration of Time on CD, LP, limited edition Pop-Up CD for a $20,...
Posted by The Luck of Eden Hall on Tuesday, April 7, 2015



Nashville singer-songwriter Rorey Carroll will be direct support for Todd Snider at City Winery on Sunday, April 19 at 6PM: http://cimmfest.org/city-winery-and-cimmfest-present-todd-snider-with-special-guest-rorey-carroll/





Car­roll was born in Chicago to a rather nor­mal Amer­i­can fam­ily brought up as a typ­i­cal, mid­dle class kid. It was this up­bring­ing along with a fas­ci­na­tion with al­ter­na­tive cul­ture that led her to­wards the great Amer­i­can love af­fair, the coun­ter­bal­ance to the Amer­i­can Dream. At a young age, she lived in her car in cities all around the county, she hiked the Ap­palachian Trail, hopped freight trains. She made money play­ing mu­sic to any­one who would lis­ten, from the sub­ways of New York City to the streets of Ohio. She be­came a liv­ing para­dox, some­where be­tween run­ning from the law and run­ning from the nor­mal­ity of a Mid­west­ern sub­ur­ban lifestyle. In her words, ‘You have to trust every­one in that world… You’re all fight­ing for the same thing. But at the same time, you don’t trust any­one.’ While the hard­ness of the streets broke her down, an­other world picked her up. Ap­palachian songs, blue­grass and coun­try pat­terns ce­mented in her mind, and per­haps most im­por­tantly - she in­haled the great spirit of rock and roll.


Finally, Laura Joy will take part in Get Off the Couch at The Hideout on Sunday, April 19 at 6PM: http://cimmfest.org/get-off-the-couch-at-cimmfest-no-7-dickie-frances-luke-accord-fee-lion-laura-joy/



GET OFF THE COUCH (GOTC), hosted at The Hideout Inn, is Chicago’s longest running singer/songwriter showcase for area artists. Performed Nashville-style, it's typically held on the first Sunday of every month and hosted by Sam Wahl. 

Now GOTC and CIMMfest are bringing the show to you with headliner DICKIE (Dick Prall) and other showcase artists Frances Luke Accord, FEE LION, Laura Joy, and special guest host Myles Hayes.
http://getoffthecouchchicago.com/



Chicago-based singer-songwriter Laura Joy has been known to quell dark, angry bars full of ornery old Irishmen with her brand of acoustic pop. Drawing comparisons that range from Joni Mitchell to Alison Krauss, Laura’s percussive finger picking and buoyant voice have graced audiences from as far as the Sun Belt to the streets of Manhattan.

Laura’s EP, “Between Our Words,” was released on March 5, 2015.  It was produced by Chicago veteran, Will Phalen, at Cold Ghost Studios. The album features James Gallagher on drums (Kapsalis Trio, Weepin’ Willows, Republic of Lights), David Gallagher on guitar (Belleisle, Weepin’ Willows), and Will Phalen on bass (Stereo Addicts, Julie Meckler).

Laura is a frequent performer on the Midwest festival scene. She has played at the Independent Chicago Songwriter Festival, Metamora Folk Festival, Lakeshore Arts Festival, Cain Park Arts Fest, and Ravenswood Remix. In January, 2013, she was awarded as a top finalist in the Broward Folk Club Songwriter Competition in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Laura has also opened for Hammel on Trial, Staceyann Chin, and Greg Klyma.

Friday, April 3, 2015

OPENING: Melancholy Play: a chamber musical at Piven 4/30 - 6/7

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

Piven Theatre Workshop presents the Midwest Premiere of
Melancholy Play: a chamber musical by Sarah Ruhl

Rare musical offering at Piven to be performed 
April 30-June 7, 2015




Piven Theatre Workshop proudly announces the Midwest Premiere of Melancholy Play: a chamber musical by Tony™-nominated playwright Sarah Ruhl, with new music by New York composer Todd Almond and direction by Polly Noonan. The production will run April 30 – June 7, 2015 at Piven Theatre Workshop, 927 Noyes Street in Evanston. 

