OPENING: DAVID CARL'S CELEBRITY ONE-MAN HAMLET UPSTAIRS AT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents 

Comedian and improviser David Carl in

DAVID CARL'S  

CELEBRITY ONE-MAN HAMLET

★★★★ Carl’s 90-minute solo is as much fun as its title suggests...  It's crazy hilarious.  Time Out New York

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

A riotously funny breakout hit from New York Fringe

part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago, July 12–17, 2016

On the occasion of the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s legacy in 2016, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) welcomes New York Fringe Outstanding Solo Performance Award-winner David Carl and his hilarious David Carl's Celebrity One-Man Hamlet as part of the year long Shakespeare 400 Chicago celebration. Co-created by Carl and director Michole Biancosino, David Carl's Celebrity One-Man Hamlet depicts Shakespeare’s Hamlet as one imagines Busey might—unhinged and full of detours to his movies and personal grievances. Deemed a “deliciously deranged… head-spinning performance” by The New York Times, this offbeat spectacle is featured in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare for only eight performances, July 12–17, 2016.

Carl performs as Busey in a fury of tragically epic madness. Having triumphed in Celebrity Big Brother, survived Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, and taken on Meatloaf and Donald Trump, the eccentric, cult classic film star now undertakes his biggest challenge yet: performing all the parts in Hamlet with outrageous songs and homemade puppets. Carl channels the ultimate “Hamlet-ized Busey” in what the Georgetown Voice has deemed “the best impersonation of Gary Busey the world will ever know.” This riotous one-man show comes to Chicago as part of the diverse lineup of Shakespeare 400 Chicago.

Acclaimed by critics, Shakespeare scholars and fans of Busey alike, David Carl’s Celebrity One-Man Hamlet was a breakout hit in the New York comedy scene and received Outstanding Solo Performance at New York Fringe. It garnered four stars and a critic’s pick designation from Time Out New York, and the New York Post proclaimed that it is “so demented a concept that it actually works.” The production also traveled to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015, where The Scotsman called it a “defiantly unpretentious reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy.”

Comedian, actor and improviser David Carl is a dynamic performer on comedy stages across New York City, and has been featured in television and film. Co-creator and director Michole Biancosino is a Co-founding Artistic Director of the award-winning Project Y Theatre Company, where she develops and directs new work. Biancosino is the recipient of numerous grants and awards for her productions. David Carl’s Celebrity One-Man Hamlet is presented by Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Richard Jordan productions, PM2 Entertainment and Project Y.

Show Dates/Times

Tuesday, July 12, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 14, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 15, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 16, 2016 – 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, July 17, 2016 – 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Tickets: start at $35

For more information about the production, visit www.chicagoshakes.com/gary.

ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER

CST is a leading international theater company, known for extraordinary productions; unlocking Shakespeare’s work for educators and students; and serving as Chicago’s cultural ambassador through its World’s Stage Series. Throughout 2016, CST is spearheading the international arts and culture festival, Shakespeare 400 Chicago, a citywide celebration of the playwright’s 400-year legacy. CST serves as a partner in literacy to Chicago Public Schools, working alongside English teachers to help struggling readers connect with Shakespeare in the classroom, and bringing his text to life on stage for 40,000 students every year. And each summer, 30,000 families and audience members of all ages welcome the free Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour into their neighborhoods across the far north, west and south sides of the city. Reflecting the global city it calls home, CST is the leading producer of international work in Chicago, and has toured its plays to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, CST was the recipient of a Regional Theatre Tony Award. Its work has been recognized internationally with three of London’s prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards, and by the Chicago theater community with over 80 Joseph Jefferson Awards for Artistic Excellence. CST’s work with Chicago Public School students and teachers was recognized by the White House in 2014 with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. www.chicagoshakes.com

ABOUT SHAKESPEARE 400 CHICAGO

Shakespeare 400 Chicago is a yearlong international arts festival in 2016 celebrating the vibrancy, relevance and reach of Shakespeare as the world commemorates the four hundred years since the playwright’s death in 1616. Spearheaded by Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the festival unites 60 of the city’s world-class institutions, and welcomes scores of leading artists from nations around the world including Australia, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom and beyond. Events spanning theater, opera, music, dance—even cuisine—celebrate, interpret and reimagine Shakespeare’s work. Shakespeare 400 Chicago will engage more than 500,000 Chicagoans and visitors to our City through 850 events. With leading support from the Julius Frankel Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, this quadricentennial celebration is the world’s largest and most comprehensive celebration of Shakespeare’s enduring legacy. www.shakespeare400chicago.com

INCOMING: Hood Smoke at Milwaukee's Summerfest 7/8, Wired Minds at Schubas 7/23, and Localpalooza ALS Fundraiser 7/24

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Time for a little rock n roll road trip? Our neighbors to the north are at it again, with their annual extravaganza, Summerfest! Chicago's Hood Smoke will be playing the Miller Lite Oasis at 2:30pm Friday. Check 'em out if you're in the 'hood.

