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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

INCOMING: Clutch at House of Blues Chicago

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar:







Hey Chicago. Clutch is coming back through for another smokin' show at House of Blues Chicago! Don't miss this. Here at ChiIL Live Shows, Clutch has been a favorite of ours for decades. In fact, we've run over 26 features on the band over the years, interviewed frontman Neil Fallon, and shot stills from the photo pit numerous times. We've even road tripped to other states to see them 4 times. We've covered them at music fests, tiny hole in the wall dives, and large auditorium shows. And we welcomed in 2016 with them at Bogarts in Cincinnati with a stellar New Years Eve show.









Whether you're just discovering Clutch or you've been a fan since 1991, they're a must see for rock and metal fans. They're hard to pin into a genre, with notes of funk, punk and blues rolled into the mix and literate lyrics, but they shine live, and always dig deep into their archives for set lists full of old favorites and new stuff that just keeps getting better. We love that the band members take turns writing the set lists! 





Clutch - Psychic Warfare World Tour 2016
House of Blues Chicago

Artist(s) At This Event: Clutch, Zakk Sabbath, Kyng, Clutch - Psychic Warfare World Tour 2016


Event Info:
Doors @ 6:30PM. Performance begins at 8PM. This show is for AGES 17 AND OLDER. Valid Photo ID is required for age restricted shows. Forms of valid ID are current and non-expired Driver's License, State ID or Passport. House of Blues Chicago is a standing room only venue, all tickets are General Admission unless otherwise stated. Please contact the House of Blues Box Office 312.923.2000 to inquire about Dinner Package Seating and/or Disability Seating. Those in need of Accessible seating need to first purchase a General Admission ticket, then contact the venue Box Office at 312.923.2000 to reserve accommodations. House of Blues Chicago is Smoke Free. There is no re-entry.
Notes:
All tickets subject to all applicable facility fees and service charges. No refunds, exchanges, cancelations.






Artist Info:
It's the parabolic motion of projectiles. Or, as Isaac Newton stated, what goes up must come down - that is, everything except Clutch. Earth Rocker created an insurmountable peak. But Psychic Warfare has altered laws of physics by elevating the smart songwriting and impressive performances of that last album, setting an even higher benchmark as their now-definitive album to date. The eleventh Clutch studio album Psychic Warfare goes straight for the throat with “X-Ray Visions” and never lets go. Working again with acclaimed producer Machine, this time in Texas, the concise arrangements that made Earth Rocker so assertive is the same harness for the combustible musical energy on Psychic Warfare. Harder, faster... let the rhythm hit ‘em. 

Formed in 1991, the Maryland-based band's ability to absorb different musical styles and fabricate them into a distinct Clutch sound continues to be their forté. “A Quick Death In Texas,” overstocked with signature “Clutch heavy” Tim Sult riffs and lonesome guitar licks, and the funk undercurrent of “Your Love Is Incarceration,” color Psychic Warfare with articulate musicality and comfortable familiarity. 

The overall intensity of Psychic Warfare would be self-consuming without the pressure valve of a canny rhythm section. Drummer Jean-Paul Gaster and bassist Dan Maines have an intuitive sense of dynamics that gives weight and contrast to the forcefulness of the vocals, steering Clutch into the straightaway out of tight, exhilarating corners. “I listened closely to the rhythm of Neil’s vocals this time around.” Gaster explains. “The rhythms he sings, are very syncopated. It was my goal to articulate these rhythms on the drums while keeping the pulse of the music strong.” 




Psychic Warfare is cinematic, a soundtrack to the plot of singer Neil Fallon's imagination. The narrative of “ The Affidavit” sets the scene for an album of gunslingers, energy weapons, paranoid neurosis, and the occasional three-legged mule. It's an episodic lyrical landscape populated by abstract characterization, nuance, and clever peculiarity. “I spent a lot of time doting over the lyrics,” Fallon says. “It was fun because I have a great luxury that I'm a professional liar—that's what a storyteller is. Or at least that’s what I try to be. It's the one socially acceptable way to completely deceive people, and that's what they want. If you sing it with enough conviction, people won't question it. I just love that escapism, the fantasy aspect of it. And fantasy doesn’t necessarily equate to dragons and wizards. It can be seedy hotel rooms and sketchy hitchhikers.” 