Dates:                                      
Previews: April 30 & May 1, 2015                 
Regular run: May 2 – June 7, 2015
Schedule: Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 7:30 p.m. 
Sunday: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Piven Theatre Workshop, 927 Noyes St., Evanston
Tickets: Pay-what-you-can preview performances; $20-35 regular run performances
Box Office: Located at 927 Noyes St., Evanston; 847-866-8049 or online www.piventheatre.org.

Sarah Ruhl’s Melancholy Play had its world premiere in 2002 at Piven Theatre Workshop and starred Noonan in the lead role as Tilly.  A decade later, Ruhl teamed up with Almond and developed Melancholy Play as a new chamber musical.  It was workshopped in 2012 via 13p in Brooklyn, and will return to the Piven Theatre Workshop stage for its Midwest Premiere.

“We rarely present musicals but knew we had to jump at the chance to work with Sarah again and share this gem with Chicago audiences.  She has taken this quirky, lovely story to a new and different level from when it was first staged here in ‘02.  We’ve got Chicago’s rising musical theater talent performing to Todd’s gorgeous score, accompanied by a live chamber ensemble.  This is going to be a special night out for Piven audiences to discover,” said Piven Theatre Workshop artistic director Jennifer Green.

In this lighthearted farce, bank teller Tilly’s (Stephanie Stockstill) melancholy is of an exquisite quality. She turns her melancholy into a sexy thing, and every stranger she meets falls in love with her. One day, inexplicably, Tilly becomes happy, and wreaks havoc on the lives of her paramours, while Frances, Tilly’s hairdresser, becomes so melancholy that she turns into an almond. It is up to Tilly to get her back. Other members of the Equity production include Chris Ballou (Frank, a tailor who deeply loves Tilly’s melancholia); Lauren Paris (Frances, her hairdresser); Emily Grayson (Joan, the helpless nurse who watches her girlfriend Frances devolve into a nut), and Ryan Lanning (Lorenzo, Tilly’s eccentric therapist from an undetermined European country).  
.
Noonan, director of the highly acclaimed production of The Language Archive last year at Piven, returns to helm the show she once starred in over a decade ago. 

“I love this play,” said Noonan.  “If plays are blueprints, catalysts, then this play is a recipe for joy.  When Sarah and Jessica (Thebus) invited me to play Tilly (in 2002) I had given up acting, so Melancholy Play brought me back to the theatre. There is so much humor in the play mixed in with the melancholy.  I am thrilled that Piven is producing such an ambitious project—five actors and five musicians!  It’s so wonderful to think of the Piven Theatre enlivened again with the sounds of Melancholy Play.”

The designers of Melancholy Play: a chamber musical are Jacob Watson (set), Rachel Levy (lighting), Alex Palma (sound), Stephanie Cluggish (costumes), and Austin Kopsa (properties). Musical Direction is by Aaron Benham.

About the Playwright:

Sarah Ruhl’s plays include In the Next Room, or the vibrator play (Pulitzer Prize finalist, Tony Award nominee for best new play), The Clean House (Pulitzer Prize Finalist, 2005; The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, 2004); Passion Play, a cycle (Pen American award, The Fourth Freedom Forum Playwriting Award from The Kennedy Center); Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Helen Hayes award); Melancholy Play; Eurydice; Orlando, Demeter in the City (NAACP nomination), Late: a cowboy song, Three Sisters, and most recently, Stage Kiss, The Oldest Boy, and Dear ElizabethMelancholy Play, Eurydice, Orlando, Three Sisters, and Late: a cowboy song have all been produced at Piven Theatre Workshop.

About the Composer:

Writer/performer Todd Almond’s work includes the World Premiere of IOWA, an original musical play with playwright Jenny Schwartz and director Ken Rus Schmoll, officially opening at Playwrights Horizons, April 13, 2015.  Other theatrical credits include original music for Ruhl’s Stage Kiss, also at Playwrights Horizons; original music and lyrics for the Public Theater/Public Works’ The Tempest at the Delacorte, in which Almond also starred as Ariel; original book for Girlfriend (music and lyrics by Matthew Sweet) at Actors Theater and Berkeley Rep; original music and lyrics for On the Levee at LCT3; original music and lyrics for Yale Rep’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle; original music and lyrics for The Odyssey at the Old Globe in San Diego; and original music and lyrics for Kansas City Choir Boy, performed by Almond with rock icon Courtney Love as part of the Prototype Festival. 