Friday 7/8:

Miller Lite Oasis (Friday, July 8)

Noon: Velocity

2:30 p.m.: Hood Smoke

5 p.m.: Bobby Friss Band

7:30 p.m.: B. Justice

8 p.m.: Cincere and CigaretteBreak

10:15 p.m.: Common

Click HERE for the full SUMMERFEST lineup.

Saturday 7/23:

Chicago’s Wired Minds will celebrate the digital release of their second EP, The Death of the Fear, on Saturday, July 23 at Schubas. Details here.

The Pact and The Evening Attraction will be the support acts.

Click here for the EP’s first single, “Listening,” streaming

http://wiredmindsmusic.com/

Sunday 7/24:

HELP OUT:

Burnside & Hooker guitarist Michael Vogus has organized a benefit for The Patrick Grange Memorial Foundation for ALS Research                 (http://www.thepatrickgrangememorialfoundation.com/) at Schubas on Sunday, July 24. Click here for the full details.

LOCALPALOOZA ALS FUNDRAISER FEATURING...

BURNSIDE & HOOKER

DRAFT WEEK

JENNIFER HALL

SIMPLETON & CITYFOLK

THE FOX & THE HOUNDS

SAYERS

THE NEW SWITCHEROO

$10.00 [SUGGESTED DONATION] 21+
4:00 PM 

OPENING: The Odd Couple at Theatre at the Center

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:
Munster, IN (Chicago Region) 
Theatre at the Center is located off I-80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Theatre at the Center Announces the Cast for The Odd Couple

Norm Boucher (seated) stars as Oscar Madison and George Keating (standing) as Felix Unger in “The Odd Couple,” the 1965 Broadway hit by iconic playwright Neil Simon.

© Theatre at the Center, Photo by Michael Brosilow

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we finally ventured out of state for a theatre road trip on the rave reviews and heart felt recommendations of some of our fellow theatre critics. Now I'm a convert! Theatre at the Center is simple to navigate to from Chicago and took less drive time than many of our closer theatre haunts where we have to battle cross town traffic. They have plentiful, free parking and a great space. Their 410 seat auditorium is quite spacious and comfortable, while remaining intimate. They even have an art gallery and a gift shop filled with local artisans' works where you can leisurely linger with all the extra pre show time you never expected to have! Furthermore, the talent pool is deep and the shows are professional productions on every front. Highly recommended! 

We'll be back for the opening night of The Odd Couple, so check back soon for our full review. We're looking forward to this one.  Sure, Chicago has stellar theatre in the city, but Theatre at the Center hits the mark, and is well worth the drive.

One of Broadway’s most successful comedies and an enduring audience favorite, The Odd Couple is set on the hot summer streets of 1965 New York.   It follows the adventures of two mismatched roommates, Felix Unger, a neurotically neat and fussy news writer, and Oscar Madison, a slovenly sports writer.   The men attempt to adapt to each other’s idiosyncrasies, all the while trying to rekindle their social lives with side-splitting results.

Actors Norm Boucher and George Keating will play the leads in Theatre at the Center’s cast for the famous comedy classic The Odd Couple, the 1965 Broadway hit by iconic playwright Neil Simon.   Directed by Larry Wyatt, The Odd Couple runs from July 14 to Aug. 14.  

Performances are 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays; and select Thursday and Sunday evenings and Saturday matinees.   Individual ticket prices range from $40 - $44.   To purchase individual tickets call the Box Office at 219-836-3255 or Tickets.com at 800-511-1552.   Group discounts are available for groups of 11 or more and gift certificates are also available.   For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

Director Larry Wyatt’s credits include Some Like It Hot and Over the Tavern at Theatre at the Center.   George Keating (Grand Hotel andMeet Me in St. Louis at Theatre at the Center) stars as Felix along with Norm Boucher (The 39 Steps and Big Fish at Theatre at the Center) as Oscar.   Jeff Award winner Colette Todd (Big Fish and Beverly Hillbillies, the Musical at Theatre at the Center) plays Gwen.   Jocelyn Adamski, who plays Cecily, has performed at Carnegie Hall and most recently appeared singing and dancing in Wheaton Drama’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, is making her debut at Theatre at the Center.

 Norm Boucher (left) stars as Oscar Madison and George Keating (right) as Felix Unger.  