Gaster says the band knowing Earth Rocker was such a high water mark put them in a position of needing to follow up with an exceptional album. “Looking back on the process, one thing that sticks out in my mind is the amount of rehearsal the band put in. We started each pre-production day by writing out a new album sequence and then playing that sequence straight thru as if it were a set list. I think this allowed us to get inside the songs in a way we had not done before. When it came time to record drum tracks, I had a clear idea of how I wanted to play each song.” 




In the past, Clutch consciously made each album conspicuously different from the last one. “We had a sadistic fear of repeating ourselves,” Fallon admits. “But over the last few years, we've realized our strengths and what it is that people like about us. Why deny it? Clutch is Clutch, embrace what you are.”  The bar is set higher, laws of physics be damned. Psychic Warfare is the new adventure, and it has no limit.




 

Monday, September 26, 2016

Hamilton Chicago $10 Day of Show Ticket Lottery

ANNOUNCES #HAM4HAM LOTTERY FOR
44 DAY-OF-SHOW TICKETS FOR $10 EACH
TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 27


Producer Jeffrey Seller and Broadway In Chicago are pleased to announce the day-of-show digital lottery for HAMILTON, launching in Chicago on September 27, 2016 at The PrivateBank Theatre (18 W. Monroe). The Chicago production will conduct a day-of-show lottery for every performance beginning on Tuesday, September 27. Forty-four day-of-show tickets will be sold for every performance for $10 each. Seat locations vary per performance; some seats will be located in the front row and the boxes.

HOW TO ENTER
Visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/HamiltonLottery for available lottery performances.

Click the “Enter Now” button for the performance you want to attend.
Fill out the entry form including the number of tickets you would like (1 or 2). Patrons will receive a confirmation email once they have validated their email (one time only) and successfully entered the lottery.
After the lottery closes, patrons will be notified via email within minutes as to whether they have won or not.

Winners have 60 minutes to pay for tickets online via major credit card.
After payment has been received and a confirmation payment email has been received, patrons can pick up tickets at The PrivateBank Theatre Box Office (18 W Monroe) no sooner than 30 minutes before show time with a valid photo ID.

ADDITIONAL RULES
Limit 1 entry per person, per performance. Multiple entries will not be accepted. Patrons must be 18 years old and have a valid, non-expired photo ID that matches the names used to enter. Tickets are non-transferable. All lottery prices include a $3.00 facility fee. Ticket limits and prices displayed are at the sole discretion of the show and are subject to change without notice. Lottery prices are not valid on prior purchases. Lottery ticket offer cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. All sales final - no refunds or exchanges. Lottery may be revoked or modified at any time without notice. No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. For more details, please visit BroadwayInChicago.com/HamiltonLotteryFAQ.

ABOUT HAMILTON
With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and music supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. HAMILTON is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary.  Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now. HAMILTON’s creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award ® Winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS. HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA. The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater. The HAMILTON Original Broadway Cast Recording is available everywhere nationwide.  The HAMILTON recording received a 2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album. 



ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 16 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country.  A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining well up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres.  Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including The PrivateBank Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. 

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

NEW BLOCK OF HAMILTON CHICAGO SEATS ON SALE SEPTEMBER 27, 2016

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar: 

Performances begin September 27 at The PrivateBank Theatre in Chicago (18 W. Monroe).  For more information, visit www.BroadwayinChicago.com.


Here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama, we've been promoting and excited about Hamilton for months. Now it's finally opening! Got your tickets yet? We have great news on that front. There's a daily $10 ticket lottery and a new block of tickets for performances through September 17, 2017. 

Producer Jeffrey Seller and Broadway In Chicago announced the addition of 26 more weeks for HAMILTON at The PrivateBank Theatre (18 W. Monroe) putting tickets on sale for performances through September 17, 2017.   
Tickets for the new block will go on sale on Tuesday, September 27 at 10:00 a.m. and will be available at The PrivateBank Theatre Box Office, the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line (800-775-2000) and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.  The PrivateBank Theatre Box Office will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

There is a maximum purchase limit of 6 tickets per household. Tickets range from $65 - $180 for regular performances with select number of premium seats available for all performances. There will be an online day of show lottery for forty-four (44) $10 seats for all performances. Lottery seat locations vary per performance but will always include seats in the first row.  Visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/HamiltonLotteryFAQ for more lottery information.