About Piven Theatre Workshop:
With Melancholy Play: a chamber musical, Piven Theatre Workshop continues its ongoing mission of premiering original works, and its history of celebrating the emerging voices of women. Piven Theatre Workshop has excelled as a leader in the arts community for 44 years, maintaining a distinguished legacy in the training of children and adults in the theatre arts. Annually, between onsite and off-site programming, the theatre trains over 1,000 students, provides approximately $30,000 in need-based scholarships, and maintains a professional theatre and numerous outreach programs throughout the Chicago area.




INCOMING: The New Switcheroo EP Release at Tonic Room 4/11 (21+) #IndieFolk

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

Chicago’s The New Switcheroo will celebrate the release of their debut EP, Heartless Sky, with a show at Tonic Room on Saturday, April 11th. Click here for tickets and show details.

*Please join us for this very special event, as The New Switcheroo release their first studio EP, "Heartless Sky." A copy of the CD is included in the ticket price.*



The New Switcheroo [Album Release Party]

The New Switcheroo is a 4-member indie folk rock band based in Chicago. Featuring sublime vocal harmonies layered over lush instrumental arrangements, they create a rich sound, guaranteed to warm your insides, tickle your fancy, and rock you right out of your boots!

Originally formed in 2011 as an 8-person, project-oriented acoustic group, The New Switcheroo have plugged in and evolved into an emerging band working the Chicago circuit. With their clear love for what they do and for each other, they make new friends and gain new fans everywhere they go.

For the latest news, upcoming shows, and to listen to their music, please visit their official website, join the mailing list, and "Like" or "Follow" them on the platform of your choice.

The New Switcheroo are:
Kathryn Diana - Violin, Mandolin, Vocals
Claire Feeney - Piano, Harmonica, Vocals
Tim Hill - Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Joanna P. Lind - Drums, Percussion, Vocals



Thursday, April 2, 2015

INCOMING: Chicago's Razorhouse EP Release at Schuba's Tavern (21+) 4/29/15

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

Chicago’s Razorhouse will be celebrating the April 7 release of the *Codex Du EP with a show at Schuba’s Tavern on Wednesday, April 29: $8, 8pm, 21+. Check out their site here for more details.


Chicago’s Razorhouse follows up 2013's Codex Jun with Codex Du, scheduled for release on Tuesday, April 7.

Codex Du collects the previously released singles "Neu Sensation" and "Girl Like a Hand Grenade" alongside the tracks "Distance Wheel," "Regan’s Song," "If You Find Heaven" and "St. Teresa."


Razorhouse takes its name from the Mayan spiritual teachings in the Popul Vuh and the term "Codex" refers to a section of the Mayan writings. The band combines elements of industrial rock and hard glam with the distinctive voice and songwriting of group leader Mark J. Panick (The Bonemen of Barumba, Chac Mool, Revolting Cocks), whose work is encoded with beautiful daydreams and dirty ideas.

While earlier incarnations of Razorhouse included members of RevCo, KMFDM, and Sister Machine Gun, Panick has more recently opted for a rotating lineup with players recruited specifically for recordings, shows and tours. Codex Du features production by Danny McGuinness and Howie Beno, vocals by Mark Panick, guitars by Panick, Danny Shaffer, John McCurry and Tommi Zender, bass by Beno and John Abbey and drums by David Suycott. Bob Ludwig, well known for his work with Led Zeppelin, The Police and Nirvana, mastered the EP.


SIGNAL ENSEMBLE THEATRE PRESENTS THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF THE DROWNING GIRLS, APRIL 30 – JUNE 6


Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar

Save the dates for Signal Ensemble Theatre's latest, the Chicago premiere of The Drowning Girls by Beth Graham, Daniela Vlaskalic and Charlie Tomlinson. The show will be directed by Signal Ensemble Member Melanie Keller at Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., April 30 – June 6. Tickets are on sale now. ChiIL Live Shows will be there for opening night, so check back for our full review after May 1.   



Previews are Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1 at 8 p.m. Opening/Press night is Saturday, May 2 at 8 p.m. Regular performances are Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $23 for single tickets, $15 for industry/students/seniors/groups and $12 for previews. Tickets may be purchased by calling 773.698.7389 or by visiting www.signalensemble.com.