© Theatre at the Center, Photo by Michael Brosilow

Additional cast include Larry Adams (Spamalot and A Christmas Carol The Musical) at Theatre at the Center) as Roy;   Brett Tuomi, who has appeared at Goodman Theatre in A Christmas Carol and The Iceman Cometh, as Murray the Cop, is making his Theatre at the Center debut; Ray Andrecheck, whose television credits include Chicago P.D., as Speed, is also making his Theatre at the Center debut; and Geoff Rice (A Christmas Memory and Leading Ladies at Theatre at the Center) plays Vinnie.

The Odd Couple production team includes scenic design by Angie Miller, costume design by Brenda Winstead, lighting design by Denise Karczewski, props design by Brittney O’Keefeand sound design by Barry G. Funderburg.   The production manager is Ann Davis with Dennis Galbreath as assistant technical director.   Matt McMullen is the stage manager.   Richard Friedman is general manager and Linda Fortunato is Theatre at the Center’s new artistic director.

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

EXTENDED: War Paint at Goodman Theatre Final Extension Announced

SECOND AND FINAL EXTENSION ANNOUNCED FOR WAR PAINT STARRING PATTI LUPONE AND CHRISTINE EBERSOLE

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

**FINAL WEEK OF EIGHT PERFORMANCES ADDED, NOW RUNNING THROUGH AUGUST 21**

***NEW MUSICAL BEGINS PREVIEWS TONIGHT; OPENING NIGHT IS JULY 18***

Due to high demand for tickets, a second and final extension week has been added for War Paint, a new musical starring two-time Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole as cosmetics titans Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, respectively. Eight additional performances are now on sale for the world premiere musical by librettist Doug Wright, composer Scott Frankel and lyricist Michael Korie, directed by Michael Greif. 

Preview performances begin Tuesday, June 28th; opening night is Monday, July 18. For tickets, call 312.443.3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org/WarPaint. Group savings are available for parties of 15 or more; call 312.443.3820 or email Groups@GoodmanTheatre.org. 

Special performances include Open-Captioned on July 30 at 2pm; an ASL-Interpreted on August 4 at 7:30pm and Audio-Described on August 6 at 2pm. 

The Goodman is grateful for the generosity of its sponsors. Allstate Insurance Company and JPMorgan Chase are Major Corporate Sponsors and ComEd is the Official Lighting Sponsor of War Paint.

Extension Week Performance Schedule

Tuesday, August 16 at 7:30pm

Wednesday, August 17 at 7:30pm

Thursday, August 18 at 7:30pm

Friday, August 19 at 8pm

Saturday, August 20 at 2pm and 8pm

Sunday, August 21 at 2pm and 7:30pm

War Paint tells the story of Helena Rubinstein (Patti LuPone) and Elizabeth Arden (Christine Ebersole ) who defined beauty standards for the first half of the 20^th Century. Brilliant innovators with humble roots, both women were masters of self-invention who sacrificed everything to become the country’s first major female entrepreneurs. They were also fierce competitors, whose 50-year tug-of-war would give birth to an industry. From Fifth Avenue society to the halls of Congress, their remarkable rivalry was ruthless, relentless and legendary—pushing both women to build international empires in a world dominated by men. John Dossett portrays Tommy Lewis, Miss Arden’s husband and chief marketing manager, and Douglas Sills portrays Harry Fleming, Madame Rubinstein’s clubby confidante and faithful ally. Joining the cast of the world premiere production are Mary Ernster, Leslie Donna Flesner, David Girolmo, Joanna Glushak, Chris Hoch, Mary Claire King, Steffanie Leigh, Erik Liberman, Barbara Marineau, Stephanie Jae Park and Angel Reda. Christopher Gattelli choreographs. The musical is inspired by the book, War Paint, by Lindy Woodhead, and the documentary film, The Powder & the Glory, by Ann Carol Grossman and Arnie Reisman. The design team includes David Korins (set design), Catherine Zuber (costume design), Kenneth Posner (lighting design) and Brian Ronan (sound design), as well as Bruce Coughlin (orchestrations) and Lawrence Yurman (music director).