**BUYER BEWARE: There are many sites and people that are selling overpriced, and in some cases, fraudulent tickets. For the best seats, the best prices and to eliminate the risk of counterfeit tickets, all purchases should be made through authorized Broadway In Chicago outlets.**


With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and music supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

HAMILTON is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary.  Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now.  

HAMILTON’s creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award ® Winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS.

HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA.

The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.

The HAMILTON Original Broadway Cast Recording is available everywhere nationwide.  The HAMILTON recording received a 2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album. 

For information on HAMILTON, visit:


ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 16 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country.  A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining well up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres.  Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including The PrivateBank Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.


For more information and performance schedule, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.


Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Saturday, September 24, 2016

REVIEW: American Blues Theater's Dutchman/TRANSit Delivers Through 9/25

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Dutchman 
by Amiri Baraka 
TRANSit 
by Darren Canady  



                    Now running through September 25, 2016



Keep your arms and legs inside the train at all times. You're in for a ride! These transit tales are full of bullying, hate crimes, race, gender, and social issues. Here at ChiIL Live Shows we loved this perfect pairing. Highly recommended.

The acting in both shows is superb and the sets are incredibly clever. In a swift transfer during intermission, the audience is effectively transported forward 50 years to present day New York City, for a world premiere commissioned work that meshes well with the thought provoking intensity and energy of the still too timely Dutchman. We truly adored TRANSit, too, from the clever play on words in the title, through the cringeworthy climax. 

I shared an apartment with a transgender woman back in the mid 90's, and this portrayal was spot on. Before I got to know her well, I'd had many gay friends who had experienced violence and bullying from peers and society, but most found a safe haven in the gay community and their partner choices. As a pre op "Third World Girl", she had been attacked numerous times, even severely enough to be hospitalized. Yet she was not attracted to gay men and most drawn to just the type of young, straight, homophobic thugs most likely to bring her bodily harm, just like the characters in TRANSit. I called them her "Neanderthals". Every time she got close enough to a guy to get intimate, it had the potential of turning into a violent betrayal when they discovered her physical truths didn't match her facade. This is an incredibly intense set of plays, especially presented in tandem. Kudos to American Blues for giving a voice and space to the darker side of our culture, with two stellar shows, and opening some eyes and minds. 




Joseph Jefferson Award recommended



“PROFOUND IN CONCEPTION. Daring! High-stakes pairing. Timeless complexities.” – Chicago Tribune

TRANSit is the PERFECT JUXTAPOSITION to Dutchman. These train rides are filled with the RAW, UNCUT issues of our society.” – Newcity

“BEST BETS for fall theater - a double bill of PROVOCATION!” – Chicago Reader

“RIVETING, EXPLOSIVE, & TRUTHFUL!!” – Chicago Critic

“THRILLING THEATER.” – Windy City Times

“MUCH-VITAL STAGING with thoroughly MODERN TWIST!” – Chicago Theatre Review



Dutchman / TRANSit
All photos to the credit of Michael Brosilow


AUGUST 26 — SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
2 PLAYS. 1 RIDE.
Dutchman by: Amiri Baraka
Dutchman Directed by: Chuck Smith
TRANSit by: Darren Canady
TRANSit Directed by: Lisa Portes

Experience two powerful plays in one event. See Dutchman—one of the most important plays in 20th-century culture to take on race relations. Then inspired by Baraka’s pivotal work, watch the world-premiere commission TRANSit, about an encounter between two strangers that reveals more than planned when an explosive mix of identity, sex, and betrayal is unleashed. Featuring Ensemble member Manny Buckley. To learn more about Dutchman / TRANSit, read our Backstage Guide.