*NOTE: There will be no performance on Sunday, May 3 and there will be an added industry night performance on Monday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Bessie, Alice and Margaret have two things in common: they are married to George Joseph Smith, and they are dead.  Surfacing from the bathtubs they were drowned in, the three breathless brides gather evidence against their womanizing, murderous husband by reliving the shocking events leading up to their deaths.  Reflecting on the misconceptions of love, married life, and the not-so-happily ever after, The Drowning Girls is both a breathtaking fantasia and a social critique, full of rich images, a myriad of characters, and lyrical language.

The cast and production team for The Drowning Girls includes: 
CAST: Meghan Reardon (Alice), Katherine Schwartz (Bessie) and *Anne Sheridan Smith (Margaret)
*Indicates Signal Ensemble Theatre Member
CREW: *Melanie Keller (director), William Collins (assistant director), *Michelle Sellers (stage manager), *Buck Blue (set designer), Rachel Lambert (costume designer), Christopher Neville (properties designer), Amanda Herrmann (assistant properties designer), Brian Sidney Bembridge (lighting designer), *Anthony Ingram (sound designer), Tyler Rich (violence), Elise Kauzlaric (dialect coach), Brenna Schafer (assistant stage manager) and Joe Pindelski (dramaturg)   *Indicates Signal Ensemble Theatre Member

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Melanie Keller is a member of Signal Ensemble Theatre, where her first appearance with them was as Beatrice in their Much Ado About Nothing. She was the winner of a Jeff Award for Best Principal Actress for her work in East of Berlin and The Russian Play, and was nominated for a Jeff Citation for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Weir. She also appeared in Signal's world-premiere production of Landslide, and played Kate Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer. She was the Chicago Fellow at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada and is also an artistic associate of First Folio Theatre.  Melanie’s credits include roles at Northlight Theatre, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Next Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, BackStage Theatre Company, Strawdog Theater Company, Goodman Theatre, Seanachai Theatre Company (now Irish Theatre of Chicago), Breadline Theatre, Shaw Chicago Theater Company, and Lifeline Theatre, among others. Melanie trained at the Birmingham Conservatory of Stratford, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University.

ABOUT THE CREATORS
Beth Graham is a co-creator of The Drowning Girls, which premiered at Alberta Theatre Projects’ 2008 PlayRites festival, went on to tour nationally, was published by Playwrights Canada Press, was nominated for the Carol Bolt Award, and received the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama. Other co-creations include: Comrades,Mules and Victor and Victoria’s Terrifying Tale of Terrible Things. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA acting program and is currently a member of The Playwright’s Forum at The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton.

Daniela Vlaskalic is an actor and playwright who has performed in many theatres across Canada. Daniela began collaborating with Beth Graham and Charlie Tomlinson in 1999 with The Drowning Girls. In 2008, a new full-length version of The Drowning Girls premiered at Alberta Theatre Projects as part of the Enbridge PlayRites Festival and received four Betty Awards (Calgary). Daniela continued collaborating with Beth on several plays including; Comrades, nominated for four Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards (Edmonton), The Last Train, which won the Alberta Playwrights Network Write-to-Win competition in 2003 and premiered at Shadow Theatre in their 2004/2005 season. Their most recent play Mules premiered at the 2006 Edmonton Fringe Festival.
Charlie Tomlinson is a teacher, director and actor who lives in St John’s, Newfoundland. He is the former artistic director of c2c theatre. He has worked at theatres from Newfoundland to the Yukon and has taught in Ontario, Alberta, and Newfoundland.

Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of The Drowning Girls by Beth Graham, Daniela Vlaskalic and Charlie Tomlinson and directed by Signal Ensemble Member Melanie Keller at Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., April 30 – June 6.  Previews are Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1 at 8 p.m. Opening/Press night is Saturday, May 2 at 8 p.m. Regular performances are Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $23 for single tickets, $15 for industry/students/seniors/groups and $12 for previews. Tickets may be purchased by calling 773.698.7389 or by visiting www.signalensemble.com
                                                               
Street parking available on Ravenswood and Berenice (runs one way going west) CTA Brown line EL stops Irving Park and Addison. CTA busses #80-Irving Park, #152-Addison, #50-Damen, #11-Lincoln. The theatre is handicapped accessible.


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