Tag Archives: theatre
We 3 Liza’s – A New Holiday Classic
Even if you don’t like Liza (with a Z!) You will LOVE WE 3 LIZA’S!
Ticklebottom’s life has hit a block. Once, Conrad and his purple box
ignited an entire movement in art and design, but now he finds himself
alone, forgotten and teetering on ruin.
The Normal Heart – 2 Nights for Charity
Larry Kramer’s The
Normal Heart returns to Chicago for the first time since its Tony
Award-winning Broadway revival in 2011.
This fall, TimeLine Theatre Company will breathe
new life into one of the strongest historical dramas of the 20th
Century.
For younger audiences who never knew the dark,
deadly days of the early epidemic, the play relives the fear and panic of the
early 1980s in urban America. To expose young viewers to this era—and the
grassroots activism it galvanize—seemed to me its greatest virtue.
But of course The
Normal Heart is so much more.
TimeLine Theatre Company graciously provided me a
behind-the-scenes viewing of The Normal
Heart, directed by Nick Bowling. I was moved to tears.
Yes, the drama chronicles the dawning of AIDS
activism in the wake of unconscionable political and institutional neglect.
Fueled by judgmental and homophobic disregard, the early crisis gained strength
in the absence of a robust government response. Yet a humanistic virtue will
always be at the heart of this drama.
Timeless and poignant, the play’s call to action
is as relevant now as it was when play debuted in 1985.
Ned Weeks, played by David Cromer, is a
confrontational activist in New York, fighting to bring attention to a disease plaguing
gay men. He organizes likeminded individuals and creates a grassroots movement
that struggles to gain steam in a culture that would rather turn a blind eye.
That’s not merely a glimpse at where we were. It’s
a commentary of where we are today.
Modern medicine has given many affected individuals
opportunities to survive and thrive with HIV, where once they faced certain
death. Yet the stigma associated with HIV continues to result in delayed or
deferred care for hundreds of thousands of Americans with HIV.
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) estimates
that more than 35,000 people are living with HIV in the Chicago metropolitan area;
however, less than half enjoy access to care. Half. That means that less than 50 percent of this population is
living with a life-threatening disease. Without interventions, they will remain
at risk of serious health decline. What’s more, studies indicate that more than
6,000 individuals in metropolitan Chicago don’t even know that they are HIV-infected.
This group is at high risk for other serious medical conditions and may
inadvertently be exposing others to HIV.
The Normal
Heart confronts these disparities and it does so with gifted acting and
storytelling.
Every character is deeply complex. Even in rehearsals,
the acting was so crisp and powerful that I looked beyond the lack of costumes,
beyond the missing props, beyond the bare stage, and I returned to the early
‘80s. I stood with Ned who knelt by his partner’s bed in the hospital room. I sat
in the grassroots campaign office, as the fledgling organization struggled to
get the government’s attention. I was
there because the characters became real to me.
Yes, I encourage young people to see The Normal Heart for historical reasons.
But more than that, this drama is about our time. It’s about spurring people
into action whether they’re gay or straight, government officials or private
citizens. Everybody has a role to play in ending this epidemic, and we can only
end it if we work together.
AFC isselling tickets to The Normal Heart
for two nights: Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, December 1, which is World AIDS Day. Proceeds benefit
AFC—but only on these dates and only if you reserve your seat through AFC.
Olympia Dukakis in ROSE November 16th
ROSE, by Martin Sherman, a one-woman play, is a portrait
of a feisty Jewish woman who has
survived some of the major events that shaped the 20th century with humor, guile, and
spirit. The play illustrates a remarkable life that began in a tiny Russian village, moved on
to Warsaw’s ghettos and ship called The Exodus, and
finally to the boardwalks of
Atlantic City, the Arizona Canyons and salsa-flavored nights in Miami Beach.
Dukakis first
performed ROSE in 1999 on stage at the Royal National Theatre in London and then in spring
2000 opened at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway.
Recent praise for
ROSE “The
wonderful acting of Olympia Dukakis, herself a fighter for justice, an actress
with a forty-year
history of stage activity, as a university lecturer, the founder and director
of a New Jersey
theatre, in her classic roles, and especially in her total immersion into the
skin of a Holocaust
survivor as a symbol of the Jewish people and its suffering, make this play something so
sublime that the Cameri Theatre is deserving of applause for the third year of its cultural
enterprise (the International Theatre Festival).” – News1 Tel Aviv
4/18/2012
Long a vital,
respected actor of the classic and contemporary stage and the epitome of Mediterranean-styled
weariness, this grand lady did not become a household name and sought-after film
actress until age 56 when she turned in an Oscar-winning performance as Cher’s sardonic
mother in the romantic comedy Moonstruck (1987).