PERFORMANCE INFO
This production must close September 25, 2016.
(773) 404-7336 box office
  • Thursday: 7:30pm
  • Friday: 7:30pm
  • Saturday: 3:00pm & 7:30pm
  • Sunday: 2:30pm
There's an additional performance on  9/12 @ 7:30pm 
Duration: Runs 2 hours with one intermission.
  • Location: Greenhouse Theater Center at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago
  • Ticket Price: $19-$49
  • Recommended for ages 14 yrs +;
  • Adult language & themes, and violence.
  • Town Halls: We offer free post-show events on Sundays and other events. Learn more.

ARTISTS

CAST
(in order of appearance): Michael Pogue (“Clay” in Dutchman), Amanda Drinkall (“Lula” in Dutchman), Manny Buckley* (“Veronica” in TRANSit), Jake Szczepaniak(“Luke” in TRANSit), and Edgar Miguel Sanchez (“Lalo” in TRANSit). ENSEMBLE (in alphabetical order): Grant Carriker, Sawyer Krause, Warren Levon, Kirstin McGinnis,and Nicola Rinow.

    PRODUCTION TEAM: Amiri Baraka (playwright of Dutchman), Chuck Smith (director of Dutchman), Darren Canady* (playwright of TRANSit), Lisa Portes (director ofTRANSit), Sarah E. Ross* (scenic), Sarah Hughey* (lights), Christopher J. Neville* (costumes), Thomas Dixon (sound), Alec Long (properties), Ricardo Garcia (dance choreographer), Vincent Teninty (fight director), and Kevin Gregory Dwyer (production stage manager).


        Schedule: 
        Thursday: 7:30 p.m.
        Friday: 7:30 p.m.
        Saturday:  3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
        Sunday: 2:30 p.m.

        Location: Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago
        Ticket prices: $19 - $49
        Box Office: Buy online at AmericanBluesTheater.com or by calling 773.404.7336.

        REVIEW: Enamorarse De Un Incendio A World Class Treat Through 9/24

        Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

        We're incredibly fortunate in Chicago to have world class, award winning productions come to us! Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's partnerships with amazing companies around the globe is truly a treasure. Enamorarse De Un Incendio is just such a gem. This is a short run, September 22-24 only, in the intimate upstairs space on the 6th floor of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Do note, this is entirely in Spanish without subtitles. Brief descriptions are typed in English at the top of each scene, but those fluent in Spanish will get the most out of this production.



        Honest and unpretentious...a work you cannot miss. 
        Ibero



          Performed in Spanish with
              projected English introduction
              before each scene

          Run Time: 1 hours 30 minutes,
             (no intermission)


        This production resembles Romeo and Juliet in theme only (star crossed lovers, suicide, tragedies) not in plot or characters. There is little action in this dialogue driven drama that encompasses three time periods from the 1930's to present day, and a floral portrait with a tragic, storied history that connects them all. Yet the themes of love and loss are timeless, universal and achingly human. Recommended.

        THE PLAY

        A modern play both in form and substance, this is the culmination of an exciting collaboration between one of Mexico City’s most innovative and courageous theaters, Foro Shakespeare, and the award-winning Chilean playwright, Eduardo Pavez Goye. It is a contemporary, cultural response to the thought-provoking theme of unrequited love—reminiscent of Shakespeare’s own exploration of tangled relationships and the human condition. Presented as three interwoven vignettes, the piece is performed in Spanish, with a projected English introduction before each scene. In one vignette, three colleagues debate what kind of love story to pitch a television station. Another brings a long-lost daughter home, with a request of her estranged parents. The third sees a love triangle blossom among an artist, his friend and art dealer, and the dealer’s girlfriend. Each in turn scrutinizes the consequences of love unrealized—reaching far beyond the lover and the beloved.

        Tuesday, September 20, 2016

        STEPPENWOLF "LOOKOUT" SERIES CONTINUES WITH DIVERSE FALL LINEUP

        Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

        "LOOKOUT" For More Great Performances From Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Popular MULTI-GENRE SERIES In The 1700 THEATRE


        Fall highlights include punk dance troupe BOOMERANG with Greg Saunier of Deerhoof; explosive comedy-duo Dominizuelan; genre-bending jazz singer Akenya; an exciting collaboration with Pivot Arts; Chicago improv titans TJ and Dave; and more

        Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the fall lineup for LookOut, the company’s multi-genre performance series that launched this summer. Presenting a wide variety of work from a diverse array of voices, artists emerging and established alike, LookOut programming takes place in Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre, an 80-seat cabaret-style space connected to Steppenwolf’s own Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks at 1700 N Halsted St.