About Goodman Theatre

Called America’s “Best Regional Theatre” by Time magazine, Goodman Theatre has won international recognition for its artists, productions and programs, and is a major cultural, educational and economic pillar in Chicago. Founded in 1925 by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth (an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s), Goodman Theatre has garnered hundreds of awards for artistic achievement and community engagement, including: two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards (including “Outstanding Regional Theatre” in 1992), nearly 160 Joseph Jefferson Awards and more. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the Goodman’s artistic priorities include new plays (more than 150 world or American premieres in the past 30 years), reimagined classics (including Falls’ nationally and internationally celebrated productions of Death of a Salesman, Long Day’s Journey into Night, King Lear and The Iceman Cometh, many in collaboration with actor Brian Dennehy), culturally specific work, musical theater (26 major productions in 20 years, including 10 world premieres) and international collaborations. Diversity and inclusion have been primary cornerstones of the Goodman’s mission for 30 years; over the past decade, 68% of the Goodman’s 35 world premieres were authored by women and/or playwrights of color, and the Goodman was the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Each year, the Goodman’s education and engagement programs serve thousands of students, teachers and life-long learners. In addition, for nearly four decades A Christmas Carol has led to the creation of a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. 

Goodman Theatre’s leadership includes the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. Joan Clifford is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Swati Mehta is Women’s Board President and Gordon C.C. Liao is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals. 

Get Social:

Visit the Goodman virtually at GoodmanTheatre.org—including OnStage+ for insider information—and on Twitter (@GoodmanTheatre ), Facebook and Instagram.

INCOMING: These Peaches Headlining at Martyrs' This Wednesday 6/29

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Chicago’s These Peaches are set to headline Martyrs’ on Wed, June 29. 

Boston’s Adam Ezra Group and locals The Tiny Miles Trio will open the show. Check out the full show details HERE. 

Rich Klevgard is from Chicago, IL. He has been writing for as long as he can remember and only recently began composing music. His touring band includes: Jason Bennett, Miki Milhalovic, Brian Mahoney, Miguel Gonzalez and Jerry King.

Debut album from singer songwriter Rich Klevgard featuring a stellar cast of musicians from both Chicago and Austin via Lubbock, Texas. All original songs leave a strong impression of experience, love lost, love regained and innocence. Country Folk musician, Colin Gilmore's guidance on the album has given it a sheen of brilliance and originality.

https://thesepeaches.bandcamp.com/album/almost-heard-the-ocean

https://www.facebook.com/thesepeaches

These Peaches - “So Glad”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNe8KRcVhNc

REVIEW: Spongebob The Musical, World Premiere Opening Night

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Last Sunday night we had a big Bikini Bottom adventure at the World Premiere Opening Night "yellow carpet" extravaganza for Spongebob The Musical. 

ChiIL Mama, Dugan, Sage, and her friend Vanessa all had rock star seats-- 2nd row center, for an epic evening of Broadway bound fun. Even the hard to please teen demographic loved this show! Highly recommended family friendly fun (ages 5+). ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List. Check out our original photos and full review below.

"The costumes were the most amazing part. Well the set was incredible too. And the guy who played Spongebob was hilarious. The casting and acting was great" Dugan (age 15)

"I don't usually like musicals, but this one was better than I thought it would be. Of all the ways they could have portrayed Spongebob, this one was great. My favorite part was Plankton's song where they did the whip & nae nae." Sage (age 13) " 

 

Check out ChiIL Mama's Full Set of Photos in the Slideshow here & favorites embedded below.

Pre-show Yellow Carpet featuring arrivals including:

Tom Higgenson, Chicago native and Plain White T’s lead vocals

Yolanda Adams, four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning Gospel legend

The Flaming Lips, three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning band

Tom Kenny, voice of TV’s SpongeBob SquarePants & wife Jill Talley, voice of Karen the Computer

Tina Landau, Director and Co-Conceiver (Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s The Wheel; The Brother/Sister Plays; The Tempest)

Tom Kitt, Music Supervisor (2010 Pulitzer Prize Winner and Tony Award® winner for Next to Normal; If/Then)

Kyle Jarrow, Book Writer (Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Love Kills; A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant)

Christopher Gattelli, Choreographer (Newsies; War Paint; South Pacific; The King and I)

David Zinn, Scenic and Costume Designer (2016 Tony Award® winner for The Humans; Fun Home; The Last Ship) *not pictured

From the early sneak peek with the Plain White T's we were hooked!

REVIEW

I can't rave enough about how crazy amazing this show really is. The writing is fantastic, the casting is spot on, and the score is a mind blowing meld of some of rock's hottest hit makers.

The SpongeBob Musical is utterly unique and entirely awesome, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of AEROSMITH, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, John Legend, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and a song by David Bowie. With additional lyrics by Jonathan Coulton.

The costumes and set were my son's favorite elements and they were indeed spectacular. I'm still dazed and amused by the two floor to ceiling "Mousetrap Game Style" boulder release chutes flanking the stage. The skate ramps along the front and sides of the stage make for a perfect arena for some quadroller and skateboard arena rock from hair brained hair band, The Electric Skates. The staging for the scaling the volcano scene was sheer brilliance. 