Since then movie (and TV) fans have
discovered — an acting treasure. Her adaptability to various ethnicities
(Greek, Italian, Jewish,
Eastern European, etc.), as well her chameleon-like versatility in everything from cutting edge
comedy to stark tragedy, has kept her in high demand for the past 30 years as of one
of Hollywood’s topnotch character players.
Olympia Dukakis
Starring in “Rose,” a concert reading by Martin Sherman
Saturday, Nov. 16 7:30 p.m.
Dorothy Menker Theater @ Moraine Valley Community College
9000 W. College Pkwy. Palos Hills, IL 60465-2478
Buy
Tickets
***Dinner and a Show: Enjoy 25% off your total bill at Cíao Ristorante (10296 S. 78th Avenue, Palos Hills) before or after any Mainstage Series performance by showing your tickets.
Reservations are required by calling Cíao at (708) 237-2426. Some restrictions apply.
REDMOON Announces New INDOORS 2013-14 Series
Chicago’s acclaimed Spectacle-driven theater Redmoon
announces its 2013-14 series of indoor events and performances, known
as “Redmoon INDOORS,” its first season inside its mammoth new warehouse
headquarters in Chicago’s diverse Pilsen neighborhood at 2120 S.
Jefferson Street. Under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Frank Maugeri with Executive Artistic Director Jim Lasko and Managing Director Sophia Wong Boccio, the new “Redmoon INDOORS” begins November 1, 2013 and runs through April, 2014.
Redmoon’s
new home is a massive, multi-purpose performance space, open access
build shop and Chicago’s new hub for the production and presentation of
Spectacle art – interactive, imagistic and immersive experiences.
“Redmoon INDOORS” includes six large-scale ticketed events and
productions, with revenue directly funding Redmoon’s core civic mission:
to present powerful summer Night Out in the Parks, community celebrations throughout the City of Chicago, all for free and all outdoors.
“The
‘Redmoon INDOORS’ Spectacle Series amplifies the best of our work,”
said Maugeri. “This includes family-friendly events geared toward
children and their parents, 21-and-over happenings that Chicagoans look
forward to each year, and the professional Spectacle productions that
have earned Redmoon critical acclaim and a national presence.
Importantly, the ‘INDOORS’ series makes our ambitious free outdoor
events like Night Out in the Parks possible.”
2013-14 “Redmoon INDOORS” Spectacle Series
Boneshaker
Friday, November 1, 2013
Time: 9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Redmoon kicks off the Spectacle Series on All Saints Day (a.k.a. the Day of the Dead) with its 3rd annual Boneshaker
celebration, a night of costumed fun that combines interactive
site-specific design and unique contraptions with hours of unexpected
entertainment. Among the many offerings of this festive, immersive
world of Spectacle are large-scale projections, a chance to be in a live-feed movie, several mobile DJ contraptions, a Redmoon signature “wow” piece the Fire Organ and performance by punk marching band Mucca Pazza.
Tickets: $75
Includes food and drinks throughout the evening
21 and over
Skelebration (NEW)
Saturday and Sunday, November 2-3, 2013
Times: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
On the Saturday and Sunday following Boneshaker, Redmoon presents Skelebration,
a new family-friendly event for parents and children to celebrate the
fall season and adventure together in the exploratory Spectacle
playground of Redmoon’s transformed space. For two hours, families can
perform in
gigantic shadow shows, build masks, experience DJs on mobile
contraptions and play in Redmoon’s indoor park of swings and
roller-skating.
Families will find a way to explore, discover and connect with their
community through a diverse, multi-media experience celebrating the
ritual of Halloween in a new, alternative way.
Tickets: Adults $20, Kids $12, Kids under 3 FREE
Includes 2-hour entrance, food and activities
Winter Pageant
Directed by John Musial with Frank Maugeri
*Press Preview: Tuesday, December 10, 7 p.m.
Dec 13 – 15, Dec 20 – 22, 2013
Times: Fridays – 7 p.m.
Saturdays – 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Sundays – 1:30 p.m. & 4 p.m.
In December, the 15th Annual Winter Pageant features collaborators Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts and punk rock surf band San Andreas Fault. The approximately 50-minute-long production is directed by John Musial with Frank Maugeri. The 2013 Winter Pageant
presents a new original myth inspired by the poem “The Conference of
the Birds” by Farid ud-Din Atta and tells the story of a flock of birds
who journey to find their lost king. The
production evokes themes of hope and community. Audiences at this
nontraditional family production can expect Redmoon’s intricate
mechanics, inventive puppetry, expressive dance and unique style of
visual wonder.
On the Saturdays leading up to Winter Pageant, November 9 – December 7,
Redmoon will open its doors for Open Access Builds, where community
members of all ages can help Redmoon artists create art and objects for
the Winter Pageant production.