        LookOut’s inaugural run welcomed more than 2,300 attendees and presented 32 different programs spanning plays, improv, staged musicals, book readings, live music and even an interactive night of science experiments.

        “It has been so thrilling to see the positive response to LookOut this summer. Ensemble members Laurie Metcalf, Jeff Perry and Jon Michael Hill showed up to christen the space with their performances, along with partners ranging from The Second City to Salonathon. These artists created an amazing spark of energy in the new building that continues to reverberate throughout the entire theater,” shares Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro.

        “With the DJs and the great food and drinks in Front Bar as a bookend to shows, we welcomed long-time patrons and brand new audience members as well. We plan to bring even more diverse artists and genres to this fun and innovative series year-round,” says LookOut Producer John Zinn.

        Tickets to all LookOut programming are on sale now at steppenwolf.org or 312-335-1650. Red and Black Card Members may use credits towards any LookOut programming. Prices vary for each show. LookOut is presented year-round and announced on an ongoing basis. For information, visit steppenwolf.org/lookout.

        LookOut Fall 2016 Lineup 
        in the 1700 Theatre
        1700 N Halsted St

        Listed in date order. All artists, dates and prices subject to change.
        *Doors open 30 minutes before performance time 


        Me, My Mom and Sharmila
        Written and Performed by Fawzia Mirza 
        Friday, September 23 & Saturday, September 24
        8pm
        $15
        A hilarious coming-of-age story told by a first generation American woman of color. At some point, we all realize we are not exactly the person our parents expected us to become. How do we find our own voice and embrace our personal identity in the face of societal and familial pressures? Told with humor and deep insight, dynamic writer-performer Fawzia Mirza shares a journey of self-discovery and strength that carries her all the way from childhood as a Pakistani Muslim in small-town Canada to living out as an actress in the heart of Chicago. fawziamirza.com


        Beauty School
        Friday, September 30
        8pm
        $8
        Retro-pop quartet Beauty School invites you to celebrate the release of their new EP Ghost Beach, a day-dreamy elegy to summer. Beauty School formed in Chicago in late 2015 when two groups of musicians joined forces to pursue their shared appreciation of sweet hooks, simple arrangements, pithy love songs and future plates. beautyschoolband.bandcamp.com


        TJ and Dave
        Saturday, October 1 
        8pm
        $10
        TJ and Dave walk out on stage without characters, dialogue or plot. Described by The New York Times as “Second City-seasoned masters of long form improv,” TJ Jagodowski and David Pasquesi have become living legends in their field.


        Tumbao
        By Jo Cattell, Lorena Diaz and Wendy Mateo 
        Featuring Dominizuelan
        Monday, October 3 and Monday, October 10
        8pm
        $15
        For two nights this fall, Steppenwolf’s 1700 theatre is transformed into Tumbao, a family bar and the best place for a salsa night, baptism, séance or wedding reception. Unbeknownst to the owners, the community has decided to make the Tumbao family the basis for a radionovela, broadcast from the bar itself. By transmitting to the rest of the world what happens within Tumbao’s walls they hope to share the infectious energy of the family to keep the community thriving through its desperate fight against gentrification. dominizuelan.com.

        The Claudettes
        Wednesday, October 5
        8pm
        $12
        The Claudettes fuse Windy City piano blues with the full-throttle energy of rockabilly and punk, jazz-age echoes of burlesque and vaudeville and the sultriness of ’60s pop-soul to write a thrilling new chapter in American roots music. File under: post-burlesque? Neo-vaudeville? Cosmic cartoon music? You’ve never seen a bar band like this. theclaudettes.com/

        Tales and Tunes with the Irish American Heritage Center
        Saturday, October 8
        8pm
        $10
        Enjoy live music and stories with musicians and storytellers from the Irish American Heritage Center. With music on fiddle, keyboards, mandolin, uilleann pipes and vocals and stories by Irish born and Irish American writers. irish-american.org