In the costume department, The SpongeBob Musical is what I'd envision if someone said give me Dr. Seuss at an underwater rave party, and it's absolutely fabulous! The alterna-mom in me was elated that there were boys in tutus and chorus girl getups, androgynous girls, and every reef creature inbetween. The cast is a stellar range of sizes, shapes and colors, and the actors' hilarious facial expressions, and physical comedy shine without giant character heads or bulky theme park costumes. I'm elated that scores of kids and adults who come to this show will find characters they can relate to, empathize with, and emulate.

The feminist in me was thrilled with stem girl squirrel, Sandy, who brilliantly saves the whole town with her brainy calculations, all while being hunted by an angry mom of haters who want to throw her in the volcano for being a land mammal. In one of my favorite lines in the whole show, she refers to herself as the "scapesquirrel". It's still cracking me up days later, and I could see that becoming "a thing".  

Sure, there are deeper layers here, too, about how fear can create hatred, violence and religious extremists. Natural disasters can amplify people's natural tendencies so the greedy get greedier, the needy get needier, yet the smart, strong, and kind have a chance to shine. And the unlikeliest underdog may turn into the biggest hero, like a goofy, underestimated fry cook with management skills. 

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we highly recommend this show as great all ages, multigenerational fun. Catch it while you can. Chicago is so fortunate to get so many Pre-Broadway world premieres. We predict this is going to be a massive, award winning hit. It's already a hit in our books! Spongebob the Musical is only in town till July 7th, so don't miss this.  

ABOUT THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

A legendary roster of Grammy Award winners. A visionary director and Tony Award®-winning design team. One of the world’s most beloved and unforgettable characters. Turn them all loose on Broadway and what do you get? The SpongeBob Musical!  The Pre-Broadway World Premiere of The SpongeBob Musical is currently playing Broadway In Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL) through July 10, 2016.

Acclaimed Steppenwolf director Tina Landau and the groundbreaking designers behind Fun Home, Hedwig, and Spring Awakening have brilliantly reimagined Bikini Bottom for the Broadway stage, bringing the spirit of SpongeBob to life with humanity, heart, and pure theatricality. With an original score from some of the biggest names in pop and rock, The SpongeBob Musical explodes with energy.

Stakes are higher than ever before as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage.

Get ready to dive to all-new depths of theatrical innovation at The SpongeBob Musical, where the power of optimism really can save the world!

The SpongeBob Musical is co-conceived and directed by Tina Landau, book by Kyle Jarrow, orchestrations, arrangements & music supervision by Tom Kitt, with choreography by Christopher Gattelli.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for The SpongeBob Musical at the Oriental Theatre are on-sale now.  A select number of premium tickets are available for many performances. Group tickets for 10 or more are available by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. 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 BroadwayInChicago.com.

ChiIL Mama's Photo Favs:

Truly a treat to meet Wayne Coyne, lead singer, lead guitar and song writer for triple Grammy winning Flaming Lips.

We love that Flaming Lips play lots of all ages music fests, so we were able to take our kids to see them a number of times when they were small, at Lollapalooza, Summer Camp Music Festival and more. My kids adored seeing Coyne get into a giant "hamster ball" and roll around the audience. They're also known for confetti cannons and setting loose beach balls and giant balloons in the audience, so he should have felt right at home at The SpongeBob Musical! All we were missing was the human hamster ball.

Big shoes to fill! Father's day fun with little Lennon and his dad, Tom Higgenson, Chicago native,  frontman & lead guitar player for the band, Plain White T's.

Look at this pair! I've shot hundreds of rock stars' feet over the years, from festivals to photo pits all over Chicago and beyond, but this is the first father/son set! I find it fascinating to see where they're grounded and connect to the earth, and how much their style and personality comes out in their shoes.

Peace, Rock, and Spongebob Musical!

THIS guy is responsible for the laugh that haunts my nightmares! 

Thanks a lot, Tom Kenny, voice of TV’s SpongeBob SquarePants. No, seriously, it was cool to meet you. My 15yo son Googled you beforehand and pulled up pages of your voice credits. Fun stuff!

His wife, Jill Talley, is also the voice of Karen the Computer. I'll bet they mortify their kids doing silly voices at home and in public, but their teens are secretly proud of them. No doubt who those kids are related to!

There was a sea yellow in the audience, but Yolanda takes the GOLD for these shoes! 

"Super Sea Star Savior" songwriter Yolanda Adams was here in Chicago on the The SpongeBob Musical yellow carpet Sunday night at Oriental Theatre! 

Nickelodeon! 

Spongebob fans for Spongebob fans!