Tickets: Adults $25, Kids $15, Kids under 3 FREE
Revolution (NEW)
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Time: 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
To ring in the New Year, Redmoon presents the brand new Revolution.
This one-night-only event is an evening of ritual and elegance that
includes Redmoon’s daring and unexpected interpretation of all the
classic elements of a typical New Year’s Eve celebration, though with a
typical Redmoon twist as attendees are invited to make not a
“resolution” but a “revolution.” An indoor circus tent, local dessert
artisans, the 8-piece brass R&B band The O’My’s, a theme of
candlelight and bubbles and a spectacular “fire” midnight countdown make Redmoon’s Revolution the hottest new Chicago New Year’s Eve tradition.
Tickets: $100
Includes food and drinks throughout the evening
21 and over
Spectacle Lunatique
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Time: 6 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Redmoon follows Revolution with its annual Spectacle Lunatique. One of Chicago’s most anticipated galas, Lunatique includes
a decadent night of inspired performance, some of Chicago’s best food
and drinks and an exciting announcement of Redmoon’s upcoming summer
events.
Tickets: Call 312-850-8440 x100 for ticket packages and rates.
Spring Spectacle
Created by Jim Lasko and Directed by Blake Montgomery
*April Fool’s Preview Night: April 1, 2014, 8 p.m.
Weekends from April 4 – April 20
Times: Fridays – 8 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays – 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Tickets: Adults $25, Kids $15, Kids under 3 FREE
Redmoon
concludes its “Redmoon INDOORS” Spectacle Series in May with a massive
Spectacle production that captures the magnitude of Redmoon’s highly
acclaimed outdoor work, Spring Spectacle,
an ambitious production guaranteed to expand the audiences’ heart and
mind. Created by Jim Lasko and directed by Blake Montgomery, the
family-friendly Spring Spectacle will provoke audiences’ imagination with giant machines, larger-than-life visuals and original music.
All
productions and events are performed at Redmoon’s new home, located at
2120 S. Jefferson Street. Ample free parking is available in both the
adjacent parking lot and on the street.
Programming details and scheduling are subject to change.
Tickets
Tickets to the new “Redmoon INDOORS” are available now by calling the Redmoon Box Office at 312-850-8440 x123 or online at www.redmoon.org.
About Redmoon
Redmoon‘s
mission is to transform the experience of our city through free large
scale theatrical events that promote community, creativity and an
empowered democracy. Redmoon burst into Chicago’s cultural consciousness with its award-winning production of Moby Dick
in 1995. Commended for its unique aesthetic, the production boasted a
unique blend of puppetry, pageantry, gadgetry and robust physical
performance that became Redmoon’s signature. While the indoor
productions continued to receive critical acclaim and popular support,
Jim Lasko chose to focus the theater’s energy outdoors, where Redmoon
sought to deploy spectacle to bridge difference and transform the ways
that people see and understand public spaces. Over the past 23 years,
Redmoon has become a valued Chicago institution with its high-profile
collaborations, vibrant outdoor performances and genuine community
partnerships. Site-specific performances opened in Millennium Park,
animated the façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art and commemorated
the groundbreaking for the Modern Wing for the Art Institute. At the
same time, Redmoon brought its work to the parks and streets of
Chicago’s neighborhoods. Redmoon has performed for more than 250,000
people in 30 different neighborhoods. More details at REDMOON.org
VISITING CHICAGO?
Stay at one of these hotels in the heart of BOYSTOWN!
MOMIX is back in the Chicago Area September 28th
MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists based in Washington, Connecticut, founded in 1981 by Moses Pendleton, with a worldwide audience base. Momix is unusual among contemporary dance companies for being a for-profit organization.
Saturday, Sept. 28 7:30 p.m.
Dorothy Menker Theater @ Moraine Valley Community College
9000 W. College Pkwy., Palos Hills, IL 60465.
GET TICKETS!
Womens Work Weekend September 13-15, 2013
Women’s Work Weekend runs September 13 to 15, 2013, at Center on Halsted’s Hoover-Leppen Theatre. Find the schedule and information on the readings HERE.
sreenplays and stage plays written by women with lesbian characters or
themes.
The
program is open to all women, regardless of sexual orientation, whose
writing is pertinent to the lesbian community and relevant to the world.
While gay scripts have had a steady production history – from Oscar Wilde to Tennessee Williams, Tony Kushner, and today’s brashest writers – lesbian scripts have a checkered history at best.
Your support of our Women’s Work Weekend provides performance fees for artists, marketing for the festival, and enables writers from around the country to work with our Artistic Ensemble Members on these scripts, which are so full of potential.
Women’s Work Weekend runs September 13 to 15, 2013, at Center on Halsted’s Hoover-Leppen Theatre. Find the schedule and information on the readingsHERE.