        A Tribute to The Smiths & Morrissey by The Handsome Devilz
        Saturday, October 15
        8pm
        $10
        Formed in 2008, The Handsome Devilz got their start playing in their aunt’s restaurant in Pilsen before going on to become a Midwest regional favorite. Their goal: to bring to life the sounds of The Smiths and Morrissey. As time passes, The Devilz strive to resurrect as many songs as possible from their catalogs for all to enjoy. thehandsomedevilz.com


        Akenya in Concert
        Friday, October 21
        8pm
        $15
        Akenya is young multi-genre singer, pianist, composer and arranger whose music places a strong emphasis on jazz and the culmination of hip-hop, funk, pop, classical, and world music. Her voice, style and sound—both poignant and riveting—is sure to make this intimate evening a transformative experience for audience members. For this one night engagement, Akenya will perform a slew of original works and arrangements with her five piece band. akenyamusic.com

        WildClaw Theatre’s Deathscribe: An Evening of Radio Horror
        Saturday, October 22
        8:30pm
        $25
        WildClaw Theatre has culled from eight years of Deathscribe to select their top five favorite tales of terror from their annual festival of radio horror. Dare to join them as they bring the nightmares to LookOut for an evening of the Best of Deathscribe: Performed with live foley, live music and a cast of Chicago talent. wildclawtheatre.com/deathscribe

        Torch, Sass and Swing!
        Created and Performed by Suzanne Petri
        With Bobby Schiff, Jim Cox and ensemble member Robert Breuler
        Wednesday, October 26-Friday, October 28
        8pm
        $20
        Torch songs, smoky clubs and great music. Join Suzanne Petri as she sings fantastic songs and ensemble member Robert Breuler as he tells stories and guides you up "the street" to the classic clubs of Chicago and the artists who played them: Ella, Sarah, Barbra, Sophie, Bette Midler, Oscar Brown Jr., Nat "King" Cole and of course Petri’s special tribute to the one and only Julie Wilson. With musical director Bobby Schiff at the keys and Jim Cox on bass.


        Repercussion
        Created by BOOMERANG
        Saturday, October 29 at 8pm
        Sunday, October 30 at 4pm
        $20
        BOOMERANG, hailed as the “punk Mozarts of dance,” presents a percussively visceral and psychologically dynamic new work made in collaboration with Greg Saunier, drummer and founding member of the internationally acclaimed band Deerhoof. Repercussion combines the daring and vulnerable artistry of dancers Matty Davis and Adrian Galvin with poetically nuanced choreography by Kora Radella. Saunier’s physically-charged, expressive percussion sets the tone and further embodies the work’s fearlessly physical exploration of “active forgetting,” based on new writing by MacArthur Fellow and cultural critic Lewis Hyde. Repercussion was originally commissioned by Dixon Place for a March 2016 premiere in New York City, and subsequently premiered in Paris, France at The Arts Arena at the invitation of Robert Wilson. boomerangdance.com

        Charlie Strater and Friends
        Thursday, November 3
        8pm
        $5
        Charlie Strater honed his songwriting and performing skills like many other artists, by playing countless restaurant and tavern gigs. After releasing his critically acclaimed debut recording, Bluesy Stuff, he quickly earned a name for himself as a powerhouse performer with skilled blues-guitar chops and a vocal intensity and passion. His second album Thornhill Road, continued to define him as a uniquely modern singer/songwriter and guitarist. His third album Charlie Strater combined country and rock in an album that Copeland Music says, “hits the emotional bull’s eye in each song.” Acoustic duo, The PhilBillies, open. reverbnation.com/charliestrater


        Looking for Love
        Live Dating Game Show and Cabaret
        Saturday, November 5
        8pm
        $12
        Looking for Love is the only live dating game show and cabaret in the Universe (according to Looking for Love). Hosted by Carolyn Hoerdemann and Maggie Graham; the Dean and Jerry of the new Millennium—with cleavage. Featuring house band Tuffy Roads, comedy cahoots, dating advice and a chance to find the bachelor/bachelorette of your dreams.

        Pivot Arts presents Live Talk: The Day After
        Wednesday, November 9
        8pm
        $15

        Come celebrate or mourn the day after one of the most bizarre presidential elections in modern U.S. history with Pivot Arts' Live Talk series. Part performance, part live talk show, this unique evening includes quirky performances, interviews, live music and the very special, Pivot DIY. pivotarts.org 

        Methtacular! 
        Written and performed by Steven Strafford
        Friday, November 11 & Saturday, November 12
        8pm
        $20 

        Methtacular! is Steven Strafford's award-winning one-man show telling the true story of his three years as a sex-addled, crystal meth addict on the streets of Chicago. He weaves jokes, stories, original songs, a game show and documentary footage of interviews with his mom to bring the audience down into the depths of a life in pursuit of the next high. A brave, hilarious and insightful journey through the maelstrom of addiction and recovery, the narrative is riveting and transitions from tear-jerking to gut-busting while never resorting to cloying clichés. methtacular.com 

        Chicago Podcast Festival
        Friday, November 18 & Saturday, November 19 
        8pm
        $20 

        Podcasts are the new art form for this century as they encompass the qualities of art, comedy, drama, entertainment, storytelling and unscripted theatre. Jonathan Pitts, executive director of Chicago Improv Productions and the co-founder/producer of the highly successful Chicago Improv Festival has teamed up with WBEZ's & The Moth's Tyler Greene, to produce the first annual Chicago Podcast Festival. The focus of this festival is to present a diverse collection of local, regional and national podcasters in live performances of their podcasts at some of Chicago's most renowned theatre venues. Join the fun as Chicago transforms into a podcast Mecca for one weekend in the fall.

        LookOut programming is presented year-round and announced on an ongoing basis. John Zinn, Greta Honold and Patrick Zakem are the producers for LookOut. For more information, visit steppenwolf.org/lookout.

        The 1700 Theatre
        The new 80-seat theater is a casual, intimate and flexible space at 1700 N Halsted St presenting a wide variety of genres and shows, from live music to dance to spoken word and beyond. The diverse programming provides current and new audience members with a variety of multidisciplinary cultural experiences with the added Steppenwolf stamp of approval.

        Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks
        Located in front of the 1700 Theatre is Steppenwolf’s café & bar, Front Bar: Coffee and Drinks. Open daily from 7am to midnight, Front Bar is a creative space to grab a drink, have a bite, or meet up with friends and collaborators, day or night. A morning and evening menu is curated by Chef Chris Pandel, and artisanal coffee and expresso is provided by La Colombe. Functioning as a stand-alone entity, the café & bar also connects to Steppenwolf’s existing main building creating an expanded lobby space. Front Bar was developed with consultation from Steppenwolf’s friends and neighbors, Boka Restaurant Group (BRG), along with interior designers Karen Herold and Kayce Carter of Studio K and the marketing and design firm Grip. More info at front-bar.com.

        Membership options
        With the larger and more diverse selection of programming this season, Steppenwolf has increased the ways in which audiences can access the offerings. The new Steppenwolf Black Card offers extreme flexibility with six ticket credits that can be used any time for any production at Steppenwolf. The credits are valid for one year, and there is the option to add on additional credits as needed. Additional membership perks include easy and free exchanges, access to seats before the general public, savings on single ticket prices and bar and restaurant discounts for pre- and post-show socializing. The Steppenwolf Black Card is modeled after the popular Steppenwolf Red Card, which offers audiences under the age of 30 the option to purchase six ticket credits at a discounted price to use towards any play, anytime. Still available are Season Subscription packages, including student, educator and access discount subscriptions.
        To purchase a 2016/17 Subscription or Membership, visit Audience Services at 1650 N Halsted St, call 312-335-1650 or visit steppenwolf.org.

        Steppenwolf Theatre Company is America’s longest standing, most distinguished ensemble theater, producing nearly 700 performances and events annually in its three Chicago theaterspaces—the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat 1700 Theatre. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 46 actors, writers and directors. Artistic programming includes a seven-play Season; a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season; Visiting Company engagements; and LookOut, a multidisciplinary, year-round performance series. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf has the distinction of being the only theater to receive the National Medal of Arts, in addition to numerous other prestigious honors including an Illinois Arts Legend Award and 12 Tony Awards. Anna D. Shapiro is the Artistic Director and David Schmitz is the Managing Director. Nora Daley is Chair of Steppenwolf’s Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit www.steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre and twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr.



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